
January 21, 2025
There was a lot going on during Light of Day's WinterFest weekend this year, including a U.S. Presidential Inauguration weekend and predicted inclement weather, so it definitely was easy for one to be preoccupied. But Saturday night's Main Event (aka "Bob’s Birthday Bash") at Red Bank, New Jersey’s Count Basie Center for the Arts was its usual sold-out, energetic self, with a “surprise” appearance by Bruce Springsteen after a four-years absence and the return of Jesse Malin after a long recuperation from a spinal stroke highlighting the evening.

The show began with Remember Jones – a newly minted Light of Day board member and emcee for the evening – covering Sheryl Crow’s “Every Day is a Winding Road,” and his hardworking band blasted out a couple originals as well as a stealth, funkified rendition of “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” that oddly did not seem to register with the audience despite the recent resurgence of interest in Bob Dylan. Jones and his band always bring the party vibes, though, and it was a lively start to the proceedings.


Jesse Malin - fresh off a pair of sold-out shows at New York’s Beacon Theatre – was an early standout. A fair number of folks in the audience had been in attendance at one or both of the New York events, but it was still quite a dramatic moment as the curtain rose to reveal a seated Malin at center stage, prompting the audience to rise and give him a standing ovation. He was able to stand for several songs during the set, and did briefly mention his lengthy rehab stint in Argentina, thanking folks for their messages of support.

About mid-set, Malin mentioned that he was bringing out a guest whom he first met working on his Glitter in the Gutter record, whereupon said guest - namely Bruce - walked onstage and duetted with him on “Broken Radio.” As per usual in the age of social media, the latter’s presence in the building was not much of a surprise, but there was still the usual hubbub of cell phones being rummaged for and folks rushing toward the front of the orchestra area, where ushers permitted many to lean against the wall on both side aisles – normally the exclusive turf of working photographers.
Other notable performances included Brit-pop purveyors The Weeklings – who always seem to have a song on Little Steven's Underground Garage’s “Coolest Song in the World” list — and Willie Nile, who also brought his "friend Bruce” to the stage to assume guitar and backing vocal duty on the anthemic “One Guitar.”

Adam Ezra’s powerful, understated acoustic performance of the Leonard Cohen classic “Hallelujah” – played in honor of a friend whom he had just learned had passed away – was also memorable, and one of the few times during the course of the evening when there did not seem to be loud, intrusive chatter coming from the lobby. Also turning in a strong acoustic performance was John Rzeznik, who played a heartfelt set that included lesser known material like “Sympathy” (written during and after his journey to sobriety about ten years ago), as well as Goo Goo Dolls classics like “Iris.”



Closing out the night were, of course, Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers (augmented by Asbury Jukes keyboardist extraordinaire Jeff Kazee,) who played a one-song teaser before calling Bruce out again for a brief set that included chestnuts like “The Promised Land” and “Darkness on the Edge of Town.” The set started off fairly perfunctorily, but Bruce really seemed to loosen up for “Savin’ Up” – preceded by a de rigueur rant in mock preacher mode – and “Pink Cadillac,” which he introduced by saying he originally wrote it as a joke and admonishing the band to come in on the chorus: "Do NOT disappoint me!" They didn't (despite Bruce himself flubbing a bit,) nor did Danny Clinch, who added some tasty blues-harmonica licks to the proceedings. "That's pretty good for a photographer, and for a concert promoter," Bruce stated with a smile.



Everyone trooped back onstage to join Bruce, Joe, and the Houserockers for the obligatory celebration of Light of Day founder Bob Benjamin’s birthday and an all-hands-on-deck concluding performance of the event’s namesake song. Benjamin was wheeled out and presented with a birthday cake – some of which ended up on Bruce’s face – and the evening drew to a close after Bruce performed his typical set-closer, an acoustic singalong version of “Thunder Road.”

This was the 25th official Light of Day event to be organized around Bob Benjamin's birthday, and now 26 years have passed since the very first Bob Benjamin birthday celebration to raise money for The Parkinson's Disease Foundation, held back in 1998 at Red Bank’s Downtown Cafe. Many miles have since been traveled by all, but as devices and media suck people’s attention elsewhere, and folks are increasingly loath to leave home, it was nice to see yet another sold-out house gathered for such an important and meaningful birthday party.
All photos are by Mark Krajnak and used with permission.