Alliance of Neighbors (Red Bank, October 18, 2001)

The Alliance of Neighbors of Monmouth County was formed in the aftermath of the September 11 tragedy to help coordinate fund raising activities and existing assistance organizations in Monmouth County to help provide for families of local victims. As part of the Alliance's efforts, two benefit concerts are being held at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, featuring Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and several others.

Words do not adequately express the importance of the Alliance's mission, and of trying to start the healing process. In that context, the concerts are a wonderful thing. That said, there is still a concert to review on its own terms.

When originally planned (prior to September 11), these concerts were planned as a fundraiser for World Hunger Year. The theme of the shows was to be a tribute to Sun Records; the shows were going to feature a band with the two surviving members of Elvis' original trio -- DJ Fontana and Scotty Moore. That the concerts were "re- focused" to support the Alliance was honorable. The content of the shows, however, appears to have been de-focused, and that is a shame.

Over the first two hours of the concert, it was difficult to find any sort of focus, nor any flow. Bon Jovi gave their fans a solid acoustic performance of several of their greatest hits, but with the exception of several poignant tributes to victims, most of the rest of the first two hours seemed aimless.

Finally, the gray-haired men took the stage. DJ Fontana at the drum kit. No Scotty Moore. Sonny Burgess at the mike. And, almost in hiding, Bruce Springsteen running in to grab a guitar and sing harmony on "Tiger Rose," an obscure song Bruce wrote for Sonny a few years ago. The performance surpassed the album track, and had the crowd on its feet. It was also the first time Bruce has performed it in public. But, there was only one more number from Sonny -- and it wasn't his classic Sun hit "Red Headed Woman."

After a hilarious Kevin Smith short video (which will be part of the NYC concert as well), the concert hit bottom. Three songs each from Randy Moore and Henry Gross, and before you could get an answer as to "why?," the final spectacle of Phoebe Snow yelling at the sound man to turn down her keyboard player.

At this point, the show was nearly 3 hours old, and many of the patrons were out in the hallways, seeking alcoholic relief.

Finally, Joe Ely took the stage. What Ely's connection to the show was may remain a mystery, but his performance was worth it anyway. Bruce made his second guest appearance for "All Just to Get to You." Following Ely was Joan Jett, whose brief 2-song set (someone please explain why Henry Gross got more stage time?) concluded with Bruce joining for a messy, fun rendition of "Light of Day." After Felix Cavalieri's renditions of old Rascals favorites, it was time for Bruce.

Bruce rehearsed acoustic, but came out electric, backed up by Max, Garry, and a couple members of the house band. And promptly went into "Bobby Jean," made somewhat interesting by a harmonica solo replacing Clarence's part at the end. No missed notes, anyway.

"My City of Ruins" followed, in perhaps the best performance of the night. The house choir helped out here, as well as having the house band behind him. This was, for me, the one real moment of goosebumps during the evening.

Following MCOR, Bruce played The Fastest Rendition of "Land of Hope and Dreams" Ever, and then a rare saxophone-free electric version of "Thunder Road," before calling up any artist still in the building to sing part of the second verse of "Stand by Me."

At the end, Bruce said, "From a musician's perspective, this was a great night," as if acknowledging that not all us of had that perspective.