ASBURYJUKES.NET – BY SILVIA STEINER & MARKUS BAUMANN – JUNE 17, 2001

WHAT A DAY, WHAT A SHOW !!! Brussels became Europe’s “Mini-Jukestock”! A handful of Jukestock attendees and SSJ Fans from many European countries met in Brussels to see and support Southside Johnny & Asbury Jukes on Sunday night at their show in the Ancienne Belgique.

Traveling there from Switzerland, Markus and me already had a first, unexpected contact with the Jukes during the day. When we decided to take a walk around the city, we saw 2 guys who seemed to be desperate searching their way through the streets of Brussels behind the Novotel, in which we stayed for the weekend. We immediately recognized Joey Stann and Chris Anderson. During the short walk we asked them how the European tour is going so far for them: “oh, we’re having a great time here, a lot of fun, very good concerts and great audience in all the venues so far…”.

The evening should start with a surprise. Maggie has once again proved that she is the most talented organization and supporting “agent” for the band as well as for us fans (thanks again Maggie!). She managed to organize the ABCafe, which is a small bar belonging to the venue. A limited fan community met there at 6 pm for a pre-show party. And the big surprise was that Southside and the Jukes came to join us at the party. We were given a chance again to talk and meet with them. Southside and the Jukes seemed to be very relaxed and in a perfect mood, they patiently signed posters, talked to people and posed for photographs. We just felt like at Jukestock again!

We almost missed the first song from Joe D’Urso (sorry, Joe, hope you forgive us for that…). Joe’s performance was absolutely fabulous! We have just one expression for that concert: a great voice, strong guitar and on top of that he is a superb songwriter.

And then, SSJ & the Jukes came on stage and Maggie’s wish should finally become reality. She asked for ‘On The Beach’, because of Louie’s powerful drum playing. She asked for it, she got it as the opening song and Louie showed his great talent in full strength. What followed was a powerful 2-hour performance. Although we were told that Southside’s voice suffered a bit from the 10-day tour, he demonstrated the opposite, strong voice and a stage presence of an overwhelming energy. To the pain of some of his Jukes fellow that was sometimes too much of energy, especially for Louie, who suffered from Johnny leaving the micro stand across his drums during ‘Talk To Me’ with the words: “hold that, please…”. Some songs later, a towel flew over Johnny’s head right onto the drums.

The songs? Oh gosh, we were too excited and busy to take notes. Still, the recap from our memory includes some real tidbits of solo performances from the Jukes. The great saxophone of Joey for example in ‘Walk Away Renee’ and ‘Paris’, Chris’ trumpet in ‘The Fever’, and not to forget Bobby’s lead vocals in ‘C’Mon Caroline’.

We are sure that Mike Saunders will publish the complete set list in the right order, but here some more songs we remember: Gin Soaked Boy, Cadillac Jack, Better Days, Anxious, Talk To Me, All Night Long, This Time Baby’s Gone For Good, The Fever, Working Too Hard, Clearly Go Blind, I Played The Fool, Next To You, Without Love, Don’t Wanna Go Home, Sinful, Hearts Of Stone (Encore 1), Havin’ A Party (Encore 2)….

Finally once more, we have to say: Southside, Bobby, Muddy, Louie, Joey, Eddie, Chris and Jeff: you were again absolutely brilliant! We look forward to see you soon again on the road through Europe (well, I heard some ‘rumor’ and it says that this may be happening in a couple of month already)! Thanks for a wonderful evening.

See you in Zurich next week! – Silvia and Markus