Bruce Springsteen's 'Greetings from Asbury Park' celebrated by city musicians, fans

Where better for a Bruce Springsteen “Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.” anniversary party than a spot on the city's boardwalk?

Langosta Lounge was the place on Thursday, Jan. 5, for the soiree, which featured city musicians performing “Greetings” songs in sequence, as well as one of their own originals.

“Greetings,” Springsteen's debut album, was released 50 years ago on Jan. 5, 1973.

“Bruce is the reason I moved here,” said Paul Gabriele, an Indianapolis native now living in the city. “I also love local music. I love area people singing their own songs. The whole album was written here, so when you listen to it, you're a part of it “

Langosta Lounge is located a block down the boardwalk from Madame Marie's, and across the street from the Stone Pony.

City musician Bobby Mahoney performed a winning version of “Growin' Up,” plus his own “Another Deadbeat Summer.”

“It's such an iconic record and we're standing here in Asbury Park in part due to that record,” Mahoney said. “It's pretty amazing. It's so cool because tonight it's all the younger and newer Asbury.”

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Renee Maskin performed an ephemeral version of “For You,” plus her own “Cigarette.”

“I was so psyched to walk into a crowded room and see so many people who are passionate Bruce fans here to not just experience his music but experience the sense of community that we all have here in Asbury Park,” Maskin said.

Cranston Dean, Sal Boyd, Doug Zambon, Arlan Feiles, Ryan Gregg of Shady Street Show Band, Desiree Spinks of Des and the Swagmatics, Ron Santee and Zack Sandler also performed. The show was produced and emceed by Peter Mantas of the Langosta Lounge.

The room included Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Vini Lopez, a founding member of the E Street Band who played drums on “Greetings” and the “The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle." He sat at a table in the back of Langosta with friends largely unnoticed.

“What blows my mind is it's still going on as I look around here with all the young kids,” Lopez said. “For me it's crazy because when we did that, none of us knew how to do it. We just went in and rehearsed and made a record. Bruce called me up — I was working in a boatyard trying to make a living. He said, 'We're going to make a record — I just signed a contract.' I said 'Sure, let's do it.' We rehearsed and then we did it.”

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Lopez still plays regularly in the area and in Florida.

“It's something to look back upon, and I'm proud to be where I am today because of it,” Lopez said. “It's a good thing.”

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Lopez will participate in “The 50th Anniversary: Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.” symposium on Saturday, Jan. 7, presented by the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University in West Long Branch. It's sold out.

A 50th anniversary event for “The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle,” which was released Nov. 5, 1973, is in the works, Mantas said.

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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; cjordan@app.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Bruce Springsteen: Asbury Park musicians celebrate Greetings album