This year it may not have been as big of a surprise as in past years.

Most felt Bruce Springsteen would play the Light of Day show to benefit Parkinson's Disease at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park on Saturday night. They were right.

The sold-out crowd was treated to an extraordinay evening of music by many artists with the highlight being a 14 song, hour-and-a-half performance by Bruce with Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers.

The set featured the world premiere of one song and an ultra rare song from the 1970s that had only been performed by Bruce two other times.



Bruce was in great spirits, looking all ready for his upcoming dates in South Africa and Australia with the E Street Band. He was all over the stage and came out to the front several times to play to the crowd.

Bruce made his first appearanvce of the evening with Jesse Malin playing the Ramones "Rock and Roll Radio." It was the first time Bruce has ever played on the song. He later joined Willie Nile for "One Guitar"

Springsteen's set list:

1. Rock and Roll Radio (With Jesse Malin)

1a. One Guitar (With Willie Nile)

Main set (began at 11:42 p.m.)

All with Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, plus Ed Manion on the saxophone

1. Adam Raised a Cain

Bruce really into from the start. Great guitar work.

2. Never be Enough Time

A Grushecky stape that is always nice to hear. Bruce had the wrong guitar at the start and had to have his tech, Kevin Buell, switch guitars.

3, Darkness on the Edge of Town

Is this song ever bad to hear? Whether it's with Grushecky and the Houserockers or the E Street Band, it''s always superb.

4. Hearts of Stone

Wow! Really! "Hearts of Stone!" Played by Bruce for only the third time ever and really the first time with his own backing band. A song written for the title track of Southside Johnny's third album "Hearts of Stone" (1978), this is one many Springsteen fans have near the top of their ultimate request.



The only other times Bruce has played it was in 1988 with Southside and the Asbury Jukes at a bar in San Francisco and this past summer, July 16, 2013, as part of an acoustic preshow at Thomond Park in Limerick, Ireland.



This was a beautiful version with a great sax solo by Ed Manion. A real special treat for the fans in Asbury Park who were very appeciative to hear it..

Check it out:

5. Pumping Iron

Another Grushecky staple. Photographer Danny Clinch joined in on the harmonica.

Danny and Bruce were playing off each other at one point which worked very well.

6. Atlantic City

Bruce worked the crowd at the start and had everyone in the Paramount singing "Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City" at the end.

7. Talking to the King

Another of the Grushecky staple that Bruce usually plays on. Always fun.



8. Frankie Fell in Love

The Asbury Park Light of Day crowd got a world premiere live performance from one of the new songs on the "High Hopes" album. If Saturday night was any indication, this song is going to be great live with the E Street Band,

Bruce kept asking at the start "What is one plus one" to the response of "three!" from the crowd.

For the first time, it was played very well, crowd was very much into it. At the end Bruce brought out Joe Grushecky's wife to take a bow.

Here's the world premiere:

9. Save My Love

A song that's not played enough. Always fun and has been played before with Grushecky.

10. I'm Not Sleeping

A Grushecky song that Bruce has played on before at past Light of Days. Always good.

11. Because the Night (with guitar solo intro)

Great intro. Brought me back to 1978, Bruce came out to the front of the stage and had some great guitar work. Very powerful, very cool. A highlight.



12. The Promised Land

Bruce was all over the stage on this one. First the far left, then to the far right. Sometimes we forget is he now 64! And he had a ton of energy tonight.

13. Light of Day

Many of the evening's musicians came out to join on stage including the founder of the Light of Day Foundation, Bob Benjamin, who came to the center mic to sing with Bruce. A mainstay of all the Light of Day shows, and sums up what the evening is really all about.

A birthday cake was brought out for Benjamin and he gave a short speech to the crowd. Someone yelled out "We love you Bob" which was very nice.

14. Thunder Road (Solo, guitar)

Perfect way to sum up the night. Entire theater singing with Bruce. Very powerful, very strong. Outstanding.

Show over at 1:21 a.m.

Some of the songs weren't surprises to some of the fans, who were able to hear the soundcheck outside the Paramount Theatre. Bruce had a 10-song soundcheck late in the afternoon.

Soundcheck set list:

1. Adam Raised a Cain

2. Long Walk Home

3. Hearts of Stone

4. Frankie Fell in Love

5. The Promised Land

6. Darkness on the Edge of Town

7. Atlantic City

8. Save My Love

9. Rendezvous

10. Because the Night.

Bruce ended a year-plus drought for a live New Jersey performance. The last time he played in New Jersey was with the Rolling Stones on Dec. 15, 2012 at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Next show: The 2014 tour with the E Street Band begins on Sunday, Jan. 26 at the Bellville Velodrome in Cape Town, South Africa.