Bruce Springsteen

 Two River Theatre Notes: At the intimate Two River Theatre, Jackson Browne played a benefit show for Terry Magovern’s ALS charity (Joan Dancy and P.A.L.S.). After a lengthy acoustic set (including “I Am a Patriot,” “Late for the Sky,” “In the Shape of a Heart,” and “The Pretender”) Browne was joined by his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductor, Bruce Springsteen, for two songs. Setlist: Running on Empty/Will the Circle Be Unbroken?

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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

Well Europe looks like you had some great shows Bruce pulled out all the stops and went deep into the song archives fir these shows.I hope some us dates will follow maybe Asbury Park holiday shows.
Thanks to backstreets.com for set info and show reviews check that site out lots of great stuff.
Well the response to this blog has been great more and more people picking up everyday.This blog is for all of us
Springsteen nuts so spread the word. Also we love to have your input so if you have info to share or just want talk about Bruce and the band WE Want to hear from You!!!!
We will keep the blog updated as much as possible

“Cause tramps like us, baby we were Born To Run”

Notes: Like the Devils & Dust tour-closer almost exactly one year ago, this final show of the 2006 tour was a family affair. Evan and Sam Springsteen took the stage to announce, “Ladies and gentlemen, Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band!” They were back to close the main set — along with sister Jessie, a friend apiece, and a nanny — to help out with vocals on “Pay Me My Money Down.” Patti Scialfa got a special shout-out, before “If I Should Fall Behind.” After explaining to the crowd that they had to bring the kids with them because they “can’t trust them” at home, Bruce kept up the silly and dedicated the song “to my lovely love. My lovely love! I just made that up — off the top of my head! Isn’t that romantic?” Bruce had warm words of thanks, too, for his extended family for much of the year, the Seeger Sessions Band. “This is sort of a finale for a little while,” he told the crowd during the encore, adding, “This has been one of the nicest musical experiences of my life.” And considering his life, that’s saying something. But it wasn’t a bittersweet night (despite Soozie appearing to tear up as the encore began), just a kick-ass finale that cleared the bar set at the last Dublin show, with a crowd to match. As opposed to the traveling-fan crowd in Dublin, this was an audience made up largely of locals, and it brought a different kind of energy to the room. When Bruce dedicated “When the Saints Go Marching In” to the city of Belfast, the cheers suggested it was met by people with a stake in the game. Set highlights included the tour premiere of “Mansion on the Hill,” in a familiar arrangement, and an audibled “For You.” “This is a song from my first album in 1972,” Bruce said to intro the latter. “I was a wee lad of ten years old. I was very precocious — a natural genius sort of thing.” Only its second tour appearance, it was one of the most “rocking” performances this band has tackled. “For You” demonstrated their capacity to explore other musical dimensions, should Bruce tap them again — and his comments over these last few nights suggest that he intends to. For now, they closed the show, and the tour, with the song that started it all, “We Shall Overcome,” and a few final words, “Thank you. We’ll be seeing you!”

What can I say? I’m only just recovering from the brilliance of this gig. So far in the noughties U2 at Slane Castle (the first one) has been my favourite gig. However, Bruce and the Seeger Sessions Band performance in the Point last Fri is my new favourite. I’m a longtime Bruce fan and have all his albums - apart from the Seeger Sessions album - which I just never got around to purchasing. I was lucky enough to get a ticket for Fri night at the Point and went along wondering how different this performance was going to be from that with the E Street Band in the RDS in 2003. Different it certainly was.

Bruce and his 16 strong band came onstage at 8.20pm opening with a cajun version of “Atlantic City”. The music style is cajun/folk with a large hint of Irish trad also. The band are talented musicians who clearly enjoy performing, as does Bruce and his wife Patti. They sang and played practically non-stop for 3 hours. Mostly from the Seegers Sessions album, however “Devils and Dust” and “City of Ruins” were thrown in. I didn’t stop dancing for the whole show and I think most of the audience were the same, especially after Bruce encouraged “fine Irish asses” to get up off their seats. I left the Point wanting to go to Sat and Sun nights performances too but sadly I wasn’t lucky enough. Truly the gig of 2006 and possibly the noughties.

