Max Weinberg's Jukebox makes fans twist and shout at Light of Day 2024 main event

This Jukebox fights Parkinson’s.

Max Weinberg's Jukebox delivered a set of classic rock hits that had fans twisting and shouting in the aisles Saturday at the Light of Day main event inside the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank.

The Light of Day event raises funds and awareness in the fight against Parkinson’s and related diseases. Yes, fans were twisting and shouting after the Jukebox performed “Twist and Shout.”

“The Beatles version,” Weinberg said.

Weinberg’s Jukebox was powered by audience requests from a running list of songs on a screen on stage. Weinberg stepped out from behind his drum kit and went into the audience to take the requests.

“You’ll forgive me if I forget these songs. I’m an AARP member,” Weinberg quipped.

If the song selection process was an inexact science, the Jukebox song performance was tight, fun and powerful. “Mighty” Max is still plenty mighty − his drum roll on the Who's “I Can See for Miles” sounded like a Concord taking off. He also has plenty of artsy nuance behind his kit. His partial fills on the Band’s “The Weight” was a thing of beauty.

The non-drummers in the Jukebox are the Asbury Park band the Weeklings: Glen Burtnik, Bob Burger and John Merjave. were out front. Weeklings drummer Joe Bellia played percussion. Weinberg stepped down to let the group play an original song from their new album, “Raspberry Park,” called “Like We Used to Do.” It’s a big-top rocker with kaleidoscopic thunder beat and a marmalade melody.

Weinberg’s day job is drummer for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Springsteen is a frequent, and unannounced, Light of Day performer but not this year. The Boss was in Florida this weekend, and he played at a fundraiser for the United States Equestrian Team Foundation in Wellington on Friday, Jan. 19. His daughter Jessica Springsteen was a medal-winning member of the 2020 team.

There was no shortage of music on Saturday at the Basie. The Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation of Edison ParkinSINGs group, composed of individuals with Parkinson’s Disease who sing for therapy, provided the show’s walk-up music, and Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers were in top form and sounded especially impressive. Willie Nile and his band brought the evening’s energy level up, too.

Nile, as did the night’s other performers, brought attention to the show’s mission. In 1998, a birthday party was held in Red Bank for music manager Bob Benjamin, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Benjamin attended Saturday’s show in a wheelchair.

“I said before, when they finally find a cure for Parkinson’s, we’re going to have a party like the world has never seen,” said Nile to cheers. “Then the very next say we’ll find something else to go after and we’ll conquer that (expletive) too.”

More: Light of Day 2024 in Asbury Park and Red Bank fights Parkinson's with music and love

More: Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa rock U.S. Equestrian Team Olympic benefit in Florida

Dramarama delivered their set, which included “Anything, Anything,” with verve and Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie rolled through the audience before returning to the stage to play his piano with his foot and mic stand.

That's entertainment.

The breakout star of the fest was Joe P of Asbury Park, whose songs “Off My Mind,” “Fighting in My Car” and more are viral hits. On Saturday, he performed solo and the first lines of “Off My Mind” drew cheers from the audience. On Friday, Jan. 19 at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, Joe P performed with a band and rocked the house with a set of angst-y indie rock with an emphasis on minimalism and wry smiles.

He's got the voice, the guitar skills, and the hair, too.

Saturday’s show ended with a tribute to Jesse Malin, a featured performer at previous Light of Days who suffered a spinal stroke in May that left him unable to walk. Malin’s creative partner, Derek Cruz, led a stage-full group rendition of Malin’s “Brooklyn.”

More: Danny Clinch Transparent Gallery raising funds for rocker Jesse Malin

The annual “Happy Birthday” sing-along to Benjamin, who was on stage, followed, and then Weinberg delivered a stadium-sized drumroll intro for the song “Light of Day.”

The Asbury Angels, which recognizes late members of the city’s music community, held its annual induction ceremony at the Pony on Friday. City musician Ray Dahrouge; city music producer Joe Harvard; Phil DeAngelo, the former owner of the Fast Lane; journalist Holly Cara Price; and city music promoter Sammy Boyd were honored. They’ll receive plaques on benches on the city’s boardwalk.

“I know a lot of you people came up to me and said a lot of wonderful things about my father about how every time he ran into you, it was like you were the only one in the room,” said Boyd's son, Salvatore Boyd. “So if we can learn a little something from my father it’s treat people that way and love harder, live bigger and mostly importantly, with all those shows he booked over the years, he always gave a little bit back to charity like this wonderful foundation does. Thanks so much for supporting the Light of Day Foundation.”

Light of Day events continue through Sunday, Jan 21 in Asbury Park and an LOD Songwriters in the Round show with Jarod Clemons, James Maddock, Jake Thistle, Joe D’Urso, Danielia Cotton, Jake Thistle, Williams Honor, Adam Ezra, Anthony D'Amato, Emily Grove and Jon Caspi takes place Saturday, Jan. 27 at Outpost In The Burbs in Montclair.

Visit www.lightofday.org for more info.

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com 

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Max Weinberg's Jukebox makes fan twist and shout at Light of Day 2024