 Stan and accompanying crew were GREAT (even the dead possum!!!) but my heart
broke in 100 different places at the condition of Asbury Park. I was warned, I had the
idea it was going to be bad....I just had no idea how badly run down it had become.
I guess Bruce Springsteen said it best...."How could something so bad come from
something that was so good, I don't know...".
Upon our return, it was great to FINALLY meet DanniGirl, my own evil twin and partner in
crime/co-conspirator for the weekend. I think everyone had the same feeling though, right
down to Jeff Kazee, "YOU'RE DanniGirl!!???" It was great to be associated with
THE Danni, even though I was a mere #2, until we met up with Danni #3 from NJ.
(DanniCubed....hehehe)
OK, OK...the music!! I am not going to bother with set lists because everyone seems to be
into that already. And besides, I never claimed to be sober enough to write everything
down. Professor Crew Cut jammed the stage on Friday night!! I was duly impressed, not only
the best damned dressed band I'd ever seen, but tight as hell and a lot of fun. Jeff Kazee
is a very high energy man, and while he's no Rusty Cloud (that's how he signed my album at
the session on Saturday...what a nut!!), I'm willing to give him all the credit he and his
band deserves. Ashamedly, I have to tell you that some point in between Professor Crew Cut
and The Bobby Bandiera Band the two Dannis wound up wasted (imagine our surprise!)! From
what I can recall of Bobby's set, it was awesome. He sounds like a cross between Paul
McCartney and Jon Bon Jovi, it was great to finally catch him live. I'll probably not see
his band again until my next pilgrimage to the Jersey Shore, but I at least got the chance
to pick up some CD's, and try and make up what I lost in between runs to the beer table.
The autograph session was next, and what a great time. The guys in the band were very
eager and willing to talk, sign, and take photos. Everyone seemed to be enjoying
themselves, and that in itself was awesome. I am sure that the assembly line setup could
have gotten annoying, what with people filing through like a herd of cattle, but the guys
really made the most of it. The band was very open and down to earth, and I even got a
laugh out of Southside when I told him I was "too hungover to think of anything
profound to say, but it was great to finally meet him"!
The Mark Pender Band.....welllll...I guess I probably have a soft spot for this one since
I was the Girl Scout in question. All I can say is that The Love Man is not only talented
as hell (I never knew his voice was so incredible!!), but he's a lot of fun--maybe it was
all that Vitamin V??. It's always nice to see the camaraderie between Mark and LaBamba as
well, I love to watch a show when you can tell everyone involved is having a great time.
My cookies and uniform are packed for JUKESTOCK 2002, someone should come up with a patch
for my sash.
Finally, oh so finally......after a somewhat chaotic scene at the lineup, the great moment
arrived!! Southside and the Boys took the stage and took us by storm!! The sound was
awesome, the band was in a great mood and tight as ever. I thought the show I saw a few
months ago in Cleveland was the best I'd seen, but this definitely put that on a shelf.
The greatest surprise was the opening of the show with "Next to You", one of my
all time faves!!
To be right near the front with my DanniGirl, dancing, swaying, raising that glass....it
was damn near religious, I tell you. Three hours of the Jukes....three encores......Jeff
Kazee surfing on his keyboard......Bobby's boy looking a lot like his dad (only a little
more scared), and Dad with panties on his head...Johnny and Horns into the audience....
Oh yes, Raise that Glass and raise it high, can I get a witness?????? As I said at the
beginning of this post, somewhere around, also, the beginning of time since this is so
damned long (sorry!!), I missed out on LaBamba, so I am counting on the rest of you to
keep me posted.
Maybe on my next trek out East I'll be able to catch the Hubcaps in action. In closing (as
you're all thanking God that I'm shutting up....), I would like to say a big THANK YOU to
the JUKESTOCK planning team and everyone that worked so hard to make this an unforgettable
weekend. I want to thank the bands for showing up in great spirits, being so friendly and
genuine--the real reason for all of this was the MUSIC of all the great guys that took
stage this weekend.
To all of my new friends...thanks for the memories, the pics have come out great so far.
Sly, Carole, Hank, Dean, Brian, Stan and Kim, Stan and Trish (I have never met more Stans
or Dannis in my life!!!), Bill and Donna, Steve W., Pat, Tony, Mike and Sean Cunningham,
Danni #3 and her Man who's name escapes me at the moment (I am sooo sorry!!!), the
Cunningham Brothers, The Boys from Boston, and the crazy fun guy in room 222 who never
told me his name but who I hung out with on Friday regardless.....THANK YOU GUYS for
making this so much fun and making me comfortable in a group full of strangers. If I
missed you on Sunday before I left, Email me and keep in touch!
See you all soon!! I'm not a lady (obviously), I'm a JUKES GIRL!
DanniGirlScout
Canton, Ohio |
