KIRSTINE WALTON
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes paid tribute to the late Tom Petty by performing two of his songs at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood, Oct. 21.
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes paid tribute to the late Tom Petty not just once, but twice at their show at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood (Camden County), Oct. 21.
They performed Petty’s 1977 breakthrough hit, “Breakdown” — a song that sometimes made it into their sets, even before Petty died — and segued from it into the Bruce Springsteen-written “The Fever.”
They also performed another one of Petty’s signature songs, “Refugee,” with keyboardist Jeff Kazee handling lead vocals.
Check out videos of both songs, below.
After Petty died on Oct. 2, at the age of 66, the band put out a statement saying:
This one caught us by surprise. Tom Petty was a real Rock & Roller. We thought the world of him. His songs, craftsmanship, performing ability, attitude, and that absolutely fantastic band of his — The Heartbreakers — well, it doesn’t get better than that. Did it his way. RIP to the #1 Heartbreaker.
“Much Respect — Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes.
In other Southside Johnny news, he will release, on Black Friday (Nov. 24), a vinyl album, Detour Ahead: The Music of Billie Holiday, featuring new versions of 10 songs associated with the legendary jazz singer. This is one of many Black Friday releases that will be promoted by Record Store Day (an annual event, supporting independent record stores, that takes place every April).
There is no word yet on when the album, which was produced by Jukes saxophonist John Isley, will be available in other formats.
The next New Jersey Jukes show will take place at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Year’s Eve. Visit countbasietheatre.org.
Here are the Collingswood versions of “Breakdown” and “Refugee.”
