The musicians also performed “I Don’t Want to Go Home” at the benefit for Van Zandt’s non-profit TeachRock
On Sunday, Steven Van Zandt held his Party at the Pony, a benefit in support of his non-profit music education organization TeachRock. The star-studded event promised “special appearances from some of Stevie’s Disciples [of Soul] and E Street Band family,” and it delivered with an unannounced appearance from Bruce Springsteen.
Held at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey, the night included performances by Jesse Malin, Darlene Love, Gary U.S. Bonds, Marc Ribler, Anthony Almonte of the Funky Mofo’s, Curtis King Jr., Ozzie Melendez, Eddie Manion, and Barry Danielian. It was also billed as a birthday celebration for Van Zandt and his wife Maureen’s birthdays.
In a clip from the night, Van Zandt and Springsteen performed “I Don’t Want to Go Home,” the Van Zandt-penned title track to Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes’ first album, which was produced by Van Zandt and features two Springsteen compositions.
The night also featured them performing Born to Run’s “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” bolstered by a robust audience sing-along.
Fans reported that they also performed Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band live staple, “Raise Your Hand.”
Fittingly, in the same weekend Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere opened, in which Jeremy Allen White’s Springsteen plays unannounced shows at the Stone Pony (just like Springsteen actually did back in 1982), Springsteen played an unannounced show at the same venue in real life once again.