| Bon Jovi and Bruce keep Hope alive |
|
Asbury Park Press article
There already was star power aplenty on the stage of Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank Monday night, and then Jon Bon Jovi introduced Bruce Springsteen.
"It ain't Santa Claus," Bon Jovi said, announcing a special guest. "We got something better."
Like his fellow rockers at Monday's Hope Concert, Springsteen took the stage in a low-key manner, providing guitar solos and backing vocals to Bobby Bandiera's lead on "Run Rudolph Run."
Springsteen soon took center stage, with back-to-back performances of "Merry Christmas, Baby" and his definitive version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." He directed the band and led the audience in cries of call-and-response.
"Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" soon followed, and all was merry and bright.
A finale of "Having a Party," with Southside Johnny Lyon on lead, backed by Springsteen, Bandiera, Gary U.S. Bonds and the band, capped an evening that raised more than $250,000 for the Parker Family Health Center in Red Bank, as well as thousands of cans of donated food for the FoodBank of Monmouth/Ocean Counties.
This was the fourth Hope Concert, a tradition founded and organized by Bandiera, a longtime member of the local music scene who currently tours with Bon Jovi.
---
Read the rest of the article by following the link below...
Related URL: http://www.app.com/article/20081224/ENT/812240330/1031
|
