“A new generation, and the whole world’s shakin’
We were born in flames, maiden names
Suburban homes, make your bones
Bite your lip, take the fifth
Know your rights, it’s your life now
Don’t let them take you down
It’s a beautiful day
Don’t let them take you down
It’s a beautiful day
Hurricanes, love in vain
Murphy’s law, days of war
Crash and burn, live and learn
Fill the void, girls and boys now
Don’t let them take you down
It’s a beautiful day
Don’t let them take you down
It’s a beautiful day
All the people, all the people run
All the while we’re tryin’ to find the sun
It’s a beautiful day
Don’t let them take you down
It’s a beautiful day
Don’t let them mess you ’round”
Don’t Let Them Take You Down (Beautiful Day) – Jesse Malin (2007)
I don’t recall exactly the first time I heard of Jesse Malin- it was probably when he was a DJ on Little Steven’s Underground Garage on Sirius XM Radio. I also saw his name affiliated with the Light of Day Foundation, although he wasn’t on the bill when we attended one of their concerts. I would occasionally hear friends mention his name, but I didn’t really pay much attention until May 2023, when my Facebook newsfeed went crazy with posts about him as he suffered a rare spinal stroke that left him paralyzed from the waist down. I never got to see him perform up to the point, but I started to follow his progress periodically as he struggled with his illness. When I heard great reviews of his off-Broadway show “Silver Manhattan”, I decided it was time for another trip to the Big Apple, our 5th mini getaway to New York in the past 12 months.
In addition to seeing Jesse Malin, there was another show I was anxious to see, so we made it a two-nighter. We stayed at our favorite hotel, the Mariott Marquis in Times Square, where in the same building, the Broadway show “Stranger Things – The First Shadow” was playing. I remember seeing the long lines for the show the last time we were there. I ordered tickets for both shows, loaded up the car and were on our way.
I’m generally not a horror or sci-fi fan, but I started watching the Stranger Things TV show last year and got hooked. While I personally found the plot rather silly, I enjoyed the characters and couldn’t stop watching to see what happened next. I watched all 5 seasons. The Broadway show is a prequel to the TV series, portraying many of the adults in the TV series when they were in high school. While seeing the TV show is not a prerequisite for the play, it certainly makes it more interesting when you know the characters and where the plot is headed. When I told Eva I’d like to see the play, she also binge-watched the whole series to get caught up.
The play did not disappoint. It was no surprise that the show won several Tony Awards, including a special award for illusions and technical effects as well as sound, lighting, and set design. More than once I was asking myself “How’d they do that?” You felt like you were a part of the action, especially when the HUGE mind flayer monster descended upon the stage, looming over the audience. It was non-stop action with a seemingly live mouse exploding into a bloody mess, shovels of dirt thrown into the audience, people levitating and turning into monsters, the same person magically appearing on stage in two places at once, swirls of smoke moving directly towards another character, scientists in hazardous gowns roaming up and down the aisles of a dark theater with their flashlights, making you feel like you’re really in the scene – the special effects from beginning to end were unreal. The cast was outstanding, with looks and mannerisms very similar to their adult counterparts in the TV series, even though a lot of them were understudies that night. The practical scientist in me found the storyline (like the TV series) a bit confusing- my mind is never going to be able to make much sense out of the “upside down” dimension and mindflayers and demagorgons. But if you don’t try to make it logical and just sit back and enjoy the performances and special effects, it’s a fantastic show. I wouldn’t mind seeing it again. (note: photos below are from the program.)
We had some time the next day to visit the “RISE NY” museum/ride. It starts with a short film narrated by Jeff Goldblum which sweeps you through the city’s history, followed by seven immersive galleries alive with iconic artifacts, dazzling costumes, and pop culture treasures, covering radio, architecture,TV, Broadway, fashion, and music. The grand finale is a soaring 4D ride that lifts you 40 feet into the air, “flying” over all five boroughs through a year of celebrations. It was a fun exhibit.
That night we ate at Phebe’s tavern in the East Village, just a block away from the Bowery Palace where the Jesse Malin show was playing. After a delicious dinner, we took a short walk to the theater. The “Bowery Palace” is located in the former “Bowery Electric”, which closed its doors on January 30, 2026 after nearly two decades as a cornerstone of the East Village rock scene. Co-owned by Jesse Malin, it hosted countless shows, late-night sets, and moments that made the Bowery feel electric — literally. Now, the venue has pivoted, trading the mosh pits and dance floors for intimate seating and storytelling.
The autobiographical stage show, called “Silver Manhattan”, is the inaugural production at the new venue, running five nights a week through March 29. (Hopefully he will extend the run into the summer so more people can see it.) The show blends music, memory, and personal stories from Malin’s life growing up in the neighborhood. The show starts with two people carrying a stretcher with Malin strapped in. They place the stretcher on the stage, unstrap him, and then lift him up onto the waiting wheelchair. Jesse proceeds to tell his life story, from his child days through the rehabilitation from his paralyzing spinal stroke, interjecting songs along the way. He was backed by an awesome band, who also voiced various characters in the story and helped Jesse with small wardrobe changes (like putting on a hospital gown) and giving him his various guitars. Although he has no feeling below the waist, I was amazed at how animated he was with his arms and facial expressions as he was singing. His story is both heart-wrenching and uplifting. His ability to fight through the mental and physical pain is inspirational. I shed more than a few tears that night. For the last song, with sheer determination he stood up on his own, holding onto the mic and a walker for support as he sang. Then he gingerly walked off the stage using the walker for support, and spoke to the audience from the aisle. He got a huge ovation from the packed standing room only crowd. I was happy to purchase an autographed copy of his new book, “Almost Grown”, a literary memoir and coming-of-age story exploring his boundless creativity and triumph over his daunting physical and mental challenges. I can’t wait to start reading it! I would have loved to have taken some video clips to share, but as with most Broadway shows, photos and videos were prohibited. You’ll just have to see it in person.
With all that he’s been through, you can’t help but pull for the guy. It certainly helped put my life in perspective- my concerns and anxiety don’t seem so bad after hearing his story. The one thing that is clear is that music can be healing. Although Jesse wrote the song “Don’t let them take you down” in 2007, I’m sure it is even more meaningful to him now. Actually, it’s a powerful message to all of us- “Don’t let them take you down- It’s a beautiful day.”
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