This month's fan of the month has a little bit of a twist to it, but is worth the read. 

This past New Years Eve, I had the pleasure of meeting Annette Costello. To those of you who read the message board regularly, you might remember Annette. Sometime before New Years, she posted a letter saying that she was very sick and that her dream was to see Southside Johnny in concert. Unfortunately, it wasn’t easy to get out to see the Jukes because she lives in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and the guys don’t get out that way much. So the Jukes organization decided to contact her and offer her the opportunity to see (and meet!) the band. On the spot, Annette booked a hotel, got on a plane on December 31st, and flew all the way to New Jersey (alone) to go to the show. Not only was it the first time in years that she got to see the Jukes live, but she got to go backstage afterwards and meet each Juke, including Southside himself. This woman was so thrilled that she had tears in her eyes! It warmed my heart to see someone so excited, and grateful for something many of us get to see often a few times a year! It made me think of how lucky I am, for my health, for the opportunity to see my favorite band on a regular basis and to work with them all the time. I was considering making her February’s Fan of the Month, when at the same time I got an e-mail from her, nominating someone else! Her nomination was for a man named Brian Baumgartner. Many of you might recognize his name from the message board of from his SSJ Digest postings. He also lives in Minnesota (and is trying desperately to get the Jukes to come play there!) and has proven many times that, not only is he a devoted fan of the Jukes, but a terrific person as well.  

So I decided to make them both fans of the month together. Brian didn’t know that Annette nominated him, and Annette doesn’t know that I am including her as well. Here are some e-mails I received from the 2 of them a few weeks ago. 

Michelle Paponetti
Art Director/Web Coordinator 

Dear Michelle:

I know you haven't announced anything yet, but I wanted to get a jump on this anyway, because I feel that this person is so deserving of the title of fan of the month. So here goes: 

Last fall, I happily came upon the Official Southside Johnny Website and posted this message: 

“Wow! I'm so glad I found this great site!! After having read it all, my concern is that there was nothing from any of your faithful fans not from out east or Europe. Will Southside (the man after my own heart) ever make it back here? Recall if you can, playing at The Cabooze, on the West Bank? The gut-wrenching soul, melodious horns making the joint jump, Johnny's smoothness, ballads and smash-in-your-face pick me ups, (20+ yrs ago) in a tiny, rough & raunchy, smoky bar where you knew everybody & who were having the best times of their lives (most of whom were friends & relatives)... COME BACK HERE SOON PLEASE!!! If anyone knows anything about this, please post. Thanks for everything SSJ--the sexiest singer alive.

Annette C. Costello AnnetteCMN@aol.com 

At least you know how I felt about it!! LOL! The only person to write to me was Brian Baumgartner. He said that he too was a long-time Southside Johnny fan in Minnesota, about his attending Jukestock, (and about that site and the SSJ digest), about how nice you have always been to him, and how much he wants the band to return here also. He raved, of course, about Messin' With The Blues, and stated he appreciated any help in persuading the powers that be to get Johnny to come to our area. I didn't get to respond to it as I unfortunately deleted that email letter. 

As you know, I didn't post again until pushed by my daughter Mary, on 12/26. I did then hear directly, (along with 2 CD's) from some wonderful fans (Scott Welch, Lisa Matits, Jackie Sheehan), as well as Joey Stann, and the best one of all, you.  

As I was having the time of my life with you in New Jersey, Brian again sent me a note, wishing me lots of luck and encouragement. Later, without a note (or even his name listed for that matter), he [slow] mailed me a dozen CD's including Live at the Bottom Line (2/28/99), Live at the Paladium (11/7/79), NYE '76 and '78, and Ruff Stuff and More Ruff Stuff. It was so fantastic and completely out of the blue that I was totally stunned! After I wrote thanking him, this was his typically understated response: I am really glad that you liked the CDs and took the time to let me know that. I greatly enjoy surprising people and take joy in their reaction.  

The best part of all this was last night. I knew that my machine couldn't handle getting Johnny's WFMU interview, so I asked Brian if he had ever been to the Cyber-X Cafe (coffee house with internet connections), figuring I'd try out that. Instead he asked me over for dinner with his family and to use his system. It was great fun to meet them, listen to the interview, and discuss all things Southside and the Jukes. The guy has a great deal of memorabilia and music, of which he generously gives out. When I saw a signed concert poster for NYE 2002, he said he had thought about it and just knew I would appreciate having it even more than him, since he hadn't been there. So he graciously insisted I take it. What an absolutely sweet thing to do!!  

This is a true fan I'm talking about here, who really deserves to be recognized as not only a big time lover of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, but as a super nice guy. This is what I think makes up the fan-of-the-month in it's purest definition. I truly hope you'll agree. So thanks for considering this and I'll be looking forward to talking to you soon.  

Til then, take care and love those Jukes,

Annette 

 
Hi Michelle, 

Annette was over at my house last night to listen to the WFMU broadcast (her computer is old and tired and I have a cable modem connection). She said she was working on a surprise. She knows my birthday is tomorrow, because she just turned 44 and so will I. Anyway, I think it would be great if you could recognize Annette as the Fan of the Month. She is truly a fan and Johnny and the band have obviously been a way for her to experience some joy while dealing with many personal setbacks. She raves about how nice you were to her and how everyone involved in her trip was great, except for Muddy and his terrible directions that got her lost. : ) Even that turned out well because she stumbled across a fun after hours party while trying to get directions.  

It is truly amazing how many great people I have met through the connection to SSJ. I want to again thank you for your willingness to respond and your enthusiasm and creativity. I don't think much progress would have been made without you. I am sorry I didn't get to meet you at Jukestock, but I don't like to bother band members or associated people when they are working and you looked like you had plenty going on out there.  

Brian B. 

p.s. My offer to let the band stay at my house (or cabin) for the Minnesota shows is still open!!!  

So my sincere appreciation goes out to these two people, for not only being dedicated fans of the band, but for being great human beings. Congratulations guys!