Bruce Springsteen

 Notes: After a lengthy afternoon soundcheck at the Pony, Bruce Springsteen took the stage in the evening with Bobby Bandiera and his band for another private benefit for the Ranney School. The usual 1-2 song soundcheck was replaced with a 3+ hour rehearsal, beginning at 2:00. Some band members were cramming up until showtime — last-minute setlist changes had Eddie Manion heading out to his car to retrieve sheet music from his trunk. As for the show itself, Patti Scialfa and Southside Johnny guested once again, and previous school benefits provided a good model, though this year’s was weighted away from covers towards Springsteen’s own material. From the former category, a major highlight was “Time is on My Side,” handled largely by Patti but with Bruce taking the spoken middle part; Southside Johnny led a medley of “Can I Get a Witness” and “Everybody Needs Someone to Love.” Originals included “Man’s Job” and a bluesy “Pink Cadillac” driven by “Peter Gunn”-style horns. School parents paid $3,000 per couple for this intimate rave-up, receiving a promise at the end of the night that the tradition would continue: “We’ll see ya next year!”

 Cadillac Ranch
634-5789
Cover Me
Spirit in the Night
From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)
Two Hearts
Rendezvous
Brilliant Disguise (with Patti Scialfa)
Tell Him (Patti)
Time is on My Side (Patti)
Further On (Up the Road)
Waitin’ on a Sunny Day
Seven Nights to Rock
The Fever (Southside Johnny)
Can I Get a Witness/Everybody Needs Somebody to Love (SSJ)
Talk to Me (SSJ)
Darlington County
Man’s Job
Pink Cadillac
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out
Boy from NYC (Patti)
Dancing in the Dark
Twist and Shout

Notes: As a hard-rocking, frenetic version of “Atlantic City” performed by The Hold Steady wrapped up the “Tribute to the Music of Bruce Springsteen,” a sold-out Carnegie Hall audience was pleasantly surprised as the man to whom 20 artists had previously paid tribute appeared on stage. Benefiting the Music for Youth Initiative of the UJA-Federation of New York, the already-excellent performance was capped as Bruce walked up to the microphone, telling the crowd, “I’m still alive!”

Springsteen’s performance started with an acoustic guitar and harmonica version of “The Promised Land,” pairing the familiar melody with the emotive vocal style used on versions on the Tom Joad and Devils & Dust tours.

Bruce remained on stage to perform a surprise version of “Rosalita,” first solo acoustic, with an improvised story in the middle (”it’s been a long night, and I’m running out of lyric sheets!”), and then again with all of the evening’s performers on stage, in all its full-band glory (house band Elysian Fields clearly knew their Bruce). Lead vocals the second time around were shared by Craig Finn of The Hold Steady, Badly Drawn Boy, and Jesse Malin.

Earlier in the evening, Springsteen collaborators old and new were present to perform: Patti Smith sang “Because the Night,” Jesse Malin was joined by Ronnie Spector on “Hungry Heart,” and Marah got the crowd into the show early with an energetic performance of “The Rising.”

Other highlights (and there were many) included Joseph Arthur’s version of “Born in the U.S.A.”; Juliana Hatfield’s solo electric reading of “Cover Me”; Badly Drawn Boy backed by Elysian Fields on a full-band “Thunder Road”; jazz pianist Uri Caine’s “New York City Serenade” piano instrumental; Odetta performing what Bruce described as “the best version of ‘57 Channels’ ever,” and the Holmes Brothers’ “My City of Ruins” with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, one of the musical groups receiving grants form the proceeds of the performance.
- Debra L. Rothenberg photos

Setlist:
Nebraska - Steve Earle
Streets of Philadelphia - The Bacon Brothers
Streets of Fire - Elysian Fields
The River - Josh Ritter
Because the Night - Patti Smith
The Rising - Marah
My City of Ruins - Holmes Brothers with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City
Brilliant Disguise - Robin Holcomb
Jersey Girl - Jersey Guys with Bobby Valli
Spirit in the Night - North Mississippi All-Stars
New York City Serenade - Uri Caine
Cover Me - Juliana Hatfield
One Step Up - Low Stars
Thunder Road - Badly Drawn Boy
Born in the U.S.A. - Joseph Arthur
Dancing in the Dark - Pete Yorn
Hungry Heart - Jesse Malin with Ronnie Spector
I’m Goin’ Down - M. Ward
57 Channels - Odetta
Atlantic City - The Hold Steady
The Promised Land - Bruce
Rosalita - Bruce
Rosalita - Bruce with all performers
From www.backstreets.com

