Honerkamps Ballsaal, Melle, Germany (2009)

Posted on October 29, 2009 by Maggie Powell

MAGGIEPOWELL.NET – 29. October 2009 – So what is it about the Jukes that can entice several hundred people from the coziness of their homes to a dot-on-the-map (albeit a very nice dot) on a foggy, almost Halloween night, in lower, Lower Saxony, Germany, huh?

Well, the short answer to the above question lies with Volker König, the show promoter who has been bringing the Jukes in various formats to Melle for the last few years, and whose efforts are much appreciated by those of us not able to see the band play on their home turf.

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Wonderful Copenhagen!

Posted on November 18, 2004 by Maggie Powell

MAGGIEPOWELL.NET – BY MAGGIE POWELL

„Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen” goes the song from way back when 78s were the MP3s of the day; and for the audience at Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes’ November 14th, 2004 show, this particular cosmopolitan European capital city was most certainly the place to be.

The show took place on day 30 of the Jukes 2004 UK/European tour and this far down the road – metaphorically and literally – I wouldn’t have been at all surprised if the show had leaned towards presenting the less physically demanding songs from the Jukes’ massive repertoire; as it happened, that theory was well and truly blown out of the water. So yes, by the time the Amager Bio club date in Copenhagen came round, I really wasn’t sure what to expect.

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A Weekend with the Jukes

Posted on November 11, 2004 by Maggie Powell

MAGGIEPOWELL.NET – NOVEMBER 6 & 7, 2004 – BY MAGGIE POWELL

The first weekend in November saw Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes re-visit the Hyde Park club, in Osnabrück, for a never-been-done-before weekend package that meant a full-band performance on the Saturday night followed by an acoustic set from Southside Johnny and Bobby Bandiera on the Sunday night; the latter took place in the smaller, more intimate setting of the nearby Lagerhalle.

Joining the band for these shows was special guest, Soozie Tyrell, whose violin skills have earned her enviable gigs with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Without a doubt, Soozie’s presence brought a totally new dimension to the wall of sound normally associated with the Jukes and it was the most incredible experience to see her duelling with Bobby Bandiera’s nifty fret board work as well as with Joey Stann’s saxophone expertise during the course of the performance.

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Follow Through, the man behind the music

Posted on October 6, 2004 by Maggie Powell

An Interview with Eddie Manion by Maggie Powell – October 2004 -

For the first time ever on CD, Eddie Manion, saxophonist with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, has exchanged his role as band member, to that of band leader and has produced an outstanding collection of mainly original material entitled, “Follow Through”.

Comprising of instrumentals as well as vocal tracks, the tempos on this excellent, début release from Eddie, range from jazz to blues to rock/pop and to soul. As well as adding incredible depth to the music, Eddie’s superb sax solos are mellow, rich and wonderfully melodious; but on the tracks where Eddie’s vocal prowess emerges, “Follow Through” moves onto another level.

My initial reaction upon hearing Eddie’s album was to look around the room to see if he had somehow snuck in when I wasn’t looking such was the clarity of the sound coming out of my CD player.

From my own perspective, I guess I’ve always associated Eddie with the saxophone that has become his musical trademark over the years; so where had Eddie been hiding his vocal talents all this time I wondered… and, I’m happy to say that while the Jukes were on the German leg of their recent and hugely successful European tour, Eddie was kind enough to take time out of his hectic schedule to answer that question as well as some others I had prepared. I found Eddie’s answers incredibly enlightening and what follows is a bit of an insight into the making of his brand new CD, “Follow Through”.

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Coming Back - To Germany!

Posted on October 28, 2003 by Maggie Powell

– BY MAGGIE POWELL -

Apart from the few shows the Jukes did with Bon Jovi in 2001, it has been almost eleven years since the band last performed in Germany – scary stuff if you think about the way in which the world has changed since then. And before anyone starts getting the impression that the band boycotted Germany or anything, there are a lot of commercial reasons that make it very difficult for overseas artists to perform in Germany – further information available from Hans Eichel’s office!

However, since everything comes to they who wait, or words to that effect, the Jukes’ German fans’ patience was finally rewarded on October 25, 2003 when the band played at the Hyde Park club in Osnabrück. Never heard of the place? Well, picture the scene: Somewhere on the north side of Osnabrück just off the A1 (Bremen/Dortmund) there is a piece of waste ground cum car-park with a building on it that looks a little like the Stone Pony – different colours on the walls mind you, but nevertheless, similar in structure. In addition, a weird and wonderful looking Hendrix-esque creation, seemingly made out of scrap metal and complete with guitar, welcomes you to the club. (Apparently the owner is a Jukes’ fan and it was mainly thanks to him that this exclusive German show became part of the 2003 tour schedule.)

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Trabrennbahn, Hamburg, Germany, 2001

Posted on June 25, 2001 by Maggie Powell

The father, the son and the holy ghost of New Jersey...

Posted on December 17, 2000 by JUKES.NET

MAGGIEPOWELL.NET – BY MAGGIE POWELL – DECEMBER 17, 2000

Being at Sunday’s show at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park was a dream come true for me, to see Bruce perform there… you know, a bit like seeing the Beatles at the Cavern? As the show kicked off with the Max Weinberg 7′s horn section (that included Garry Tallent on tuba) playing “Jingle Bells”, it truly set a precedent for the rest of the night.

To witness Bruce performing a piano version of “For You” in the intimate surroundings of the Convention Hall was simply breathtaking. This was followed by “Blue Christmas” with Bruce on lead vocals and, Bobby Bandiera, Mark Pender, LaBamba and Jerry Vivino, all doing an a capella back-up while Soozie Tyrell added her special touch on the violin and Garry his, on double bass.

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They're on the road again

Posted on May 28, 2000 by Maggie Powell

MAGGIEPOWELL.NET – BY MAGGIE POWELL – MAY 2000

It’s been a long time since Southside Johnny Lyon toured as extensively as he did last year with his band of merry men, aka the Asbury Jukes. During an amazingly frank radio interview with DJ Vin Scelsa at the end of 1998, Johnny talked openly about the reasons that made him decide to take a break from performing. To the relief of his many fans however, Johnny concluded the conversation by announcing his plans to perform fourteen “unplugged” shows.

He said he hoped they would act as a “jump start” for him and judging from the ensuing schedule, it would appear that the semi-acoustic tour therapy had its desired effect. By the time that a ton of silver confetti fell onto the stage at Resorts International, Atlantic City, NJ, to welcome the new millennium, Southside Johnny (together with variations of the Asbury Jukes that included a new keyboard player as well as a female band member), had entertained and delighted audiences in bars; clubs; pool halls; amphitheatres; parks; and casinos. They’d also appeared at music festivals on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

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