PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia firefighter and his band got the chance of a lifetime this weekend down the shore.Randy Ballinger and his bandmates of "Jersey Calling" opened the inaugural two-day Adjacent Festival in Atlantic City, performing both Saturday and Sunday."They said all right you guys can go, and we just broke right into song and did what we do," said Ballinger. "Music is our passion so if it’s ten people or 10-thousand we’re going to play."RELATED COVERAGE: Philadelphia firefighter severely injured in ladder fall gets invitation to perform at NJ music festivalOrganizers said 20-thousand people are attending the festival each day.
Geoff Gordon, the Regional President of Live Nation Northeast Corridor was inspired by Ballinger’s story and presented this dream opportunity to perform on the same stage as Blink 182 and Paramore."He’s been through a lot.
He should get like a prize or something," said daughter Keira Ballinger. "I’m glad he’s still here with us today."Ballinger was severely injured in February after fighting a rowhome fire in Kingsessing when he fell 25 feet off a roof."The most amazing thing is just having Randy here.
We were so worried about him when he fell, and the fact we’ve been able to practice, we’ve been able to get on stage just rock out and be here at Adjacent is just mind blowing," said Sean Breslin, lead guitarist of Jersey Calling."Beautiful scenery, getting to meet the other bands, seeing their acts and just to be able to share this with Randy, and the rest of the other guys here the salt of the Earth," said Jose Diaz, drummer of Jersey Calling.Family and friends came from near and far to show their support including fellow firefighter Matt Luzzi from South Carolina."I feel like music.