On Tuesday night, “The Bobby Bandiera All-Star Holiday Concert” lived up to its billing, as Bobby wrangled a whole host of New Jersey greats for a full night of holiday cheer. The show was a benefit for the PALS Support Group, a charity started by Terry Magovern in memory of Joan Dancy. After a few words from Dave Marsh about the good cause, it was right into nearly four hours of music: Tim McLoone and his Holiday Express kicked things off, followed by sets from the balcony-storming Mark Pender and LaBamba, Bandiera’s smokin’ Rock and Soul Revue, Southside Johnny, and Gary U.S. Bonds. The night’s penultimate artist was Bon Jovi, who turned in a charming set of yuletide R&B, like “Please Come Home for Christmas,” “Blue Christmas,” and “Run Run Rudolph.” Dave Gaetano tells us, “It was a fantastic evening of music. The night kept building and building. Everyone knows the vibe that is present when Bruce is going to be making an appearance, and that electricity was in the air from the pre-show reception right on through the last notes of the evening.”

Yes, then there was Bruce, closing the show with a 35-minute set. Backed by Bandiera’s Rock and Soul Revue, plus a big swath of Jukes making for an immense horn section, Springsteen brought the heat.

Flynn McLean writes: “Bruce was on fire from the minute he sauntered on stage last night, casually picked up an electric guitar, and launched right into the opening chords of ‘Darlington County.’ In a setting where he could have played it cool, he took it up a notch and had the entire theatre eating out of his hand. While many fans were just happy to see him strap on an electric guitar, Bruce showed that he could still make it talk — the intensity of his playing, especially on ‘Spirit in the Night,’ not usually a guitar-driven song, blew everyone away. Bruce let the audience take over a couple of lines during ‘Spirit,’ much to its delight. The horns added a lot to ‘Darlington’ and ‘Seaside Bar Song,’ and, of course, ‘Tenth Avenue Freeze-out,’ which included Jon Bon Jovi. A fun ‘Waitin’ on a Sunny Day,’ which Bruce dedicated to Terry, could have been better than in 2003.

“The finale of Santa Claus brought the surreal images of Bruce sharing the stage with the Grinch (not Southside Johnny, but a person in an actual Grinch suit) and a couple of Sesame Street characters. [It was a ‘Flaming Lips-like scene,’ says Gaetano.] Jon asked Bruce if he had been good this year, and Bruce responded by playing some hot licks on the guitar while Santa Claus bore witness. It was just a great night, even if the show lagged a bit at points over the course of the night before Bruce took the stage. And wWhile we certainly enjoyed the artistry of Devils & Dust and the enthusiasm of the Seeger Sessions, last night reminded us of what Bruce does best: rock the house.”
Set List
with Marah: Raise Your Hand/Reservation Girl
with Joe Grushecky: Never Be Enough Time/A Good Life/Darkness on the Edge of Town/Talking to the King/Johnny 99/Code of Silence/Atlantic City
with all: Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town

www.backstreets.com

with

The Seventh Annual Light of Day show was blessed with a suprise guest, as Bruce Springsteen, old friend of founder Bob Benjamin and longtime LOD supporter, showed up for a few songs to help the cause. “I think we’ve got a friend here,” announced Marah’s Dave Bielanko late in the band’s set, and with that, on came Bruce, wearing a newsboy cap, denim and black work boots. He took guitar and lead vocals on the Eddie Floyd classic “Raise Your Hand,” and traded licks with Dave’s brother Serge on the Marah original “Reservation Girl.”
Brought onstage to an oldschool R&B instrumental vamp, Springsteen reappeared a few songs into Joe Grushecky’s set, performing a mix of Joe’s tunes and his own material, highlighted by an extended “Atlantic City,” “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” and a rousing version of “Code of Silence” with Grushecky, that song’s co-writer. The night ended with all the night’s performers crowding onstage for the usual all-star jam, Bruce leading them in a singalong on “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” before thanking everyone for coming and driving off into the night

