THE ASBURY PARK PRESS – BY KELLY-JANE COTTER – MUSIC WRITER – DECEMBER 19, 2000
For those of us lucky enough to be rooted at the Jersey Shore, it’s easy to take all these Springsteen shindigs for granted. But it bears noting that not everyone gets to see a favorite rock star in a setting the size of a high school gym. And, to flip it around, not every 50-something rocker has the credibility to command such a loyal crowd.
So it’s a nice symbiotic relationship between Bruce Springsteen and his hard-core fans here in Asbury Park, where last night some 2,300 fans sweated in Convention Hall while a few hundred more shivered on the boardwalk just to hear him sing his songs.
Last night’s concert was the second of two benefit concerts billed as “Bruce Springsteen’s Holiday Show with the Max Weinberg 7 with Friends.”
Springsteen reprised some of the material from Sunday’s show, including the rarely performed “Kitty’s Back” and “The E Street Shuffle” from his second album with the E Street Band, “The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle.” Inclusion of such early tracks enhanced the old-school feeling of the show, while at the same time, Mark Pender’s trumpet solo gave “Kitty’s Back” a fresh perspective.
E Streeters Clarence Clemons, Steven Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren and Patti Scialfa were among the veterans on stage, in addition to Weinberg, the longtime drummer for the E Street Band and leader of the MW7. Southside Johnny, who performs Dec. 31 at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, was there again, too, as was local guitar hero Bobby Bandiera.
Springsteen looked sharp in his black jacket, which he later ditched as the temperature rose, and he was elegant at the piano, singing a melancholy “For You.” His “Blue Christmas” was part Elvis Presley, part Hank Williams, helped along by Soozie Tyrell on violin.
As he did Sunday night, Springsteen backed away from the spotlight to give his colleagues time on center stage. Scialfa explained a little more about “Rose,” the new song she performed both nights, saying it was about her waitressing days. Scialfa was 27 when she met Rose, who, as the song said, was “pushing 50″ but still looked fine.
“Rose” is an evocative tale of female friendship, a pink-collar anthem reminiscent of Amy Rigby’s best songwriting.
Lofgren’s beautiful voice soared on “Shine Silently,” a track from his 1979 solo album, “Nils.” This man should sing all the time, everywhere.
The entire ensemble performed “Lucky Town,” a song from Springsteen’s brief period in the early ’90s without the E Street Band. The rocked-up version featured a stinging lead by Jimmy Vivino, who showed he had the chops to deserve all those excellent guitars he plays. Vivino also was prominent on guitar and vocals during “Run Rudolph Run,” telling Santa, “All I want for Christmas is a rock ‘n’ roll Les Paul guitar.”
Springsteen selected eight local good causes to share in the proceeds of his concerts. Tickets cost $50 each. Last week, the organizations held an online auction of the 10 pairs of tickets Springsteen donated to them. The auction raised $62,887, which will be divided among the organizations.
Last night’s show benefited the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County, the Women’s Center of Monmouth County, the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and Parker Family Health Clinic.
Sunday’s show raised money for the Greater Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce, Epiphany House, The Center in Asbury Park and Substance Abuse Resources.
Published on December 19, 2000
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