It's business as usual when The Boss shows up

Monday, November 08, 2004
BY JAY LUSTIG
Star-Ledger Staff

It's not always easy to predict when Bruce Springsteen is going to make one of his unbilled Jersey nightclub appearances. But one thing seems certain. When Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers play their annual set at the Light of Day benefit concert, Springsteen is going to be rocking the house with them.

He has done so four times in the past, and he did it again at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, Saturday, joining them for a sweaty, 90-minute set that included a fast, hard-edged "Johnny 99"; an expanded version of "Atlantic City," featuring extra guitar and harmonica solos and an improvised, wailing vocal riff by Springsteen; a majestic version of the anthem, "This Hard Land," and an easy-going cover of Wilson Pickett's 1966 hit, "Mustang Sally."

The show sold out quickly when tickets went on sale a month ago, largely because a Springsteen set was anticipated. He didn't disappoint.

There have been eight Light of Day concerts -- benefiting the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and Muscular Dystrophy Association -- over the past five years. The series started with single nights at the Stone Pony in 2000 and the Tradewinds in Sea Bright in 2001 and 2002, then returned to the Pony for two nights, last year. It grew to a three-day extravaganza (Friday through last night) this year. Grushecky's manager Bob Banjamin, a Highland Park resident who suffers from Parkinson's Disease, puts together these benefits, which raised about $200,000 in their first four years.

Springsteen, who lives in Rumson, and Grushecky, a Pittsburgh-based singer-songwriter-guitarist, have worked together occasionally over the years -- most significantly, on Grushecky's 1995 album, "American Babylon." Springsteen produced it, co-wrote two songs, and played guitar on most of the tracks.

Grushecky was the last of 16 acts on Saturday's schedule. If there was any doubt that Springsteen was going to be there, The Boss dispelled it by standing by the soundboard at the back of the club, in semi-privacy, to check out parts of sets by Willie Nile and Jobonanno & the Godsons of Soul.

Grushecky opened with four of his own songs, then welcomed "a man who needs no introduction ... New Jersey's favorite son, Bruce Springsteen." It was 1 a.m., and Springsteen didn't leave the stage until 2:30.

The set combined Springsteen material ("Light of Day," "From Small Things, Big Things One Day Come," "Murder Incorporated") with Grushecky songs ("Talking To the King," "Never Be Enough Time"), Springsteen & Grushecky co-compositions ("Homestead," "Idiot's Delight," "Code of Silence") and covers.

The Houserockers were in good form, sounding crisper than they have at many of their past Jersey appearances. And members of the band -- especially the dependably dynamic lead guitarist Bill Toms -- had ample time to solo.

Springsteen nearly disappeared during the grand-finale jam, featuring many of the musicians who had appeared throughout the day. He strummed his guitar and did little else as Grushecky and Nile sang lead on a medley of the Jerry Lee Lewis songs "Great Balls of Fire" and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On" and the Isley Brothers' "Shout."

The show, like past Light of Day benefits, offered Springsteen more than just an opportunity to support a worthy cause. For one night, he could transform himself from superstar to bar-band musician. He didn't have to be a bandleader, and he didn't have to perform his trademark songs (none made it into the show).

Though he has devoted much of this fall to pro-Kerry appearances, he refrained from commenting on Tuesday's election. But he did smile as Benjamin gave a brief speech on the need for continued activism in light of the President Bush's track record on health care and other issues.

Appearing before Grushecky, Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Jeffrey Gaines, performing solo, made a big impression, exuding warmth and plain-spoken eloquence on songs like "I Know a Man" and "Hero In Me." New Yorker Nile, who brought a band, also excelled in his scruffy but spirited set, which ranged from a new protest song written about the March train bombings in Madrid to a cover of The Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated."

In addition to headlining the show, Grushecky worked overtime, joining Nile for two songs ("I Wanna Be Sedated" as well as "Heaven Help the Lonely") and sitting in with Boccigalupe & the Bad Boys on their cover of Van Morrison's "Domino."