Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes Bring the Boardwalk to Homer Center for the Arts

From the same Jersey Boardwalk scene as Bruce Springsteen the legendary Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes sound is currently touring this season.The group traveled from the Jersey shore to Upstate New York’s Homer Center for the Arts on Sunday October 17, 2021. Jon Bon Jovi has acknowledged Southside Johnny as his “reason for singing”.

Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes
Out Loud Pictures: Southside Johnny, Tom Seguso, Glenn Alexander, Chris Anderson

Southside Johnny revived the 1950’s Summer vibe last July at a Drive in Concert at Monmouth Race Track. More than a 1,000 vehicles honked their car horns to show appreciation for the Asbury Jukes horns sound in New Jersey’s biggest concert last year. So to have them inside the sold out Center for the Arts Homer on Sunday was truly an intimate performance.

Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes
Out Loud Pictures: Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes

The Horn Section is made up of Chris Anderson on Trumpet, John Isley on Saxophone and Neal “The Dude” Pawley on trombone. The trio helped serenade the spirits of the 150 year old church turned music venue on Sunday.

Across on B3 Hammond and piano was the band’s musical director Jeff Kazee. He led the ensemble on vocals for Steve Winwood’s classic “Can’t Find My Way Home”. Glenn Alexander rocked the evening on lead guitar. John Conte’s bass lines bounced off Tom Seguso’s boardwalk beats. Seguo sported a pair of Carter Beauford style white gloves while playing the kit.

Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes

Southside Johnny sang to the crowd during the twenty one song set that “I want to hear people laughing and having a good time, I want to know why she told me she had to go, why did she leave me so lonely…it’s time to go but I don’t want to go home”

Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes
Out Loud Pictures: Jeff Kazee, John Conte

It should come to no surprise that Bruce Springsteen joined the band when they played in Asbury Park for “The Fever”. The Homer crowd was given the same medicine on Sunday night as they played this classic. Oh he’s got the fever. Left this little boy blue.

Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes
Out Loud Pictures: Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes

The eight piece ensemble closed the show with “Shake em Down.” Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes were howling in unison with the crowd… We’re Gonna Rock until the morning We’re gonna ride till we die. I gotta keep movin till I’m satisfied.

In June 2021, Bruce Springsteen was the first to play Broadway at The St. James Theater since its closing last year. He treated the crowd to stories of his Freehold, New Jersey childhood where he grew in to song. Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes brought the same small town magic back to the Center for the Arts during its Fall season. In similar fashion to when Bruce guested with the Jukes they closed the night with a nod to Sam Cook Sundays for his classic “Were having a party” Tell Em one more time, were havin a party, yeah. and everybody’s swinging, oh, were dancin to the music, on the radio, tell you, were havin a party.

Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes Homer Center for the Arts – October 17 2021

Setlist: Passion, Ain’t That Lonely, Angel Eyes->Forever, Lost, Wrong Side, Gin Soaked Boy, Woke up this AM, Good is Gone, Fool, Your My Girl, All I Can Do. Without Love, Fever, Talk to Me, Trapped Again, Shake Em Down
Encore: Not that Lonely, Were Having a Party

Photos by Out Loud Pictures

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