All-star band helps Grushecky in Jersey

Joe Grushecky had to go on without all his Houserockers Saturday, but he made the most of it at the 19th annual Light of Day concert at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, N.J.

With the Houserockers’ rhythm section stranded in Pittsburgh due to the snowstorm, he assembled what he called the Asbury Orchestra with Houserockers guitarists Danny Gochnour, his son Johnny Grushecky (who was in town the night before with his own band, Milly), guitarist Marc Ribler (Disciples of Soul), bassist Kenny Aaronson (ex-Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and New York Dolls), keyboardist Jeff Levine (Joe Cocker), drummer T.C. Tolliver (Plasmatics), singer Reagan Richards and legendary photographer Danny Clinch on harmonica.

“There were so many heavy hitters there, Jersey players,” Mr. Grushecky said. “It was like, ‘You want a drummer? How many you need?’”

They had about 30 minutes of rehearsal time to put together a 25-minute set that included the Grushecky-Springsteen political anthem “That’s What Makes Us Great,” the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” and the set-closing cover of Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” featuring guest vocals by Jesse Malin, Steve Forbert, Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie and more.

Mr. Grushecky and the Houserockers have played almost every year at the Light of Day fest, which raises money for Parkinson’s disease research and programs.

The five-hour show was headlined by Willie Nile.