Jesse Malin at John Varvatos

Jesse Malin was raised in Queens, New York, but found his calling at the hardcore punk shows in the East Village's iconic CBGB's club. At age 12, he became the front-man for a hardcore band, Heart Attack. Upon the group’s disbandment in 1984, Malin labored as a gas station attendant, a health food store clerk and a “man with a van” for Barbara Streisand and the Swans. In the early 1990s, Jesse and some childhood friends formed the popular glam-punk band D Generation and released three albums over eight years. Malin went solo in 2001 and his third album in 2007 featured a duet with Bruce Springsteen. Malin's next album will be released later this summer.

Introduced by Little Stevie Van Zandt, guitarist from Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Jesse Malin returned to his element tonight at the John Varvatos clothing store, the site of the former CBGB's. Malin also returned to his musical roots, playing garage-rock songs that included covers of the Rolling Stones' "Heartbreaker" and the Ramones' "Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?" Some of the stronger songs, "All the Way from Moscow" and "Burning the Bowery," were from his short-lived band, Jesse Malin & the St. Marks Social days. While playing an amplified acoustic guitar on many original folk-centered songs brought out his emo side, Malin's heart was in the energetic rockers that had him manhandling his microphone stand and seriously working both the stage and the audience.

Jesse Malin will perform at the Bowery Electric on August 6. In the meantime, visit him at www.jessemalin.com.