A surprise Bruce Springsteen appearance lit up the night in Red Bank.
The Boss took the stage with Jesse Malin at the 25th anniversary Light of Day main event Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank.
Springsteen and Malin delivered a soulful rendition of their heartbreak ballad "Broken Radio," originally released on Malin's 2007 album, "Glitter in the Gutter."
The audience was bright in the darkened Basie, lit up with cell phones filming away.
Springsteen hugged Malin on stage prior to the performance. Malin was making his return to the Light of Day stage after suffering a spinal strike which left him unable to walk.
Prior to Springsteen's appearance, Malin bravely stood up for a few songs. He and his band played superbly on this emotional night.
After the set, Malin was given a walker by a stage tech. The rocker doffed his cap, put his hand over his heart and walked off the stage to cheers.
Brian Fallon, Brian Baker, Pete Steinkopf and Sweet Joey played a short set of Malin songs, including "TKO," as well as "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty.
Jim Babjak of the Smithereens and LOD director Tony Pallagrosi, a former Asbury Jukes member, joined Joe D 'Urso and Stone Caravan for a cover of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes' "It's Been a Long Time."
D'Urso noted the recent retirement of Southside Johnny.
Springsteen later joined Willie Nile for "One Guitar."
John Rzeznik, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, the Weeklings, and more were scheduled to play after Malin.
Before the show, Springsteen soundchecked "The Promised Land" with Grushecky.
The Boss had performed at 12 of the previous 24 Light of Days. He was at the 20th anniversary edition in 2020 in Asbury Park. The Boss joined Malin for two songs, Wille Nile for one and played a full set with Grushckey and the Houserockers at the Paramount Theatre.
Dramarama and Tab
There was a lot of Light of Day action Jan. 17 in Asbury Park.
Dramarama played their alt-rock classics to a sold-out Wonder Bar. Charismatic frontman John Easdale is still drinking Tab diet soda, even though the brand was discontinued in 2020.
"It's five years past the shelf life," Easdale said. "I have some. I saved some. I'll have a few. Pretty soon I'll have to start filling empty cans because it's part of the show. It's like Groucho's cigar."
Easdale noted a slew of new LOD fans in the audience.
"I see a lot of familiar faces and a lot of new faces," Easdale said. "Hopefully you all will come back."
At the Stone Pony
Also on Friday, Grushecky and the Houserockers, Nile and the Tangiers Blues Band, featuring celeb photographer Danny Clinch, and more played to a packed Stone Pony crowd.
The Tangiers Blues band welcomed a string of guest performers, including Grushecky, Nile, Ron Artis and Jeff Kazee on stage to play deep blues standards at the close of the show.
Kazee, a member of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, played "Bab Bad Whiskey" after a quick arrangement session with the horn section. Southside recently announced his retirement from touring due to "health issues." .
"My (blanking) band retired and here I am 10 days later back at the Stone Pony," Kazee quipped.
Coming up
Festiva shows take place Sunday, Jan. 19, in Asbury Park, and with Tusk, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, Friday, Jan. 24, at the Count Basie Center for the Arts.
Songwriters in the Round -- featuring Nile, D'Urso, Glenn Burtnik, Williams Honor, Jake Thistle, Danielia Cotton, John Caspi, Amanda Cross and Derek Cruz, Rick Winowski, and Deni Bonet and Chris Flynn -- takes place at First Congregational Church, 40 S. Fullerton Ave., in Montclair.
Light of Day, which includes shows in Europe over the summer, has raised $6.5 million. The funds also aid the battle against the Parkinson's-related Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, or PSP.
The LOD Foundation allocates funds to research groups and operates programs like Boxing for Bob, a physical therapy regimen which uses boxing movements to counter the affects of the disease.
The roots of the Light of Day go back to a 1998 40th birthday party in Red Bank for artist manager Bob Benjamin, who had just been diagnosed with Parkinson's. His annual Bob's Birthday Bash features a group sing-along to Benjamin at the close of the show.
Visit lightofday.org for more information.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at [email protected]