Midway through Saturday night's 25th Annual Days of Light charity event at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, N.J., Jesse Marin confirmed the news had been circulating around town since late afternoon Rumor: Bruce Springsteen was in the house. Performing in public for the first time since suffering a devastating spinal stroke in 2023, Marin used a microphone stand and sheer force of will to stand up and welcome his old friend to the stage. On stage, screams of "Brooooce" echoed throughout the theater.
"We actually met at Light of Day, which was my first time playing any of this stuff," Marin told the audience. "We met in the lounge. Wherever he was, we took him out. Bruce, Where Are You? It's a song we recorded in 2007 on a record called sparkling in the gutter." He was talking about "Broken Radio," and they played delicate, tender tunes that brought tears to Marin's fans who feared they would never witness a moment like this again after learning of his condition. .
It was the emotional highlight of a long night that also included guest appearances from Springsteen and his old friends Willie Nyro and Joe Grusheki, as well as John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, Brian Fallon of the Gaslight Anthem, Performances by Bad Religion's Brian Baker and Remember Jones. , Drama and Wicklins. Aside from Light of Day, few events bring such an eclectic group of musicians together. The organization has been raising funds to fight Parkinson's disease and related diseases since it was founded in 2000, starting with a birthday show at a bar in honor of music industry veteran Bob Benjamin. Been battling Parkinson's disease since the mid-nineties.
The show opens with a vibrant set by Remember Jones, who transforms Sheryl Crow's "Everyday Is a Winding Road" into a Broadway anthem. The Weeklings then delivered a set of upbeat songs inspired by The Beatles, as well as an instrumental cover of The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again." Light of Day president Joe D'Urso brought everyone to their feet with "Noisy Guitars," Dramarama took the crowd back to the '80s with their overlooked classic "Last Cigarette," and Brian Baker and Brian Fallon teamed up for a stellar Cover of "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty. At the end of Willie Nyro's brief set, Springsteen delivered a wild rendition of "One Guitar."
Most artists only get three or four songs, but long-time Daylight winner Jesse Malin was allowed to perform 13 songs as part of his brave return to the stage. He sat in a chair for much of the album, which includes originals like "Room 13" and "Oh Sheena," as well as covers of The Pogues' "If I Should Fall From Grace With God," The Rolling Stones' "Sway," and Clash's "Rudy Can't Fail." He stood up several times and walked off the stage using only a walker. If his rehab continues at this pace, it's easy to imagine him playing without a chair next year.
The penultimate performer of the night was John Rzeznik, who performed an acoustic set of Goo Goo Dolls classics such as "Slide," "Black Balloon," "Name" and "Iris." "This is my second home," he told the crowd. "My friendly neighbors are here. I lived in Los Angeles for 16 years and I didn't meet anyone. I met my wife and we came back here when we decided to have kids. Now this is my home. "
Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers kicked off the night’s final show with new song “This Is Who We Are” before inviting “the real Governor of New Jersey, Mr. Bruce Springsteen ". When he last joined them on 2020's "Light of Day," the atmosphere was somber and it felt like Springsteen was almost on stage against his will. This time, it's the complete opposite. Springsteen was clearly in a good mood as he kicked things off with "Never Be Enough Time" from Grushecky's 1995 LP American Babylon.
In 1978, they made two more films, Darkness on the Edge of Town and Promised Land. These are songs that Springsteen has performed countless times in stadiums and stages around the world with the E Street Band, but watching him sing them in a cramped theater with the Houserockers was a unique thrill. When they finished, he drank a shot of tequila with the band. "I could buy one," he said, referring to his 2021 arrest for drunken driving when his blood-alcohol level was 0.02 percent, one-quarter of the legal limit. "If I had two, they'd send me to jail!"
Only the true believers in the crowd would have recognized the opening of "Saven' Up," which Springsteen wrote in 1983 for Clarence Clemons and The Red Bank Rockers. Forbes Magazine, I'm a billionaire," Springsteen told the audience as the band began playing. "I wish I was. But ladies and gentlemen, this is fake news. Because if I were a billionaire, the first thing I would do is buy another guitar. The second thing I want to do is buy another guitar. But when the lord comes back, he won't ask you how much money you have in your bank account. He will ask you how much money you have in your love account. What's in your love account? This is what takes you to heaven. So, listen and pay attention to the lyrics of this song. "
This was Springsteen's first time playing with the band since his last "Light of Day" performance in 2020, and the band's performance was very inconsistent at times. "I don't know that happened there because we haven't trained yet," he said midway through. "We only slightly Practiced. This will make you relax and feel good! "
Grushecky took over on lead vocals for a loose, sweaty rendition of "Pumpin' Iron," before Springsteen told the crowd he would cover 1984's B-side "Pink Cadillac." "I wrote this song kind of as a joke," he said. "That's why I don't play it. But we're going to play it tonight. I'm going to sing a verse. During the chorus, the band comes in. no Let me down! Not only did the band rise to the challenge, but photographer Danny Clinch also came out and engaged Springsteen in a lengthy harmonica/guitar duel. "For the photographer, it was pretty good," Springsteen said. “And the concert promoters. "
As usual, at the end of the show, everyone from the night came back to listen to "Light of Day." Bob Benjamin sat in a wheelchair holding a giant birthday cake as Springsteen stuck his nose into center stage. Halfway through the song, he was covered in white frosting on the tip of his nose, almost as if he was paying homage to Neil Young's infamous nose candy. The last waltz.
"It's been an incredible thing in the last 25 years," said Springsteen, who strapped on a harmonica stand and ended the night with "Thunder Road." "It's hard to believe that was 25 years ago, Bobby. The first show was at the Pony. Damn it. How the hell are we still here? It'll be a while longer anyway..."
With only European shows, this will likely be Springsteen's only U.S. show of the year. Even if the E Street Band returns to the U.S. before the end of 2025, the show won't look like this. To see Springsteen deliver such a loose and unrehearsed performance, you have to go to Daybreak.