Thoughts on Thursday's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show
A marathon night of rock and roll was capped off by a unique performance by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street at Madison Square Garden on Thurday night/Friday morning.
The show ended at 1:30 a.m., running nearly six hours after beginning close to 7:30 p.m.
Bruce was a great closer to an historic evening which covered many genres of rock and roll.
First I'll talk about Bruce's set, which was part a Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band show and part Bruce being the backup band for several legendary performers including three Billy Joel songs with Billy himself.
Bruce and the band took the stage at 11:45 p.m.
Patti was there and they had a three piece horn section which was Ed Manion, Curt Ramm and Clark Gayton (who were all in the Seeger Sessions Band).
"Good evening New York" Bruce said at the band started with:
1. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Bruce was all over the stage, which was a bit different from his normal stage setup.
"Is there anyone alive out there" Bruce yelled at one point.
Nice opener.
Bruce then asked for the "singers" to come on done and that was Patti Scialfa , Soozie Tyrell , Curtis King, Cindy Mizelle and another woman with red hair who I don't believe was Lisa Lowell (maybe someone can tell us who it was).
"Madison Square Garden, I want you to put your hands together for one of the greatest singers ever, Mr. Sam Moore"
It was sort of the same introduction Bruce did for him at the 2003 Asbury Park Christmas shows.
2. Hold On I'm Comin'
Before the song ended, Sam was pointing to Steve and saying to Bruce "Can I talk to your man there?" and Bruce said "not yet." A minute later Sam yelled: "Play it Steve!" and they went into:
3. Soul Man
These two songs were great. We saw it in Asbury Park in 2003 and now the world will get to see it when this show airs on HBO. You can see how much Bruce respects Sam Moore.
Bruce talked about how he used to go see Sam (with Sam and Dave) at the Satellite Lounge in Fort Dix, N.J. "He's one of the great stage performers and band leaders. I watched him at the Satellite Lounge and lerned so much about being a band leader from him."
Bruce then talked about how all of us are fotunate to be here tonight with some of the problems the country is having with unemployment and healthcare.
"If Woody Guthrie was aloive today, he'd have a lot to write about."
"Now I have a guitar player I want to bring up to play solong my two guitar players" and he introduced
Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine.
4. Ghost of Tom Joad
Same versions that they did in Anaheim in April of 2008 and in LA this past April. Very hot. Tom's guitar had "Arm the Homeless" spraypained on it in big letters.
Bruce then introduced John Fogerty by saying: "One of the greatest singers. I covered his songs in bars when I was 18 and I'm still covering his songs today. He's the Hank Williams of our generation."
5. Fortunate Son
6. Proud Mary
Very good versions. Like when Bruce and John played them together on the Vote For Change Tour in 2004.
"In 1988 I was lucky enough to play with Roy Orbison and he didn't let me down. He reinvented how a pop song is structured," Bruce said. "I wouldn't do this myself so John is going to join me and we'll take a ballpark swing at Pretty Woman."
7. Pretty Woman
"How's it start?" Bruce asked. With the horns. A lot of fun.
"Now I'm going to do a song by that other guy" and Bruce played:
8. Jungleland
Strong version. Garden crowd loved it. A must for a New York show.
"We've been rehearsing with our next guest. She's the voice of some of Phil Spector's greatest songs, Bruce said. "If there's any justice she should be in the Hall of Fame."
And he introduced Darlene Love
9. Fine Fine Boy
Very good. Horns added a lot.
10. Da Do Ron Ron
Six backup singers added to this. How can this not be fun? Ed Manion had a solo.
"Get her in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame now," Bruce said as Darlene left the stage.
Noticed a lot of people were leaving the Garden as it was getting late and many had trains to catch.
"Here's one of the greatest rock and roll songs England has ever produced" and he mentiond Joe Strummer and The Clash.
11. London Calling
Pretty powerful. Tom Morello was back onstage for this.
12. Badlands
Again with Tom Morello. This got the crowd up. "Is there anyone ing alive?" Bruced yelled at one point.
"Thank you, New York. The Yankees won so we've got to do one now," Bruce said. "Everyone has their own Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their hearts, so here's to your heroes."
Bruce then addressed a group of people who were sitting behind the stage (only a group in one section who were part of the seat fillers, there was no other backstage seating as the stage setup blocked the view.
"Good lord, what did they charge you to sit there?" I hope it was free," Bruce said.
Then Bruce said: "Before the continental divided, New York and Long Island were joined in one land mass. Tonight we're going to have a summit at the Garden. it's the bridge and tunnel summit.
"The way it's going to work is Long Island is going to meet New Jersey on the neutral ground of New York City."
He introduced Billy Joel.
Billy was joined by longtime sax player Richie Cannata and a guitar player.
13. You May Be Right
14. Only The Good Die Young
15. New York State of MInd
Bruce shared the lead vocals with Billy on these songs and it was a great and lot of fun. They set up a piano for Billy toward the front of the stage and I noticed Roy Bittan was playing his during these songs.
