It’s one of the worst-kept secrets in all of New Jersey. Every year, the Light of Day organization holds a benefit concert at the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park to raise money for the fight against Parkinson’s disease, and (almost) every year Bruce Springsteen is a super secret unannounced special guest. It’s the reason this year’s show sold out in minutes — even when tickets had a face value upwards of $400.

It’s the assumption that Bruce will show up that makes it all happen, and fans once again got what they came (and paid) for Saturday night during the 12th annual Light of Day fest. The Boss turned up in a big way, making guest appearances during sets by New York cult singer Garland Jeffreys, fellow NYC rocker Willie Nile and Southside Johnny And The Poor Fools (featuring E Street Band violinist Soozie Tyrell) before bringing down the house with his second-ever solo acoustic performance of ‘Incident On 57th Street.’

From there, Bruce was joined by Pittsburgh singer-songwriter and longtime friend Joe Grushecky (that’s them pictured together performing at the fest above) and the backing band the Houserockers for a set featuring both Springsteen songs and tunes that he wrote with Grushecky in the ’90s. The outfit busted out an eclectic set including multiple cuts from both the ‘Darkness On The Edge of Town’ and ‘Nebraska’ eras before more guests hit the stage and Bruce went on a tear, closing things out with ‘Because The Night,’ ‘Waiting On A Sunny Day,’ ‘Promised Land,’ ‘Twist and Shout’ and the sing-along finale ‘Thunder Road.’

By then Bruce’s 16-song set had pushed the hands on the clock well past 2AM, and it was time to go. But maybe, just maybe, Bruce will be back again next year for more.

Watch Bruce Springsteen And Guests Perform ‘Because The Night’:

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