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.

The longer, slightly more complex answer, I guess, goes back to the days when the Jukes established themselves as the greatest bar band in the world. Quite a reputation to live up to, but as anyone who has had any association with the band will tell you, the Jukes are, quite simply, the essence of live music… it’s all there… the spontaneity, the talent (collective and individual), the interaction on stage, and most of all, the undeniable passion for what they do.

And that’s why there was a sudden in-flux of like-minded people gathered in Melle, on Thursday, October 29th, eagerly awaiting the opening night of the 2009 Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes’ European Tour.

For drivers of large-ish vehicles, it’s worth noting that the approach to the venue is very picturesque and that Neuer Graben is wide enough for the Jukes’ bus. Just. As I drew near, Johnny was also just arriving so we had a quick chat and, as I went off to park, I smiled as I realised that I had “Grapefruit Moon” playing in my car – maybe I need to try this tactic more often and see if any of my other favourite performers pop up magically like this!

So let me tell you a little bit about the deco inside the Honerkamps Ballsaal… imagine a fairly standard large hall, stage at one end, bar at the other, sound board two-thirds of the way back… overlooking this setting, there is a 10-section frieze which gives an illusion of there being an upper gallery. Now, this mural is very clever and depicts lots of well-known local people some of whom are current König family members but the section (above the bar coincidentally) features… Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes! Yes, I did a head-count and they’re all there: Johnny, Bobby, Eddie, Joey, Chris, Joe, Jeff, John, Neal aaaaaaaaaand last but certainly not least, Hood, Prinzo and Paul (the merch man) too… cool or what?!?

“What the hell are you doing out there? Anyone wanna go home?” enquired Johnny before Happy turned up the heat on this otherwise chilly autumn night. Shakers tossed aimlessly and subbed by a harp, I Played The Fool continued. Coming up for air, Johnny made apologies for Eddie and Bobby and without missing a beat, Jeff played the opening bars of 10th Avenue Freeze Out as an accompaniment – Eddie was mia because he was part of the horn section in Bruce’s band at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 Year Anniversary bash at Madison Square Garden; Bobby, on the other hand, was on Bon Jovi duty which meant that we had the pleasure of seeing/hearing Fender-bender, Glenn Alexander! And let me tell you something about Glenn… he was at Jukestock as part of Mark Pender’s Band and La Bamba’s BIG Band. So yes, I confess… I was wearing my Cheers of Long Branch promo shirt for “Bandiera” circa ’92, but Glenn, you rocked and it was great to see you again.

At this point, I have another confession… I tried to keep a set list and everything was going well until… I tried to read my notes back! Hmmm… clearly my eyesight is past the stage of writing in the dark so I will do my best to recall as much as I can based on the unintelligible garblish on my note pad.

The songs I have been able to read are:

Coming Back, Gin Soaked Boy, Talk To Me, Into The Harbour, Joey’s Song (aka Walk Away Renée), Cadillac Jack’s No 1 Son, Love On The Wrong Side Of Town, The Fever, Living With The Blues, You’re My Girl, This Time Baby’s Gone For Good, I Don’t Want To Go Home, It’s Been A Long Time, Better Days
Encore: Tired Skin, Down, Down, Down, I’ve Been Working Too Hard

The temperature in the hall just kept rising while we were treated to all of the above plus a few more, the titles of which will have to remain a mystery unless someone more diligent than me was also taking notes. And yes, all the trademark solos were there – the roll-roll-roll-clap hand-jivin’ routine from the horns – the tips of Joe’s drums sticks resembled a strobe light they were moving so fast (btw, I loved the black leather gloves Joe!) – the incredible harp moments from Johnny as well as his unique soulfulness… it’s like every word he sings has been maxed-out on emotion – the JJG drum/bass/electric trio – Neal’s beautiful trombone solos – Chris’ masterpiece trumpet playing on The Fever and Tired Skin and the wonderful sounds he makes with the mute in place – Joey on Renée, which is always a highlight for me – as are Jeff’s keyboard skills which add depth and feeling with every note he plays – and of course, if Johnny was to be believed, the guys in the band apparently didn’t know what planet they were on because of the fact that they’d had zero acclimatisation time… from my new official favourite place to be at a Jukes gig i.e. right behind Joe Prinzo at the board, the guys in the band sounded very definitely on to me!

It was a fabulously mixed show, technically and musically, leaning a little more in the blues direction overall, I’d say. It never fails to amaze me how much energy these guys have as well as the way they manage to perform every song like it was the first time. I can safely say that nobody wanted to go home, even when “Baby, baby, baby… goodnight!” signalled the end of the show, and the start of the next leg of the 2009 Euro-journey for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.

As per what is now deemed normal the band came back out to sign autographs, something which works two ways, as it gives the fans a chance to say “thank you”. From my side, I honestly don’t know how many Jukes’ shows I’ve seen over the years, definitely not enough, but I do know that it is sooooooooo cool to have them play in what is effectively my backyard. Thanks for sending them Bill, thanks for having them Volker, and thanks for Coming Back again to Melle, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes – have a great rest-of-the-tour!

Copyright (c) by Maggie Powell – 2009
Pictures Copyright (c) by Gundula Johannsmann – 2009

„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.

Singer/songwriter, Mickey Kemp, from England, opened up for the Jukes by performing some of his own original material and was a welcome short but nevertheless sweet, treat since I had heard of Mickey, but never had an opportunity to see him play.

The Jukes’ set opened with Johnny singing a – possibly impromptu – version of Sam Cooke’s Only Sixteen and after that, with everyone in place, the gas pedal hit the deck, the turbo kicked-in and… we were off!

I Remember Last Night, Tell Me That Our Love’s Still Strong, I Won’t Sing… the songs came tumblin’ out… Fade Away, Talk To Me, Somebody To Love You… gathering momentum on the way… She’s Still In Love, Gladly Go Blind, Living With The Blues, Claudine, This Time It’s For Real, All I Needed Was You, Coming Back, Take It Inside, Broke Down Piece Of Man, I Played The Fool… and yes, it was just like that… non-stop!

Shake ‘em Down was an audience request and talking of which… the guy who was invited to join the band for We’re Having A Party and who, incidentally, resembled an ice-hockey player in every which way, had Johnny tentatively asking for “Help” as the guy’s armpits rested on Johnny’s head!

The only times the tempo of this show decelerated slightly were during Paris, The Fever and Walk Away Renee, but these were apparently the exceptions to the rock ‘n’ rollercoaster pace of this gig. I Don’t Want To Go Home, Got To Be A Better Way Home, Passion Street… and still the songs kept coming at us.

Contrary to my initial wonderings about what we’d perhaps hear from the band, it turned out to be a totally incredible performance from a bunch of guys whose energy levels ought to have been shot at this stage of the tour.

But no.

As each band member stepped forward to perform their own, extra special solos, it was like watching men who were on a mission.

Furthermore, you’d think when the house lights came on and the crew had started to tear down the stage equipment that the night was over, right??

Wrong!

Johnny and Bobby came back out once again and concluded the night with not one, not two but three more songs that ended with Dream Lover, Goodnight My Love and Hearts Of Stone. Yes, this surprise reprise did catch a few people out, especially those who were in the process of walking through the exits!

Many, many years ago, the Jukes became labelled as “The Best Bar Band In The World” and, you know what? That title remains unchallenged.

And was it worth the very-early wake-up calls together with a total of seven trains to get to Copenhagen and back I hear you ask?

In a word, yessssssssssssssssss!!