It was one of the highlights of the evening for me, as I've been a Billy Joel fan for years. But it was very, very strange to see most of the E Street Band backing up Billy Joel for three of his classics.
At the end of "Only The Good Die Young" Bruce jumped up and sat on Billy's piano. Then Bruce wasn't happy with the way the song ended and said "We can't end it like that." and they continued to play a little more. When the song ended Bruce said: "We were better than that earlier today."'
Crowd was up and dancing to the first two songs and just sat back to enjoy the beauty of "New York State of Mind."
16. Born To Run
Billy Joel stayed onstage and played piano (and Roy played piano also). Billy did some of the lead vocals with Bruce and it just didn't work. I don't believe Bruce has ever had anyone share the lead vocals on Born to Run before and Billy just sounded off key and not right. In my notebook I wrote: "Billy Joel sounds weird on this."
17. Higher And Higher
This song started at 1:21 a.m.
Darlene Love came back out along with John Fogerty, Sam Moore , Tom Morello and Billy Joel. Plus a now four-piece horn section and the backup singers. The entire Garden was up and dancing. A great, great way to end an epic show. At the end Bruce came to the front of the stage with Darlene Love on his right and Sam Moore on his left.
Steven then waved to his side of the stage and Jackson Browne came out with Peter Wolf (his first appearance of the evening) and they sang backup.
Fun, fun song and a hot way to endan incredible evening.
Show over at 1:30 a.m.
A unique set by Bruce and the band. It is something that will be looked at fondly years from now with all the legends that shared the stage. Bruce fans will be proud that it was the E Street Band backing them up. We only got four Bruce songs, but hey that was fine. This was a Hall of Fame evening and we got tons of Hall of Fame moments. Pretty much the whole six hours was a Hall of Fame performance, no pun intended.
Everyone who was there will be telling you years from now that they were in Madison Square Garden on Oct. 29, 2009.
(continued on next post)
A rundown on the other acts and songs
(thank you to the people who compiled the setlist)
I have some comments on a few things.
7:32 p.m. (Past Induction video clips)
Some awesome clips. Very well put together. George Harrison, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Bruce, and so many more. I hope they keep this is when this show does air on HBO.
7:47 Intro: Tom Hanks
Jerry Lee Lewis
1. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
Video clips
Crosby, Stills, and Nash
2. Woodstock
3. Marrakesh Express
4. Almost Cut My Hair
Bonnie Raitt joins them:
5. Love Has No Pride
6. Midnight Rider
Jackson Browne joins them (Bonnie Leaves):
7. The Pretender
One of the highlights of the evening for me. Just so well done. Heard a lot of others after the show saying how much they enjoyed this.
James Taylor joins them (Jackson leaves)
8. Mexico
9. Love The One You're With
10. Follow?
Crosby Stills & Nash with James/Bonnie/Jackson
11. Teach Your Children
First time I've seen Crosby, Stills and Nash and I enjoyed this set. They are all legends and to see them with Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne and James Taylor was excellent.
More video Clips
Paul Simon
12. Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
13. Me & Julio Down By The Schoolyard
14. You Can Call Me Al
Crowd was very much into "Me and Julio" and "You Can Call me Al."
Dion joins Paul
15. The Wanderer
It was fun.
Crosby Stills & Nash join Paul (Dion leaves)
16. Here Comes The Sun (for George)
17. Late In The Evening Alone
Little Anthony & The Imperials
18. Two People In The World
Simon & Garfunkel
19. Sounds of Silence
Another highlight of the evening. Just so well done.
20. Mrs. Robinson/Not Fade Away/Mrs. Robinson
21. The Boxer
22. Bridge Over Troubled Water
Again a highlight. Wow. Beautiful.
23. Cecelia
*Video Clips
Stevie Wonder
24. Blowin' In The Wind (for Bob Dylan).
25. (Uptight) Everything's Alright/I Was Made To Love Her/For Once In My Life
26. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
27. Boogie On A Reggae Woman
The sound was horrible for Stevie Wonder. His voice was never stong in the mix. Had other friends text me during his set saying how band the sound was. Not sure why they couldn't get it right. There was even a slight delay before he started because of sound problems.
I did enjoy his set. Again the first time I've seen him. He is a true legend.
Smokey Robinson
28. Tracks of My Tears
John Legend
29. Mercy Mercy Me
30. The Way You Make Me Feel
BB King joins John Legend
31. The Thrill Is Gone
Stevie Wonder
32. Livin' For The City
Sting joins Stevie
33. Higher Ground/Roxanne/Higher Ground
I enjoyed this and the crowd was very much into Sting.
Jeff Beck joins Stevie (Sting leaves)
34. Superstitious
A legendary night at Madison Square Garden. I don't know if Friday's show with U2 will be able to top this. Again a unique night for the Bruce fans to see he and the E Street Band play with so many different artists.
