Pop Break Live: Bruce Springsteen Surprise Appearance During Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes’ Stone Pony Summer Stage Show
Photos by Willy Mellot
“I heard Bruce is going to show up.”
This is a phrase you will hear at a ludicrous amount of shows — no matter the size, no matter the venue — in the Asbury Park music scene. Often times the rumors are completely absurd (one of the best was he and Paul McCartney were going to pop into a Bayside show at The Stone Pony to announce a benefit concert they were doing).
Yet, a few times a year, the patron saint of Asbury Park graces the stage of a show unannounced, and everyone loses their mind.
This is happened not once, but twice on Saturday July 6 at The Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park. The show was a loaded one. Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes’ annual 4th of July Show on the outdoor stage is always a big time event in Asbury, and this year the famed band had the phenomenal Remember Jones and E Street bassist Garry Tallent, opening things up. During Tallent’s set, The Boss made an ultra rare “day time” appearance, hopping on stage to sing a track from Tallent’s most recent solo record.
Many, like we, assumed that this would be the only appearance of Bruce Springsteen for the day. I mean, could you really expect to see Bruce return for a second time? It’s a sweaty day at the Jersey Shore, certainly he’s got things to do.
However, when the sun set, Bruce Springsteen, with guitar in hand, strode back onto the stage and blew everyone’s minds. He joined longtime friend and fellow Asbury Park icon Southside Johnny on stage to jam to a reported seven song set. According to multiple reports, and Setlist.fm, Bruce, Southside and The Jukes performed: “Sherry Darling,” “The Fever,” “Talk to Me,” “Kitty’s Back,” “I Don’t Want to Go Home,” “Mona/Not Fade Away,” and the cover of Sam Cooke’s “Having a Party” (a Jukes staple).
Combing through social media, the reviews of Bruce’s performance were glowing. The Bruce came, saw, and conquered, and most importantly gave his fans an unexpected gift on 4th of July weekend.
Keep an eye out for our coverage of Southside Johnny’s set this week.
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