Marah: Raise Your Hand/Reservation Girl
with Joe Grushecky: Never Be Enough Time/A Good Life/Darkness on the Edge of Town/Talking to the King/Johnny 99/Code of Silence/Atlantic City
with all: Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town

www.backstreets.com

December 3rd.
The Seventh Annual Light of Day show was blessed with a suprise guest last night, as Bruce Springsteen, old friend of founder Bob Benjamin and longtime LOD supporter, showed up for a few songs to help the cause. “I think we’ve got a friend here,” announced Marah’s Dave Bielanko late in the band’s set, and with that, on came Bruce, wearing a newsboy cap, denim and black work boots. He took guitar and lead vocals on the Eddie Floyd classic “Raise Your Hand” and traded licks with Dave’s brother Serge on the Marah original “Reservation Girl.”

Brought onstage to an oldschool R&B instrumental vamp, Springsteen reappeared a few songs into Joe Grushecky’s set, performing a mix of Joe’s tunes and his own material, highlighted by an extended “Atlantic City,” “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” and a rousing version of “Code of Silence” with Grushecky, that song’s co-writer. The night ended with all the night’s performers crowding onstage for the usual all-star jam, Bruce leading them in a singalong on “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” before thanking everyone for coming and driving off into the night.
Source: Backstreets.com

01 Night
02 10th avenue freeze-out (acoustic)
03 Spirit in the night
04 Does this bus stop at 82nd street?
05 It’s my life
06 She’s the one
07 Born to run
08 Pretty Flamingo
09 It’s hard to be a saint in the city
10 Backstreets
11 Mountain of love
12 Jungleland
13 Rosalita (Come out tonight)
14 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
15 Detroit Medley
16 Quarter to three
17 Thunder road
18 Twist and shout

We would like to here from you
Please post you first set list and any commemts about the show
You can get all the info @ http://www.brucespringsteen.it/

Setlist: Atlantic City/John Henry/Old Dan Tucker/Eyes on the Prize/O Mary Don’t You Weep/Jesse James/For You/Mansion on the Hill/Erie Canal/My Oklahoma Home/If I Should Fall Behind/Mrs. McGrath/How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?/Jacob’s Ladder/The River/Open All Night/Pay Me My Money Down
Encore: My City of Ruins/Blinded By the Light/When the Saints Go Marching In/This Little Light of Mine/American Land/We Shall Overcome

Notes: to come
Setlist: Atlantic City/John Henry/Old Dan Tucker/The Ghost of Tom Joad/O Mary Don’t You Weep/Jesse James/Further On (Up the Road)/Erie Canal/For You/My Oklahoma Home/If I Should Fall Behind/Mrs. McGrath/How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?/Jacob’s Ladder/Long Time Comin’/Jesus Was an Only Son/Open All Night/Pay Me My Money Down
Encore: We Shall Overcome/Blinded By the Light/You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)/When the Saints Go Marching In/This Little Light of Mine/American Land

Old Dan Tucker/John Henry/Johnny 99/Eyes on the Prize/Jesse James/O Mary Don’t You Weep/Bobby Jean/If I Should Fall Behind/My Oklahoma Home/Highway Patrolman/Mrs. McGrath/How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?/Jacob’s Ladder/The River/Open All Night/Pay Me My Money Down
Encore: Shenandoah/You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)/When the Saints Go Marching In/This Little Light of Mine/American Land

Atlantic City/John Henry/Old Dan Tucker/Further On (Up the Road)/Jesse James/O Mary Don’t You Weep/Growin’ Up/If I Should Fall Behind/Erie Canal/My Oklahoma Home/Devils & Dust/Mrs. McGrath/How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?/Jacob’s Ladder/Long Time Comin’/Open All Night/Pay Me My Money Down
Encore: My City of Ruins/Blinded By the Light/You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)/When the Saints Go Marching In/This Little Light of Mine/American Land