Some other notes: A lot of people were leaving during Bruce's set just because it was so late. It was very easy to move down from the bad seats into very good seats by the side of the stage for most of Bruce's set. There were a lot of great seats open after people let.
The video clips were a nice touch. The show was pretty well paced for the most part. Some slow times but overall it was an enjoyable six hours.
Nothing worse than sitting in traffic trying to get to, and then in, the Lincoln Tunnel at 2 a.m. But someone a great night of Bruce and a great night of music made in tolerable.
Thank you for reading.
I was one of the folks sitting behind the stage! This was maybe my 20th Bruce Show and was quite unique. I did unfortunatley had to leave after Badlands as I had a train to catch but I am glad I got to see what I could. I got my tickets for free from 1iota.com. I had lined up at 4 to get these tickets the day of the show after confirming the tickets...it was a 9 hour ordeal but still worth it! We could not see one thing for any of the acts except Bruce. We did get to see all the acts assemble backstage and the inner workings of the show. They did set up extra monitors and sound. Our Sections though were completley sealed off from the rest of the arena with high security and we couldn't leave the specific area. I saw all the empty seats on the other side of the stage but couldn't get there! Anyway the seats for Bruce were great and free so it is what it is! Great night, lots of legends, free not more I can ask for!
Last edited by remphish1; Today at 05:11 AM.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thoughts on Thursday's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
"Hulkamania" is back! The biggest name in professional wrestling history, joins TNA
NEW YORK, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- "Hulkamania" is back! The biggest name in
professional wrestling history, Hulk Hogan, is joining Total Non-Stop Action
Wrestling (TNA), the fastest rising wrestling organization in the world, and
home to one of cable television's highest rated shows for young men, "TNA
iMPACT!" The announcement was made today by TNA Wrestling in conjunction with
Spike TV at a press conference held in New York City.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CLTU020 )
"Hulk Hogan is one of the world's top pop culture icons and the biggest
superstar in the history of professional wrestling. We are truly excited to
welcome him into the TNA family," said Dixie Carter, President of TNA
Wrestling. "Our goal is to become the world's biggest professional wrestling
company. Hulk defines professional wrestling and we look forward to
partnering with him in a variety of ways as we continue to grow TNA globally."
"I'm thrilled to be jumping back into the world of professional wrestling,"
said Hogan. "My fans have been asking me to return to the business for many
years on a full time basis, but the timing or the opportunity has never been
right until now. TNA Wrestling is a great company with an already excellent
fan base, business and broadcast partner. I firmly believe now is the time
for some change at TNA as they are positioned to jump to the next level in
their development and I'm here to work with Dixie to help make that a
reality."
Through Hogan's partnership with Bischoff Hervey Entertainment Television, the
deal with TNA was negotiated by longtime Hogan colleague Eric Bischoff.
Additionally, BHE TV has inked a first-look deal with TNA and will be working
with the organization to develop new programming extensions of the TNA brand.
"Hulk Hogan adds yet another level of star power that positions TNA iMPACT as
Spike TV's version of 'Must-See TV' on Thursday nights," said Kevin Kay,
president of Spike.
Hogan most recently penned an autobiography with Mark Dagostino, "My Life
Outside The Ring" with St. Martin's Press.
Andre Agassi admits to crystal meth habit in upcoming autobiography
Publicist: Andre Agassi admits to using crystal meth in 1997 in forthcoming autobiography
BY Nathaniel Vinton
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Updated Tuesday, October 27th 2009, 2:19 PM
Yu/APAndre Agassi admits to crystal meth habit in upcoming autobiography, due Nov. 9. Related NewsArticlesMolloy beats Mary Louis, punches playoff ticketIsiah rips Magic on gay issueGlove affairs of the New York YankeesSt. Francis Prep eyes 12th CHSAA state crownBronx gets lots more green with new parkTennis legend Andre Agassi used crystal meth in 1997 and will describe the experience in his forthcoming autobiography, according to a publicist at Knopf, which is publishing the book on Nov. 9.
The admission will also appear in excerpts of the book that are scheduled to appear in two magazines, Sports Illustrated and People, later this week.
"Those excerpts contain revelations about Andre's use of crystal meth when he was a tennis player," said Paul Bogaards, director of media relations at Knopf, a division of Random House.
The information was first made public on Tuesday morning via the Twitter feed of Richard Deitsch, a writer for Sports Illustrated.
"FYI: There's an off-the-charts book excerpt from Andre Agassi in the forthcoming SI: He admits to taking crystal meth during his career," said the message, posted at 10:36 a.m. and apparently removed shortly thereafter.
One of the most beloved players in the annals of the U.S. Open, Agassi retired in 2006 after 20 years in professional tennis, having won eight Grand Slam championships, 60 singles titles, and a total of $31 million. His career record was 870-274.
Agassi, 39, often made news for his brash style and high-profile romantic relationships. He is married to tennis great Steffi Graf, and they have two children. He is also an acclaimed philanthropist whose school in Las Vegas for underprivileged kids has become a national model.
