jtal909
Dec 20, 2004, 05:46 PM
Bruce did 2 shows at Harry's Roadhouse, a bar in Asbury Park, to promote commerce and redevelopement in the town.
For the article and pictures in the Asbury Park Press: www.app.cpm/springsteen (http://www.app.cpm/springsteen)
ASBURY PARK -- The Bruce Springsteen of yesteryear returned home Sunday night.
Performing in an intimate setting that reminded faithful fans of The Boss' early concert days, Springsteen drew a thunderous response from the festive crowds of some 1,000 people spread over two benefit shows at Harry's Roadhouse -- one of the hippest bars in the city where Springsteen rose to fame.
Bruce Springsteen performs with Bobby Bandiera and Friends on Sunday during his first of two benefit concerts at Harry's Roadhouse on Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park.
"He grew up playing in bars," said longtime Springsteen fan Margaret Shafer, 38, of Avon. "This brings him back to who he is. He's just a regular guy."
The clean-shaven, Freehold-born rocker played an eclectic set of new and old favorites, some rarely performed at concerts, such as "Rendezvous" and "All that Heaven Will Allow," fans said. He also sang two Christmas songs, including "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," a staple at Springsteen holiday shows.
The 55-year-old Rumson resident opened both shows, fittingly, with tracks from his first album, 1973's "Greetings from Asbury Park." He played "Does this Bus Stop at 82nd Street?" to start the 4:30 p.m. show and "For You" to begin the 8:30 p.m. performance.
Over the past few years, Springsteen has performed his holiday benefit shows in the city's Convention Hall, a much larger venue.
But this year he decided to play at Harry's on Cookman Avenue to promote the downtown business district, one of the bar's owners said before the concert.
"It was Bruce's idea," part-owner Anthony Corcione, 22, said. "Our business has tripled since he made the announcement."
Business also is up at the 45 downtown businesses that participated in a contest that raffled off 10 pairs of Springsteen tickets to Sunday's early show, said Eileen Chapman, president of the Merchants Guild of Asbury Park. "People told us they did a month's worth of business in one day after that promotion started (Dec. 4)," Chapman said.
Joined on stage for one song by Southside Johnny and for most of the set by Bobby Bandiera, a singer and guitarist from Brick, Springsteen urged the crowd to continue its support of Asbury Park's redevelopment.
"So please tell all your friends to come down," he told fans before breaking into "Run Rudolph Run."
City resident Lewis Bloom, 45, who has been to dozens of Springsteen shows, said seeing the singer perform in Asbury Park was an amazing experience. He likened it to watching Mickey Mantle play baseball in the Bronx.
"It's like seeing one of your heroes playing at the home stadium," Bloom said. "Hopefully people who have never been here (to Asbury Park) will come back."
The early show -- which lasted about an hour and 45 minutes -- reached a fever pitch toward the 20-song set's conclusion, when Springsteen sang hits "Darlington County," "Bobby Jean" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out."
Fans not lucky enough to secure a ticket to the show huddled in bitterly cold temperatures outside, dancing and singing along to the concert as it was broadcast over speakers. There were vendors selling hot dogs, zeppoles and sausage sandwiches.
Tickets went for $100, but some scalpers were earning in the thousands on eBay.
Unable to get tickets, sisters Kelly Lang and Maureen Mack of Clifton were prepared to listen to the show outside on lounge chairs -- but were invited in by a show organizer at the last second.
"I'm shaking," Mack, in her 40s, said as she entered Harry's.
Approximately $100,000 in ticket proceeds will benefit 11 city-based charities, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County, The Salvation Army and The Center, which provides assistance to people living with AIDS or HIV.
For the article and pictures in the Asbury Park Press: www.app.cpm/springsteen (http://www.app.cpm/springsteen)
ASBURY PARK -- The Bruce Springsteen of yesteryear returned home Sunday night.
Performing in an intimate setting that reminded faithful fans of The Boss' early concert days, Springsteen drew a thunderous response from the festive crowds of some 1,000 people spread over two benefit shows at Harry's Roadhouse -- one of the hippest bars in the city where Springsteen rose to fame.
Bruce Springsteen performs with Bobby Bandiera and Friends on Sunday during his first of two benefit concerts at Harry's Roadhouse on Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park.
"He grew up playing in bars," said longtime Springsteen fan Margaret Shafer, 38, of Avon. "This brings him back to who he is. He's just a regular guy."
The clean-shaven, Freehold-born rocker played an eclectic set of new and old favorites, some rarely performed at concerts, such as "Rendezvous" and "All that Heaven Will Allow," fans said. He also sang two Christmas songs, including "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," a staple at Springsteen holiday shows.
The 55-year-old Rumson resident opened both shows, fittingly, with tracks from his first album, 1973's "Greetings from Asbury Park." He played "Does this Bus Stop at 82nd Street?" to start the 4:30 p.m. show and "For You" to begin the 8:30 p.m. performance.
Over the past few years, Springsteen has performed his holiday benefit shows in the city's Convention Hall, a much larger venue.
But this year he decided to play at Harry's on Cookman Avenue to promote the downtown business district, one of the bar's owners said before the concert.
"It was Bruce's idea," part-owner Anthony Corcione, 22, said. "Our business has tripled since he made the announcement."
Business also is up at the 45 downtown businesses that participated in a contest that raffled off 10 pairs of Springsteen tickets to Sunday's early show, said Eileen Chapman, president of the Merchants Guild of Asbury Park. "People told us they did a month's worth of business in one day after that promotion started (Dec. 4)," Chapman said.
Joined on stage for one song by Southside Johnny and for most of the set by Bobby Bandiera, a singer and guitarist from Brick, Springsteen urged the crowd to continue its support of Asbury Park's redevelopment.
"So please tell all your friends to come down," he told fans before breaking into "Run Rudolph Run."
City resident Lewis Bloom, 45, who has been to dozens of Springsteen shows, said seeing the singer perform in Asbury Park was an amazing experience. He likened it to watching Mickey Mantle play baseball in the Bronx.
"It's like seeing one of your heroes playing at the home stadium," Bloom said. "Hopefully people who have never been here (to Asbury Park) will come back."
The early show -- which lasted about an hour and 45 minutes -- reached a fever pitch toward the 20-song set's conclusion, when Springsteen sang hits "Darlington County," "Bobby Jean" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out."
Fans not lucky enough to secure a ticket to the show huddled in bitterly cold temperatures outside, dancing and singing along to the concert as it was broadcast over speakers. There were vendors selling hot dogs, zeppoles and sausage sandwiches.
Tickets went for $100, but some scalpers were earning in the thousands on eBay.
Unable to get tickets, sisters Kelly Lang and Maureen Mack of Clifton were prepared to listen to the show outside on lounge chairs -- but were invited in by a show organizer at the last second.
"I'm shaking," Mack, in her 40s, said as she entered Harry's.
Approximately $100,000 in ticket proceeds will benefit 11 city-based charities, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County, The Salvation Army and The Center, which provides assistance to people living with AIDS or HIV.