Sunday was a day of blistering wind and rain in Dublin — but that was outside the venue. Inside, Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band heated things right up, for what was clearly the best of these three nights at The Point. “Your mama’s gonna get mad at me if you get sick,” said Bruce. “All of you that survived the elements out there, this will get you warm… this is for you.” Or should that read “This is ‘For You’”? Yes, it was the tour premiere of another early classic, up there with the effective Seeger Sessions reinventions of “Blinded” (also played tonight) and “Growin’ Up.” Cameras were still rolling, but perhaps with two nights of solid filming under his belt, that left Springsteen more free to connect — and it was a magical night in terms of crowd/performer interaction. Ticket-holders were let in early to get out of the cold (and to catch “Mansion on the Hill” being soundchecked); one show-goer tells us that from the early entry on, the crowd was “just out of control — it was beautiful, and scary too. A sea of humanity.” The band’s energy and performance escalated to match, and this night found them particularly sharp, as musicians and as showmen. Er, showpeople. Patti in particular was a hit with the Dubliners, receiving tremendous applause. Still not much talk from the man himself, but a nice segue between “Long Time Comin’” and “Jesus Was an Only Son”: “Another song about parenthood. Kids go their own way… Just not too fast, but they will one of these days.” He dedicated the song to his “fabulous son Evan… love, Daddy.” “The Ghost of Tom Joad” was a duet with Frank Bruno, with Bruce and Frank trading verses, and some beautiful horns over harmonica at the end. The encore opened with “the song that got us started,” “We Shall Overcome,” last played at the very beginning of this leg. And a final goodbye: “Thank you, Dublin, it’s been a great three days!”

The Seeger Sessions Band pulled into Ireland to start a three-night Dublin stand, no longer the ragtag collection of fine individual players they were some months ago, but a tight unit here toward the end of the tour — a band. In fact, as Springsteen made the introductions tonight, he said, “You’ll see them again” — and he seemed to be implying further on up the road, not just the next couple of shows here at The Point Depot. Tonight the band included Patti Scialfa once again, her first show since October 5 in Verona. She was back just in time for the cameras to roll — as we’d heard a few days ago, this Dublin stand is indeed being filmed. Cameras were unobtrusive, but numerous. With Patti back, that also meant the return of “If I Should Fall Behind,” and the women once again scatting to open “Open All Night.” Then the men took it at the bridge. And then the ladies… and then the men… yep, it was a regular scat-off. (And it added to the tour bloat that has affected “Open All Night,” lasting three times as long as at the beginning of the tour. Or it least it felt that way.) We previously mentioned the marvelous pipes of Lisa Lowell, and this is a good time to say that Cindy Mizell has been getting more much-deserved time in the spotlight, too — joining the redheaded women for the “Open All Night” scat, as well as a having a stunning feature role in “This Little Light of Mine,” a total crowd pleaser. One concert-goer tonight tells us that “This Little Light” into “American Land” “kicks ass… if you can’t stand on your feet during that, there’s something wrong with you.” And by that point in tonight’s show, nothing was wrong with anyone. Tonight’s crowd was fairly subdued, though, compared to the last visit here; and up on stage, likely concentrating on nailing the performance for the cameras, there were no tour premieres and not much talk from Bruce. But before “Devils & Dust” Springsteen spoke, as he has been, about how very close the recent U.S. elections were, and he went on to reference Sinclair Lewis’s 1935 novel It Can’t Happen Here: “I’m not so sure it didn’t.” And at the end of the night: “We’ll see you tomorrow, Dublin

After weeks of trying it out at soundchecks, “Youngstown”, quite appropriately, made its tour debut in Sheffield. Tonight’s show has featured a lot of Springsteen-penned tunes, including “Blinded”, “Growin’ Up”, “The River”, “Adam Raised a Cain” “Atlantic City” and “Devils & Dust”. And for the first time in a long time, “Bring ‘Em Home” is back on the set.