Labor Day Weekend 2011

Another great summer wrapped up with three great shows over the course of Labor Day weekend. We kicked things off Friday night at the Mad Hatter with a fun, up-tempo show in front of an enthusiastic crowd. The typical Hatter pandemonium broke out by the end of the second set with the triple punch of “Thunder Road,” “Born to Run” and “Rosalita,” followed by “Born in the USA” and “Quarter to Three” to close the night.

On Saturday we performed a show on the beach in Ocean Beach, NJ. The show held special significance for Ryan and me since Ocean Beach is the town that four generations of my family has been vacationing in since the early 1950s. To be there on the same beach I played on as a kid, singing my favorite songs with the waves crashing in front of us and my family looking on was really a wonderful experience. It was also a great show on a beautiful evening with a fantastic turnout. The second set featured a special guest performance by E Street Shuffle alumnus Mike Radosti on guitar and backing vocals. We had a lot of fun being on stage with our old friend again. Although sand isn’t the easiest substance to dance on, people still got up off of their comfortable chairs and managed to cut a rug. While the set featured plenty of rockers, the laid-back beach vibe also led to the inclusion of songs like “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy), “Jersey Girl,” “Something in the Night,” “Backstreets,” and “Brilliant Disguise.”

Sunday night’s show was a private affair at the Peninsula Country Club in Delaware where we have performed for three straight years now. No trip to Delaware is complete with a stop for lunch at the Big Fish Grill in Rehoboth Beach, and this trip was no exception. The cream of crab soup more than lived up to its reputation and put everybody in a great mood. The show itself got off to a late start due to some electrical issues and were asked to take a break after only 35 minutes to make way for a fireworks show that never materialized , but once the second set started we were off and running and everybody had a great time. With the exception of two slower songs, this was a pedal to the metal set from start to finish, which made for a dance floor which never cleared. The grand finale of the evening came during “Quarter to Three” when I leapt into the pool with my clothes and boots on. It was a fitting end to a great summer. Oh, and the trip to Delaware also included a traditional stop at The Cove in Dewey Beach for some fantastic Orange Crushes and a stop at The Dog House on the way home for some good eats. Thanks to everybody who came out to support us during the summer of 2011. We had a blast and hope you did too!
-SL