SETLIST: Only Sixteen – I remember last night – Tell me – I won’t sing – Only sixteen – Fade away – Talk to me – Somebody to love you – Paris – She´s still in love – Gladly go blind – Living with the blues – All night long – Claudine (Bobby) – This time it´s for real – All I needed was you – Coming back – Take it inside – Broke down piece of man – I played the fool – Shake em´ down – The Fever – Trapped again – I don´t wanna go home – Come go with me – Having a party — Got to be a better way home – Walk away Renee – Passion street — Dream lover – Goodnight my love – Hearts of stone ( Johnny & Bobby )

Copyright (c) by Maggie Powell 2004 – All rights reserved

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.

Apart from seeing Klaus introduce the band… if I had to choose just one thing from this show, the absolute highlight for me was the stunning version of Souls On Fire; and to be honest, you simply had to have been there to fully appreciate the depths Soozie’s violin sounds gave this classic from the Better Days album. Coupled with the dedication to the excellent Jukes’ Tribute band, “Souls On Fire”, who, incidentally, had come a long, long way to get to Osnabrück, it was altogether a very magic moment in a show that was certainly technically challenged, at least to begin with. But hey, with Joe Prinzo on board for this tour, the unforseen glitches didn’t stand a chance and so, the show rocked, just the way you’d expect it to, all night long.

SETLIST: Love On The Wrong Side Of Town – Next To You – Talk To Me – I Remember Last Night – Cadillac Jack – She’s Still In Love – I Played The Fool – Coming Back – Soul’s On Fire – Help Me – All the Way Home (country medley, including El Paso, during which Soozie came out and they ended up swapping verses on “She Thinks I Still Care”) – Trapped Again – Walk Away Renee – It’s All Over Now – Claudine – Tell Me That Your Love’s Still Strong – Without Love – Fever – We’re Havin’ A Party – ENCORES: I Don’t Want To Go Home – Driving Wheel – Got To Be A Better Way Home – Hearts Of Stone

EUROPEAN JUKES’ CONVENTION – UNIKELLER – NOVEMBER 7, 2004

Prior to the Sunday night acoustic show, the very first Jukes’ Fan Convention to be held in Europe took place at the Unikellar bar, an integrated hostelry part of the Osnabrück University. Apparently the seed for this event was sown at the Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, when the Jukes performed there a couple of years ago. Something to do with a bunch of fans getting together before the show and having the surprise of their lives when the guys in the band came down to the bar to say “hi”, I believe! OK, so I knew the bit about the guys in the band stopping by, but hey… there was no way I was going to lift the lid on this!

Since then, one thing has led to another, including the launch of www.asburyjukes.de which subsequently caught the attention of some guys living in Munich who just happened to be in a tribute band called “Souls On Fire” that just happened to perform Jukes music and who just happened to be available the weekend of the Osnabrück shows! Long story short, the house band for the Convention had been booked.

Another contributing factor to this event was the fact that it had been 25 years since the Jukes first appeared on the German TV programme, Rockpalast. At that time, the programme’s host was Peter Rüchel and it was particularly fitting that Peter agreed to come to the Convention and ultimately make a presentation to Southside Johnny to commemorate the band’s first German television broadcast.

And so, thanks to Gisela, Klaus and Guido, we had ourselves a helluva party!

Now, there are “cover” bands and there are “tribute” bands and “Souls On Fire” very definitely fall into the latter category. Their set included a mixture of old and new Jukes’ songs and they certainly raised a few eye-brows – à la Roger Moore – when some of the older material like “Why” was performed.

It was just great to see Jukes’ baritone sax player, Eddie Manion, get up and jam with the guys and if smiles could have generated electricity, the Unikeller would have had been lit up for a week.

And as if that wasn’t enough… in walked the rest of the Jukes to a rapturous welcome.

After the above-mentioned presentations had been made by Peter Rüchel and Johnny had made his reply, “Souls On Fire” picked up where they had left off and continued playing until it was time to go home – not than anyone wanted to go, but the thought of the acoustic show was kinda alluring.

“Souls On Fire” really did credit to the songs they played and their performance had the Unikellar rockin’.

Check out: www.souls-on-fire.de for everything you’d like to know about the Best Jukes’ Tribute Band In The World and incidentally, “Souls On Fire” are also the current “Fans of the Month” on the official Southside Johnny website. Congratulations, thanks for a great time and, way to go guys!

SET LIST – courtesy of Wolle Fent: Got To Be A Better Way Home – Better Days – Snatchin’ It Back – Tenth Avenue Freeze Out – Why – She’s Still In Love – Time – Fever – This Time It’s For Real – Shake ‘em Down – Going Back To Louisiana – Talk To Me – No Easy Way Down – Lost In The Night – Jam-Blues (with Eddie Manion) – I’ve Played The Fool (solo Eddie) – Baby Don’t Lie – Got To Get You Off Of My Mind- Passion Street – Souls On Fire (solo Eddie) – I’ve Been Working Too Hard – All I Want Is Everything – I Don’t Wanna Go Home – Too Much Stuff – We’re Havin´A Party

Congratulations also to Klaus and Guido for putting the whole she-bang together and as for their incredibly clever t-shirt that said: “I Always Wanted To Be An Asbury Juke” – a quote from Jon Bon Jovi, it won’t surprise you to know that they were the most popular shirts of the day!

This set the scene perfectly for the acoustic show that would follow…

SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY – ACOUSTIC SET – LAGERHALLE – NOVEMBER 7, 2004

As per above, this smaller, more intimate venue was just perfect for this truly exceptional acoustic show. Vanessa may, but Soozie certainly does – rock with her violin that is!

Considering the fact that there were only three people performing on the stage, their collective, dazzling talents made it sound more like a full-blown ensemble. Suffice to say it was an incredibly mind-blowing occasion for those of us lucky enough to be there and the show included original material from Soozie and Bobby, as well as some Jukes’ songs and covers from the likes of Aretha Franklin, the Everly Brothers and Little Feat.

Some of the highlights for me were hearing Bobby singing Here Comes The Sun, Soozie performing Dark Clouds from her album, “White Lines” and a song Johnny sang that appeared to be called Looking In The Eyes Of Love which I didn’t recognise but it certainly had an impact on me. We also heard a wonderful rendition of Under The Sun, which was written by Bobby and Patti Scialfa, as well as Rosa and Into The Mystic.

From start to finish, this show had everything… great music, great sound, great banter, great personalities on stage and a great venue.

SETLIST: It Hurts To Be In Love – Coming Back – Under The Sun – Son Of A Preacher Man – Crying In The Rain – Looking In The Eyes Of Love – If I Needed Someone – It’s All Over Now – Dark Clouds – Willin’ – She Still Thinks I Care – Fade Away – Heart of Saturday Night – Here Comes The Sun – Trapped Again – Driving Wheel – Claudine – Till I Kissed You – Rosa – I Don’t Want To Go Home – ENCORES: She’ll Be Comin’ Round The Mountain – Into The Mystic – When Will I Be Loved? – C’mon Caroline

Copyright (c) by Maggie Powell 2004 – All rights reserved

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”.

MP: Congratulations! This is a really great album and I was so surprised when I heard you take lead vocals… I really was like “Wow!” So, I guess my first question has to be, how have you managed to keep your vocal prowess such a secret up to now?

EM: Well, thank you. I used to have my own band in the 80s and I played up and down the Jersey Shore and just about every club in New Jersey.

I was the lead singer with the band and we played a few places in NYC like Delta 88, the Lone Star Café… and then down to places like Razzles in Seaside Heights, the Stone Pony in Asbury Park… and then up to North Jersey… and that was going on back then, right up until like, ’84/’88 when the “Tunnel of Love” tour started with Bruce. And after that tour, I just became so busy with different things… touring with Bruce, then I was touring a lot with Willy DeVille; and then I joined the Robert Cray band for 3 years; and after Robert Cray, I came back to the Jukes and never really had time to put my band back together; and that’s how it’s been.

MP: So, that kinda sounds like you haven’t so much been keeping your vocal prowess a secret, more that it’s always been there, but on hold?