In writing the book, Agassi worked closely with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer J.R. Moehringer, author of "The Tender Bar."
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/10/27/2009-10-27_agassi.html#ixzz0VAe7aTOE
Lenny Sullivan, 36, Springsteen’s cousin and the E Street Band’s assistant road manager for the past 10 years.
Springsteen show at Sprint Center canceled
By TIM FINN and SARA SHEPHERD
The Kansas City Star
Matt Rourke
Bruce Springsteen performs with the E Street Band at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009. The Spectrum is slated for demolition to make way for the planed Philly Live, a new retail, restaurant, and entertainment district. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A member of Bruce Springsteen’s traveling party was found dead in a Kansas City hotel room Monday afternoon, causing the performer to cancel his Sprint Center concert.
The official announcement, which came less than two hours before the 7:30 p.m. concert, said the cancellation was because of the death of a Springsteen family member.
Kansas City police did not release the man’s name or cause of death Monday night because the matter was still under investigation.
However, the artist’s official Web site identified him as Lenny Sullivan, 36, Springsteen’s cousin and the E Street Band’s assistant road manager for the past 10 years.
The announcement described Sullivan as “a warm and sensitive person,” beloved by Bruce, the band, the crew, and the entire Thrill Hill family.
Kansas City Police Capt. Rich Lockhart said police said police do not suspect foul play in the death, which was discovered at the InterContinental hotel near the Plaza.
An ambulance was called to hotel about 4:15 p.m. on a reported death. When police arrived, they found Sullivan dead in a hotel room. Based on information gathered at the scene, police determined he was member of Springsteen’s entourage.
Springsteen’s cancellation announcement came unusually late. Around 6 p.m., 90 minutes before show time, fans got word that the concert was off.
The tour’s trucks had been unloaded hours before, and fans in front of the arena were minutes away from being allowed inside.
Then the Sprint Center announced: “Due to a death in Bruce’s immediate family, tonight’s show at Sprint Center has been unavoidably canceled. All tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase. Bruce and the Band deeply appreciate the understanding of our Kansas City audience and look forward to returning at the earliest opportunity.”
The cancellation was especially disappointing to Emma Hill, who was willing to fly more than 5,400 miles round-trip to see Springsteen for the first time.
While in Kansas City this summer visiting her grandmother, Emma, 14, a resident of Anchorage, Alaska, bought a Springsteen ticket. Emma was in line with her sister, Mara Hill, 19, of Portland, Ore., when they heard the news.
“It looked like they were getting ready to let us in, and then they told us it was canceled,” she said.
The sisters, who flew into Kansas City on Friday night, had already been through the lottery system that determines who gets the best spot in the Pit or the area closest to the stage.
“I was No. 20,” Emma said, meaning she would have been the 20th person admitted.
Like many fans in front of the arena, Emma was distraught. “She’s the big fan,” said Mara Hill. “She has wanted to see him for a long time.”
Brian White was disappointed but much less so. He drove to Kansas City on Monday from his home in St. Louis, where he’d seen Springsteen on Sunday night. According to a reviewer at Springsteen’s Web site Backstreets.com, that show was “a disappointment” and “by the numbers.” White said that Springsteen looked like “he was struggling a little” at times, but overall everything seemed normal.
Springsteen and the band’s next scheduled appearance is Thursday night at Madison Square Garden for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Tim McGraw 2009 2010 Tour dates & ticket information
Lady Antebellum will be a special guest on the entire tour. The Lost Trailers will open shows from February 11th - April 10th while Love And Theft will open from April 11th - August 15th. Lady Antebellum took country music by storm with the release of their now PLATINUM certified debut on Capitol Records Nashville in 2008
fo tickets go to http://wwww.tixx.com
Date City/State Venue Special Guest/Supporting Act
2/11 Omaha, NE Qwest Center Lady Antebellum/The Lost Trailers
2/12 Madison, WI Alliant Energy Center "
2/13 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena "
2/19 Roanoke, VA Roanoke Civic Center "
2/20 Huntington, WV Big Sandy Superstore Arena "
2/21 Reading, PA Sovereign Center Arena "
2/25 Columbia, MO Mizzou Arena "
2/26 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena "
3/5 Texas TBD "
3/6 Texas TBD "
3/7 Texas TBD "
3/25 Vancouver, BC General Motors Place "
3/27 Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome "
3/28 Saskatoon, SK Credit Union Centre "
3/30 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre "
4/8 Tulsa, OK BOK Center "
4/9 Little Rock, AR Verizon Arena "
4/10 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena "
4/11 Orange Beach, AL Amphitheatre at the Wharf Lady Antebellum/Love And Theft
4/23 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena "
4/24 Detroit, MI The Palace "
5/6 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Arena "
5/7 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre "
5/8 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre "
5/14 Birmingham, AL Verizon Wireless Music Center "
5/15 Atlanta, GA Lakewood Amphitheatre "
5/20 Spokane, WA Spokane Arena "
5/21 Seattle, WA Tacoma Dome "
5/22 Portland, OR Rose Garden "
5/25 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center "
5/28 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Pavilion "
5/29 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre "
6/2 Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion "
6/3 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Pavilion "
6/4 San Diego, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre "
6/5 San Bernardino, CA San Manuel Amphitheatre "
6/11 Wichita, KS InTrust Bank Arena "
6/12 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center "
6/17 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center "
6/19 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre "
6/26 St Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre "
6/27 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center "
7/8 Pittsburgh, PA Post Gazette Pavilion "
7/9 Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Bank Center "
7/10 Washington, DC Nissan Pavilion at Stone Ridge "
7/15 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center "
7/16 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre "
7/17 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center "
7/29 Boise, ID Idaho Center "
7/30 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre "
7/31 Denver, CO Fiddler's Green "
8/5 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center "
8/6 Darien Center, NY Darien Lakes PAC "
8/7 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre "
8/13 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre "
8/14 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion "
8/15 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre "
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Bon Jovi To Open New Giants Stadium?
