Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes – Better Days

The show of the year? Well, it’s hard to judge that, when you have only seen two… but one thing is for sure: The lucky people at the Paradiso got what they paid for & a whole lot of somethin’ on top. It’s something very special with the Jukes & Amsterdam. One thing is the atmosphere of the place… it still feels like a worshiping venue… which it still is – at least when Reverend Lyon calls his followers to join for 2,5 hours service. To me, it’s the Dutch audience (expanded with people from ALL over Europe & overseas) which makes the Paradiso show a standout. People who know their stuff well. People who know how to have a damn good time in a very laid-back fashion. That’s it!

A tip to the hat goes to Patrick Sweany, for being the best Jukes support act at the Paradiso in the last 10 years!

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes – Cross That Line

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes – Love On The Wrong Side Of Town

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes – Without Love / Gin Soaked Boy – Video by Jos Westenberg

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes – I’m Looking For A Love – Video by Jos Westenberg

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes – I Don’t Want To Go Home – Video by Jos Westenberg

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes – Lead Me On – Video by Jos Westenberg

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes – One More Night To Rock – Video by Jos Westenberg

Read: THE BLUES ALONE – Southside Johnny is ondoor- grondelijk maar toegankelijk voor iedereen! (Dutch)
Read: BETRUE – Southside Johnny op dreef in Paradiso (Dutch)

Everybody Needs Somebody to Love / Cry to Me / Got to Get You Off My Mind – Tribute to the late Solomon Burke

One More Night To Rock

Hearts Of Stone

Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, Netherlands, October 15 2010

All Videos by Jos Westenberg

See how Johnny lets the band get loose and himself behind John Conte’s Bass in Amsterdam’s Paradiso:

(Land of the 1000 Dances – Paradiso, Amsterdam, 30. October 2009)

I have see all shows (but one) in Amsterdam in this century. But I truly have never been seeing something like the 1000 Dances this time around!

And just a day later, not only did the Kingfish arrive at Schipol and reunited with the band…

(Without Love – The Paard van Troje, Den Haag, 31. October 2009)

He then left the audience stunned with his solo on “Help Me”… latest at that point in time it became obvious what we all have been missing on the two shows without that baritone! Nobody plays it like Manion!

(Help Me – Solo: Eddie Manion at The Paard van Troje, Den Haag, 31. October 2009)

which culminated a few songs later in a full blown fabulous “Fever” like Den Haag has truly never seen it before!

(The Fever – The Paard van Troje, Den Haag, 31. October 2009)

I still get the shivers listening to Kazee’s B3… and I’m still sorry that the frog finally found his destiny…

Wunderfull work BOCCISON It’s going to be tough, getting that smile out of my face!!!

The Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 30. October 2009
All Pictures Copyright (c) by Gundula Johannsmann, 2009

Since Mike Saunders and Dave Perceival have been covering our backs, Gundula and I had a hell of a time up on the balcony at the Paradiso in Amsterdam. And a camera which has been working… other than in Melle, Germany, the night before. So here’s what we brought with us – for those who have not been fortunate enough to see the highlight of this year’s Euro tour… already at the second show.

I’m not really good in giving reviews either… Heineken and the pace of Johnny and crew, well, that’s a deadly combination. Let’s keep it short and sweet… as in Belgian chocolate (Hi Liz!). The Jukes rocked a sold out venue in Europe’s most vibing capital. A Friday night in Amsterdam is probably the best you can get on the continent and it for sure has some of the biggest competition in the entertainment market. Only if you were lucky enough, you’ve got one of the hottest tickets in town. HOT as in “HELL”!

The pace and especially the crazyness of this years edition made an already special event even more unique. It’s the most professional musicians going loose. It’s some of the best in terms of their craftmenship. It’s some of the nicest in regard to their humbleness. It’s the best right-into-your-face band on the planet.

Glen Alexander, who had his first show at the Paradiso ever – filling in for Bobby Bandiera, who was on duty with another little orchestra from New Jersey – seemed like he has been playing that stage with that band every other Friday night before. He made a lot of fans – including myself. BIG TIME! And hopefully he made the South proud of him as well. I heared myself saying: “This man is probably to good for this band!” I didn’t mean it!

The Kazee, on who’s head I was NOT spitting my beer the whole night, was loose, voice- and soulful. Conte, the cool, was tight and right on… Joe Belia, well, watch him! Hear him play. You will wonder yourself how a human beeing is able to be that much of a drum-machine. The horns… Joey, the Dude, Chris… I’ve been talking to a lot of people. And when you’re going to talk Jukes, you’re going to talk about that horn section of yours. Boys, you do have all reasons to be proud!

John, it’s been nice riding the elevator with you!

Amsterdam, WE LOVE YOU! (When Southside and the Asbury Jukes are in town!)

This is the best audience on the continent. These are the finest fans and people you can imagine, and that stage at the Paradiso was build for the JUKES!

Gundula & Klaus

PS: Hi to Marjaan & Evelien! It’s been great to see you again… even just from the “Long Distance!”

PPS: WATCH THIS SPACE FOR SOME SERIOUS YOUTUBE UPDATES!

All Pictures: Copyright (c) by Klaus Böttger & Gundula Johannsmann, 2009

SETLIST

Talk to me
Nothing but a heartache
Love on the wrong side of town
Walk away René / Don’t look back
Take it inside
Don’t call me baby
Tell ‘em I’m broke
Tango till they’re sore
We gotta get out of this place
All night long
Into the harbour
Forever
Till the good is gone
This time baby’s gone for good
You’re my girl
Groove me Baby
Shake ‘em down
Fever
This time it’s for real

When Rita leaves
Got to find a better way home
I don’t want to go home
Hearts of stone
Land of 1000 dances

It’s been a long time

Down down down

(Setlist by Peter Bouwens)

Yeah, the balcony at the Paradiso was too attractive not to try to play around with Gundula’s camera. It’s not HIFI, it’s not even a decent quality. It’s not even been a video camera. But it’s been a whole lot of fun to shoot the Jukes… Next year I’ll bring a real one – video-camera that is – I guess.

Now, go and check YouTube. There’s a whole lot of stuff from then Paradiso available! Seem’s like every second person had a camera on…

All Pictures Copyright (c) by Gundula Johannsmann, 2008

All Pictures Copyright (c) by Gundula Johannsmann, 2007

All Pictures Copyright (c) by Andrea Niessen, 2006