The Night The Jersey Shore Invaded Cleveland

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes : I Played the Fool

[Purchase]

On the last night of August 1978,  blending into the very early morning hours, Cleveland hosted Jersey Shore royalty at the Agora Ballroom. Members of the E Street band, including Clarence Clemons, Garry Tallent and the Boss himself, having just played the Richfield Coliseum, showed up with the guitarist the bands shared, Miami Steve, for a jam session with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes that went on all night. 

In another month or so, Southside's best album, Hearts of Stone, packed with songs written by Springsteen, would be released.

According to a fan:

"We were at the Agora on August 31. We had tried desperately to get tickets for Bruce that night at the Coliseum but it got sold out. The Agora gig was actually a Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes gig that started about three hours late because, as Southside stated, they had to wait for their lead guitarist (Miami Steve) to get done with another gig across town. Bruce joined the band in the second set and they rocked into the wee hours of the night, neither the band nor the crowd wanted to leave... it was about 4am when we finally got home (with little, or no voice). Great intimate concert with Bruce and Southside."

Absolute Trust

Taking Heads : The Good Thing ( live at the Agora)

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On August 10, 1978  Warner Brothers shot a promotional video about Talking Heads, talking to fans before the concert, and then shooting the band running through one song from Talking Heads '77 ( "Uh-Oh Loves Comes to Town)" and four more from the just released More Songs About Buildings And Food. ("The Girls want To Be With The Girls", "The Good Thing", "Take Me To The River" and "Thank You For Sending Me Angel")  

It seems the band is still a few years away from being a dynamic presence onstage. But they do indeed look "well scrubbed" as the New York Post described them.

Dominus Vobiscum

Dead Boys : (I Don't Want To Be No) Catholic Boy

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In August of 1978 The Dead Boys released their follow-up to their classic debut,  Young Loud and Snotty. Former Mountaineer Felix Pappalardi gives the Dead Boys a professional sheen on We Have Come For Your Children, and that doesn't seem to help their cause.  The highlight might be "(I Don't Want To Be No) Catholic Boy" which has both a double negative in its title and backing vocals from Dee and Joey Ramone. 

Robert Christgau gave the album a grade of B-, writing :

Because they're lovable little scumbags deep down, and sincere to boot, Hilly's punk purists have dropped the heavy misogyny and recorded five cuts that laid end to end would make a listenable side. But not even the rousing "3rd Generation Nation" has the power of sexist spew like "I Need Lunch" and "Caught With the Meat in Your Mouth." Makes you wonder what 3rd generation nihilists believe deep down.

August 9, 1978 is also the date of Bruce Springsteen and the E street Band's legendary three hour concert at the Agora in Cleveland. A popular bootleg for decades, it is now an official release sold as a three CD set.