LYNN — We’re having a party with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and the joint is jumpin’.
It’s Saturday night at Lynn Auditorium and the gents from Jersey are winding down their two-hour show with a raucous run-through of Sam Cooke’s “Party” classic. Winding down might not be the right description, because the crowd is on its feet, dancing to the music, as the horns — sax, trumpet and trombone — unleash a blast of energy while Southside Johnny Lyon unchains his growl of a voice.
The Jersey Shore outfit, a touring mainstay since 1976, is closely associated with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band; Miami Steve Van Zandt was co-leader in the early days. And even though The Boss and Van Zandt weren’t physically in the house, their spirit permeated the entire proceedings, as the Jukes performed songs by both. Rhode Island heroes John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band opened the evening with a rocking set of their Springsteen-like story songs, getting the big hit, “On the Dark Side,” out of the way right off the bat.
The Jukes’ set started off a bit sluggish, as the sound mix betrayed Johnny (too loud and distorted) and the horns (too soft). But all was right by song No. 6, a high-octane take of Lloyd Price’s R&B powerhouse “Stagger Lee,” fueled by Dixieland horn blasts, and it was full speed ahead from that point on.
“Walk Away Renee,” the oft-recorded Left Banke hit, has become a Southside standard. The vocals were sublime, and Jeff Kazee provided lovely classical piano accompaniment..
Highlights included vibrant versions of Springsteen’s “Talk to Me” and, especially, “The Fever,” and Van Zandt’s “This Time It’s For Real” and “I Don’t Want to Go Home,” all from the band’s revered first three albums.
Johnny, 71, was animated and chatty, playfully chastising attendees for their weak singalongs and for being too shy. He predicted his beloved Yankees would eat the Red Sox’s lunch this season. He also played a mean blues harmonica.
Drummer Tom Seguso is a monster easily switching from one genre to another and giving the band a solid foundation all night. He and bassist John Conte are a formidable rhythm section. Guitarist Glenn Alexander is very good, sure and steady, whether a song called for quiet moments or dirty, nasty licks.
The three horn players all had moments in the spotlight. Neal Pawley’s trombone solo in “Don’t Waste My Time,” Chris Anderson’s trumpet in “The Fever,” and John Isley’s sax on “Love On the Wrong Side of Town” were all sensational.
Cafferty and band made the most of their time on stage, hitting the mark with “C-I-T-Y” and movie soundtrack tune “Hearts on Fire.” NRBQ’s Klem Kilmek subbed for an ailing Michael “Tunes” Antunes, a friend of many North Shore rockers, and delivered terrific Clarence Clemons-like sax solos. Gary “Guitar” Gramolini, whose brother Joel spent time in the Jukes, also shined.