EM: Yeah that’s about right, it’s been on hold.

MP: The liner notes say you’ve been writing some of the songs since 1984… that’s like 20 years ago so, maybe we should start at the beginning… what is the actual chronological order of the songs?

EM: Some of the instrumentals I did in the last couple of years… but the others, well I wrote them around 1988 and just about all in the same order as they appear on the album.

MP: When I listened to the songs, it really did feel like you were sitting in the room with me and I found some of the lyrics very evocative… maybe you could tell me what inspired you to write them?

EM: It’s just that I wanted to make an album of my own and so I just started writing. I’ve always been writing, even when I was in the Jukes back in ’76 and ’77. I would write a song, make a demo of it, put it away, keep working… and it’s hard to say why you write a song… it just happens.

MP: It’s hard for me to be selective about any of the tracks on the album because I like all of them but I’d love to know the background to Streets Of London which is one of the three great instrumentals on the album and sounds a bit more bluesy than say, Harlem Nocturne…

EM: That song was a result of being on the “Tunnel Of Love” tour with Bruce Springsteen and from just walking round London. That whole tour I would bring my little 4-track tape recorder and my keyboard and a drum machine… and every night I would go back to my room and work on this record. I’d written a couple of songs before that like, My Son, My Daughter.

MP: Yeah, My Son My Daughter – the liner notes dedicate this song to your father… it also has a determined feel about it…

EM: Yes, on the album I dedicated this to my father, he was always there and I guess I kinda wrote it from my father’s point of view. I wrote it based on memories of growing up.

MP: Blackjack – I love this! It’s a great party rock song and I couldn’t help noticing a couple of significant lines like: “on the beach” & “quarter to three”… so what’s the story behind this track?

EM: I think I was working with Diana Ross, in 1981, when I wrote this. I was with her like, 3 years and it seemed like I was living in casinos. You know, we’d play Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas for a month at a time then we’d go to Lake Tahoe and play Caesar’s… then we’d go to Atlantic City… and so you have a lotta time on your hands. So one of the other guys in the band and I used to play blackjack a lot.

MP: Did you win??

EM: Sometimes… sometimes! So I think that song is a result of walking around these casinos as well as the influence of the surroundings I was in at the time.

MP: And were the lines I mentioned accidental?

EM: Actually, when I was writing that song I was doing it with a video in mind. I never made the video but the whole thing centred around being in a casino and you know, there’d be a girl on the beach seeing a clock on “quarter to three”… and I was going to have special guests yeah, like Gary Bonds.

In my mind, I thought if this could happen, and if I could get a record deal you know? I think I was writing a lot of these songs with the idea of using a demo to get a record deal for myself and then there would be a video if that happened. And that was the video I imagined ‘cos the way the Blackjack song starts off with the really fast beat? That was the cards coming out of the pack…

MP: Hey, that’s a good idea… I think you should still do this! And Gary just kinda snuck in there then?

EM: It is probably just a result of at the time I was playing a lot with Gary Bonds at the time…and yeah, he just kinda snuck in there.

MP: You must have worked with a fair number of producers over the years, so what made you decide to produce your album by yourself?

EM: I had to do everything myself… pay for it… get the musicians in… get the studio… so when you don’t have a producer that’s going to produce it, you either produce it yourself, or…

But that’s why it took me a long time. I’m very fussy about the way it sounds and I got very spoiled with expensive state-of-the-art studios when I was working with the Jukes and Little Steven. And if I was trying to get a record deal I knew I had to sound compatible to those records. So that’s why it took so long. I’d do a little bit, then go out on the road and then I’d go in and spend a couple of thousand dollars and do some more. And the guy who co-produced it with me, Dan Grigsby, he was an engineer at the House of Music and he’s done a lot of stuff with different people like Joe Cocker and Kool and the Gang. So we put a lot of time into the record and I think it is pretty well produced.

MP: I have to say how much I love the artwork on the CD. I think Joe Bellia has captured the very essence of you as a saxophone player perfectly with all the wonderful blends of gold and bronze colours he has combined.

EM: Yes, I think so too. We did that shoot at the New Brunswick train station and we were there until 3 in the morning waiting for the train to come by and try to get a particular shot. We must have taken about 250 pictures to get the right one.

MP: What plans do you have to promote the CD and/or will we be seeing any solo performances from you in the near future?

EM: Probably not. I’ll probably be pretty busy with the Jukes. Yeah and see… it would be very hard for me to put a band together and make it sound like the record. I did that in the 80s and unless you have a lot of money to put a band together of the right musicians and rehearse, it’s not that easy. But you know, I would like to get out and do a few shows to promote the record… that would be nice. We’ve been playing one song with the Jukes once in a while – There’s A Reason For Everything – and that’s worked out pretty well.

MP: Yes, I read some of the reviews about that and it sounded like it was really well received in the UK.

Moving slightly sideways… to my ears at least, the saxophone is such an incredibly sensual instrument and I’ve noticed some intricate engravings on some models I’ve seen so I would like to know what types you play and what makes them special for you?

EM: I have a few saxophones. On the CD I played tenor sax on Harlem Nocturne and Sleepwalk, and baritone sax on Streets of London. The baritone sax is a Selmer Mark VI – an older Selmer from 1961 and it’s a very special horn. The Mark VIs were probably the best Selmers that were ever made; and the tenor I play is an old Conn called a “Chu Berry”. It’s actually a Conn 10M and it was made in 1927. I bought it in NY and certain horns have a certain sound and usually older horns are better than anything they make today. Years ago they used to be a lot more ornate with the engravings but I tend to go for the sound, the markings are just decoration.

MP: So what does Eddie Manion do when he is not playing his saxophone?

EM: What do I do when I’m not playing saxophone? Wow… music is pretty much a full-time thing and every day you have to practise. I don’t think there’s much I do that hasn’t got to do with music and that’s what I love to do. But I relax, go to the beach, read a book…

MP: Play blackjack??!!

EM: Yeah, play blackjack! No, I tend to stay away from blackjack!

MP: I believe you teach at a music centre, would you like to tell me something about that for example, what type of students do you work with, how old are they and do they put on performances?

EM: I teach one day a week and I have 12 students… mostly kids from 10 years old to 17 and it’s very rewarding. And I have some students that I taught from the beginning and it’s just amazing seeing them become excellent players. And it’s good for me, good practice… it’s very rewarding to teach something and you want to pass things on… someone taught me and now it’s my turn to pass it on. Some things you just can’t learn from books. Sometimes we have little concerts for them. So yeah, I do one or two days a week when I’m not busy…it fills up my schedule and pays the bills.

MP: How do you plan to follow through “Follow Through”?

EM: I’m already working on my next CD. It’s a combination of instrumentals and vocals but there’ll be more instrumentals this time around… at least half, maybe more. It’s something I’ve been working on in the last 3 years and all the music is written and all the arrangements are done. For the instrumentals I’ve been writing everything out on my computer using a special programme I have installed. So I’ve written the music for ten songs and I’ve been busy doing that so when I record this next record, I plan on doing it live in the studio. I’ll have one rehearsal with the musicians, I’ll pass out the music, we’ll rehearse it and then we’ll record it right there. And I’m hoping to use some really good musicians on the instrumentals. So, yeah it’s in the works already. When I go home, I’m going to start recording it and hopefully it’ll be done by the summer.

MP: Now you’ve had a chance to reflect on the release of the album and all that it involved, how do you feel about it now?

EM: I just wanted to do something I was proud of and take my time with it and it was more for me, than trying to get a record deal. It was personal, and it was the type of thing I’d do and then I would put it under the table and listen to it a couple of months later and think well, I need to add this, or I need to add that… I took way too much time. And then I didn’t really feel like I had a market to put it out. But then every time I played it for somebody they’d say, “Put this out… why don’t you put this out… what are you waiting for?” So, I just finally said OK. Basically, I record for me and for my own personal satisfaction… you know, like an artist with a painting… you try to do the best job you can and not try to be commercial.

