Overall, the fourth annual Light of Day was an emotionally stirring event. Sunday night's festivities were hosted by Vincent "Big Pussy" Pastore of the smash-hit HBO series, The Sopranos. When he came on stage to begin the night's introductions he told the story of how his mother passed away from Parkinson's Disease and how she never got to see his success as a television star. Garland Jeffreys brought out his friend Mike who was clearly suffering from debilitating tremors that often accompany the disease. Garland credited his friend for giving him the career-boosting advice to get back out on the road. During both nights there were several wheelchair bound attendees packed in right up against the stage with the best view in the house.

Joe D'Urso and Stone Caravan energized the crowd with their noisy guitars!

Kicking off Light of Day 4 on the acoustic stage was Mike Rocket Wurtele who's song "Hey Bruce" served as a harbinger of things to come containing the lyrics "gonna meet Bruce tonight at the Stone Pony."

Next up was Long Branch, New Jersey's own Exit 105 who had the privilege of opening both nights on the main stage and closing out this year's event early on Monday morning. This young five-piece performed several songs from their demo CD and the won the crowd over with their youthful energy and Pearl Jam meets the Jersey shore musical stylings.

Boccigalupe and the Badboys were very, very good!

Several acts over the course of the two days were there to perform songs from Light of Day Tribute CD and they included Willie Nile, Mike Rimbaud and the beautiful Jennifer Glass who added more than a touch of girl power to the usually testosterone-filled event with her performance of Springsteen's "Bobby Jean."

Many acts were featured both nights including Asbury Park's Boccigalupe and the Badboys, Danny White, Joe Grushecky, Willie Nile and Garland Jeffreys. Other standout performances were turned in by Joe D'Urso and Stone Caravan, Soozie Tyrell, Gary U.S. Bonds, Jesse Malin, Jobonanno and The Godsons of Soul, and Philadelphia's Marah who introduced the Sunday night crowd to the acapella school-yard playfulness of the all-girl trio, The Shalitas, who joined them onstage for their final number.

Iowa-native singer-songwriter Dan Bern drew the most laughs with his unique brand of sharp, humorous and insightful folk songs which included "Jerusalem" in which he declared himself the long-awaited Messiah and another tune fantasizing about what would of happened if the Beatles had never broken up and took on new members including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Springsteen.

But it was the much anticipated special appearance by Springsteen for a fourth year in a row that brought the most joy to the packed Pony house on Saturday night. Springsteen emerged late in the evening to join Garland Jeffreys at the end of "Hail, Hail, Rock 'n' Roll" which showcased Bruce's famed lead guitar chops. Springsteen remained on stage for Jeffreys' set-closing number of the classic, "96 Tears."

Next up was Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers who ran through four numbers – Fingerprints, Long Way to Go, Strange Days and Have a Good Time – before being joined again by Springsteen for the remainder of the show.

Springsteen, Grushecky, and The Houserockers played for nearly two-hours running through several Springsteen and Grushecky classics consisting of Never Be Enough Time, Homestead, From Small Things, Code of Silence, Fire, Talking to the King, Johnny 99, Murder, Inc., and Pumping Iron, all which served to elevate the over-heated audience into a state of ecstasy. In fact, a few patrons had passed-out due to the capacity crowd and elevated temperature which had many in attendance struggling for their share of breathable air.

The evening climaxed in a club-wide "Happy Birthday" sing-along for Bob Benjamin and an appearance by Michael J. Fox – the actor famous for his televison roles in Family Ties, Spin City, and Back to the Future movie trilogy – who, like Benjamin, was also diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease way too early in life.

Springsteen took charge for the evening's encore of "La Bamba/Twist and Shout" which included most of the evening's performers on the cramped stage and everyone in the audience dancing, twisting, singing and shouting with arms raised high.

Newcomers Exit 105 opened and closed Light of Day 4 on the main stage!

Over the course of both days Springsteen paid extremely high compliments to two young musical acts saying of Johnny Grushecky "I've just seen the future of rock and roll" after sharing guitar riffs with Joe's young and talented son. The remark was a humorous reference straight out of Springsteen's past when writer and Springsteen's long-time manager, Jon Landau, wrote of him in The Real Paper in 1974, "I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen."

Springsteen returned to the Stone Pony on Sunday apparently with the sole purpose of checking out Long Branch's energetic and young five-piece "Exit 105" viewing the band's show-opening set from the sound stage before leaving the club for good to the disappointment of many in attendance who were hoping for a reprise of the previous evening's antics.

The Garland Jeffreys band, Willie Nile and Bruce Springsteen during 96 Tears!

Michael J. Fox, Muhammad Ali, and Janet Reno are among the estimated 1.5 million Americans suffering from Parkinson's Disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. The Parkinson Disease Foundation is a national, non-profit organization committed to finding the causes and cures of PD. Founded in 1957, the PDF advocates for the best symptomatic treatment and is a major fund raiser for all important research.

The past three years of concerts have raised over $100,000 for Parkinson's and A.L.S. research. Advances are being made daily in the fight against Parkinson's Disease and other movement disorders. Promising therapies involving stem cells are being investigated but they have been currently hindered by a federal ban on most stem cell research.

Joe Grushecky and Bruce Springsteen rocking the house!

Related Links: For more information on LIGHT OF DAY and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -- Light of Day | PDF.org | Project A.L.S. | Kristen Ann Carr Fund

(Originally Published on November 03, 2003)