2013 Light of Day - Part 2 - Saturday and Sunday

The Light of Day benefit to cure Parkinson’s disease continued on Saturday under unusually warm and sunny January skies. The bright sunshine and lack of wind made hopping from venue to venue a pleasure. Saturday is historically the most jam packed of all of the days, with simultaneous events in all ten venues culminating in an always sold out epic performance in the Paramount Theater. 

Kids Rock at the Stone Pony
© 2013 John Posada

Saturday kicked off with an event created especially for children. The Kids Show at McLoones featured performances by Mr. Ray, and Yosi, with guest appearances by James Dalton and Melissa Chill. Kid friendly songs and dancing ensured the young ones had a great time. On Sunday, the kid-centric fun continued at the Stone Pony, with Kids Rock, where kids who are already accomplished musicians take the famous Stone Pony stage and rock out just like their elder counterparts.

The Wonder Bar hosted a showcase of musical talent with the Asbury Blues show. Kicking off the afternoon show was Sandy Mack and Friends (recently named 'Best Blues Band' at the Asbury Park Music Awards), with guests Marc Ribler and Matt O’Ree. Blues was the theme as such acts as Stormin’ Norman, Pat Guadagno, and Arlan Feiles took the stage. A highlight was the “Welcome Home Blues” by the always energetic Tangiers Blues Band. In between sets the second stage featured local favorites James Dalton on harmonica with blues master Chuck Lambert on guitar. Al Chez and The Brothers of Funk (Chez was the trumpet player on the David Letterman Show band for over twenty-three years) closed the day with a full set of horns that blew the house away. Take note that while the charity event is over, the music jams don’t stop – the Wonder Bar is now hosting Sunday afternoon ‘Wonder Jams”  featuring Sandy Mack and Friends.

Al Chez

Sandy Mack & Friends

Tangiers Blues Band

Mixed Bag Too audience at the Dauphin Grille

 Mixed Bag Too at Dauphin Grille featured Glen Burtnik and the Madison Avenue Hillbillys from 12 to 6 PM. The Dauphin Grille is located in the lobby of the newly renovated Berkeley-Carteret Hotel and is fast becoming a local attraction for live music, drinks, and dinner.

Songwriters On Stage is a chance for music lovers to hear songs by their favorite local artists and then interact with them through open discussions about writing and the experience of being a musician. There were three sessions over the weekend and each was well attended by fans eager to ask questions about songwriting:

Rosie’s Café Concert at The Saint on Saturday showcased Kenny “Stringbean” Sorensen. Kenny was recently recognized as the Top Multi-Instrumentalist by the Asbury Music Awards.

Songwriters by the Sea, Sunday at the Watermark featured Bobby Mahoney, Lisa Bouchelle, and a host of other local guitar talents.

Songwriters’ Circle at McLoones Supper Club on Sunday offered a dinner show along with fourteen different artists including Joe Grushecky and Joel Plaskett.

Movie Night

For those in the mood for a movie, on Saturday the Atonement Lutheran Church screened a West Side Panel Discussion Video. Presented by the Asbury Park Historical Society, the video featured a conversation with Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny Lyon and other prominent Asbury Park musicians as they discussed the city’s unique music scene.

Light of Day 2013 Paramount Theatre Show

The most heavily attended show of the weekend is always the Paramount Theatre show, which was headlined by pop music icon Darlene Love this year. Bruce Springsteen – never formally on the bill – has made surprise appearances nine of the first twelve years, although he was unable to attend this year due to family commitments. The Light of Day Benefit is named after a song written by Springsteen for a 1987 movie of the same name. Joan Jett and Michael J. Fox performed the song in the movie with a fictitious band called “The Barbusters.” Benefit founder Bob Benjamin chose it as the theme for this charity because of the lyrics and the connection to Michael J. Fox, who is also diagnosed with this Parkinson’s. Bob Benjamin, a well-known music promoter in the area, created the fundraiser in 1998 after being diagnosed with the disease.

Darlene Love performs at the Paramount Theater

Darlene Love, a 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, sang her hits including Da Doo Ron Ron as well as a rousing medley of Marvin Gaye hits. The stage was loaded with talent all evening, including Glen Burtnik, Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers. Christine Martucci and Reagan Richards rocked the house backed by B.D. Lenz on guitar, Eric Safka on the Hammond organ, and John Hummel on drums. John recently won the John Bonham “Bonzo Bash” Contest and flew out to California to perform at NAMM just days after this performance.

On Saturday night, the Gin Blossoms rocked the Stone Pony along with special guests Jersey Syndicate, King's Highway and Jake’s Gorilla. 

Full Tilt Boogie Bash at the Wonder Bar was another Saturday night highlight. Matt O'Ree took the stage with Slim Chance & The Gamblers, Billy Hector and Jeff Cafone from Outside The Box. O’Ree blew the audience away with his guitar instrumental 88 Miles, from his 2012 CD Live in Denver. “I wrote that song after being pulled over for doing 88,” O'Ree said, describing ghe genesis of the song. “It’s a lot of fun to play which fits into the whole atmosphere down here.  Everyone is full of energy, glad to be able to play music to help out, and its great seeing all of our friends again!”

Matt O'Ree at the Full Tilt Boogie Bash

Marc Ribler at the Full Tilt Boogie Bash

On Saturday afternoon, The Saint hosted Musicians on a Mission, an organization of local musicians that performs for a number of charities. This year’s show featured the Matt Wade Band, Glimmer Grass Band, McCarthy & McCoy Band, and Goldenseal. Matt Wade was recently recognized as the Top Keyboard Player by the Asbury Music Awards and is someone worth going out of your way to see.

Saturday evening, Rock at The Saint, featuring Justin Jones, Lisa Bianco and Almost There, rocked the joint as a special treat for the hard core rockers in town.

On Sunday, Last Note at The Saint closed the weekend with The Jacob Jeffries Band, Woodfish, Quincy Mumford & The Reason Why, Dub Proof, and Random Test.

The Light of Day 2013 in Asbury Park was just a bit different this year. A festival not only to raise money and awareness for those living with Parkinson’s disease, but also a festival of the renewed spirit and rebuilding of the Hurricane Sandy battered shore. Every note that played rang out in the triumph of the local music scene over the devastation that had been wrought by Sandy, every smile was a reminder that the Shore is indeed, on the mend. - Special to Inlets and Outlets from Debbie Miksiewicz


All pictures courtesy John Posada.