Pop Break Live: Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ
Words & Photos: Patrick Gilrane
During the 70’s and 80’s a visit to Asbury Park would be an eerie experience with abandoned arcade rides, a boardwalk in disrepair and a desolate atmosphere, even during summer. Asbury Park residents were leaving in droves and those who stayed lived below the poverty line.
While Asbury Park was experiencing this challenging time, there was something happening, something big, and something that would change the face of this city forever, music!
Asbury Park music (yes it’s a thing) is a distinct mutt kind of genre, which gets its influence from R&B, Blues, Motown and Classic Rock. Asbury Park artists write songs about summer at the Jersey shore, love, and the struggles of being blue-collar people during difficult times. Many of the classic music venues of that era still operate today including The Stone Pony, which is celebrating its 44th year of operation, The Wonder Bar, Convention Hall, The Paramount and Asbury Lanes, which is currently being renovated.
Early Artist of the scene included Jon Bon Jovi, Patty Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Count Basie, The Clash, The Romones, Gary U.S. Bonds, The Exploited and the subject of this article, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.
Southside Johnny (SSJ) emerged on the scene in mid 1970’s on the heels of Bruce Springsteen, dropping three records in three years, all produced by Steven Van Zandt. It would be nearly impossible to have a conversation about Asbury Park music without including SSJ, and in my opinion SSJ owns this town. SSJ has been in this game for over 40 years, during this time producing 25 albums including his latest “Soultime” which dropped in 2015
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes played before a sold out crowd at the Iconic Stone Pony Asbury Park on Friday Feb 16. This show was dubbed “Stupid Cupid” in recognition of Valentines Day and included Anthony D’Amato and Mark Masefield of Remember Jones to get things started.
It was a cold windy night in Asbury Park and a sell out crowd was stirring at the iconic Stone Pony, waiting to go on a journey back to the roots of New Jersey music with SSJ. The music for tonight’s show was clearly Valentines Day inspired with SSJ and band mates working through a wandering setlist that included “Love Stinks” (J Geils Band) “Without Love,” and “I Played The Fool” to name a few. In the world of love songs there are happy and not so happy, and tonight’s were mostly the latter.
SSJ has been performing for 40 plus years and was in great form tonight. The Asbury Jukes providing the musical backdrop, bringing with them their usual soulful sound including several sax solos by John Isley. The set continued with SSJ working the crowd with mixture of original and cover songs including “Kitty’s Back,” The Fever,” Talk To Me” and” Sweet Home Alabama.” The momentum of this show continued to build from song to song, climaxing with “I Don’t Want To Go Home” which had the crowd dancing and signing out loud.
SSJ exited the stage and quickly returned for tonight’s encore “Trapped Again” and “Having A Party”, a fitting ending for an incredible night of local New Jersey music. When it was all over SSJ played a total of twenty-three songs including the encore for the capacity crowd, who left wanting more.
Setlist:
Better Days
Happy
I Played The Fool
Spinning
For Your Precious Love
Walk Away Renee
Without Love
My Whole World Ended
Love Stinks
Ride The Night Away
It Makes No Difference
Kitty’s Back
Sweet Home Alabama
Love On The Wrong Side Of Town
Forever
The Fever
Words Fail Me
Mixed Up
Talk To Me
This Time It’s For Real
I Don’t Want To Go home
Encore:
Trapped Again
Having A Party
Getting things started tonight were Anthony D’Amato and Mark Masefield of the group Remember Jones. Their performance was in the theme of a piano bar setting with the duo playing covers as well as a few originals.
Asbury Park 2018 is a vastly different place than it was in the 70’s and 80’s. Over the last ten or so years people are coming back, families are going to the beach and things are generally looking up. Cookman Ave is alive with people visiting the pubs, restaurants and art galleries. On the Boardwalk people ride bikes, take strolls and enjoy being outside, life is good. You may ask, what’s caused the resurgence of Asbury Park? I can answer that with one word, music!
In conclusion tonight’s show was one to remember, an iconic performer at an iconic venue. New Jersey (Asbury Park) has a rich musical heritage that was on full display tonight for all to see. Big thanks to the Stone Pony for hosting tonight’s gig, as well as Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, and Remember Jones for the great music.