Bon Jovi To Open New Giants Stadium?
Posted on Wednesday October 21, 2009 at 04:49 PM Add |
That’s the rumor, as the band says it will have something to say on Thursday at high noon Eastern time.
AEG issued a press release today saying Bon Jovi will stream a live concert over its Web site as well as iClips.com beginning at 12 noon EDT tomorrow, and that the band will also make a special announcement.
Meanwhile, Associated Press, citing an anonymous source familiar with the new Giants Stadium, the soon-to-be new home of football teams New York Giants and New York Jets in E. Rutherford, N.J., is saying the band will open the new $1.6 billion sports venue next spring.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Garth Brooks Encore Las Vegas ticket information
Garth Brooks is about to become the Headliner at the Encore Wynn Resort in Las Vegas Nevada media reports of ticket sales starting today
Brooks, the country music icon who retired at the height of his popularity in 2000 to raise two daughters, is ending his retirement to become a resident headliner at Wynn Las Vegas.
It was announced Wednesday that Steve Wynn, chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts, will make a special entertainment announcement at 1 p.m. today at the Encore Theater.
House of Blues security beat up girls outside Hanson concert in Chicago
Here is the link ot the out of control big security guys beating up some high scool or college age fenale Hanson fans outside the House of Blues in Chicago http://www.buzznet.com/groups/photographyislegal/video/78848541/
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
New York Yankees Delta SKY360° Suite review
Located in the nine sections of the Main Level directly behind home plate, THE BEST VIEW IN THE STADIUM the Delta SKY360° Suite for tickets call 1.800.688.4000 features 1,200 cushioned seats with teak arms and some of the best views of the field. You will enjoy the convenience of in-seat wait service and direct access to an exclusive lounge in the Delta SKY360° Suite, a climate-controlled indoor environment that is contiguous with the outdoor seating area. Inside, a four-sided cocktail bar and espresso station is the focal point of the space. A generous menu selection, featuring savory ethnic cuisine, traditional ballpark fare and made-to-order brick oven pizza, continues to underscore this world-class experience
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The last tour of Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band is 2009 ?
Guitarist Nils Lofgren has played in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band for 25 years. That means he's been through four of The Boss's massive tours that have stopped at The Spectrum -- the 42-year-old concert and sports arena on Broad Street in Philadelphia.
That includes a memorable show in 1999, when the band interrupted a stand of concerts at what was then Philly's new First Union Center. The group moved across the street for one night to play The Spectrum -- a feat submitted to the Guinness Book of Records as the shortest distance traveled by a rock show.
With Springsteen set to play four concerts starting Tuesday that will mark the band's final appearances at the soon-to-be-razed Spectrum, Lofgren says that he fondly remembers those earlier shows.
But in a telephone interview Wednesday, he says none of them are his best memory of The Spectrum.
That, Lofgren says, came in 1968, a year after The Spectrum opened, when he was a 17-year-old from Washington, D.C. He took a train to Philadelphia and hitchhiked from the station to the arena to see a rock festival that included The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Moby Grape and others.
''As a young teenager seeking out musical heroes, I had managed to befriend or become familiar with some of them, including the guitar players in Big Brother and The Holding Company, Janis Joplin's Band,'' he says.
''And I found myself -- long story short -- backstage at The Spectrum on a road case talking to the guitarist. And next thing I knew, somebody bumped my shoulder and I turned to, I believe it was my left, and there was Janis Joplin handing me a bottle of Southern Comfort.
''And not that I'm proud of it,'' he says, laughing. ''I think the drinking [legal age] in D.C. was 18 at that time. But anyway, it was kind of a thrill to pass it down the row from Janis Joplin. ... Of my many fond memories of The Spectrum, that was the most memorable.''
Springsteen's final stand at The Spectrum is likely to make more memories not only for Lofgren, but for attendees, as well. He also plays there Wednesday and Oct. 19-20.
