THE BODACITY OF HOPE
Bandiera on the Run: A blisteringly busy Bob is the musical kingpin and linchpin behind this evening’s all-star HOPE CONCERT IV at the Count Basie.
So — Bobby Bandiera never got back to us about an interview for this story. That’s okay, we understand completely.
It’s been an even busier stretch than usual for the man who arguably personifies the Jersey Shore Musician archetype more fully than anyone else. Between rehearsing with the Jukes for their New Year’s Eve extravaganza, performing a recent handful of gigs with Tim McLoone at the latter’s fabuluxe new Supper Club in Asbury (Bandiera’s also been known to join McLoone as a frequent flyer on the Holiday Express), and stepping out in front of Joe Muccioli’s big-band jazz orchestra for the maestro’s Sinatra Birthday Bash at the Count Basie Theatre, the original Cat on a Smooth Surface surely has little time to watch the Christmas Story marathon on TBS.
Oh, and there’s one more thing we should mention. For the past 364 days, Bandiera has been busy organizing, inspiring, cajoling, haranguing and possibly shaming some of the biggest names in the Jersey Brotherhood into a cohesive performing unit for an annual benefit show that’s unmatched for star wattage.
Dubbed the Hope Concert IV, the 2008 edition of Bandiera’s own passionate pet project takes the stage of the newly Botox’d Basie at 8pm this evening, with a new and worthy charitable cause and a roster of headliners that’s reassuringly consistent with past installments of this event.
The “A” Team: Gary US Bonds, Jon Bon Jovi and Southside Johnny return to the Basie for Bobby Bandiera’s big and Hope-filled hootenanny.
For this fourth fundraising fantasia, Bandiera and the Basie have lined up Red Bank’s own Parker Family Health Center as the beneficiary of ticket proceeds. Named for the revered father/son physicians of Red Bank’s West Side, the nonprofit, walk-in clinic is a facility that every Red Banker should take pride in; a fully up-to-date source that provides quality care and counseling to our neediest neighbors, open year-round and managed by leading medical professionals on a volunteer basis.
The top-drawer talent extends to the onstage contingent as well. There’s Jon Bon Jovi, an instrumental force in the founding of the PFHC, fresh off a house-party fundraiser for another smooth-surfaced cat who sounded a keynote of Hope. There’s Southside Johnny Lyon, working the buzz from an intriguing solo disc of Tom Waits tunes, and gearing up for his annual gig as heir apparent to the late great Guy Lombardo. There’s Gary US Bonds, tireless elder statesman of R&B and jumpin’ Jedi mentor to Springsteen and company. There’s Tim McLoone, taking time from his happening Holiday Express schedule to perform with his band The Shirleys.
On the more youthful end of the scale, there’s Nicole Atkins, the singing Shorebird of whom we just can’t seem to get enough (see today’s appreciation by oRBiter). All concerned will be backed up by musical director Bandiera and the Jersey Shore Rock ‘N Soul Revue, the “Basie House Band” that regularly presents its own thematically note-perfect tribute concerts to the greatest singers, six-stringers and albums in pop history.
Bon Jovi, Bonds and Southside are all returnees from last year’s Hopefest, which raised more than half a million dollars for the children’s cancer support organization The Valerie Fund. The 2007 show saw such highlights as Lyon’s testifying take on Marvin Gaye’s “Can I Get a Witness,” Bon Jovi taking on Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” McLoone dedicating the recently passed Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me in Your Heart” to the memory of Terry Magovern, and all assembled outdoing Sgt. Pepper himself “With a Little Help From My Friends.”
It’s common knowledge that Bandiera and McLoone are themselves parents of kids with serious health issues; Bandiera dedicated the first Hope Concert to the funding of medical expenses for his son Robert Jr., and the two veteran Shore scenesters are especially attuned to the needs and circumstances of kids and their families.
A limited number of tickets for tonight’s Hope Concert IV are still available — they’re seriously priced at $100 for balcony and upper balcony, $350 for side orchestra, and $500 for center orchestra. There’s a four-per-person limit, and purchasers will be issued a receipt to be shown at the door, along with photo ID. Up-to-the-minute details are on display here.
Guitarslinging go-to guy Bandiera, who accepted a special lifetime achievement award from the Monmouth Arts Council earlier this year, is scarcely ready to be put out to pasture just yet. The post-holiday season will see a return to rehearsals for the Rock ‘N Soul Revue, whose “Band of Brothers” show this coming February will take a 45-rpm spin through the history of such brother-acts as the Beach Boys, Bee Gees and Jacksons, to the Allmans, Kinks and AC/DC. Details later; tix on sale now at the Basie’s online box office.
Tomorrow in oRBit: Nearly “Homeless for the Holidays,” a bouncing band finds a place to park it for an unprecedented three-night stand.
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December 22, 2008
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