SPIRITS IN THE LIGHT
Singer/songwriters including Springsteen, probably keep rockin' for a cause

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 11/4/05
BY RICHARD SKELLY
CORRESPONDENT

Singer/songwriter Willie Nile, who performs Saturday at the sixth annual Light of Day concert series, has been on board with the fund-raising event from the beginning. Known for his sharp lyrical wit and energetic live performances, Nile has a perfect attendance record when it comes to playing for this particular cause, Parkinson's Disease research.

"It's been a great experience," said Nile last week from his Greenwich Village flat. "It's a lot of fun, a great hang with other musicians, (and) it's centered around the music and (event organizer) Bob Benjamin's birthday.

"Benefit shows are always the most fun gigs to do. You're playing for a good reason and everyone is sharing the same thing. That's why people keep coming back."

Benjamin, who suffers from Parkinson's, lives in Highland Park and has an extensive background in the record business. This year's three-night marathon takes place tonight at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park and Saturday and Sunday at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville.

Sunday's show will be performed in a "Writers in the Raw" format, an old-fashioned guitar pull with singer/songwriters such as Joe Grushecky, Jeffrey Gaines, John Eddie and Pete Yorn discussing their craft.

The event also will raise funds for the ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, popularly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) Association's Greater Philadelphia Chapter. The shows are being dedicated to the memory of Joan Dancy, the fiancee of Bruce Springsteen's longtime bodyguard and assistant, Terry Magovern, who formerly worked at numerous Jersey Shore clubs. Dancy died of Lou Gehrig's Disease last summer, after a long struggle. Springsteen, who is on tour, has performed at every Light of Day event and it's expected he'll show up for Saturday's show.

Nile's latest release is the critically hailed "Beautiful Wreck of the World." He's particularly excited about his forthcoming "Streets of New York," to be released Jan. 31 on the 02:59 label, distributed by Sony/BMG.

"The reaction to the new record so far has been great, and we'll be doing lots of shows with my band behind that, including shows in New Jersey," Nile said.

"For the Light of Day show on Saturday night," Nile said, "I'm going to be joined by Joe Grushecky's band, and we'll also be joined by Jorge Ortero, a Spanish musician. We all toured Spain together. I'm hoping to get Joe onstage for a couple of songs, but it'll be bombs away, no-holds- barred rock 'n' roll."

Aside from bringing thousands of people together for good causes, the annual Light of Day concerts provide fodder for conversation for months to come. Audience members have the chance to see inspired performances from the likes of Garland Jeffreys and his band, the Coney Island Playboys or Richie "La Bamba" Rosenberg's Big Band.

Nile concluded: "Bob Benjamin is living proof of how worthwhile this whole concert series is. Here is a quality guy, a lover of live music, suffering from Parkinson's himself, but still looking to help people on this planet. That's what it's all about."