First posted on Mark Is Cranky:
This has been a long, hot, sticky and wet summer. Many days of ozone alerts and non-breathable air and buzzing air conditioners. Still, I hate to see it go. As much as I love fall (my favorite season by far) there's always something a little sad about the passing of the sunny season.
But...the inevitable signs have come. Night comes earlier just a little bit each day. It has begun to cool down into the 50's by sunrise. On clear mornings the blue sky takes on that super crisp blue hue. The container of earplugs is is ready (on my desk). The envelope of tickets is waiting at the will-call window.
Yes, one of the true signs of the end of summer around here is the annual arrive of Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes at Hampton Beach's Casino Ballroom. For many reasons, this yearly show by the World's Greatest Bar Band causes a flood of musical memories. Back in the old college days, I spent a scary amount of time listening to Asbury Park-related music. Springsteen, Southside, Bill Chinnock (actually a local Maine hero, but E Street band-related), Gary US Bonds. When it came to Friday and Saturday night parties (OK, Thursday night too...), Southside Johnny was our musical drug of choice. Though I do remember many a drunken singalong to "Having A Party", there were an equal number of kinda-sloppy takes on our favorite: "I Remember Last Night". We got pretty good (we thought) at the little time break before the lyrics "...the door flew open". I almost went out of my mind last year when they played it, the first time I've ever heard it at a show.
I'm ready for the show right now, especially since yesterday when I downloaded an alternate mix of the the Jukes classic Hearts Of Stone. This version has Springsteen on vocals and Clarence blowing an enormous sax solo.
So now, on this morning's sweep through the farmland, I'll be blasting Better Days, a truly great studio recording with a bunch of Jersey all-star guests including Max Weinberg, Springsteen, Bon Jovi and long-time Jukes cohort and songwriter Steve Van Zandt. Though I think the live record Reach Up And Touch The Sky provides a better document of what the Jukes are all about, this album is just full of great songs and inspired playing. The guitars snarl, the vocals are soulful and the horns belt you upside the head.
So on Saturday night, while all of you bloggers are hopefully having a grand time at Chez Olsen, I'll be at Hampton Beach, singing my brains out and filling myself, The Wife and both stepsons full of bar band bliss.
Happy end-of-summer everybody!
Article comments
1 - Vern Halen
Better Days is a great album, just about up there with Hearts of Stone. I wish Southside Johnny would've hit it bigger than he did - I really don't know how anyone can NOT like his rockin' yet soulful version of classic r'n'b.
And I bet he's great live, too.
2 - Mark Saleski
on some nights the shows can get close to E St. band intensity.
as usual, i'm very excited.
3 - Vern Halen
Only saw the Boss once, but, yeah, what a performance.
4 - Mark Saleski
the funny thing is that the first time i saw Springsteen was on The River tour.
the show was out in cleveland at the now-bulldozed colliseum.
this was also in the middle of my completely heavy into Southside Johnny phase.
apparently, Southside was playing shows at the Blossom right around the same time...because they brought him out and did a version of "I Don't Want To Go Home".
as i like to say, i almost had an organism.