MP: In terms of Eddie’s vision for his CD, I think we can safely say “mission accomplished” and I for one am certainly looking forward to his next release. Be sure to check out www.eddiemanion.com for all the latest news and updates about Eddie’s activities as a solo artist when he’s not performing with the Jukes.

Copyright (c) by Maggie Powell 2004 – All rights reserved

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.)

The day’s events began with an afternoon autograph session at JPC, a record store in the center of Osnabrück. This was attended by Southside Johnny and Bobby Bandiera and attracted a whole bunch of loyal fans, eagerly awaiting a unique opportunity to meet the guys off-site, as it were.

A few hours and a packed Hyde Park club later, the assembled masses were on the brink of an unforgettable evening.

It was evident from the second that Southside Johnny and Bobby Bandiera walked onto the stage minus the rest of the band that the highlight factor would loop the loop. And loop the loop it did! “Time Is Running Wild” and “Fade Away” as openers?? Wonderful stuff.

“Unchain My Heart” launched the full band show and as it segued into “ I Played The Fool”, Eddie — stepping forward to take his solo — had a close encounter of the unexpected kind as a sudden burst of enthusiasm from Johnny (read: left-hook) almost knocked him flying! Undeterred, Eddie carried on as if it was a normal occurrence.

With every song that was performed, the show gathered momentum and it seemed as if the band was making up for lost time. Ageless, evocative, classics from albums such as: “Hearts Of Stone”, “Better Days”, “Messin’ With The Blues”, “Going To Jukesville” and the “Ruff Stuff” sampler all featured, and it was like the band had never been away.

So how did “99 Red Balloons” find its way onto the set-list I hear you ask??

Well, it began when Jeff played a Scorpions’ riff on piano which led to an on-stage discussion about German rock songs. A voice from the front responded and called for “99 Red Balloons”, Bobby heard it and, in a nano-heartbeat, started to sing it. Did the audience react?? You bet they did! The place erupted as the rest of the band picked up Bobby’s lead. And although it was effectively just an intro, the familiar sound of this song made famous by Germany’s own rock goddess, Nena, undeniably went down a storm.

There was even a little role reversal during the show when Johnny suggested taking over lead guitar while the regular lead guitarist did a little movin’ and groovin’ with someone from the front row…!

A personal highlight for me was hearing “Monkey In The Middle”. It was absolutely brilliant and so good to hear one of Bobby’s original songs from his first CD, “Bandiera”. Since Joe Bellia, Steve “Muddy” Shews, Joey Stann and Eddie Manion regularly play with Bobby when he does his own shows, it was great to have a taster of the Jersey Shore club scene sound right here in Germany.

During the course of the show, all of the band members had an opportunity to take the spotlight and I find it impossible to single out one solo from another because all of the Jukes are all so incredibly accomplished at what they do. Suffice to say the chill factor these guys create whenever they take center-stage is spectacular. And as you can see from the set-list below, this show had everything… it rocked, it rolled, it had blues, it had doo-wop, it had heart, it had soul… oh yeah… it had pure, unadulterated, twenty-four carat, heart and soul alright.

All too soon, the significance of the opening song had become apparent… time had run wild… and suddenly, Johnny was saying “Goodnight” – but only until next year, evidently.

Four sensational encores later, the show ended with a totally wonderful version of “Hearts Of Stone”. But when the house lights finally came on, it wasn’t just the road crew and technicians that came onto the stage; the entire band came back out to sign autographs, have their photographs taken and generally meet and greet the many hundreds of fans who had waited such a long time for the Jukes to return to Germany.

No amount of words can describe the feel-good factor this show generated but I guess if the energy had been measured in megawatts, it would have lit up Osnabrück for a week!

Sincere thanks to Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes for Coming Back to Germany.

Set List:

Time Is Running Wild
Fade Away
Unchain My Heart
I Played The Fool
Gladly Go Blind
Talk To Me
Sinful
Coming Back
All I Needed Was You
Walk Away Renee / Just My Imagination
Baby Don’t Lie
All Night Long / Gimmie Shelter
99 Red Balloons (Intro only)
Autobahn (Jeff Kazee Intro only)
Tired Skin
Somebody To Love You
She’s Still In Love
All The Way Home
Monkey In The Middle
Without Love
The Fever
Trapped Again
Passion Street

YeahYeah
I Don’t Want To Go Home

I Walk The Line
I’ve Been Working Too Hard
Folsom Prison Blues

Come And Go With Me (?)
Having A Party

Hearts Of Stone

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.

“Welcome to the fabulous Convention Hall” announced Bruce as the MW7 launched into a bluesy number that sounded like it came straight out of the Connon O’Brien TV show. Jimmy Vivino then blasted his way into “Run, Run, Rudolph” trading licks and verses with Bruce as he went. We got “Lucky Town”, followed by the “E Street Shuffle” and the roar of approval as this became recognisable, was totally deafening! “Move On Up” might have been included because it was about a year ago, if not exactly a year ago, that Curtis Mayfield passed away. Next up, “Kitty’s Back” and who came walking onto the stage at the appropriate line?? Yep, the BIG man… Clarence!

Basically, the MW7 was a Brilliant Disguise for the E Street Band because they were ALL there – Roy, Danny, Nils, Steven, Patti (and her two red headed women back-up singers, Soozie Tyrell and Lisa Lowell). Set against the same backdrop that had been used the night before at the fantastic Holiday Express show, which took place at the Continental Airlines Arena, it all added to the magic of the night.

Patti stepped forward and treated us to two songs. One was a new song which Bruce said was on the album she is (still) working on, called “Rose”. Bobby helped out wonderfully here by playing acoustic guitar for Patti who also had back up from Soozie and Lisa.

Patti then sang, “As Long As I (Can Be With You)” from “Rumble Doll”, snippets of which appeared during the last tour. Bruce provided further back up on guitar.

Sporting a waistcoat totally in keeping with the festiveness of the occasion, Little Steven AND Southside Johnny came out to join the fun and treated us to “This Time It’s For Real” – the Father, Son and Holy Ghost of Jersey Shore Rock and Roll all traded verses and it was a sight to behold. Steven then sang “Until The Good Is Gone” (from “Men Without Women”) and this was followed by “All I Needed Was You” preceded by a quip from Bruce about it coming from a “classic Jukes album that only Johnny’s family bought”!

Nils came out next and performed a STUNNING version of “Shine On Silently” while Bruce and Patti did back up. Then Roy, Clarence, Danny and “the living Spirit of Christmas, Steve Van Zandt,” all joined Bruce for “Merry Christmas Baby”.

“So Young And In Love” was next and was a mind blower. “Roll Of The Dice”… would you believe someone actually brought a pair of furry dice????? Then we got an amazing “Bobby Jean” that was followed by the last song of the main set, a rockin’ “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” complete with JON LANDAU on acoustic guitar groovin’ alongside Clarence with perfect synchronicity!

Here comes the goose bumpy bit…

Bruce led the encores by delivering a speech explaining who the beneficiaries of the tickets sales were. Bruce also mentioned “Save Tillie” and Bob Crane’s name at least twice. Then he introduced a new song, “City Of Ruins” which he dedicated to “Cleopatra Steps Out” owner, Kate Mellina, in recognition of all the work that she and her husband Dave Christopher are doing for the good of Asbury Park.

The song moved me to tears. Bruce was standing about 6 feet in front of me, singing about Asbury Park and I was there, in that city, hearing him premier yet another evocatively written piece of musical genius. The song began at the piano and half way through, Bruce switched to guitar, “C’mon rise up…” went the chorus lines, “My city’s in ruins…” continued the song. NEVER before has Bruce been so open about his feelings regarding the state of Asbury Park but after hearing this song, there is absolutely NO doubt in my mind where a piece of his heart lies.