Springsteen first played The Spectrum in 1973 to open for the band Chicago.
''Bruce and all of us were fans that had been in and out of that building as many times as people in the audience,'' Lofgren says. ''Luckily, now as successful performers. We all share some of the history with The Spectrum.''
Lofgren notes he met his wife, Amy Aiello, at the famed Asbury Park, N.J., club The Stone Pony. ''I'm also married to a Jersey girl,'' he says. ''I got a lot of in-laws and friends and I'm an honorary New Jerseyian, so I've been up and down the Turnpike, I'm sure, way more than most people who live here.''
Lofgren says the Spectrum shows will continue what Springsteen started in a five-show run at Giants Stadium -- playing the song sequence of full albums. ''Born to Run'' will be played Tuesday and Oct. 19, ''Darkness on the Edge of Town'' on Wednesday and ''Born in the U.S.A.'' on Oct. 20.
But that won't impinge on what Springsteen will play, Lofgren says. He says the albums take up just an hour of what are three-hour shows of nearly 30 songs. In fact, he says Springsteen has taken to abandoning set lists and instead often calls out songs to play. He also collects audience signs with requests, sifts through them and then chooses some songs.
''Bruce is changing songs on the way to the stage,'' Lofgren says. ''He's changing songs all night long, he's changing arrangements during the songs. Last tour I was joking that he'd pull out a sign of a song that we might not have played for 15 years and I thought that was pretty adventurous. And now this tour, we're playing songs we don't know how to play.''
But by now, Lofgren says he's used to it. He replaced ''Little'' Steven Van Zandt in the E Street Band in 1984 -- ''four weeks before opening night'' of the ''Born in the U.S.A.'' tour, he says. That's the same time Patty Scialfa, who became Springsteen's wife, joined.
Lofgren was an accomplished musician, having played piano on Neil Young's ''Gold Rush'' album at 17, shortly after the Spectrum show at which he met Joplin. He also played guitar on other Young albums and toured with him; fronted his own band, Grin, that opened for Hendrix; and released more than a half-dozen critically acclaimed solo discs.
Because he joined after completion of ''Born in the U.S.A.,'' Lofgren's first appearance on a Springsteen album was bonus songs on 1986's ''Live 1975-85'' and on the title track of 1987's ''Tunnel of Love.'' But because Springsteen went 15 years without a full-band disc, Lofgren's first full E Street Band record was 2002's ''The Rising.''
He initially toured with Springsteen until 1989, when The Boss told the E Street band he wouldn't need them in the foreseeable future. Lofgren then played two tours with Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band, on Young's '' MTV Unplugged'' CD, and released a couple more solo discs.
When the E Street Band reformed in 1999, both Lofgren and Van Zandt returned as guitarists.
Even while playing in the E Street Band, Lofgren continues his solo career -- last year he released ''The Loner: Nils Sings Neil,'' a tribute disc of covers of Neil Young songs -- and works on other projects, such as online guitar lessons through his Web site, http://www.NilsLofgren.com .
After 41 years on the road and at age 58, Lofgren acknowledges he has to do things differently. A career of doing backflips during shows and playing basketball between them left Lofgren needing double hip replacements in 2008 -- the first Giants Stadium show marked the one-year anniversary. But he says the operation has him feeling the best he has in five years.
''Certainly it'd be stupid to jump off 10-foot drum risers at this point,'' he says.
But then, he says, he sees Springsteen, at 60, crowd surfing ''through 800 yards of an audience and doing all kinds of crazy leaps and jumps, and that's just extraordinary.''
Lofgren says the E Street Band has ''no plans for a next chapter'' after the tour concludes in November, but ''if and when there's ever another call, I'll be there.''
''Not to be greedy, but I don't really see an end in sight as a performer for myself.''
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Friday, October 09, 2009
Giants stadium Springsteen photos 2009
Giants stadium Springsteen photos 2009 cheap Bruce Springsteen tickets for the Spectrum on sale at www.tixx.com
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Fan review Springsteen 1st show Giants stadium 2009
written by Stan Goldstein
Thoughts on Wednesday's Giants Stadium show
A good night of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band for the first of five shows at Giants Stadium on Wednesday night. A 29-song show that lasted 3 hours and 14 minutes, one of the longest shows timewise of this tour.
It was nice to have the show start off with a new song. I believe it's the first time Bruce has played a unreleased song (not including Working On A Dream which he played at a political rally last year) since debuting "Long Walk Home" with the Sessions Band in London in November of 2006.
Of course the highlight of the evening was hearing the entire "Born To Run" album from start to finish as well as a clasic 1978-style story in the middle of "Growin' Up."
The big video screens (two high-definitions on each side of the stage) showed Bruce and the band approaching the stage at 8:15 p.m.
Nils and Roy came out first, followed by Max, Cindy, Curtis, Soozie, Charlie and Garry Tallent who was wearing a black fedora hat, sort of something you would have seen on the River Tour. Then Steve was next onstage.
