Some people are already hailing it as gig of the year. I refer, of course, to last week’s classic reunion of numerous Jersey shore legends.
Last Thursday, Southside Johnny Lyons returned to his native stomping ground, The Stone Pony, to record a video for his upcoming single, ‘It’s Been A Long Time.’ He did this with a little bit of (considerable) help from his friends.
Opening with ‘Better Days,’ the title track from his forthcoming album, the 500 strong audience were swayed into party procedure almost immediately. This is understandable, especially when you consider that up on stage were a couple of E Street Jukes, Garry Tallent and Max Weinberg, guitarist Bobby Bandiera, trombonist La Bamba and assorted Miami Horns.
‘Comin’ Back’ was played with calculated yet sweet confidence, along with collective hearts being comfortably worn on sleeves. Literally the same could be said of ‘Trapped Again,’ which Southside introduced as: ‘’The biggest crap game in the world.’’
Moving on from the Hearts Of Stone album to the present, ‘All The Way Home’ brought the pace down a touch; which was just as well, because the rocker ‘Workin’ Too hard’ cooked to the point of no return. Featuring local hero Jon Bon Jovi - who for some bizarre reason looked taller - the song rocked in every sense of the word.
Armed with a smile from ear to ear, it must be said that Jon did a grand job.. He sang with a crisp definition, yet performed without upstaging.
On ‘All Night Long,’ Southside proved he’s still an exciting harmonica player, but his unquestionable forte is still singing. ‘Souls On Fire’ was excellent. Well performed, well controlled, well sung, nuff said.
Up next was the Springsteen epic, ‘Fever.’ Unforgettably ace, done note perfect and featuring a more than horny trombone solo from La Bamba, this song reminds me of a long lost friend.
Talking of friends, the classic ‘I Don’t Want To Go Home’ was still as resonant and true as it ever was, and when Southside sang: ‘’reach out and touch the sky,’’ everyone in The Stone Pony did. That’s when I lost my pen…
After a five-minute break, the band returned with a couple of guests – Miami Steve Van Zandt and Bruce Springsteen.
From this point on, it was all eyebrows on barbed wire a go-go, replete with manic dancing, hard shouting, frenzied screaming and altogether Vatican City, awe-struck, naked Madonna, George Bush has just arrived, type behaviour. Of course, Bruce was as cool as a cucumber, and the band broke into the song we were all there to hear and take in, ‘It’s Been A Long Time.’
It has indeed. And it was great to have them back at The Pony. Talk about nostalgia! ‘’It’s been a long time since we’ve played together; it’s been a long time since we cried,’’ sung the band; and when Bruce did his bit, let’s just say there was a bit of applause.
On ‘We’re Having A Party,’ both he and Miami Steve appeared to be genuinely pleased to be taking part. As for ‘Talk To Me,’ the audience did just that – plus a whole lot more.
With that, the band sauntered off the stage and the audience sauntered out the door. Great night, a fantastic show (well done Impact Records) and I have to say, I’ve never seen so many boring, cool induced media moguls have such a great time.
This just goes to show, that when it’s real (which it was), even the most tired, conservative and above all jaded of critics, can have fun.
Put it this – no-one wanted to go home!
