Long nights and Light of Day with Southside Johnny
Niagara Falls show will also feature Light of Day regulars
You don’t get to be a New Jersey music legend by having lax standards for your band. So John Lyon, better known as Southside Johnny, has a pretty basic rule — you’re either a Juke, or you’re out.
The Asbury Jukes are his hallowed backing band on seminal ’70s classics such as “Hearts of Stone” and “I
Don’t Want To Go Home.” They helped mould a movement which spawned Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven and other purveyors of heartland rock ’n’ roll, and their live show hasn’t wavered for nearly 45 years.
Much like Springsteen and his E Street Band, Lyon will call audibles while performing. And his band better be ready.
“You have to have the right people, you have to have Jukes,” he says on the line, preparing for another string of shows that’ll bring him to Niagara Falls April 15 for Light of Day Niagara 11.
“There have been guys in this band who were not Jukes, and they don’t last long. You have to enjoy playing and have to be able to enjoy the craziness on stage.”
It doesn’t take long to weed out the non-Jukes, he adds.
“They usually get that look of the deer in the headlights. You call out a song and they look at you like ‘Huh? That’s not in the set list.’ Then I’ll say ‘Get out!’”
Niagara Falls will be just one of four Light of Day Canada shows Lyon plays, with stops in Kingston April 12, London April 13 and Toronto April 14. It’s his first time playing the Canadian version of the Parkinson’s Disease fundraiser since 2012.
Hosted by Dave Hodge, the Falls show will also feature Light of Day regulars Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan, Bobby Mahoney & The Seventh Son, Jason Heath and Jason Federici (son of late E Street Band member Danny Federici).
Light of Day Canada is an offshoot of the popular New Jersey fundraiser founded in 2000 which Lyon played regularly in the early years.
“I love doing it — it’s a great organization and it’s very well run,” he says. “It’s something that’s close to home. I know people who have been affected by Parkinson’s … it’s easy for me to get behind.”
While the event has branched out from its origins as a Jersey-centric concert held at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park (Springsteen played the first year), the famed ‘Jersey sound’ is still a prominent part of its identity. Many of the artists Lyon inspired play the show.
Shortly after Springsteen’s “Born to Run” put the Jersey sound on the map, Lyon’s beloved trio of “I Don’t Want To Go Home” (1976), “This Time It’s For Real” (1977) and “Hearts of Stone” (1978), with contributions from Springsteen and Little Steven Van Zandt, practically perfected the sound.
“I’ve had people come up to me and say they played my song at their wedding, or they met at a concert … I’m used to it but it’s very awe-inspiring to think that you’re part of that great lineage of giving people something to listen to, to focus on that takes them away from their troubles.
“I mean, I’m no big star but I’ve gotten a lot of feedback that’s been very positive for me and it makes me feel very good.”
Despite the grind of touring as he approaches 70, Lyon savours every moment — something he couldn’t do during the “blur” of the early years, followed by record company battles and a constantly changing band. A move to Nashville in the mid-’90s recharged him musically, and he was soon touring and recording at a brisk clip again.
He guesses he has “hundreds and hundreds” of songs kicking around, enough to fuel plenty more Jukes albums or whatever side project he indulges in. Just before the Light of Day Canada shows, the band plays in Sweden and Norway.
“I especially like it when we go someplace we haven’t played, which is harder now because we’ve played just about everywhere we’re gonna play.
“I’m grateful for my existence,” he adds. “I’ve never had to work since I made my first album. I worked right up to and during the making of the first album, but after that I’ve been able to make a living from music, and that’s one of those great blessings a lot of people who are better than me … can’t do.
“I don’t take it for granted. I’m very grateful for it and we try to kick ass every night on stage to justify it.”