Curt Ramm, the trumpet player who was on the Seeger Sessions tour and who was among the horn section at the Super Bowl, was also on stage.
Last out were Clarence and Bruce.
Show began at 8:18 p.m.
"Good evening New Jersey. Nice to be in my backyard. Join us tonight to shut the old lady down. We had a lot of great nights here and hope to have another one tonight," Bruce said.
"Here's something I wrote for tonight."
1. Wrecking Ball
A new song, and that is the name. I saw a handwritten setlist after the show.
Bruce soundchecked the song last week in Chicago.
They put the words to the songs on the big screens so people could follow along.
Some of the lines:
"My home is here in these Meadowlands. Where the mosquitoes grow as big as airplanes." ....
"Bring on your wrecking ball!"
"Hard times come, hard times go, bring on the wrecking ball."
It's a nice ballad and a tribute to Giants Stadium. The Jets and Giants are mentioned in the song.
Kurt Ramm's trumpet added a lot to the song. The song was soundchecked several times in the afternoon.
After the song was over, the video screen kept the words up to the next song which read: "Badlands, Key of E"
but instead Bruce played;
2. Seeds
Usual hot guitar work by Bruce
3. Johnny 99
With the "woo! woo!" parts. Steve and Bruce have a lot of fun playing the guitar together toward the end and were working the crowd. During Nils' guitar solo, Bruce was splashing him with the sponge.
4. Atlantic City
Always great to hear this at a New Jersey show. Crowd reacted well to it.
5. Outlaw Pete
Big screen above and behind stage showed Western scenes and at one point a blood red sky.. This song really hasn't changed much live since the start of the tour. Nice to see Bruce do the "Can You Hear Me" parts at the end to a huge stadium crowd.
6. Hungry Heart
A song Bruce has rediscovered lately, playing it at a lot of shows. He actually got off the stage and sang down the sides of the pit and into the back of the pit, all the way around to the other side and back up the opposite side of the stage.
He has been doing this at the arena shows lately, but to see him do it in a huge stadium pit is really
amazing. When he was done he got back up on the stage and collapsed on his back, then got up and took a bow.
I've seen Bruce doing a lot of crazy stuff over the years and this was right up there. Pretty amazing.
7. Working on a Dream
The video screens showed stars in the sky.
"Good evening New Jersey. North to South, East to West it feels so good to be home," Bruce said.
"The mighty E Street Band has been on tour all year practicing for this moment."
Next up was the start of playing the complete "Born To Run" album in orderin
"We were thinking of some things to make Giants Stadium special," Bruce said. "We had a lof of great nights here. Friday we're going to play "Darkness." Saturday, "Born In the U.S.A." top to finish. And tonight"
He said nothing more as the stadium went crazy and Bruce played the harmonica for the start of:
8. Thunder Road
What can I say. A classic. Is it ever bad in concert. No. And to hear it start off "Born To Run" brings us all back to 1975 when the album came out and we drop it on our turntables to play. And the 8-Track tapes and casettes.
9. Tenth Avenue Freeze-out
Bruce worked the crowd at the start to get them going. Kurt Ramm played trumpet along side Clarence on the sax.
At the end, Bruce was at the left-stage extension into the pit and someone handed him a beer. He took it and drank it.
10. Night
Bruce gave Clarence a high-five at the end.
11. Backstreets
Another song that takes me back to high school and the 1970s. Gave me chills tonight hearing it in the album seequence. Another masterpiece
Bruce did a little rap in the middle of the song, "Just you and me baby until the end...."
12. Born to Run
So strange to see this is the middle of the set but so much fun too. House lights came up. The entire stadium appeared to be on their feet.
"Jersey! Jersey!" Bruce yelled during the song.
13. She's the One
Bruce switched guitars during the middle and through his one guitar to tech Kevin Buell who made a nice one-handed catch.
14. Meeting Across the River
The highlight of the evening for me and a very moving moment.
This is my favorite Springsteen song. The lyric: "Change your shirt, 'cause tonight we got style" is my favorite line of any song Bruce or non-Bruce.
Tonight is was Bruce, Garry on the bass, Roy on piano and Curt on the trumpet. Just beautiful, magical, amazing. What can I say. I had tears in my eyes at the end, I'll admit, I was that moved.
Best version I've ever seen of it in concert.
15. Jungleland
Meeting into Jungleland. Just like the album, just like it's been played at times during past tours.
Very strong version of Jungeland. Clarence nailed the sax solo just like he always does.
A very moving moment when Jungleland finished. Bruce brought out to the front of the stage Clarence, Max, Roy, Garry and Steve.
"These are the guys who made the magic. And Phanton Dan Federdici," Bruce said, choking up a bit when he mentioned Danny.
"Now get back to work. Get your asses back to your instruments" he then joked.
16. Waitin' on a Sunny Day
OK, back to reality. I think most diehards wish for something else here but it does work well with a stadium crowd for the most part.
