It was a big weekend. On Friday, Patrick took me to see The Gaslight Anthem at the Asbury Park Convention Hall. Towards the end of the show the lead singer Brian Fallon said, “Say, ‘What have you done for me lately?’” A half-hearted cry echoed, “What have you done for me lately?” Fallon repeated, “No. Say, ‘What have you done for me lately?’” We all cried out, “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?” And Fallon welcomed Bruce on stage. That’s right. Bruce Springsteen. The Jersey boys moshing in front of us stopped and the crowded rushed forward, the whole auditorium crowed, “BRUUUUUUCCCEEE.” And there he was — leather jacket, jeans and guitar.

(c) Patrick Cooper

The concert was magical, but I also fell in love with the town. And, wouldn’t you know, I’m not the first. On returning home, I researched the Berkley Oceanfront Hotel where we stayed. It turns out that none other than Johnny Cash stayed there. He actually  kept a suite of rooms from the mid-80s until 1992. June Carter even wrote in her autobiography, “There is no way to explain how Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash got involved in restoring Asbury Park, New Jersey. When I try to explain it, nothing makes sense. It has something to do with giving back some glory to a place that deserves it, but you really have to be there to understand.”

I keep collecting hometowns in my travels and Asbury Park is another one. I left wishing I was a Jersey girl, born and raised on the Shore.

If you haven’t heard of The Gaslight Anthem, let me share one of the last songs of the night and my favorite:

Posted, by Lori in Rose.