By Danny Coleman
originally published: 08/13/2015
"Wendy let me in I wanna be your friend I want to guard your dreams and visions," It's hard to believe that it's been four decades since that line was uttered, since "Mary's dressed waved" and "When the change was made uptown and the big man joined the band."
Bruce Springsteen's iconic album "Born To Run" turns 40 years of age this month and on Thursday August 13 a celebration of its release and impact takes place at Bar Anticipation "Bar A" in Belmar (Lake Como), NJ. Event organizers and area music mavens Jesse Warren and Terry Camp have assembled a top notch cast of musicians to recreate not only the historic album itself but songs from the era that Springsteen would perform while on tour. Original E Street band member Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez will be part of the ensemble as well as current E Streeter Max Weinberg as they join together with a house band featuring members of Gary U.S. Bonds, The Jukes and some of the very best local musicians the Jersey Shore has to offer.
The evening however, serves an even higher purpose, to draw attention to a rising heroin epidemic in the United States; in particular New Jersey and even more so in Ocean County. "Jesse gets the credit for coming up with the idea," says Camp. "Jesse turned a personal tragedy into a positive here and it's something that should be brought out." "Two years ago I started doing "Thunder Road Thursday," we started in an American Legion Hall," explained Warren. "I did one with (Springsteen background vocalist) Michele Moore and my brother Scott wanted to go; knowing he was struggling with addiction, I didn't want him in that environment and I wouldn't let him go. Back in March he passed away from a heroin overdose; so this is kind of my tribute to my brother and hopefully we'll help others not suffer the same fate."
"This is not a benefit per se," adds Camp. "This is to raise awareness and celebrate a great album and a great piece of music. We need to raise awareness about the heroin epidemic in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. A month ago, I saw a national news report that heroin overdoses were on the rise throughout the country. New Jersey was sixty two percent above the national average and Ocean County was twenty percent higher than the rest of the state; we need to really pay attention because it's getting worse. "It's a very personal thing for me," continued Warren. "I watched my brother struggle mightily with it and that's why we've decided to dedicate the night to Scott."
Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez, the man who laid down the first beats for Bruce during their days at the now defunct Upstage Club in Asbury Park was eager to jump on board and contribute as he is involved with a non-profit drug addiction/counseling service called "City Of Angels" based out of Hamilton, NJ. "Jesse asked me a while ago; so I said sure. "Born To Run" while supporting a good cause sounds like a great night to me," said Lopez. "I work with the City Of Angels and see this all of the time; it's sad so I'm looking forward to helping out. It looks to be shaping up as a nice evening and I'll say this, you'll get your money's worth. I know a few of the people that I'll be playing with, I hope they know the songs because I sure do," he said with a laugh. "If not me, Max will be there and I'm sure one of us will remember. After the lawsuit and coming out of that; people were curious as to what was next to come out of Bruce. He did a great job and "Born To Run" is truly an iconic piece of American music."
Camp and Warren took great measures to ensure that the venue and the material were picked just right; hopefully giving all who attend the best possible experience through and through. "The show will include all of "Born To Run" and as many songs from that tour era as we can get in," elaborated Camp. "There will be the originals from the album as well as the cover tunes that Bruce did during those years and more specifically on that tour. We have a special moment planned, the all star house band that we've assembled is going to do a rarely done song; "Paradise By The C," it's an instrumental and I'm very much looking forward to it. We chose to hold this at Bar A because we worked with Tom Jannarone in the past on the "3rd. Annual Big Man's Birthday Bash" and it worked out great! It's a great venue on all levels, it's extremely well run by Tom and the staff, the backstage area is great for the musicians and performers; it's just an all-around good choice and fits what we are trying to do."
Tickets cost $10 in advance and $15 the day of show and are still available with the remaining raised funds after expenses going to "CFC Loud N Clear Foundation," an organization which provides recovery, prevention, intervention and family support to those with addictions.
To discover more about this event; please go to
https://www.facebook.com/events/1524147801165369/. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the show starting promptly at 7 p.m. Bar Anticipation (Bar A) is located at 703 16th. Ave. Lake Como, NJ and can be found on line at www.bar-a.com. To see the work of CFC Loud N Clear Foundation, please go to www.cfcloudnclear.org.