Bruce made a long guitar toss to tech Kevin Buell who was able to catch it, but it wasn't easy. "That's a nice" Bruce said after Kevin's catch.
Bruce brought onstage Spenceer, a 12-year-old boy from Jackson, N.J. to sing along. He did it very well.
17. The Promised Land
Not much to say. Always a classic. Been played at every show this tour.
18. Into the Fire
Bruce played this in Des Moines last week. One of the highlights of the show. A very good song for Curtis and Cindy to contribute on and you can hear them pretty well.
Long, haunting intro by Bruce, had many trying to figure out what the song was.
Very happy to see this back in the setlist.
19. Lonesome Day
A song that needs to take a break from the setlist, but the crowd does get into it.
20. The Rising
I do like hearing this but again this has been played with Lonesome Day the entire tour. Needs to be mixed up.
21. Badlands
This was the second song on the handwritten setlist but was an audible here. "Land of Hope and Dreams" or "Born In the U.S.A." were in this spot on the handwritten setlist.
22. No Surrender
An audible. Not on the setlist. Bruce wanted to keep the crowd going. Even started the finish of the song again to keep it going.
(continued on next post)
Last edited by stang; Today at 12:58 AM.
Today, 12:11 AM #2
stang
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,500
Encores:
"It's too cold to stop" Bruce said. "I've got two words, no three words: Play it Steve!"
23. Raise Your Hand (collecting signs)
Bruce brought out a sign that read: "It's Boss time" and placed it in front of his microphone and a "I (heart) Stevie" and put it in front of his microphone.
Bruce looked at one sign and said "that's too old!" The request was for "Jennifer" a Steel Mill song.
They did play the entire "Raise Your Hand" tonight, it was not just the instrumental version. Bruce jumped on the piano toward the end of the song and then came up to the front center extension and started to sign "I believe in miracles! Where you from?" a few times from the 1970s "You Sexy Thing" song by Hot Chocolate.
24. E Street Shuffle (sign request)
Bruce has fun, crowd has fun. Curt Ramm back onstage to play the trumpet. Worked well with Clarence's sax.
At the end Bruce was saying: "Just a dance you do everyday to get through the bull."
25. Growin' Up (sign request)
The sign was great, it was a picture of different Bruce albums and different pictures of Bruce through the years.
What made this so great tonight was that Bruce broke into a story in the middle of the song, just like he did on the Darkness Tour in 1978.
See if I can get most of the story:
"Hey C!" Bruce yelled to Clarence. "I had the weirdest dream I ever had. It's one of those dreams that you shudder. You wake up and go 'Oh !" that you thank Jesus it wasn't real.
"I was back in my house and there was a lot of people. A load of people. It was filled with all my relatives. All the relatives I had since I lived in Freehold. It was a bigger population than all of Freehold!
I'm walking through thye house and all the lights go out. Then there's this cake with 60 ing candles on it."
The crowd then started to sing "Happy Birthday" to Bruce.
Story continues:
"There were thousands of people reminding me of something I was trying to forget. I woke up and then when I woke up... "
He then broke back into signing "I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere and you know it's really hard to hold your breath."
It was great and a lot of fun.
26. American Land
Willie Nile came on stage to play guitar.
Fireworks were set off from the side of the stage during the "E Street Band!" part at the end.
"That's right, we splurged for fireworks" Bruce said to the crowd.
27. Dancing in the Dark
Bruce brought up a woman to dance with him. She was probably in her 40s or early 50s.
Bruce looked like he was ready to play another sign request (it was "Jersey Girl") and he was taking his time looking at it. But he did not play it.
"Hope you packed a lunch" Steven joked to the crowd as Bruce took a few seconds to get ready.
"Thank you. We got a few left." said Bruce as he wanted Willie Nile to come back onstage "It's only got three chords!"
Bruce then went into a bit of a PSA, taking more this tour than any other time about some current issues.
He mentioned how people are needing work and said "Mr. President. Put us back to work." "
He talked about how years ago when he would play "Born To Run" he would always say "Nobody wins unless everybody wins." But he stopped saying that a while back .
He said the middle class was squeezed under the Reagan administration abd the there should be affordable health care for all.
28. Hard Times
At the end of the song he again said: "Nobody wins unless everybody wins."
29. Rosalita
"I'm going to send Rosalita out to Patti, where ever you are come out tonight. She'll be here on Friday," Bruce said.
At thend end he said "Patti come out tonight!"
Show over at 11:32 p.m.
Bruce was the last to leave the stage.
Fun show, great at times.
Stadium looked to be mostly full.
Only thing on the hand-written setlist and not played was "41 Shots" but it did have a question mark next to it.
Was in the slot after "Promised Land."
GA process ran pretty well. A little mixup as they were allowing people in the stadium, but it was corrected pretty quickly.
A cool night at Giants Stadium. It was actually cooler in the afternoon but it did warm up by showtime.
Definitely jacket weather though.
"Long Walk Home" and "Last to Die" were also soundchecked.
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