(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- From the moment Little Steven Van Zandt and the Disciples of Soul took the stage at the historic State Theatre in New Brunswick on Sunday, April 29, it was clear this was going to be an epic night. Blasting off with a joyous read of Arthur Conley’s classic “Sweet Soul Music” seamlessly seguing into Van Zandt’s own “Soulfire,” the pace did not let up all evening long.
Van Zandt has never been about half measures. If he isn’t invested 150 percent, then it’s not on his agenda. Therefore, this reinvented version of the Disciples has a full horn section (helmed by the beloved Eddie Manion), a kick-ass percussionist (Anthony Almonte), a legendary keyboard player (Lowell Levinger AKA “Banana” from the Youngbloods), a blistering rhythm section (Jack Daley on bass and Rich Mercurio on drums), and three gorgeous background singers who also dance their asses off all night, every night (attired in spangles, feathers, boots, and Afros straight out of a 1973 Pam Grier movie). Not to mention the swashbuckling Marc Ribler on lead guitar and Andy Burton providing the groovemeister threads on B3. Van Zandt himself puts one in mind of a psychedelic pirate, that cool older brother that played you all the best records and explained to you just how the band got that guitar sound on your favorite song.
Perhaps because of the undeniable educational component of this show and the fact that he and his wife Maureen have dedicated themselves for many years to promoting arts education for young people, this particular tour is dedicated to teachers. The Soulfire 2018 Tour directly promotes and benefits Teachrock.org, AKA the Rock and Roll Forever Foundation. Van Zandt began the organization several years ago to promote music education in schools, where it has been long missing due to decades of budget cuts. Teachers are invited and encouraged to attend the shows for free; they are also treated to a workshop about music education prior to the show.
Last year’s world tour for Soulfire, his first album in 18 years, thrilled audiences throughout the United States and Europe. Van Zandt is now taking this life-affirming medicine show back on the road to American cities (Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, Orlando, New Orleans, and Austin among them) and then heading back to Europe to play London, Dublin, Norway, Belgium, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands this summer. In addition, he’s just released Soulfire Live! as a digital download.
After a blistering journey through R&B, soul, blues, and rock & roll, Van Zandt presented one of his most enduring ballads, “Princess of Little Italy” from his inaugural album in 1982, Men Without Women. Other highlights of the night included the triumphant “I’m Coming Back” written for Southside Johnny’s underappreciated Better Days album in the 1990’s, produced by Van Zandt; Etta James’ formidable statement of purpose “Blues Is My Business”; the transcendent “Love On The Wrong Side of Town” (co-written with Bruce Springsteen and sounding for all the world like a Doc Pomus original); crowd pleasers like “Forever” from Little Steven’s first album and the Asbury Jukes’ anthemic “I Don’t Want To Go Home” (also penned by Van Zandt). The show closed with “Out Of The Darkness” from the 1984 album Voice of America which, honestly, never felt more relevant than today.
Here is a collection of photos from the show taken by Debra L. Rothenberg.
Debra L. Rothenberg is an award winning photographer residing in New York City and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photographic Illustration/Photojournalism from Rochester Institute of Technology. She is an accomplished professional whose photographic range consists of music/concerts, celebrities, news, sports, CD and book covers, newspapers and magazines, portraiture, children, events, and public relations. Among her many accomplishments is a National First Place award in the sports category from the National Press Photographers Association. Visit her webpage at: www.debrarothenberg.com
