Alejandro Escovedo leads Asbury Park’s Light of Day benefit
Alejandro Escovedo will headline the 11th annual Light of Day Concert on Jan. 15, the centerpiece of a four-day concert series featuring 75 bands in Asbury Park, NJ.
Escovedo will perform at the Paramount Theatre as the kick-off event for a year-long celebration, “Asbury Park Musical Heritage Year 2011.” The series will include nine different events at seven venues in the city Jan. 13-16.
The Light of Day series of concerts, which also includes performances in Canada and 11 countries in Europe, raises money for the fight against Parkinson’s disease.
Vincent Pastore, who played “Big Pussy” on “The Sopranos,” will be the host of the Escovedo show. Also on the bill will be Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers, Jesse Malin, Willie Nile and Joe D’Urso and Stone Caravan. Quincy Mumford and the Rock and Roll Chorus, a local band, will also perform.
The Light of Day concert this year saw Bruce Springsgteen — as he often has during Light of Day benefits — performing as an unannounced guest with Grushecky and the Houserockers.
Light of Day’s New Jersey weekend will kick off Jan. 13, with two showings of the new documentary, “Just Around the Corner” that focuses on Light of Day Foundation founder Bob Benjamin.
On Jan. 14, the Bebe Buell Band, the Tangiers Blues Band, Status Green, Outside the Box, River City Extension and others will play the Stone Pony. Shows start at noon at the Stone Pony and the Wonder Bar on the 15th with bands from Canada and Europe as well as local acts.
While the main event is taking place at the Paramount, the Stone Pony will host a country night featuring Corey Wagar, Kinderhook and Cowtown.
Light of Day will wrap up on Jan. 16 with three acoustic singer/songwriter shows at three boardwalk venues. John Eddie, Glen Burtnik, April Smith, Linda Chorney, Christine Martucci, Cara Salimando, Jerzy Jung, Pat Guadagno and others will perform at the Watermark, Langosta Lounge and McLoone’s Supper Club.
By Phil Gallo – SoundSpike Editor at Large