Bruce Springsteen surprises audience at 20th annual Light of Day in Asbury Park

Who leaves sunny Florida to fly into a New Jersey snow storm and play music on the Asbury Park boardwalk?

Bruce Springsteen, that’s who.

The Boss joined Jesse Malin, Willie Nile and Joe Grushecky on stage at the city’s Paramount Theatre for the Bob’s Birthday Bash show of the 20th annual Light of Day on Saturday, Jan. 18.

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“I’m going to bring out a guy, local guy, he sings pretty good,” Malin said to loud cheers.

Springsteen played on the Malin ballad “Broken Radio” and the rocker “Meet Me at the End of the World.”

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Springsteen later rocked on Nile's "One Guitar" and teamed with Grushecky and the Houserockers for an hour and fifteen minute set of Boss classics and Houserockers hits to close the show.

Springsteen, who wore a flat cap and plaid shirt, and had an easy smile on stage while joking with band members. He cooled down a post-solo Grushecky on “Hard Steel” by waving a towel at him, and studied Danny Gochnour up close while the Houserocker soloed on ““Never Be Enough Time.”

The Boss gave an approving nod.

He also had a fun riff with Danny Clinch on harmonica for "Pink Cadillac." Yet, when the time came, Springsteen he dialed it in. He took the mic off the stand for the second verse “Promised Land,” and you could feel the room shift a gear.

A heavy guitar version of “Atlantic City” took no prisoners and “Darkness on the Edge of Town” was pointed and biting. “Savin' Up,” a track Springsteen wrote for Clarence Clemons and the Red Bank Rockers, is something he only seems to do with the Houserockers. Here, he did a preacher vamp that was fun, but had its share of wisdom, too.

A solo acoustic “Thunder Road,” set to dramatic back lighting with the fellow Light of Day musicians and fest founder Bob Benjamin, who has Parkinson's, on stage was magical. The rendition of “Happy Birthday” for Benjamin, now confined to a wheelchair, was sweet to close the show.

Springsteen gave Benjamin a kiss on the cheek.

If you're keeping track, Springsteen has performed in 12 of the 20 Light of Days, with the last time in 2015 before Saturday night. He had just returned from Florida, where he and wife Patti Scialfa were the honorary chairs of the United States Equestrian Team Foundation’s “Take Me To Tokyo” gala on Friday, Jan. 17, in Wellington. Daughter Jessica Springsteen is a competitive equestrian rider.

This edition of the Light of Day Winterfest, which raises funds and awareness in the fight against Parkinson's and related diseases, began in Asbury Park on Sunday, Jan. 12 and runs through Sunday, Jan. 19. There were also shows in Montclair, New York, Philadelphia and Europe, where a tour took place in November and December.

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Bob’s Birthday Bash is named after Bob Benjamin of Freehold, who has become an advocate for those with the disease.

The Asbury Park Press is a sponsor.

Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers with Bruce Springsteen

Talking to the King

The Promised Land

Pumping Iron

Atlantic City

Never Be Enough Time

Darkness on the Edge of Town

Pink Cadillac

Savin’ Up

Light Of Day

Thunder Road

Happy Birthday

Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. His multiple awards include recognition for stories on Bruce Springsteen and Snooki. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com.