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
THIS WEEKS CALENDAR LISTINGS
Alchemist & Barrister
28 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-5555
Wed. 9 p.m. Paul Plumeri Blues Band
All shows 21+
(609) 448-7144
Fri. 8 p.m. Kindred Spirit
Sat. 8 p.m. (TBA)
Blend Bar & Bistro
911 Highway 33, Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Tues. 8 p.m. Triviajam
The Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton
Fri. 7 p.m. Electric Pukes, The One2s, (TBA). All ages, $10
Sat. 5 p.m. Deadline Tuesday, Nine Planets, Blue Son, (TBA). All ages, $10
Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m. Stacy Dillard Sax Quartet. (No cover-$10 minimum)
Chickie's & Pete's
183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
Wed. 9 p.m. Trivia Night
Dog & Bull Brew House
810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
Thurs. 8 p.m. Soul Kitchen
Fri. (4 p.m.) "Happy Hour Jam" feat. Visoon (9 p.m.) Nick & Greg
Sat. (11 a.m.) "Saturday Brunch Jam" feat. Jazz 180 (9 p.m.) Mia Johnson
Sun. (11 a.m.) "Sunday Brunch" feat. Joe Robinson Brunch Jam (3 p.m.) Pop Fiction Trio
Mon. 8 p.m. Dustin Beck
Fran's Pub
116 S. Main St. New Hope, PA.
(215)862-5539
Thurs. 9 p.m. Curtain Call
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Blues Jam
All shows 21+
Freddies Tavern
12 Railroad Ave., Ewing
Fri. 9 p.m. Paul Plumeri & Jerry Monk
Havana New Hope
105 S. Main Street. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897
Thurs. 10 p.m. "Beat The Clock" College Night DJ Dance Party
Fri. 8:30 p.m. The Naturals
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Se7en
Sun. 3 p.m. Ten Foot Tall
Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Wed. 8 p.m. Pat Foran & Friends
Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Fri. 10 p.m. Mikey Jr.
Sat. 10 p.m. The Dawgs
All shows 21+
John & Peter's
96 S. Main Street New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Thurs. 9:30 p.m. Shawnn James & the Shapeshifters w/ Jeremiah Tall. $5
Fri. 9 p.m. Satellite Hearts / The Levee Drivers
Sat. (3 p.m.) Kings Of Nowhere (8 p.m.) The Silks / Morning Martyrs
Sun. (3 p.m.) The Liz Nordstrom Band (9 p.m.) Collin J Rocker
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic. w/ Justin Pope
Tues. 9 p.m. Matt Woods. $5
Wed. 9:30 p.m. The Invitational
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern
2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-2678
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
Levitt AMP Trenton Music Series at the Capital Green
201 Barrack Street Trenton
Sat. 7 p.m. Low Cut Connie, Honah Lee. All ages, outdoor event
Millhill Basement
300 S. Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-1600
Thurs. 9 p.m. Shaboizi, The Choices, Dead Tenors, F You Idiot, Safety. $7
Wed. 9 p.m. Cornelius The Third, The Grizzly Band, Those Crosstown Rivals, S.N.A.F.U., Kyle Trocolla.
Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
All shows 21+
Palmer Square
Nassau Street Princeton
Sat. 2 p.m. "Full Moon Howlin' Songwriters in the Square" feat. Chuck Schaeffer, Laura Cheadle, Patty Blee
Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Ernie White & Tom Reock
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Snake Eyes
Randy Now's Man Cave
134 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 424-3766
Please Check web Page for Events
RHO Waterfront
50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Fri. (4 p.m.) Happy Hour Buffet. $10 (9 p.m.) Once Again
Sat. 9 p.m. House Music Party w/ DJ Beloved & DJ Eddie Ed. $20
Tavern On The Lake101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Sat. 9 p.m. ArHouse
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The HOB Tavern
146 Second Street
(609) 291-7020
Sat. 9 p.m. Karaoke
The Ivy Inn
248 Nassau St. Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Fri. 10 p.m. DJ Darius The First
Sat. 10 p.m. DJ Copacetic
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
Wed. (8:30 p.m.) Tune Trivia (10:30 p.m.) DJ Rockn Ron
The Sticky Wicket
2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. Run For Cover
Sat. 9 p.m. Ja Tun
The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check web site for upcoming events
Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Fri. 9 p.m. David Falcone
Sat. 9 p.m. John Patrick Bastiani
Wed. 9 p.m. Paul Wiese
All shows 21+
Trenton Buzz702 Pine St. Trenton
(609) 392-6000
Thurs. 8 p.m. Open Mic. w/ Hek Cat
Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 8:30 p.m. Cinema Thursday Presents: (TBA)
Fri. 7 p.m. First Friday
Mon. 9 p.m. Monday Night Karaoke w/ Benny P
Tues. 7 p.m. Open Mic.
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Fri. 10 p.m. The Yetis. ($5 cover charge)
Sat. 10 p.m. Ceramic Animal. ($5 cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night (Sign ups 6:30 p.m.)
Wed. 9 p.m. The Blue Eyed Bettys
All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn
2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. Acoustic Rock
All shows 21+
