What started as a birthday party for Bob Benjamin at the Downtown Cafe in Red Bank New Jersey in 1998, has turned into an annual international event to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson's Disease research, family support and improved treatments.
The first concert was held at the Stone Pony in 2000. There were many bands and Pittsburgh rockers Joe Grushecky and the House Rockers headlined the show. Bruce Springsteen made a surprise appearance at that show and returned for several years after.
The annual concerts were held at different places over the past 10 years: The Stone Pony, Tradewinds in Sea Bright New Jersey, Starland Ballroom in Sayerville New Jersey, and the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park.
The shows started out as a one off show in November to mark Mr. Benjamin's birthday, but have grown to multiple nights in New Jersey. In addition, shows are now held in New York, California, Canada, and several countries in Europe.
This year the New Jersey shows were held a couple months after Mr. Benjamin's birthday. The first show was held at the Stone Pony, and the final shows are being held in Asbury Park at a few different locations on Sunday January 17. These shows will be "songwriter" shows and will feature, among others, Glen Burtnick, John Eddie, Nicole Atkins, Quincy Mumford, Richard Barone, Lisa Lowell and Joe D'urso.
In between these shows, on Saturday January 16, the Wonder Bar in Asbury held an early afternoon show, and the Paramount Theatre in Asbury held what has become the cornerstone show.
As usual, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, Willie Nile, Jesse Malin and Joe D'Urso and Stone Caravan were on the bill. Outside the Box and Ed Kowalczyk of Live were also perfomers. In between the main stage sets, an acoustic stage was set up in front of the curtain, so the music was continuous.
Vincent "Big Pussy" Pastore, Tony Palligrossi, Rich Russo and Jeff Raspe helped introduce the acts throughout the night.
Outside the Box started the main stage show off with a strong set and was followed by Joe D'urso and Stone Caravan. Wille Nile came next and was joined by Joe D'urso for the entire set, and Joe Gruschecky for a couple songs. At the end of Willie's set, the curtain came down prematurely. When it came back up, he was joined by Bruce Springsteen and Joe Grushecky for "Heaven Help the Lonely".
Bruce was back for Jesse Malin's set, which also saw a surprise appearance by Nicole Atkins.
Ed Kowalczyk from Live came next and gave an amazing performance of both Live and solo songs. I cannot say enough about how remarkable his voice is.
Joe Grushecky performed last and was joined, as he has been so often in the past, by Bruce Springsteen. Joe played 4 songs and Bruce joined in for a 70 minute set on his own songs, a couple Grushecky songs, and an all artist finale of Light of Day and Twist and Shout.
Mention must be made of the funniest line of the evening. The final performer on the acoustic stage was Bruce Tunkel. Before he started he said "that's right, I'm the last barricade to your dreams".
Happily, the audience was extremely respectful to all the performers knowing there was a lot of great music to be heard, all for a good cause.
I will include the artist line-up and as many of the songs I can remember. I am certain some of the titles will be wrong. I will also include additional photos in the next posts.
Anthony D'Amato
Holy War
Hank Williams Tune
Outside the Box
The first concert was held at the Stone Pony in 2000. There were many bands and Pittsburgh rockers Joe Grushecky and the House Rockers headlined the show. Bruce Springsteen made a surprise appearance at that show and returned for several years after.
The annual concerts were held at different places over the past 10 years: The Stone Pony, Tradewinds in Sea Bright New Jersey, Starland Ballroom in Sayerville New Jersey, and the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park.
The shows started out as a one off show in November to mark Mr. Benjamin's birthday, but have grown to multiple nights in New Jersey. In addition, shows are now held in New York, California, Canada, and several countries in Europe.
This year the New Jersey shows were held a couple months after Mr. Benjamin's birthday. The first show was held at the Stone Pony, and the final shows are being held in Asbury Park at a few different locations on Sunday January 17. These shows will be "songwriter" shows and will feature, among others, Glen Burtnick, John Eddie, Nicole Atkins, Quincy Mumford, Richard Barone, Lisa Lowell and Joe D'urso.
In between these shows, on Saturday January 16, the Wonder Bar in Asbury held an early afternoon show, and the Paramount Theatre in Asbury held what has become the cornerstone show.
As usual, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, Willie Nile, Jesse Malin and Joe D'Urso and Stone Caravan were on the bill. Outside the Box and Ed Kowalczyk of Live were also perfomers. In between the main stage sets, an acoustic stage was set up in front of the curtain, so the music was continuous.
Vincent "Big Pussy" Pastore, Tony Palligrossi, Rich Russo and Jeff Raspe helped introduce the acts throughout the night.
Outside the Box started the main stage show off with a strong set and was followed by Joe D'urso and Stone Caravan. Wille Nile came next and was joined by Joe D'urso for the entire set, and Joe Gruschecky for a couple songs. At the end of Willie's set, the curtain came down prematurely. When it came back up, he was joined by Bruce Springsteen and Joe Grushecky for "Heaven Help the Lonely".
