Jesse Malin's Road to Recovery, Night Two

Jesse Malin (photograph by Jini Sachse)

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 two, Malin and his band performed a full set, supplemented by an even larger assembly of guest artists than the first night. Lucinda Williams, Adam Duritz and David Immerglück of Counting Crows, Jakob Dylan of the Wallflowers, J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr., Tommy Stinson of the Replacements, the Hold Steady, Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie, Eugene Hütz and Sergey Ryabtsev of Gogol Bordello, Butch Walker, Rickie Lee Jones, Willie Nile and Danny Clinch performed, and even Santa Claus made a late entrance during the finale. Jim Jarmusch, Matt Dillon and Fred Armisen 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 (photograph by Sachyn Mital)

Jesse Malin with Diane Gentile (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Jesse Malin with Eugene Hütz (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Jesse Malin with Santa Claus (photograph by Sachyn Mital)

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.

Matt Dillon

Fred Armisen (photograph by Sachyn Mital)

Jim Jarmusch (photograph by Sachyn Mital)

Malin plans to stay off the stage until May 1, 2025, when he will perform at the Islington Assembly Hall in London, England. Tickets are sold out.

Proceeds from the New York concerts 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.

Lucinda Williams (photograph by Sachyn Mital)

The Hold Steady (photograph by Sachyn Mital)

Jakob Dylan (photograph by Sachyn Mital)

Adam Duritz and David Immerglück (photograph by Sachyn Mital)

Eugene Hütz (right) and Sergey Ryabtsev (photograph by Jini Sachse)

J Mascis (right) with Derek Cruz (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Tommy Stinson (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Willie Nile (right) with Derek Cruz (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Adam Weiner (photograph by Sachyn Mital)

Rickie Lee Jones (photograph by Sachyn Mital)

Butch Walker (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Danny Clinch (photograph by Sachyn Mital)

Concert Setlist

1. Aftermath (Jesse Malin cover) - Butch Walker
2. When You’re Young (Jesse Malin cover) - Adam Weiner
3. Cycles (Gayle Caldwell cover) - Rickie Lee Jones, with Don Dilego
4. Here’s the Situation (Jesse Malin cover) - Eugene Hütz and Sergey Ryabtsev
5. Victim in Pain (Agnostic Front cover) - Eugene Hütz and Sergey Ryabtsev
6. Room 13 - Jesse Malin
7. Oh Sheena - Jesse Malin
8. If I Should Fall from Grace with God (The Pogues cover) - Jesse Malin
9. Argentina - Jesse Malin
10. Turn up the Mains - Jesse Malin
11. She Don’t Love Me Now - Jesse Malin
12. The Way We Used to Roll - Jesse Malin
13. Revelations (Jesse Malin & the Saint Marks Social song) - Jesse Malin
14. State of the Art - Jesse Malin
15. She’s So Dangerous - Jesse Malin
16. Shining Down’ - Jesse Malin
17. Sway (The Rolling Stones cover) - Jesse Malin
18. Silver Manhattan - Jesse Malin
19. Black Haired Girl’ - Jesse Malin
20. Meet Me at the End of the World’ - Jesse Malin
21. Brooklyn (Jesse Malin cover) - J. Mascis
22. All the Way from Moscow (Jesse Malin & the Saint Marks Social cover) - Willie Nile
23. Riding on the Subway (Jesse Malin cover) - Tommy Stinson
24. Don’t Let Them Take You Down (Jesse Malin cover) - Jakob Dylan
25. A Long December (Counting Crows song) - Adam Duritz, with David Immerglück
26. New York Comeback - Lucinda Williams
27. Death Star (Jesse Malin cover) - The Hold Steady
28. Almost Green (Jesse Malin cover) - Danny Clinch
29. In the Modern World (Jesse Malin cover) - Butch Walker
30. Greener Pastures - Jesse Malin, with Diane Gentile
31. You Know It’s Dark When Atheists Start to Pray - Jesse Malin, with Eugene Hütz
32. Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio? (The Ramones cover) - Jesse Malin and ensemble

A Benefit for Jesse Malin, night two setlist (photograph by Sachyn Mital)

Related Article: Jesse Malin's Road to Recovery, Night One

***

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.