Light of Day 10 Paramount Theatre Images

More photos from Light of Day 10 at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park New Jersey on 1/16/2010.

Light of Day 10 - 1/16/10 Paramount Theatre

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

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:

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:

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

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

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

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

In Memoriam - Teddy Pendergrass

R & B legend Teddy Pendergrass passed away yesterday at the age of 59.
Mr. Pendergrass provided what was probably the most moving moment at the Live Aid concert in 1985.
Mr. Pendergrass was left permanently paralyzed after an automobile accident in 1982. During Ashford and Simpson's set at Live Aid in Philadelphia, PA, Teddy Pendergrass, joined them for what I believe was his first public performance since his accident. Together they performed the song Reach Out & Touch.
An audience filled with fans of different styles of music; rock, pop, r & b, metal, new wave, classic rock, were all up on their feet and more vocal then they probably had been up to that point, happy to see Mr. Pendergrass back on stage and performing
Rest In Peace

Haiti

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected, both directly and indirectly, by the earthquake in Haiti the other day.
Here are a few organizations helping in the relief effort.

www.redcross.org

www.unicef.org

www.yele.org

Glen Burtnick-12/31/1988 Stone Pony

This one is for Dylan's Dad.

Since this is the final day of 2009, I thought I would post about one of the New Years Eve concerts I went to at the Stone Pony ending the year 1988.

I've been fortunate to see a few concerts on New Years Eve: Billy Joel in 1983 at the Garden, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes a couple times at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank New Jersey.


For a few years a couple of us would go to the Stone Pony and see John Eddie or Glen Burtnick on New Years Eve. The other day I spoke with one of my best friends, who went to many of these shows. We talked about this particular show, and how great it was. I believe our days of New Years Eve concerts are over, but luckily we saw a few memorable ones. Glad we were able to go to these shows when we did, but not sad to not be going out on New Years Eve anymore. We both have families now, and are looking forward to spending it with them.

Glen really mixed up his setlist and did a bunch of songs he rarely, or ever, did. Highlights were Glen singing an original written for the show called 1989, which had Glen performing as the baby New Year in a diaper.

In order to further accommodate the costume change back to "grownup" clothes, The Day that Your Ship Gets Thru was performed with the instrumental ending first, then Glen came out and performed the main part of the song.

Opening act Joey & the Works added backing vocals to Talk That Talk. Steve Schuffert and Mike Baran from Glens band, the guitarist and bass player, took lead vocals on a couple songs. The other band members at this time were Bobby Gordon on keyboards and Jimmy Clark on drums.

After the New Year rang in, Patty Smyth came out and performed a couple Scandal songs with Glen and his band. They then performed a couple new songs they just wrote, one being Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough, which became a hit for her a few years later. Ironically, my friend turned to me after they performed the song and said "my prediction is that song will be #1 this time next year". He wasn't too far off. Patty finished with the Led Zeppelin classic Whole Lotta Love.

Overall a great concert, and for me at that time the best way to ring in the New Year. My thanks to Glen for a great show, and to my friends for being there and having the same passion for some great Jersey rock. We still have the same passion for the music, but have much better offers nowadays.


Here's the setlist.


Follow You/Roll Over Beethoven/I Wanna Be Sedated/Not Fade Away
World Tonite
Walls Came Down
Abalene
Glad All Over/Birthday/Pump It Up
Talk That Talk w/Joey & the Works
Slow Down-Steve & Mike Lead Vocals
Auld Lang Syne
1989
Honky Tonk Woman-Steve & Mike Lead Vocals
Day That Your Ship Gets Thru
Love Goes On
Everyday I Fall In Love
Heard It On the Radio
Womans Point of View
Goodbye To You w/Patty Smyth Lead Vocals
The Warrior w/Patty Smyth Lead Vocals
Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough w/Patty Smyth
Everyone Loves a Hero w/Patty Smyth
Whole Lotta Love w/Patty Smyth Lead Vocals
Replace My Face
Here Comes Sally
Scattered
Long Tall Sally

The Gaslight Anthem-Wellmont Theatre 12/11/2009

I was lucky enough to see The Gaslight Anthem the other night. They are a great band out of New Brunswick New Jersey that consists of Brian Fallon on guitar and lead vocals, Alex Levine on bass and vocals, Benny Horowitz on Drums and Alex Rosamilia on Lead guitar and vocals. This was the first time I was able to see them, however I was fortunate enough to see Brian Fallon at last years Hope Show Benefit at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank.
The band played a strong 85 minute set which included all but one song from their latest CD The '59 Sound and great cover of Tom Petty's Refugee.
The concert also brought back something I haven't heard in a while; drunks yelling "Bruce" at the worst possible moments for absolutely no reason. I'm glad to see that time honored Jersey tradition being carried on so well for a new generation.
Here's the setlist:

Old White Lincoln
Wooderson
Wherefore Art Thou, Elvis?
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
High Lonesome
We Came To Dance
Film Noir
I'da Called You Woody, Joe
Great Expectations
Miles Davis & The Cool
Blue Jeans & White T-Shirts
Meet Me By The River's Edge
Here's Looking At You Kid
The '59 Sound

Casanova, Baby!
1930
Bring It On
The Navesink Banks
Refugee
Say I Won't(Recognize)
We're Getting a Divorce, You Keep the Diner
The Backseat

Roger Daltrey-Count Basie Theatre 11/17/2009

I'm a Who fan. More so in the last 10 years or so than before. I've been saying I'll see them each time they come around, but have yet to actually go. When Roger Daltrey announced he would be playing the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank New Jersey, I knew I had to go. He would never be closer to where I live, and I would regret it if I blew this one off.
The show would feature his solo work, some covers and some Who songs. The truth is, the bulk of the show was Who material. A few were reworked, but the majority were pretty faithful to the original versions. The most noticeable reworking was a bluesy version of My Generation, first verse and chorus, going into a faithful version of I Can See For Miles.
Daltrey walked out and said a few words about the reason for touring, to keep his voice in shape, and about the songs he would be performing. He also spoke before most of the songs, telling a little about the inspiration for the upcoming song. Before Tattoo he told a story about the pirate radio stations that were in Great Britain during the 60's.
Of course when Daltrey would be giving introductions, several audience members felt that this was the time for them to try to have a conversation with him. Luckily at one point he told a guy to "shut the f*$# up" or else they would be there all night. He said it half jokingly.
For the most part Daltrey's voice was in good form. There were a couple songs where he voice did sound pretty worn. The first few songs and one of his solo songs Walk on Water were the strongest.
His backing band consisted of long time collaborator Simon Townsend on guitar, Jon Button on Bass, Scott Devours on drums, Loren Gold on Keyboards and Frank Simes on lead guitar.
The band was tight and most amazingly did not sound like a Who cover band.
Daltrey, although 65, is still an amazing frontman and has a great stage presence. Although his voice is not what it was 20 years ago, it is still very good. I'd be amazed if anyone's voice sounded the same throughout their career.
Here is the setlist.

Who Are You
Pictures of Lily
Behind Blue Eyes
Tatoo
Days of Light
Freedom Ride
Gimme a Stone
Going Mobile-Simon Townsend Lead Vocals, Daltrey on Harmonica
Naked Eye
My Generation/I Can See For Miles
Squeezebox
Walk on Water
Young Man Blues
Baba O'Riley

Johnny Cash Medley featuring Folsom Prison Blues & Ring of Fire
Red,Blue & Grey

Without Your Love