While Bruce is attracting thousands of people all over Europe playing American traditionals, his old buddy Southside Johnny is on a more low-key tour of the old world with his Asbury Jukes. Last week I was fortunate enough to catch them in what has become an annual tradition, their show at Amager Bio in Copenhagen. Southside is doing what he's been doing for as long as I think anyone can remember: playing his unmistakable rock 'n' roll/blues/soul mixture, horns blasting, guitar screaming, harmonica whailing. He may have gained a few pounds over the years, and he may not be jumping up and down quite as much as he used to, but make no mistake, the energy level is still way above what most bands can only dream of. There is rarely a break between songs, and for the two and a half hours a typical Southside Johnny show lasts, Southside makes a strong case why he and not James Brown or even Bruce should earn the title as the hardest working man in showbusiness. If you get a chance, catch one of his shows and support a guy who doesn't make millions on his music and who mostly does it because that's all he knows how to do and because the world needs bands like the Asbury Jukes.

Show comments   Write comment