“I Don’t Want To Go Home” totally raised the roof… Southside Johnny, Bruce, Little Steven and Bobby who just kept hittin’ those high notes that I LOVE! And before anyone had the chance to catch their breath… “Rosie” came out tonight and it was AWESOME!

The grand finale had a cast of thousands including Bruce’s mum and auntie who were dressed in Santa Claus outfits, a multitude of elves that I feel sure MUST have included a couple of Bruce and Patti’s children plus the most amazing line-up of back-up singers that included: Bob Crane and Debbie Robinson from “Save Tillie” as well as Kate Mellina and Dave Christopher. As the band sang “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town”, all of Santa’s “helpers” threw candy sticks into the audience and it was just so incredible to be there as all this candy came raining down around me.

The intimacy of the Convention Hall as well as its location played a huge part in the magic I felt at this show. Just to have been here… to have seen Bruce and the entire E Street Band play in Asbury Park as well as Southside Johnny (who appeared to be having a blast!), Bobby Bandiera, LaBamba, Mark Pender, Jimmy Vivino plus the other guys in the MW7 (Scott Healy etc.), it truly was wonderful and the memories will live with me forever.

Christmas Greetings From Hannover, Germany.

Maggie Powell

Copyrights (c) 2000 – by Maggie Powell, all rights reserved

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.

Communal bass guitar

Nashville musicians Kevin Gordon (guitar) and Rick Schell (percussion) made their “Jukes” d颵t by joining Southside Johnny and Bobby Bandiera on the “unplugged” dates. The shows ultimately became “plugged” and produced an all-hands-on-bass situation where whoever happened to be free took control of the communal instrument – this included Johnny, Bobby and Timmy (the one-armed roadie) Holland. Throughout the rest of the year and, completely in accordance with Jukes tradition, the band’s line-up featured performances from: David Hayes (bass); Hugh McDonald (bass); Sue Williams (bass); Jeff Kazee (keys); Scott Healey (keys); Joe Bellia (drums); Joey Stann, Ed Manion, Chris Anderson, Mark Pender and Richie “LaBamba” Rosenberg (horns).

Besides the official scheduled band dates, Southside Johnny also made a few lucrative unscheduled appearances during 1999. At the request of fellow Shore musician and friend John Cafferty, Johnny and Bobby were asked to participate at a special concert when the PGA Tour was in Florida last March. Johnny also made a surprise appearance at Bruce Springsteen’s Oakland, CA, show last October and performed “Hungry Heart” with the E Street Band. Then in December, both Johnny and Bobby turned up at an event in Colt’s Neck, NJ. This was in effect a prize that had been won at a charity evening hosted earlier in the year by Jon Bon Jovi. An anonymous businessman bid $60,000 for the privilege of having Bon Jovi to play in his backyard and most of the musicians in attendance at this bash were also present at the legendary fundraiser that took place at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank on January 31st, 1998. Yes, besides Bon Jovi… Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa plus LaBamba and the Hubcaps all got jiggy with it for another good cause.

Virtual contact

Obtaining information like this has been made simpler thanks to the invention of the WWW but since not everyone is online yet, I thought I would share some of the comments, opinions and set lists that appeared during the course of 1999 on the SOUTHSIDE DIGEST as well as on Allan Wright’s and Klaus Boettger’s Websites – details are listed at the end. The SOUTHSIDE DIGEST is an Internet newsletter that is maintained by one of the Jukes’ most loyal fans, Debbie May, whose efforts have enabled fans across the globe to share a common wavelength with one another. I recently posed the question: How was it for you? – referring of course to the Jukes’ shows. Without exception, everyone who wrote to me willingly gave me their permission to use their work for this article. So without further ado, sit back and buckle-up as we follow the magical, mystery tour that took Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes back on the road again in 1999.

The world’s loudest acoustic band

From Massachusetts to New York City, the acoustic tour was destined to be special and besides featuring the two newcomers Kevin and Rick, it would have been impossible for the most diehard of Jukes fans to have predicted the contents of the shows. Allan Wright who was at the Haverhill and Manchester shows said: “It was a breath of fresh air to enjoy hearing South’s vocals as well as his smooth, harmonica-playing which featured more prominently because they weren’t straining over the horns and full band.” The song selection also went down extremely well with Allan who rated “Rosa” and “Bird Dog” as his personal favourites. Daniela who hails from Bloomfield, NJ, said: “What made part of the shows special for me was actually seeing them in small, intimate clubs outside New Jersey or New York. It was awesome hearing Southside’s voice out in front.” The Birchmere show prompted Johnny to announce: “We’re the world’s loudest acoustic band!” Thanks to John Eustis’ detailed report, we also know that the crowd went wild when Bobby sang “Running Scared”. During the course of this highly acclaimed evening, Johnny also played harp, guitar and castanets in addition to his vocal role.

As each review appeared, it was clear that the acoustic shows were knocking people out wherever the band played. The show at the North Star Bar in Philadelphia, PA, prompted Kim Del Roccili to make further comments about Johnny’s vocal prowess and how his voice shone through in this particular venue. Kim also said that some of the songs crept into the set because of Johnny’s bantering and at one point, while he was joking about his frame of mind, Bobby (the “Human Jukebox”) quickly responded with a few chords from Jethro Tull’s “Aqualung”. The final two performances of the acoustic tour were held on the same night at the Bottom Line club in New York City, NY, and featured Graham Parker as the opening act. Graham also re-appeared later to join Johnny and the band at the end of their sets and everyone who was at the first show got to hear one of Graham’s own great songs, “New York Shuffle”.

Southside makes a cyberappearance

As expected, all of these gigs went down a storm and shortly afterwards, a message appeared on the Digest which Johnny had asked Debbie to post. It said: “If you would, I wish you tell all the folks who came out for the “acoustic” tour thanx from Bobby, Kevin, Rick and me. I didn’t know whether or not anyone would be interested, and I was right pleased with the response. I am always amazed that ANYONE would willingly put up with my shenanigans. I can’t say enough about the fan loyalty I’ve gotten over the years. You’se are de greatest! Southside.” You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure that the audiences weren’t the only ones who were havin’ a good time during the course of this tour and when the next lot of acoustic dates were announced, there was extreme joy amongst Jukes fans across here in Europe… as long as you had a Master’s degree in Orienteering, that is.

Magic European moments

Klaus Boettger and his friend Guido made it to the Dutch festival shows in The Hague and Ospel-Moulin. Both of them had a blast, loved every minute and got sunburnt for their sins, but the choice of venues meant that sadly, they encountered a situation where a lot of the audience were there simply havin’ a party as opposed to being interested in any of the performances. This must have been tough on the acts and as Klaus reported, by the time that Johnny, Bobby, Kevin and Rick came on at their allocated time slot of 23:15 a lot of the crowd were already on another planet! In spite of everything though, Klaus described “Hearts Of Stone” as having never touched him more than that night in Ospel-Moulin and that he will never forget it.

The Paris performance took place in a small club near Montmartre. Gisela travelled from Germany especially to see the show, having waited four long years for this opportunity. She told me: “It was great to see Johnny again and the setlist was incredible. I couldn’t believe that once more, I had got to hear the songs I love so much. Chances like this don’t happen very often so that made each song extra special for me… the well-known Jukes songs as well as the blues songs and Johnny’s voice on ‘Hearts Of Stone’ never sounded better. Another highlight from this emotionally charged show was Bobby’s version of the Righteous Brothers hit ‘Unchained Melody’. As Bobby gently strummed his guitar, the audience literally stopped in their tracks to listen to him and when the song was over, Bobby’s reward was the most enthusiastic applause of the evening.” Silvia Steiner who had made the trip to Paris from her home in Switzerland also complimented Bobby’s performance and said: “My boyfriend and I had such a great time, we really wanted to see another show. As luck would have it, I was in San Jose on business when the band played their west coast dates, so I was able to see them again. It would be really great if Johnny could come back to play again in Zurich because he has a lot of fans there who would love to see him once more.”

