New 'East Carson Street' at Bell Works features music of Joe Grushecky (and Springsteen)
They're going to rock on down “East Carson Street.”
That's the name of the new jukebox musical featuring the songs of Pittsburgh rocker Joe Grushecky — and one or two co-written by Bruce Springsteen. The show kicks off Friday, May 3, in the new Bell Theater inside the historic Bell Works complex in Holmdel.
“Joe's lyrics are really universal, and he talks about the issues that are important to me and probably the issues that are import you,” said playwright Jonathan Rosenberg, whose credits include off-Broadway's “Americano!”
“It's about family and community and love and loss," Rosenberg continued. "These are all universal themes that Joe tackles, and his ability to put it into lyrics and music I find really unique.”
“East Carson Street,” according to production notes, tells the story of three generations of a 1980s Pittsburgh family as the city declined during the demise of the steel and coal industries. Over time, the street has rebounded, led by a music and arts resurgence in which Grushecky and his Houserockers played no small part.
The title is taken from the Grushecky 2009 album and single.
“There were coal miners on both sides of my family,” said Grushecky in a statement. “My dad dropped out of school at 12 years old to work in the coal mines. It was hard work.”
Broadway regulars Constantine Maroulis (“Rock of Ages,” “Jekyll and Hyde” and “The Wedding Singer”) and Teal Wicks (“The Cher Show,” “Finding Neverland” and “Wicked”) star. Daniel Kutner (“Prince of Broadway”) directs. The run is being produced by the Axelrod Performing Arts Center of Deal.
The show features Grushecky songs he’s penned throughout his career, including two — “Code of Silence” and “Cheap Motel” — he wrote with the Boss.
Grushecky has had connections to the Jersey Shore for decades. He and the former Iron City Houserockers broke through in the mid-'70s on Cleveland International Records, the same label of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. Grushkecky collaborated with Springsteen on the 1995 Houserockers comeback album, “American Babylon.”
“Code of Silence” won the 2005 Grammy for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for Springsteen, and the Boss often performs with Grushecky and the Houserockers at the annual Light of Day benefit at the Jersey Shore. (Light of Day raises funds and awareness in the fight against Parkinson's and related diseases. Grushecky's manager, Bob Benjamin, who has Parkinson's, is the founder of Light of Day.)
More: Bell Theater, brand-new Shore venue, opening at Bell Works in Holmdel; here's the lineup
There's lot of buzz around Grushecky this spring and summer. In addition to the musical, “Houserocker: A Joe Grushecky Anthology,” a career-spanning retrospective, will be released Friday, May 24, on Omnivore Recordings. “Can't Outrun A Memory,” a new album, debuts Friday, July 12, also on Omnivore.
A record release show for “Can't Outrun A Memory” is scheduled for Saturday, July 20, at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park.
“Joe writes about issues that are important to him,” said Rosenberg, who's been a fan of Grushecky's music for more than 40 years. “They're themes all of us are dealing with. I think the show is going to have universal appeal.”
Go: “East Carson Street” featuring the music of Joe Grushecky, 8 p.m. Friday, May 3 through 12, Bell Theater at Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, $35 to $55; 732-531-9106, ext. 14, belltheater.org.
DeSol Cinco de Mayo party
Here's a Cinco de Mayo show with some bark.
The Asbury Park-based deSol, which brought Latin rock rhythms to audiences across the country (and internationally, too) in the 2000s, play Sunday, May 5, at the city's Wonder Bar in a benefit for the Sato Project, which rescues abandoned dogs in Puerto Rico.
The show starts at 4 p.m. and it's all ages.
“Debbie (DeLisa) at the Wonder Bar knows we're animal lovers,” said deSol frontman Albie Monterrosa.
Look for some new music in the months ahead for deSol, Monterrosa added.
Go: DeSol, 4 p.m. Sunday, May 5, Wonder Bar, 1213 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park, $25; wonderbarasburypark.com.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Joe Grushecky and Springsteen writes songs in East Carson Street