As I walked out of Asbury Park's Paramount Theatre at about 2 a.m. Saturday night/Sunday morning, I heard about a dozen different people say "That was Bruce Springsteen's best Light of Day show ever."



Yes, yes!!! Springsteen looks tour ready after what was just a fabulous evening of music. He started with a solo-acoustic song and then a 16-song set with Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers that ended at 1:40 a.m. .Prior to that he played a song with Willie Nile and three entertaining songs with Southside Johnny and LaBamba's Big Band.

Is there anything better than seeing two Asbury Park music legends, Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny, once again share a stage in Asbury Park almost 40 years since they first put the seaside town on the music map? Simple answer, no.

This was the 11th time (out of 15 years) Springsteen has played one of the Light of Day benefits, an organization founded by Highland Park's Bob Benjamin to fight Parkinson's Disease.



Bruce was in great shape and his voice sounded top-notch especially hitting the high notes on "Darkness on the Edge of Town" that had the crowd roaring.

Set list:

1. One Guitar with Willie Nile.

With La Bamba's Big Band:

2. This Little Girl is Mine

3. Higher and Higher with Southside Johnny

At one point the song went off track and Bruce laughed and looked at Southside and said "It took two of us to **** it up!"

4, I Don't Want to Go Home with Southside Johnny

The classic Asbury Park bar song sung by the two Asbury Park legends.

Just like old times: Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny have fun performing at the Light of Day show in Asbury Park on Saturday night.

5. Janey Don't You Lose Heart (solo acoustic by Bruce) Bruce came onstage by himself at 11:51 p.m. this was just wonderful. One of my favorite songs and to see it like this.

with Joe Grushecky.and the Houserockers.

6. Adam Raised a Cain

7. Savin' Up

Lots of fun. Before the song, Bruce said he needed some tequila. He asked the crowd "How much do you have in your love account?" And said "No one goes before James Brown." He then asked superfan Kim Skaggs of Chicago, who was sitting in the front row, to hold his drink while he sang.



8. From Small Things.(Big Things One Day Come)

9. Never Be Enough Time

10. Racing in the Street. 1978 version

Very well done and the crowd was very appreciative.

11. Pumping Iron (photographer Danny Clinch plays the hamonica).

12. Darkness on the Edge of Town

We've all heard this many times live, there was something about this version of it tonight. It was perfect, had the crowd roaring at the end.

13.Still Look Good for 60.

A Grushecky song. Bruce and Joe had a lot of fun back and forths.

14. Frankie Fell in Love

Bruce said this song was about math. How 1+1 = 3 and it was the only math he would ever be good at.

15. Hearts of Stone

Not played much and always great to hear.

16. Save My Love

Bruce talked quite a bit before this song. He said this was written for the "Darkness on the Edge of Town" album but didn't make it. He said it would have fit on "Born to Run." He said he remembered he was either in Connecticut or, no, it was Providence, R.I., and he was playing a small college. A car pulled up and he heard "Spirit In the Night" on the radio. "What a great feeling it was, I was hearing my song. It was the first time I had ever heard one of my songs being played on the radio," he said. "This is what this song is all about."



17. Talk to the King

18. Because The Night

John Eddie, James Maddock and Willie Nile join onstage.

19. Light of Day

Always a rousing version at these shows. A whole cast of characters onstage to join in.

20. Thunder Road (solo acoustic by Bruce). Shared the center mic with Bob Benjamin. It turned into a sing along for all 1,600 in attendance.

Prior to playing it, Bruce spoke about Benjamin and Light of Day:

"Congratulation Bobby, 15 years. A tremendous accomplishment. I remember when Bob first talked to me about Light of Day, it sounded like it would be a nice thing, get the locals together every once in awhile, never would have thought that you could do with it what you’ve done with it, how you brought it around the word and the way you bring it back here to Asbury Park every year.

"Congratulations to you man, it’s an incredible accomplishment, 15 years Light of Day fighting Parkinson’s 15 years. Bobby Benjamin!"

Springsteen continued: "When you get a bunch of musicians in a room like this, it's a wonderful thing. ... There's a tremendous brotherhood and sisterhood in that. It's a great cause, but I also come out just to feel that thing. It's a feeling in this room tonight. It's inspiring, as with Southside and LaBamba, often hilarious. It's always great to be a part of. That's a gift you give us every year Bobby, when you drag us all together like this."

21. The Promised Land.

What a way to close the show. A spectacular ending to a spectacular night.

"Thank you, thanks for coming out. Thank you for your support. See you next year! Bobby Benjamin! Light of Day!" Bruce said just before he left the stage at 1:40 a.m..

I've been to 14 of the 15 past Light of Day shows, tonight was the best. It's a show they'll be talking about for a long, long time.