Better Days are coming.
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes opened with this more than fitting song from their album Better Days. Southside and the Jukes performed a 19 song set at the first Drive In concert to be held in New Jersey since the start of the current pandemic.
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes traditionally play the Stone Pony summer stage over the Fourth of July weekend, but given current circumstances, their show and every other show has been cancelled.
This show benefited the Count Basie Theatre and also the New Jersey pandemic relief fund.
Given this was the first concert done if this format, it went pretty smoothly, and was very well organized. Each car was directed to a specific spot, with one full parking spot between each car. The official rule was that you could have the windows rolled down and you could use the portable restrooms so long as you were wearing a mask.
Regardless of the rule, people were sitting in chairs on their flatbed trucks, sitting on top of their cars, and standing outside their cars. However, everyone seemed to stay in their spot and not venture off without a mask.
There were two large screens to either side of the stage and two others in the parking lot. I do think they should have had the screens be a little larger and maybe a couple more located on the sides of the lot.
The show was simulcast on a FM station which was in sync with the actual performance, as opposed to the slight delay on the broadcast on local station 107.1.
There were not any cars within 20 feet of the stage, and only the band was without masks. The camera crew had masks on, and even rock photographer Danny Clinch could be seen onstage taken pictures masked.
Despite being far away from the stage no matter where you were, and the sight lines never being great, it was still great to be in a crowd of people hearing live music.
Southside was particularly mushy, or as sentimental as I think he can get, on a couple occasions. He thanked everyone for doing such a great job helping to fight off Covid 19 and mentioned that that the fans have always been there for him.
The setlist pretty much stuck with their biggest hits, probably a wise choice for a show where you could not really get that up close crowd response.
Instead of loud applause after each song, everyone blared their car horns..
God bless Southside, God bless the Jukes, God bless The Jersey Sound and thank you Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes for doing this.
Stay safe. Masks on.
Here is the setlist:
Better Days
I Played the Fool
All I Needed Was You
Spinning
Love On The Wrong Side Of Town
Walk Away Renee
Cross That Line
Without Love
Broke Down Piece Of Man
Fever
Angel Eyes (Little Steven cover)
Can't Find My Way Home (Blind Faith cover) Sung by Jeff Kazee
Forever (Little Steven cover)
It Ain't The Meat (It's The Motion)
Passion Street
Talk To Me
It's Been a Long Time
I Don't Want to Go Home
This Time It's For Real
Havin' a Party
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Stage prior to show
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