I guess I must have been absent the day my geography class discovered places like Louvain La Neuve because I decided to stick to the safe option and head for the London gig. Naturally, I did not anticipate getting trapped in the sky above Frankfurt for what seemed like eternity on account of the volume of military aircraft that was heading in and out of Kosovo at the time. Nor was I prepared for a further delay on the tube out of Heathrow because of a “security alert”. Accordingly, I nearly blinded myself when I misdirected my hair-spray whilst in a state of panic at the possibility of missing the show! But now, with the benefit of hindsight, I can tell you that it was worth every single stress-filled second to hear “I Only Want To Be With You” (part of a short Dusty Springfield medley which also featured parts of “Wishin’ And Hopin’” and “Son Of A Preacher Man”) as well as “All The Way Home”.

Mike Saunders was also there and later wrote: “Southside’s first UK appearance for three-and-a-half years took place in the appropriately sweaty confines of the Embassy Rooms in London, a now-defunct basement club which was packed to the rafters with an enthusiastic crowd who’d come to welcome back an old friend. Although Southside’s voice was fading towards the end of the 135-minute gig, he never let up for a second. The wit and the wisecracks were still there in abundance, as was the usual unpredictable set list, which included material by Chuck Berry (‘Back In The USA’), Roy Orbison (‘Crying’) in addition to Bobby’s own ‘C’mon Caroline’, three excellent songs by Kevin Gordon (‘Dissatisfied’, ‘Cadillac Jack’s No 1 Son’ and ‘Deuce And A Quarter’) and much more besides. ‘This is a Duke Ellington song’, joked Southside during a lengthy blues section. ‘He’s dead, but his music isn’t…at least not till we get through with it!’ Taking place just two days after Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s second concert in Manchester, the show might have turned into a New Jersey summit meeting, but the rumoured special guests failed to show and it didn’t really matter. Southside later dubbed the concert ‘Bruce Aid’, noting how Bruce needed all the money he could get to feed three kids and a huge band. Among more familiar Bruce material like ‘Talk To Me’, the versatile four-piece included a fine version of ‘Fade Away’. while a short snippet of ‘Sherry Darling’ later turned up in ‘I’ve Been Working Too Hard’. The night drew to a close with ‘Having A Party’, which somehow morphed into Elvis Costello’s ‘Watching The Detectives’ before Southside called it a night. ‘Goodnight, we’ve wasted enough of your time’, he cracked. The show had been many things, but certainly not a waste of anybody’s time. Roll on the next one.”

Hot summer gigs

From Memorial Day weekend thru’ Labor Day weekend, Southside Johnny and a fully paid-up version of the Asbury Jukes zig-zagged their way across the USA leaving a bunch of happy campers in their wake. The summer tour began at the Philadelphia Music Festival and the band performed twice on the opening day of this three-day event. Kim Del Roccili explained that the stage was set up in a large tent which had seating for around 300 people prompting quick-witted Johnny to comment that he felt as if he was at a revival meeting. Unphased, the Jukes played two powerful sets before moving on to Ohio. The Youngstown show on May 30th was actually a private party set up by a local hard rock station who declared that “caller #6″ etc. was the necessary criterion for getting a ticket. But thankfully, hell hath no fury like Jukes fans scorned and Tish Michalak’s reassuring report confirmed that the audience selection process did not affect the band’s performance. Tish said: “As a result of singing too loud and hollering too much, I managed to dislocate a disc in my jaw and I have been trying to get it back into place ever since!”

The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA, has a reputation for being a great venue to hear live music because it has an in-house policy that won’t tolerate unnecessary distractions from the audience during a performance. Perhaps this could explain why it was Johnny’s second visit of the year. Jeff Kazee’s keyboard skills were complimented after this show by John Eustis and additional comments came from Jane McCreery who said: “Hearing Johnny sing Alejandro Escavedo’s exquisite ‘Tired Skin’ in this quiet environment was THE highlight of the evening for me. Johnny made a point of acknowledging Chris Anderson’s sensational muted trumpet solo on this song which gets my vote for being the most brilliant cover choice since ‘Without Love’.” A couple of days later at the Newark, NJ, gig, the horn section had increased in size and featured the God of Thunder himself, LaBamba as well as Chris, Mark, Joey and Eddie. The next two shows were in New York – McGeary’s, an outdoor venue in Albany and Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett. Judy Berger was at the latter and she said: “There was such a great atmosphere in the club, even the walls were shakin’, rockin’ and rollin’!”

We’re all goin’ to the zoo

The MAMA festival in Timonium, MD, was a wash-out and unfortunately, resulted in the Jukes’ set being cancelled. But by the time the band arrived in Minneapolis for their gig at the Minnesota Zoo amphitheatre, normal service was resumed – the location of this gig prompted a quip from Johnny who remarked that the last time the band played at a zoo, some gorillas ate the horn section! The band was introduced by local baseball hero Paul Molitor who came back out to join them for the “Havin’ A Party” encore. Next up was the Summerfest show at Milwaukee and if you’re wondering what made it famous… it kicked butt, the horns were hot and Johnny was in a party mood according to an unconfirmed report. A couple of days later, the band’s performance at Resorts International in Atlantic City, NJ, was an inauguration for the hotel’s brand new Eleven33 club. The show was free to the public and from the sound of Joe Lewin’s great report, it rocked. The set included “Burning Love” in the middle of “Havin’ A Party” and “The Star Spangled Banner” in the middle of “I’ve Been Working Too Hard”. Joe said: “The last two lines of this was just drums, keyboard and a little guitar which created a dramatic effect.” New York City’s Battery Park played host to the next show which was hot in more ways than one. Although the temperatures off-stage hit 110ð‡ in the shade, it didn’t stop the band from further increasing the intensity by performing a blistering set on-stage. Kim Del Roccili said: “At one point, Johnny requested the stage crew to ‘turn down the lights’ fearing he was going to end up resembling a French fry!”

David Hayes back on bass

Jane McCreery wrote an excellent review of the Rib & Music Festival show at Akron, OH, which began with a comment from the car-park attendant who told her: “I don’t know who this closing band is, but they’re packing in a crowd!” Highlights for Jane included seeing the return of the great David Hayes on bass; watching Johnny’s antics on stage; impromptu Hendrixesque guitar riffs from Bobby; a brilliant rendition of “Trapped Again” (which Jane described as being “inspired” and like a new song that Johnny and Bobby had just discovered); a fun version of “High School BOP”; and a rousing version of “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On” – Jeff Kazee lit into this within a milli-second of Johnny asking him if he knew any Jerry Lee Lewis songs. Jane also said that the crowd simply refused to let the band finish and that when Johnny came up to the microphone for the third encore singing the familiar “We’re…” he waited a little, timed the next words perfectly and threw everyone (including the band) by continuing with “… on the road again…”.

