Well how do I start this story about how I found the GREATEST band in the world?
All is a certain Mr. Springsteen's fault because I started to listen to him in the late 70's, and in every interview here in the Swedish papers he always mentioned this great band called Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes. So I got really curious about these guys, I went to a local record store and asked if they knew about this band, and I got lucky because the guy who worked there was a fan of the Jukes and he helped me get some records. This was in the early 80's and I still walk on clouds. I loved every song and what a voice and what wonderful horn arrangements – it was love at first sight.

Ever since then I wanted to go to New Jersey and see them live, and this summer I did, and my goodness what a trip. I went there with two great girls who love the Jukes just as much as I do and many of you know them, too. Their names are Rea and Karin and I love them both a lot. So there we were, one 46 year old Swede, one German and one Dutch girl, and boy did we have a GREAT time. The trip started for me August the 18th when I went from Sweden to Cologne were Rea should pick me up at Cologne airport, or at least that's what I thought ;) But when I arrived at Frankfurt airport to take the plane to Cologne, surprise, surprise I wasn´t going by plane. I was going by train but on my ticket it said flight number.
Well, OK, I found the train but then came another problem. I was supposed to get my luggage at Frankfurt airport but at the airport in Sweden they told me that I would get my luggage in Cologne so OOOOOPS!!! no luggage. So there I was at Cologne train station with no luggage and Rea was at Cologne airport wondering were I was, and I didn´t have her cell phone number so I couldn´t reach her, and this was at 10 in the evening so now I was a little worried. But, luckily, Rea had my cell phone number at home so she called her boyfriend and got my number so everything worked out fine.

Finally the next day the plane to New Jersey was leaving at 10:20 in the morning and I was so excited. We arrived at Newark airport about 1:30 in the afternoon. There we were supposed to wait for Karin, who left from Brussels on another plane and was supposed to arrive a couple of hours later, but that couple of hours turned into almost 12 hours. So Rea and I went to pick up our rented car and headed to Red Bank and our hotel, and Karin came to the hotel when the time was almost 2 at night and god were we happy to see her. The next morning I got my luggage and we were heading for our big adventure – almost 2 weeks in New Jersey and lots of good shows with the Jukes.

The first show was Bar-A in South Belmar. We got VIP passes, thanks sooo much for that Diane :), and we had so much fun it was sooo hot and drinking beer in that hot and sunny weather was a little tricky haha but it went OK ;)

All three of us were waiting for the shows at Martells. I was so excited to finally meet all those people I have learned to know from myspace and the message board. SS Maryanne, thank you so much for arranging the pre-dinner, it was so great to finally meet you. You are one special and sweet lady. And Kevin, what would I do without our talks on the computer about food recipes ;) And Lin, you were just as sweet as you look. Tasha, Chek so great to meet you, and Lisa, you are one of a kind, thank you so much for everything you did for us. We were sitting at a table and drinking our beers and listened to the soundcheck and all of a sudden a waitress came and said that Johnny wanted to buy us a beer. That was sweet of him, so deep down he must be a sweet guy haha.

The show was great as usual, and I was so happy that there was a show the next day at Martells again. And that turned out to be even better, and I was so happy to see Ralph Notaro again. He was there with his beautiful Gladys. Me and my son Jonathan talked to him for a while when he was in Denmark with the Jukes last year. He is really a nice guy and Jonathan my son really admired him a lot, so I was really surprised when he recognized me at once. That was really a highlight of the trip.

I could go on forever to talk about this trip but that will take too much time and I don´t want to bore you so to make a long story a little shorter ;) I had the trip of my life and it was worth every penny to see the band that always makes me smile and always makes me feel happy, and I hope I can come back next summer too.

OOOPS I forgot one big thing: we went all the way to Virginia beach for the show at Neptune's Park, too, and that is also a memory of a lifetime, believe me. But what the hell – if I have crossed the Atlantic, what difference does a car ride for almost 9 hours one way do?

Love and big Hugs,
Anneli