CINDY STAGOFF
Jesse Malin, with drummer Paul Garisto, at one of his comeback concerts at The Beacon Theatre in New York.
NEW YORK — Two benefit concerts for Jesse Malin at The Beacon Theatre, Dec. 1-2, were full of the spirit of his motto PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) — the belief that optimism and resilience create success — and showed that music can still unify us. The shows raised money for Malin’s Sweet Relief fund, supporting him as he continues to recover from a 2023 spinal stroke that left him partially paralyzed. But they also marked his first concert appearances since he suffered that stroke.
Malin has experienced some strength returning in his body and can now walk slowly, with the assistance of a walker. He mostly performed sitting, surrounded by his dynamic band and other performers who, respectfully, sat as well. But he sang in a strong voice and when he stood up on both nights, supporting himself by clutching a mic stand, the crowd roared in support of his perseverance, and his indomitable spirit. He told the crowd that he kept a mic stand in his apartment to practice standing in preparation for the concerts.
CINDY STAGOFF
Jesse Malin with Jim Jarmusch, left, and Eugene Hütz, backstage at The Beacon Theatre.
In a period of post-election turbulence and divisiveness, it was wonderful to be in a peaceful setting where people gathered to show appreciation for a man who has given so much of himself, and who now needs a little help from his friends. The love was palpable.
A strong supporter of other artists, a tireless philanthropist (for organizations including The Bowery Mission, Little Kids Rock, Light of Day and Connecting to Cure Crohn’s and Colitis) and a heartbeat of the New York rock scene through his music and his co-ownership of several venues (including Bowery Electric), Malin has generated lots of good will, over the decades. And it was returned at these shows. A large number of other accomplished performers — including Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Stevie Van Zandt and Jakob Dylan — sang his songs and expressed their love for him, to a packed house of friends and fans. (It must have felt strange for him to be on the receiving end of the kind of generous behavior he himself has displayed so often, in the past.)
Despite his physical challenges, and the presence of so many gifted supporters, Malin, 57, was the shows’ main performer, and delivered an emotional, intense evening of rock ‘n’ roll, accentuated by heartfelt stories of friendship and recovery.
In a stunning new ballad, “Argentina” (watch video below), he sang about going to Buenos Aires for rehabilitation.
“I went down to Argentina for stem cells and physical therapy, as some of you know,” he said. “I was there 6 months. To go below the equator was scary for me. I don’t like going above 14th Street. I don’t speak the language. I can’t walk and I had great nurses, but they didn’t speak English too well … it definitely was helpful …
“I started to write a bit but I was so beat up and exhausted from physical therapy. I wrote this song and it’s my new single and it’s pretty much the story of the whole thing.”
CINDY STAGOFF
From left, Willie Nile, Jakob Dylan, Tommy Stinson and Fred Armisen, backstage at The Beacon Theatre.
He dedicated the song to Jimmy G of the band Murphy’s Law, who was with him at a party commemorating his late D Generation bandmate Howie Pyro when he suffered his stroke; Jimmy G. helped him get to a hospital. He also dedicated it to “all the physical therapists and doctors and friends and fans.”
He said that when he got back to New York from Argentina, he thought he was home. But “now I’m fucking home,” he added, standing onstage in the beautiful Beacon Theatre.
He spoke about his early days when, at the age of 12, he called the club CBGB to ask for an audition. He played late-’70s music “but it was the 1980s,” he said; he was told that punk was over and that he should try something new. He found more receptive clubs on Avenue A, but got tired of the punk scene “getting more metal and macho,” he said.
Malin’s manager David Bason and his former manager Diane Gentile — who both performed at the shows — put together the benefit album Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malin, which was released in September and features some of the same luminaries who performed at The Beacon.
On Day 1, Costello duetted with Williams on The Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” (see video below) and, on Day 2, Williams, who also suffered a stroke (in 2020), sang “New York Comeback” from her 2023 album Stories From A Rock N Roll Heart; Williams co-wrote this song with Malin and her husband Tom Overby, with whom she co-produced Malin’s 2019 album Sunset Kids.
Both of these performances celebrated Malin’s drive to return to the stage and honored his beloved place in the New York music scene, and beyond. Costello said Malin inspires him to stay in the music business.
I, too, felt inspired, watching Malin and Williams perform despite health adversity, and was impressed by their devotion to keep connecting through music.
CINDY STAGOFF
Rickie Lee Jones at The Beacon Theatre.
On Day 1, Van Zandt made a surprise appearance, performing Malin’s 2015 song “Turn Up the Mains” with him. The evening’s lineup also included Gentile, Alejandro Escovedo, Rickie Lee Jones, Don DiLego, Danny Clinch, and Adam Duritz and David Immerglück of Counting Crows (who played “A Long December” to a hushed audience). Jakob Dylan and Butch Walker, both electrifying performers, played songs from Malin’s 2007 Glitter in the Gutter album. And J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. played “Brooklyn.” Co-hosts included actors Michael Imperioli and Mary Louise Parker.
On Day 2, many of the performers returned, including Dylan, Jones, DiLego, Mascis, Clinch and Walker, who played a stunning version of “Aftermath.” Low Cut Connie’s Adam Weiner played “When You’re Young,” Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hütz and the band’s violinist, Sergey Ryabtsev, performed “Victim of Pain.” Tommy Stinson (of The Replacements) and The Hold Steady also joined the lineup, as did the exuberant Willie Nile, singing “All the Way From Moscow,” which he co-wrote with Malin. Gentile returned to sing a duet with Malin on “Greener Pastures.” Co-hosts included Fred Armisen, Matt Dillon and Jim Jarmusch.
Malin’s own numbers on both nights included “Room 13” and “Oh Sheena.” He shared stories of his days seeing The Pogues at The Beacon with The Clash’s Joe Strummer, and at the Danceteria nightcub. He sang the 1988 Pogues song “If I Should Fall From Grace with God” and said it “helped me through a lot of hard times.”
I felt the audience’s energy peak with Malin’s performance of “She Don’t Love Me Now” (watch video below), covered by Bruce Springsteen on Silver Patron Saints.
This concert of sweaty, awe-inspiring rock ‘n’ roll was no ordinary show. It served as a reminder of what a supportive community looks like. And if you missed these shows, you will be able to experience Malin’s sense of PMA at the main Light of Day 2025 WinterFest concert at The Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, Jan. 18; his participation has just been announced.
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Jesse Malin posted this photo of himself at The Beacon Theatre to social media, Dec. 5.
UPDATE: On Dec. 5, Malin posted a message on social media that read, in part:
I’ve been sitting here feeling so many things for the last couple days, wanting to write something to tell you all how much those benefit shows at the Beacon Theatre meant to me.
They were possibly the two most special nights of my life — being on that stage, tears coming down behind my shades, crying through the whole first song, seeing all your faces and playing my music again. Something that has been so painful, frightening, and hard to navigate can bring out so much light and love.
I’ve always believed in us as human beings, and the goodness we carry in our hearts. But since this has happened to me, I’ve gotten to see it on a whole new level. I know the world can get pretty dark, but the love and support that I have felt throughout these last 20 months has shown me how incredible people truly are.
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