Sometimes it’s easy to forget that New Jersey has more than 130 miles of beach and coastline.
And that can lead to some differences in culture along the Atlantic.
For John Lyon, better known as Southside Johnny, and his band the Asbury Jukes, there are parts of the northern New Jersey shore where they aren’t just one of the best party bands ever, they’re music gods.
Trust us. Near Asbury Park (from which the band obviously derives its name), for a certain age group, not knowing the words to “We’re Having a Party” could get you deported to Metuchen or some other non-beach locale.
Southside brings that legacy to the southern shore Saturday with a concert at Ocean City’s Music Pier (8pm, $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Call 800-838-3006 or visit brownpapertickets.com).
For such a shore icon, Southside admits he doesn’t get below the Mullica River all that often.
"Not nearly as much as we should,” he says.
But south or north, The Jukes always carry with them that magical feel of a time when they and other acts (some guy named Springsteen comes to mind) put the Asbury Park/Jersey Shore sound on the musical map.
We caught up with Lyon at his Ocean Grove home for a phone interview and asked him five questions. We found him relaxed, funny, and as always, ready for a party.
Since the band’s inception in the 1970s, you’ve seen a huge amount of amazing musical talent play with the band. We’ve heard that its more than 120 guys. Is that really true?
"That is true. We count everybody though. If you play in the band even one day, then you’ve been a member of the Jukes. So there are a lot of people who have played in the Jukes and they’re just guest appearances. But the truth is that we have had over a hundred and some musicians pass through that were, you know, they played in the Jukes.
There’s a guy over in England, Mike Saunders, who did a family tree for us a few years ago — I guess like 10 years ago now — and he had over a hundred people then and we’ve had many people pass through since then. So yeah, it’s been a real breeding ground. … of what I don’t know.
One of those guys currently is Billy Walton, a South Jersey favorite, who will play with you Saturday. Can you talk about him being in the band?
Well, Billy’s band opened for us a couple of times, I think once down in Virginia at the Birchmere, one of our favorite places to play. And so we were casting around for a guitar player. Bobby Bandiera, who had been with me for the last 20 years, went out with Bon Jovi. And Jon started adding more and more dates. So we needed somebody to fill in, actually take over the seat. Then we got Glen Alexander and then we had another guy and then this guy.
And Billy, we asked him to play one time. I heard him play at The Birchmere and I said, 'I really like this guy.'
And he’s just a great guy. He’s just a terrific guy to have in the band. He’s always up and he doesn’t cause problems. And he doesn’t bring any neuroses with him, at least I haven’t seen any.
And he kind of fit in. So we’ve taken him with us to Europe. Sometimes we have two guitar players and usually he’s the second guitar player. Sometimes, he’s the only guitar player. He’s just a great addition and a lot of fun to have on tour.
Speaking of touring, you’ve been doing a lot. You were just in Norway and you’re going to the UK in the fall. But it seems like you purposefully left the summer months open to play close to home.
We were just in Norway and Sweden for five dates. We happen to be fairly popular in Norway and Sweden and really all of Europe … except France, which is weird, because we’ve played France several times and its one of my favorite countries. Paris is one of my top five cities and yet … (laughs) I don’t know.
“It really is the center of everything. Between the Ocean City Pops [which have called the pier home for 83 years] and the concerts, the flower shows and the fairs, and everything else people want to use it for, yeah, you’d have to say it’s the hub. It’s definitely booked solid.”
Sunday brings Barks on the Boards, a fundraiser for the Ocean City Humane Society that allows pet owners to strut their proud pooches down the city Boardwalk ...
The success of this past October's Ocean City Fall Block Party, which drew an estimated 30,000 people to the family resort on Oct. 9, has switched on a lightbulb above the head of Ocean City's Herb "Bubba" Birch.
“I’ve got a band that needs to live. And they need to pay bills. You know artists like myself no longer sell any records because radio is a disaster. They don’t play anything new. Radio is still the most powerful way to get yourself out there. But there are no more DJs. It’s all programmed and there’s just no surprises anymore.”
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1. Anonymous said... on May 26, 2011 at 04:09PM
“Was at that fabulous show at the Nokia Theatre with LaBamba's Big Band doing Grapefruit Moon and some Tom Waits songs. Southside Johnny was chiding the musicians that needed their musical charts since the Jukes play without any.”
2. Anonymous said... on May 26, 2011 at 08:31PM
“So looking forward to kicking off the Memorial Day Weekend at the Jersey Shore with Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes. It has been nearly two years since their last Ocean City performance and we can't wait for the party Saturday night.”
3. Jackie Sheehan said... on May 26, 2011 at 09:05PM
“Great interview and questions - and as usual the same old responses from the big guy! no surprises there. That's why we love him ...I do however think that it's high time we all start focusing on how we get the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame people to recognize these NON INDUSTRY MUSICIANS , those that have contributed as much as any band to the world of music but not be part of the SYSTEM. How do we get this band recognized????????”
4. Tony Leach said... on May 27, 2011 at 11:22AM
“Hey all - I'm a big Jukes fan based in the UK. He's my favourite artist of all time and actually seems to get better every time I see him!! I can't wait for him to tour in the Autumn and am so jealous I'll not be at the Ocean Grove gig.
All the best from the other side of the pond!
Tony”
5. mikael ewerlof said... on May 29, 2011 at 05:07PM
“Allways so uplifting reading Johnnys responses, he´s really a good sport and a great caracter/musician.
So sad I wasn´t at home when he performed in Stockholm, Sweden a month ago. Usually I never miss a Jukes-consert, please be back soon - Johnny.
Without your music - life is a mistake!
Mike”
6. Tony toon said... on Jun 6, 2011 at 04:47AM
“Great to see billys settled in the band n you still have bwb opening for you. Cant wait for to see you all at the brook in october. On a sad note R. I. P. Kevin.”
7. Tony toon said... on Jun 6, 2011 at 04:47AM
“Great to see billys settled in the band n you still have bwb opening for you. Cant wait for to see you all at the brook in october. On a sad note R. I. P. Kevin.”