My weekend started with a Friday night (3-9-18) performance by Springsteen Family Tree members Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. I had never been fortunate enough to see them live, but was excited to finally catch a live performance. They were playing at Columbus, Ohio's Southern Theater. I was in the third row with my Canon G7x Mark II camera. Great show! Lots of energy, sing alongs, great songs, and what a band of musicians! A four star show!
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes
Goose, Johnny, and John
Southside Johnny and Goose
Southside Johnny
Southside Johnny on the harmonica
Southside Johnny
Southside Johnny on the harmonica
I edited some photos that night on my laptop, headed to bed, then woke up early to take my son Adam to the airport so he could fly to NYC for a chess tournament with his Wellington School classmates (they got first place!). I then drove myself to my hotel across the river from New York City for the Springsteen show.
I arrived by Uber on Broadway for the show. The street was lit up with the lights of Broadway and thousands of folks off on an NYC adventure.
The Walter Kerr Theater in New York City
An excited me and the sign.
A better picture of another sign advertising the Springsteen on Broadway show.
You go through security before entering a line to get into the theater. A while before 8:00, the doors opened. You enter into the side (interesting!) of the theater itself. No lobby. No waiting area. There is a bar in the back and a nearby merchandise table. I bought a numbered poster for the event, a tee shirt, and a tote bag. All the items are nice and reasonably priced.
I found my seat and talked with my neighbors - a couple down from Boston area (he has seen Bruce about 50 times), a younger couple from New Jersey (happy to have a night on the town with the babysitter watching the kids), and an interesting gentleman who heard I was from Columbus (he grew up in Columbus, went to Kent State, and now lives in the Bay Area). Of note, you could not possibly have a bad seat - the theater holds less than 1000 and the sight lines are great.
As the crowd filed in, I looked closer to the stage. Down in front was Nathaniel Rateliff! I love Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, having seen them three times! When I mentioned that he was right there in the theater, no one around me knew who he was (yipes!). When he walked up the aisle towards me, I walked closer and asked him if I could shake his hand. He shook my hand and we talked about me seeing him before, the new album just out, and we said our goodbyes. I was so happy! To meet an artist whom I love at this show was magical.
I would have loved to be down in front (never been for one of the 21 times I have seen Bruce) and had my Canon G7x Mark II with me (not allowed! The only pictures allowed are photos at the end when the house lights come up). But even without those, the night was magical. The show consists of Bruce alone in the spotlight, either with an acoustic guitar or at the piano. He tells stories. He sings songs. It is funny, moving, rocking, and a great show. It lasts about 2 hours with no intermission. It was a five star show. So, so happy I went.
Bruce Springsteen at the Walter Kerr Theater, New York City.
The lights come up and photos are allowed.
Bruce Springsteen
I chatted some more with the gentleman from Ohio. We headed outside to see if Bruce could be seen exiting the theater. There was talk in the theater that sometimes he says "hello" to the fans or signs autographs. The stage door is right next to the theater entrance. They have it fenced off so some few dozen fans are right down in front. Then people are farther down or across the street hoping for a glimpse of the man. I spoke with a nice couple from Maryland about seeing Southside Johnny and shaking Nathaniel Rateliff's hand.
Bruce rounding the SUV to enter the front passenger side after leaving the theater.
All of sudden, the door opens and Bruce and his security folks walk out. He waves and says "hi" in general. People are shouting and waving. Bruce rounds the vehicle, enters, and they drive away. That is the closest I believe I have ever been to the man. Fun way to end the evening. So I Ubered back to the hotel, thrilled with an exciting night.
The following morning (Sunday, 3-11-18), I packed and left for the Jersey Shore. I had always thought it would be amazing to drive around Freehold and Asbury Park, New Jersey and explore the places where Bruce grew up. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning. I drove into Freehold. And found the first stop: St. Rose of Lima Church. I parked nearby and took my camera and walked around.
St. Rose of Lima School, where Bruce attended school.
The St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church where Bruce Springsteen's family attended.
The driveway between the pole and 87 Randolph Street is all that remains of the Springsteen residence where he and his family lived next to St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.
Ok, I find this humorous: I like many am standing next to the wrong tree at 39 1/2 Institute Street in Freehold. Bruce stood next to the tree seen behind me for a photo shoot for 'Born In The USA'. Rookie mistake!
Freehold Borough High School, where Bruce attended high school.
So I drive into Asbury Park, excited to look around. It happens to be a happening Sunday as it is the day of the St. Patrick's Day Parade, right in the heart of town. I find a place to park and head down to the boardwalk and the beach.
Me on the beach with the Convention Hall behind me.
The Asbury Park beach was sunny but cold!
I love weathered wood on boardwalks, docks, and homes. I love the visual.
A mural of Bruce and the band.
Convention Hall - Asbury Park
The "new" Madam Marie's on the Boardwalk.
"Sound of Asbury Park" plaque.
The legendary Stone Pony!
The Wonder Bar with the recreated Tillie.
The Music Academy Benefit Show was going on at the Stone Pony that day. For $20 I was able to head inside. I was happy to be able to enter during a live event. The walls are a history lesson: hundreds of photos and dozens of signed guitars cover the walls. Such a historic venue!
The stage of The Stone Pony - Music Academy performance.
The inside of the Stone Pony.
I was running on not-enough-sleep and still had to drive to Philadelphia, so I hoped in the SUV to head up to Phillie. I grabbed a delicious cheesesteak and cheese fries at Vienna Pizza & Pasta in Malvern, PA as I headed to my hotel. After a nap and a change of clothes (and some more editing of photos on my laptop), I headed to my destination: Tower Theater in Upper Darby, PA. The performer that night: Chaka Khan. The Queen of Funk was on my Top 10 Still-Performing Artists I've Not Seen Live list, though I may have seen her at the Kool Jazz Festival in the mid-80's in Cincinnati. But I was very excited to see her. I had been to the historic Tower Theater once before - for a Bryan Ferry show on my birthday a few years ago.
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan smiling for the audience.
Chaka Khan
The funky drummer.
The drummer.
Chaka Khan, the Queen of Funk
The band with Chaka Khan.
The band was terrific! And the backup singers were amazing. It helped that they were amazing as Ms. Khan said she had a cold and her voice was not 100%. But they played all the hits (except "Through The Fire"). And the stage worker gave me a set list when I asked! Solid four star show! So happy I was there to see it.
There was one last, very important part of the trip: Beiler's Doughnuts. If you are unfamiliar, you need to find a way to try these delicious yeast donuts! They are my favorite food ever!
As there are now four locations and the Lancaster, PA location was "on my way" (I would go out of my way for these doughnuts any day!), I headed there.
Boiler's in Lancaster, PA
Oh my! The anticipation!
I managed to only eat three! Oh, they are delicious!
The donuts were amazing as I remembered. With a happy heart and full stomach, I headed back to home.
What did I do over my Spring Break? I had a great time!