Silicon Valley rocks

The next five dates were all on the West Coast and after the San Diego, CA, show Ed Manion and Joey Stann were reported to have been “on freakin’ fire”! Steve Bradley was there celebrating his 40th Birthday and in true “Dirty Harry” style, getting to hear two of his personal favourite songs of all time – “I Played The Fool” and “Broke Down Piece Of Man” … certainly made his day. A hot July night at the Sunset Station Casino’s amphitheatre in Henderson, NV, saw John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band opening the show for Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes. Roseann Whypp (a Jersey transplant) was there and said: “As I stood in the front row singing along and dancing all night, it took me back to the time when I was 17 and danced with Johnny on stage at the Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ.” Steve Shapiro shot some great pictures of the band setting up for the San Jose gig and these are featured on Allan Wright’s Website. Steve didn’t know it at the time, but standing near him was longtime Jukes fan Bradley Roades who said: “I expected the band to be great, but I didn’t anticipate the overwhelming experience that it turned out to be. By the third song, I (still wearing the shirt and tie I had on at work that day) had bolted to be right up front with the true believers. The vibe was great and the band got the whole park rockin’. In California, Southside Johnny might as well be from Mars but, when I turned around right before “Hearts Of Stone”, there was a city block of humanity jumping to the blues behind me. Seeing a group of Silicon Valley intellectuals dancing to the sounds of the band at a free, open-air concert was a testament to the quality of the show.”

House of Fun

After a seven year hiatus of not seeing the band perform, the House of Blues show in Los Angeles, CA, was Cheryl Cline’s second of the West Coast tour. Cheryl said: “The band played a really great set at Humphrey’s and I hung on every note but, I couldn’t help wishing that they had picked someplace else to make their triumphant return to San Diego, CA. The House of Blues in LA on the other hand, is the best concert venue EVER… it rocks! I was in my assigned seat which means standing on the floor, centre stage and it was unbearable waiting for the band to come on. There was an opening act, Charlie Terrell, who was good and then, after another seemingly endless wait, the curtain opened and Johnny took the stage. The house was packed with true Jukes fans and two of the songs that stood out for me were ‘Love Is A Sacrifice’ and ‘All I Needed Was You’. Another highlight was when Johnny and Bobby went into an unrehearsed version of Sonny and Cher’s ‘I Got You Babe’. At first they were singing the right lyrics, then they started making them up. Johnny sang: ‘I’ve got you to wear my ring’ and without skipping a beat, Bobby replied: ‘I’ve got you to suck my thing!’ Johnny lost it! He sat down on the floor and said: ‘I quit! I give up!’ Everyone was laughing hysterically. It was spontaneous… it was perfect. We sang, we danced, we rocked.”

Meanwhile, back east…

The Jukes were the headliners at the Framington Blues Festival in Massachusetts. Featuring Hugh McDonald on bass, the band played once again to an enthusiastic and appreciative audience before heading towards New Jersey, the Garden State Parkway and their sold-out, home turf show at Martell’s Tiki Bar which is situated directly on the boardwalk at Point Pleasant Beach. The show took place on the night that Hurricane Dennis got close to the shore prompting Johnny to announce that since this could be the last ever Jukes show, he planned to go out with a bang!

Two hours and forty high-energy minutes later, his mission had been accomplished with a set that featured soul classics like “You Don’t Know Like I Know” and “Do Right Woman”. The quality of the show was endorsed by Jackie Sheehan who had driven down from Boston to see the band. He said that this was one of the best shows he had seen in years, as did local (some-guys-have-all-the-luck) resident Mike Ryan who said: “There is nothing better than seeing a Jersey Shore band playing at the shore.”

Across 110th Street

Playing at the Hampton Beach Casino has become a tradition for the Jukes who have appeared there every Labor Day weekend for the last 18 years. One of the people at this show was veteran Jukes fan John Lewis who sent me the following evocative message: “We had great seats up close and really enjoyed the show. What stands out in my mind was a particular song that was unknown to me at the time. As I listened to the words and the performance, I remember thinking that this was a lifetime musical moment for me. The words sounded like it might have been written by Curtis Mayfield but later research revealed that the song was ‘Across 110th Street’ written by Bobby Womack – it shows up on the ‘Jackie Brown’ soundtrack. I have seen many SSJ shows over the years and the performance of this song on that night was one of the greatest SSJ performances I have ever seen.”

A Brewfest at the ski resort of Mount Snow in Vermont was the next port of call for the band. They performed on a stage that was covered by a clamshell-type of awning and Bobby delighted the audience by playing a version of the appropriately entitled Cream classic, “Strange Brew”. Johnny also amused everyone when he sang a lyrically edited PG version of “Stagger Lee” especially for the benefit of all the children who were in the audience. Prior to the Poughkeepsie’s Riverfront Arts Festival in the middle of September, Hurricane Floyd had been on the rampage. But as it turned out, the audience who attended this show were treated to a sunny afternoon’s worth of classic Jukes music, as the band performed their set down by the river.

We’ll stomp ’till we drop

Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and Museum’s “Saturday Night Stomp” was an event that had been staged to conclude a week-long tribute to Louis Jordan whose name is very much associated with both swing and R&B music. Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes were the headliners for the night and their carefully chosen Jordan-related set included the following rarities: “Let The Good Times Roll”; “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying”; and “Outskirts Of Town” – according to George Keller, Southside’s voice on this song was incredible. Cleveland’s “Plain Dealer” ran a story about this special performance, describing how Johnny whirled and twirled, scoring with his harmonica as well as his fiery voice in the city that he has said was the first to welcome him and the band outside of New Jersey. The report went on to say that by the end of the night, Johnny was almost as exhausted as the standing-room-only crowd but regardless, he and the band still came back for an encore ending the show with an amazing “Got To Find A Better Way Home”.

Sue Williams reprises her Jukes début

Thanksgiving Day weekend brought the Jukes to the Irving Plaza in New York City where Sue Williams followed-up her Jukes d颵t at the Stomp in Cleveland by remaining as bass player with the band. Richie “LaBamba” Rosenberg and Mark “the Love Man” Pender were also part of the Irving Plaza line-up. Energy was the main ingredient of this show, providing a perfect antidote for anyone who had overdosed on turkey. To help balance the equation though, the set also had a bluesy feel and featured a couple of Ray Charles songs.

Following this was a remarkable gig at The Tradewinds in Sea Bright, New Jersey. Hometown boy Jon Bon Jovi joined Johnny and the band for several songs including a memorable version of Steve Van Zandt’s “Forever”. Jane McCreery highlighted a very interesting aside which added to the significance of the performance of this song namely, LaBamba, Ed Manion and Mark Pender were also the original “LaBamba’s Mambomen” who appeared with Stan Harrison and Mike Spengler on the “Men Without Women” album. Jane also described a wonderful scene that happened when Bobby began to play some classic rockabilly riffs on his fretboard prompting a “Chet Atkins” comment from Johnny. Goofing around on-stage is a common occurrence between these two and Jane said: “Johnny continued the banter by relating a tale that busted Bobby’s (embarrassing) knowledge of the Partridge Family’s music.

Without a second’s hesitation, Jeff Kazee picked up on this and proceeded to provide same as a background accompaniment to this battle of on-stage wits!” The penultimate show of the year was at the Theatre for Living Arts in Philadelphia and had Jersey rocker John Eddie as the opening act. Kevin Everitt told me that it was a great show of Jersey Shore rock music that included “The Fever”, “I Don’t Wanna Go Home” some Christmas tunes as well as some crazy on-stage antics from Johnny. Kevin also told me that it was special for him because although he knew of these guys, it was the first time he’d ever seen John Eddie or the Jukes play live. The show also featured LaBamba and Mark Pender who, at Johnny’s request, helped the horn section to provide vocals during “Talk To Me”.

The house band for the apocalypse

It’s fitting that the 1999 tour schedule reached its culmination on home ground when Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes returned to Club Eleven33 at Resorts International in Atlantic City, NJ, for their New Year’s Eve performance. In addition to all the hullabaloo and sense of occasion as the new millennium approached, the atmosphere in the club must have been electric as the audience waited for this unique blend of ass-kickin’ talent to sing out the old and sing in the new. “It’s going to be wild”, Southside told the Asbury Park Press shortly before the event. “I’m expecting the end of the world. Horses will be riding in the sky. Trumpets will blare from the heavens. We’ll be the house band for the apocalypse.”

