Jesse Malin's Road to Recovery, Night One

Jesse Malin at A Benefit for Jesse Malin, night one, at the Beacon Theatre

Since suffering a paralyzing spinal stroke in May 2023, Jesse Malin has received wave after wave of love and support from the music community in his native New York City and beyond. Earlier this year, after returning to New York from six months of stem cell treatments in Argentina, the singer/songwriter and unofficial mayor of Manhattan’s Lower East Side began making quiet appearances at downtown clubs. This week, he returned to the public light with two all-star fundraising concerts at the Beacon Theatre on December 1 and 2.

At A Benefit for Jesse Malin at the Beacon Theatre, night one, Malin and his band performed a full set, supplemented by an array of guests. Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Adam Duritz and David Immerglück of Counting Crows, Little Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Butch Walker, Jakob Dylan of the Wallflowers, Danny Clinch, J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr., Rickie Lee Jones, and Alejandro Escovedo performed. Michael Imperioli and Mary Louise Parker acted as masters of ceremony. The most dramatic moments happened, however, when Malin, who remained seated for most of the concert, pulled himself up to stand at his microphone stand, or when he walked to the edge of the stage using his walker.

Jesse Malin pulling himself to stand

Jesse Malin and band

Jesse Malin with Little Steven

Malin sang in strong voice, and between songs entertained with humorous anecdotes, much like his concerts before the stroke. With braces on his legs, and an inability to feel his legs, he was unable to run across the stage as in the past. His performance was as exciting and energetic as ever, nevertheless, and the Beacon Theatre’s uncanny sound system rocked the music unlike any previous performance.

Proceeds from the concert went to the Jesse Malin Fund at Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a 501(c)3 non-profit charity. To contribute, visit https://www.sweetrelief.org/jessemalinfund.html.

All photographs by Jini Sachse.

Lucinda Williams and Elvis Costello

Adam Duritz with David Immerglück

J Mascis

Jakob Dylan

Butch Walker

Danny Clinch

Mary Louise Parker

Concert Setlist

1. Sensitive Boys - Alejandro Escovedo

2. Cycles (Gayle Caldwell cover) - Rickie Lee Jones, with Don Dilego

3. I Would Do It for You - Jesse Malin

4. Before You Go - Jesse Malin

5. Oh Sheena - Jesse Malin

6. Room 13 - Jesse Malin

7. If I Should Fall from Grace with God (The Pogues cover) - Jesse Malin

8. Argentina - Jesse Malin

9. Turn Up the Mains - Jesse Malin, with Little Steven Van Zandt

10. She Don’t Love Me Now - Jesse Malin

11. Death Star - Jesse Malin

12. The Way We Used to Roll - Jesse Malin

13. Aftermath - Jesse Malin (solo)

14. State of the Art - Jesse Malin

15. She’s So Dangerous - Jesse Malin

16. Backstabbers - Jesse Malin

17. Sway (The Rolling Stones cover) - Jesse Malin

18. Silver Manhattan - Jesse Malin

19. Meet Me at the End of the World Again - Jesse Malin

20. Brooklyn - J Mascis

21. Almost Grown (Jesse Malin cover) - Danny Clinch

22. All Bets Are Off (Jesse Malin cover) - Paul Garisto

23. Don’t Let Them Take You Down (Beautiful Day) (Jesse Malin cover) - Jakob Dylan

24. In the Modern World (Jesse Malin cover) - Butch Walker

25. A Long December (Counting Crows song) - Adam Duritz, with David Immerglück

26. Wild Horses (The Rolling Stones cover) - Lucinda Williams & Elvis Costello

27. Do You Remember Rock N Roll Radio (Ramones cover) - Jesse Malin

28. Greener Pastures - Jesse Malin, with Dianne Gentile

29. You Know It’s Dark When Atheists Start to Pray - Jesse Malin, with Cat Popper and Don Dilego

30. Rudie Can’t Fail (The Clash cover) - Jesse Malin and ensemble

Related article

Jesse Malin's Road to Recovery, Night One | The Manhattan Beat

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The Manhattan Beat reports on New York City's live music circuit. All articles are written by Everynight Charley Crespo. All photographs are taken by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise.

For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right of the The Manhattan Beat home page and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music."

For a more complete listing of upcoming performances in the New York City area, visit The Manhattan Beat's December calendar.