Bruce was back for Jesse Malin's set, which also saw a surprise appearance by Nicole Atkins.
Ed Kowalczyk from Live came next and gave an amazing performance of both Live and solo songs. I cannot say enough about how remarkable his voice is.
Joe Grushecky performed last and was joined, as he has been so often in the past, by Bruce Springsteen. Joe played 4 songs and Bruce joined in for a 70 minute set on his own songs, a couple Grushecky songs, and an all artist finale of Light of Day and Twist and Shout.
Mention must be made of the funniest line of the evening. The final performer on the acoustic stage was Bruce Tunkel. Before he started he said "that's right, I'm the last barricade to your dreams".
Happily, the audience was extremely respectful to all the performers knowing there was a lot of great music to be heard, all for a good cause.
I will include the artist line-up and as many of the songs I can remember. I am certain some of the titles will be wrong. I will also include additional photos in the next posts.
Anthony D'Amato
Holy War
Hank Williams Tune
Outside the Box
You & Me & Just Us For All
Write a Song Today
Just Another Face
Forbidden Romance
Kitty's Back
Lisa Bouchelle
Blackbird
Fear of Addiction
Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan
Hold On
Waiting on a Train
Let it Go
Round Eye Blues(Marah Cover)
All I Needed Was You(Southside Johnny cover)
Noisy Guitar
Danny White
3 Song set included:
Just Another Face
Forbidden Romance
Kitty's Back
Lisa Bouchelle
Blackbird
Fear of Addiction
Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan
Hold On
Waiting on a Train
Let it Go
Round Eye Blues(Marah Cover)
All I Needed Was You(Southside Johnny cover)
Noisy Guitar
Danny White
3 Song set included:
The Way it's Meant To Be
Willie Nile
House of 1000 Guitars w/Joe D'Urso
Cell Phones Ringing in the Pockets of the Dead w/Joe D'Urso & Joe Gruschecky
Hard Times in America w/Joe D'Urso & Joe Grushecky
One Guitar w/Joe D'Urso & Jesse Malin
Blitzkrieg Bop/California Sun/Sheena is a Punk Rocker
Heaven Help the Lonely w/Joe D'Urso, Joe Grushecky & Bruce Springsteen
Jon Caspi
2 Song set included:
Willie Nile
House of 1000 Guitars w/Joe D'Urso
Cell Phones Ringing in the Pockets of the Dead w/Joe D'Urso & Joe Gruschecky
Hard Times in America w/Joe D'Urso & Joe Grushecky
One Guitar w/Joe D'Urso & Jesse Malin
Blitzkrieg Bop/California Sun/Sheena is a Punk Rocker
Heaven Help the Lonely w/Joe D'Urso, Joe Grushecky & Bruce Springsteen
Jon Caspi
2 Song set included:
Ring of Fire
Jesse Malin
Brooklyn
Wendy
Hotel Columbia
Queen of the Underworld w/Nicole Atkins
Black Haired Girl
Solitaire
In the Modern World
Broken Radio w/Bruce Springsteen, Joe D'Urso
Melissa Chill
Jesse Malin
Brooklyn
Wendy
Hotel Columbia
Queen of the Underworld w/Nicole Atkins
Black Haired Girl
Solitaire
In the Modern World
Broken Radio w/Bruce Springsteen, Joe D'Urso
Melissa Chill
2 Song set
Bello Nock-Clown
Rob Dye
You Called Me Here
Cars, Trucks & Buses
Ed Kowalczyk
I Alone
Spread Your Wings & Fly
Selling the Drama
Everlasting Love
All Over You
The Dolphins Cry
Heaven
Lightning Crashes
Bobby Strange
If You Don't Stand For Something
Down to the Bus Stop w/Melissa Chill
Bruce Tunkel
Bello Nock-Clown
Rob Dye
You Called Me Here
Cars, Trucks & Buses
Ed Kowalczyk
I Alone
Spread Your Wings & Fly
Selling the Drama
Everlasting Love
All Over You
The Dolphins Cry
Heaven
Lightning Crashes
Bobby Strange
If You Don't Stand For Something
Down to the Bus Stop w/Melissa Chill
Bruce Tunkel
2 Song set with Melissa Chill guesting on second song
Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers
Chasing Shadows
Pumping Iron
Dark & Bloody Ground
East Carson Street
w/Bruce Springsteen from here on
Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers
Chasing Shadows
Pumping Iron
Dark & Bloody Ground
East Carson Street
w/Bruce Springsteen from here on
Atlantic City
Code of Silence
Johnny 99
Never Be Enough Time
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Talking With the King
Pink Cadillac (Willie Nile & Ed Kowalczyk part of on stage crowd) w/Danny Clinch
Murder Inc.
Another Thin Line
Light of Day w/All Performers
Twist & Shout w/All Performers
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