Apart from being written on sheets of A4 that had been stuck unceremoniously to the floor with gaffer tape, the set list for the night appeared to have a purpose far and beyond its face value. To begin with, the legendary Curtis Mayfield had passed away just before Christmas. This may have influenced the melancholic acoustic start to the evening, or maybe it was simply Johnny’s way of allowing the audience a few moments of quiet contemplation before the serious business of partying (“…like it was 1999…”) got underway.

Whatever the reason, “Trapped Again” was the first song of the last show of the twentieth century and it was performed faultlessly by Southside and Bobby – the “cheesy opening act” that had been hired to open up for the Jukes… quoth Johnny. As soon as the rest of the band came out, the main part of the show went off like a rocket and the momentum didn’t stop until the band played…”Trapped Again” again! “Yes, we do songs twice in a night” – J. Lyon.

Gisela, who had once again travelled a long, long, way to see the band said: “It was an incredible show of old and new Jukes’ classics. I was very surprised when Johnny sang ‘Mack The Knife’ but in my opinion, it was one of the best songs of the evening.” Gisela continued: “My personal highlight was at the beginning of the show when Johnny and Bobby played the acoustic versions of ‘Rosa’ and an all-time and long-time favourite of mine, ‘Under The Sun’. This reminded me of some very special times from the last decade. I left the venue totally exhausted but very happy, singing the one and only song which described the feelings for that unforgettable night – ‘I Don’t Want To Go Home’!”

Stan’s precious love

It would be impossible to try and highlight each individual magic moment because from all accounts, it seems as if the whole show was a totally fantastic experience for those lucky enough to be there. For one couple though, it really was a night to remember. Stan Lisowski has been a Jukes fan since the late 70′s when he saw the band play at Glassboro, NJ, and the earlier reference to LaBamba as the “God of Thunder” is actually Stan’s pet name for Richie. Stan was at the show with his girlfriend Kim and on the stroke of midnight amidst the chaos of the countdown, the streamers, the noise makers, the confetti and a mass of people hugging and kissing each other as they sang “Auld Lang Syne”, he kept his wits about him sufficiently to produce an engagement ring and whisper a marriage proposal in Kim’s ear. Of course Kim accepted, Bobby caught on to what was happening and passed the news to Johnny who promptly dedicated “The Fever” to the happy couple. Oh yeah… LaBamba also got wind of what was going on so let’s just say that Stan and Kim are going to be having the ultimate Wedding Reception when they get married this summer. “The Fever” also inspired Mike Wurtele to jump up on the stage and join in and if you’re not familiar with his name, not only does Mike have his own band (see Website info at the end), but he is a dead-ringer for the guy who actually wrote this particular song.

Tribute to Curtis Mayfield

To the sound of tumultuous applause, the main set was followed by two encores that produced further touches of poignancy. The first featured “Tired Skin” and “Broke Down Piece Of Man” and, just when the audience thought that they had been there, done it, seen it as far as the music was concerned, Johnny and the band came back out to perform their own moving three-song tribute to the late Curtis Mayfield. Jane McCreery said: “When they played ‘People Get Ready’, Johnny, Bobby, Jeff and Richie each took a verse of this timeless song and the beauty and sincerity of their singing was a really emotional moment for me.” Also included in this musical mark of respect was “It’s Alright” (sung by LaBamba) and “Your Precious Love” which Johnny covered on the wonderful “Slow Dance” album. Jane said that once she had the chance to reflect on the events of New Year’s Eve, it seemed as if the acoustic opener coupled with the tribute to Curtis Mayfield had been supporting the main part of the show like a pair of musical bookends.

In spite of all his joking and foolin’ around, Southside Johnny Lyon came up trumps in Atlantic City, NJ. Faced with the momentousness of the new millennium, Johnny and his band delivered a show that was balanced and performed to perfection, ensuring that everyone who was there took priceless memories away with them, all the way home.

To conclude, I’ve quoted Judy Berger’s thoughts about New Year’s Eve because I think when you read them, you’ll see that with a few, well chosen words, she has captured precisely the reasons why Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes continue to hold the title for being the greatest bar band in the world: “There are no words to describe just how great New Year’s Eve was. Southside’s choice of songs, his heart, soul and passion are without equal. Great singer, great band, great show.”

And so say all of us.

Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes 1999 Tour dates

Full Band

Dec31/Jan 1 – Tradewinds, Long Branch, NJ

Jan 2 – Mohegan Sun Casino, CT

Acoustic four-piece

Feb 11 – Backstage, Haverhill, MA

Feb 12 – Chantilly’s, Manchester, NH

Feb 13 – King Pine Room, Sugar Loaf, ME

Feb 14 – Wobbly Barn, Killington, VT

Feb 16 – Iron Horse, Northampton, MA

Feb 18 – The Harp, Boston, MA

Feb 19 – The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY

Feb 20 – IMAC, Huntington, NY

Feb 21 – Birchmere, Alexandria, VA

Feb 23 – Odeon, Cleveland, OH

Feb 24 – Odeon, Cleveland, OH

Feb 26 – Graffitti’s, Pittsburgh, PA

Feb 27 – North Star Bar, Philadelphia, PA

Feb 28 – The Bottom Line, New York City, NY (two shows with Graham Parker)

Apr 29 – Koninginnenach Festival, Den Haag, Holland

Apr 30 – Blues Festival, Ospel-Moulin, Holland

May 1 – Boogietown Festival, Louvain La Neuve, Belgium (afternoon)

May 1 – Blues Festival, Groningen, Holland (midnight)

May 3 – New Morning, Paris

May 4 – The Embassy Rooms, London

Full Band

May 29 – Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia, PA

May 30 – Youngstown, OH

June 2 – Innsbrook Pavilion, Richmond, VA

June 3 – Birchmere, Alexandria, VA

June 5 – NJPAC Festival, Newark, NJ

June 17 – McGeary’s, Albany, NY

June 18 – Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett, NY

June 20 – MAMA Festival, Timonium, MD (Cancelled)

June 25 – The Zoo, Minneapolis, MN

June 26 – Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI

July 3 – Club Eleven33, Resorts International, Atlantic City, NJ

July 4 – Battery Park, New York City, NY

July 5 – Rib & Music Festival, Akron, OH

July 19 – Galaxy Theatre, Santa Ana, CA

July 20 – Humphrey’s, San Diego, CA

July 22 – Plaza De Cedar Chavez, San Jose, CA

July 23 – Sunset Station Hotel, Henderson, NV

July 24 – House Of Blues, Los Angeles, CA

Aug 28 – Framington Blues Festival, MA

Aug 30 – Martell’s, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

Sep 4 – Hampton Beach Casino, Hampton Beach, NH

Sep 5 – Mount Snow, West Dover, VT

Sep 19 – Poughkeepsie Riverfront Arts Festival, NY

Oct 9 – Saturday Night Stomp, Cleveland, OH

Nov 26 – Irving Plaza, NYC

Nov 27 – Tradewinds, Sea Bright, NJ

Dec 10 – Theatre of the Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA

Dec 31 – Club Eleven33, Resorts International, Atlantic City, NJ

Acknowledgements:

Judy Berger; Klaus (“… when I get home from my job I turn on my PC …”) Boettger; Steve Bradley; Daniela Bevere; Kim Del Roccili; Maria De Rocher; Jeff Dubberley; John Eustis; Kevin Everitt; Guido; Sue Holmes; Linda Iorio; George Keller; Bill King; Joe Lewin; John Lewis; Stan Lisowski; Debbie May; Jane McCreery; Tish Michalak; Bob Mientus; Jack Paulishen; Bradley Roades; Mike Saunders; G. Schaefer; Dan Seamans; Steve Shapiro; Jackie Sheehan; Silvia Steiner; Scott Thistle; Kim Trelease; Roseann Whypp; Allan Wright; Mike Wurtele.