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Light of Day 2011 photos
More than a decade after it began its mission, the Light of Day Foundation kept rocking for a good cause this past weekend.
"It's amazing; it's one of the joys of being in a band in this area," said Asbury Park's Keith McCarthy, guitarist and singer with the Sunday Blues. "It's a beautiful night. Everybody gets together, everybody gets along and it's for a great cause."
Along with the Sunday Blues, other local acts who took the stage early in the night on Friday included Sibling Rivalry, Mike Rocket and Rick Barry.
Other Light of Day events scheduled for this weekend included screenings of the documentary "Just Around the Corner," which chronicles the story of Light of Day founder Bob Benjamin and his battle against Parkinson's, at the ShowRoom on Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park. Benjamin, a music industry veteran, was diagnosed in 1996.
The concert series continued Saturday in Asbury Park beginning at noon at both the Wonder Bar and the Stone Pony; Saturday evening at the Paramount Theatre and at the Stone Pony; Sunday afternoon at the Watermark and Langosta Lounge and Sunday evning at Tim McLoone's Supper Club.
Park Ridge's Joe D'Urso, a singer/songwriter who is also on the foundation's board of directors, said over 100 artists were expected to perform over Light of Day's three days in Asbury Park, which brought to an end a year which saw Light of Day events held in 13 countries.
The musical proceedings got turned up to 11 on Saturday night when an already-exciting bill for the Paramount Theatre show - including Jesse Malin, D'Urso, Joe Grushecky, Alejandro Escovedo and Willie Nile, saw the addition of surprise performer Bruce Sprinsgteen.
Springsteen, who has appeared at Light of Day eight times over the years, jammed with many of the evening's performers and also delivered solo versions of some of his own classics, including "Thunder Road" and "This Hard Land."
- Alex Biese
