Bruce Springsteen was the surprise guest at Saturday’s Bob’s Birthday Bash at the sold-out Paramount Theater in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The concert came as part of the 10-day Light Of Day Winterfest, known as “The Festival That Bruce Built,” which through the Light Of Day Foundation brings “worldwide prominence in the global battle to defeat Parkinson’s Disease and related illnesses through the awesome power of music.”
The Boss’ first appearance came during Jesse Malin‘s set when he dueted on “Broken Radio” and played guitar of “Meet Me At The End Of The World,” a track found of Jesse’s Sunset Kids album. Bruce then jumped up as part of Willie Nile‘s set on “One Guitar.” Finally, Bruce Springsteen was backed by Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers on a number of classics, including some of his own tunes the hometown hero hadn’t played in years.
Bruce, Joe and The Houserockers first tackled Grushecky’s “Talking To The King” before Springsteen led the group through “The Promised Land.” A rendition of the Houserockers’ “Pumping Iron” was followed by Springsteen’s first version of his Nebraska classic “Atlantic City” since an E Street Band show on February 2, 2017. After “Never Be Enough Time,” The Boss sang “Darkness On The Edge Of Town” for the first time since February 21, 2017 and led “Pink Cadillac” for the first time since September 5, 2016. The latter featured Danny Clinch on harmonica. “Savin’ Up” was then followed by a finale of “Light Of Day” and “Thunder Road.” All of the evening’s performers joined on the last two numbers, the last of which saw Springsteen play acoustic and led into a refrain of “Happy Birthday To You” in honor of Light Of Day Foundation co-founder Bob Benjamin.
Watch a series of fan-shot videos captured by Sammy Steinlight during the Grushecky set featuring Springsteen:
Pink Cadillac
Thunder Road
Light Of Day
Darkness On The Edge Of Town
Atlantic City
Promised Land
Setlists (via BruceBase)
With Jesse Malin: Broken Radio, Meet Me At The End Of The World
With Willie Nile: One Guitar
With Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers: Talking To The King, Promised Land, Pumping Iron, Atlantic City, Never Be Enough Time, Darkness Of The Edge Of Town, Pink Cadillac (w/ Danny Clinch), Savin’ Up, Light Of Day (w/ all performers), Thunder Road (w/ all performers)
