03 May Eddie Money Treats Crowd Like Family

While the 20-something-year-old college students were dancing away the remnants of their finals to SOJA at the Ford Stage, a slightly different audience  was getting cozy at the Tire Kingdom Service Centers Stage.

A noticeably older crowd was getting ready to watch Eddie Money perform on Saturday, May 2 at 3:30. While SOJA was standing room only, Eddie Money’s crowd came prepared with an arsenal of  blankets, lawn chairs and tents.

It seemed a different world — if it weren’t for the faint bass lines of SOJA’s in the distance, you’d probably think it was.

“Are we ready for the man with no self control?” the announcer asked the crowd. “Please welcome Eddie Money.”

As the 66-year-old rocker shuffled onto the stage — knocking over a tambourine in the process — it was like the crowd was being reacquainted with  an old family member.

Money and his four-piece band opened with “Baby Hold On.”  “What a beautiful day for a rock n’ roll show,” Money said to the crowd. “I’m a Floridian myself.”

He proceeded to tell the audience “I’m making a YouTube video for my kids, you gotta sound like you’re the best little rock n’ roll city in Florida.”

The crowd smiled and danced as Money played hits like “If I Could Walk on Water” and “Don’t Say No Tonight.”

The whole show really became a family gathering when Money talked about his kids and even told the crowd  to “shake it with your Uncle Eddie Money.”

And for that hour-long set, he really was everybody’s uncle —

He talked about his wife: “Do you see me on the Jumbotron? Do I look as fat as I look on there? I told my wife ‘honey, the camera adds ten pounds.’ She says ‘how many cameras are on you?’ Nice girl, huh? What can I tell ya, she’s from Florida.”

He talked about politics: “Don’t forget to vote!”

He talked about his kids: “I never see the money [from playing shows]. I got five kids, I’ll do anything to get out of the house. I do this for you.”

He broke out the different instruments he plays: A harmonica solo, tambourine playing and alto sax solo.

And he promised us he’d lose weight: “I’m gonna lose so much weight for you.”

But in the end, he was still our crazy New York accented, nostalgic Uncle Money — and he took us along for the family reunion.

“You guys realize we go back to the 70’s together,” Money said. “I played West Palm Beach back in ’78 — that was like three rehabs ago.” 

The band played “Take Me Home Tonight,” prompting tons of singsongs, “Two Tickets to Paradise” and returned for his regular encore, “Shakin.”

Everyone who’d seen Money perform before (which seemed like the majority of the crowd) knew the song was coming. To the point that they were air-guitar playing right along with  Money.

“Forget about Los Angeles, these are real palm trees here. Just like our people. Real people here.” 

Whatever you say, Uncle Eddie.