Backstreets.com: Springsteen News

"ANOTHER THIN LINE" IS HERE
Joe Grusehcky and the Houserocker's new CD, East Carson Street, isn't yet available in stores, but we've got it in stock now. The highlight here has gotta be the Springsteen/Grusehcky composition "Another Thin Line," finally released in a studio take ten years after Bruce and the E Streeters debuted it live. Bruce duets with Joe on the record, and it smokes; Springsteen also plays guitar on two other songs. Thirteen tracks in all from the Houserockers, now including Joe's son Johnny in the band. Get it now from Backstreet Records!

LINEUP FOR HBO SPECIAL ANNOUNCED
HBO's The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert will collect highlights from the two nights at the Garden, October 29 and 30, both of which featured performances by Bruce Springsteen. According to a new HBO press release, the four-hour special will include both of Bruce's guest spots in the U2 segment...

...as well as a significant portion of the E Street Band's set to close out the broadcast:

That still leaves a significant portion of the E Street Band's set on the cutting room floor, though. What we won't see on the screen: "Tenth Avenue Freeze-out," "Proud Mary" with Fogerty, "Da Doo Ron Ron" with Love, "London Calling" and "Badlands" with Morello (probably the biggest heartbreaker), "You May Be Right" and "Only the Good Die Young" with Joel. As they saying goes, "You had to be there."

The four-hour special debuts Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, November 29, at 8:00 p.m.; in addition to full encore presentations, the special will also be broken up to air in two parts of two hours apiece on HBO and HBO2.
- November 20, 2009

AFTER THE LAST DANCE... WHAT'S NEXT?
Darkness box and DVD of this year's tour, according to Landau
With Bruce and the E Street Band about to come off the road after more than two years of touring, manager Jon Landau spoke with Rolling Stone's Andy Greene for Rock & Roll Daily about what the future holds: "[Landau] says the only plans for 2010 are the release of the long-delayed Darkness on the Edge of Town box set and a DVD of the Working on a Dream tour."

The Darkness set, originally expected for the album's 30th anniversary in 2008, "will likely contain a remastered edition of the disc, a new documentary about the making of the LP, as well as live footage from the 1978 tour," writes Greene. The box is "93 percent done,” according to Landau, “It’s absolutely fantastic and there are just some finishing touches that we need to turn our attention to and finalize and we’ll get it out there." A 170-pages-and-counting "iftheydothingsright" thread on BTX has some helpful suggestions for those finishing touches...

As for a new tour DVD, Landau says, "We’re working on some different approaches to a DVD for this tour. We'll release it sometime fairly soon, post-Christmas."

Though Landau says that "the E Street Band does have an illustrious future," he also specifies that "we're going to have substantial downtime at this point." But if "downtime" includes releases like these, that suddenly doesn't seem so bad. For more, including Nils Lofgren and Steve Van Zandt on the end of the tour and the future of the E Street Band, read "What’s Next for Springsteen: Darkness on the Edge of Town Box Set, 'Dream' Tour DVD."
- November 20, 2009

"BORN TO INFORM"
NBC Nightly News anchor and managing editor Brian Williams has won the 2009 Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. In his acceptance speech, Williams' first thanks go to "the First Family of the State of New Jersey: Bruce Sprinsgteen and Patti Scialfa." See NBC's online video tribute with Bruce and Patti's salute at the 6:17 mark: "Congratulations, Brian! We are glad that the nation's news and infomation needs are firmly in the hands of a Jersey boy. We're also glad they don't know the Brain Williams we know... or let's face it, the lid'll come off the whole thing."
- November 20, 2009

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO
By next week, the Working on a Dream tour will be nothin' but a dream... but we've got two shows left: Friday in Baltimore, and Sunday's last dance in Buffalo. Here's the scoop on both for GA ticketholders:

11/18, NASHVILLE: THE FLAMES, THEY GOT HIGHER
Bruce and the E Street Band stride into Music City U.S.A. and show 'em how it's done. Some powerful curveballs early in the set, with intense takes on "Seeds" and "Trapped" leading into a deep Darkness special, "Something in the Night." Just a beautiful performance. The opening "Wrecking Ball" didn't contain any local references, but in "Working on a Dream" Bruce had fun letting the crowd know that he knew where he was: "Ohhhhhh Nashville!... Ohhhhhh Tennessee!"

As great an opening stretch as that was, the album performance of Born to Run was the jewel in the crown tonight, as it often is. Stellar work from Roy Bittan, a reminder of what how piano-driven that record is, and live, Roy more than meets the challenge every time.

Following "Sunny Day," the request set again began with "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," Santa hats everywhere and holiday signs aplenty, too. A call for "Two Hearts" showed that it's not only fans in the Big Apple who want to hear The River, but — when in Rome — "Darlington County" was clearly the better received. A gaggle of gals up front, a half-dozen or so, were all wearing pink cowboy hats, and soon one was on Bruce's head. Then Steve's: "Brother, you look good!" Eventually Bruce got all of the "Darlington Cowgirls," as he called them, on stage for a dance. Nice countrified fiddle from Soozie on this one, too.

Before the set's final stretch, a total audible followed, call it Boss's Choice: "You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)" was a thrilling dip back into The River. Fast-paced, vocals on target, the duet with Steve sharp, it was just as good as at the Garden, and great to see more of this material in the show. After "Lonesome Day" and "The Rising," "Badlands" remains a strong set-closer, with "Born to Run" knocked out early.

A killer request to kick off the encore, June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore's "Ring of Fire." "We've never played this one before," said Bruce, and though the song was known to pop up in E Street Band sets in '73 and '74, that might as well be true considering how much they had to wing it. No matter: it rocked, they nailed it, Curt took care of the mariachi trumpet, and it was a perfect selection for the locale. "Thanks, Johnny!"

"No Surrender" again featured that great montage on the big screen, of instruments and old band shots; "Bobby Jean" subbed in for the setlisted "Seven Nights to Rock." While the remainder of the encore was now "standard," it didn't feel that way — more of a reminder of why these songs have been picked to close out the night in the first place, showcasing a band truly firing on all cylinders here in the home stretch, far superior to where they were six months ago. Peak energy, and despite a less-than-full house, a crowd to match, up on their feet and engaged all night.

ALL THE NEWS THAT FITS
Don't miss the new issue of Rolling Stone (#1092, November 26)... in addition to Mr. Springsteen on the cover (along with Messrs. Hewson and Jagger), there's a ton of Boss coverage in this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame special issue. Full rundowns of the 25th Anniversary Concerts, with Mark Seliger providing some striking B&W rehearsal shots; Brandon Flowers on Bruce; Landau and Van Zandt on the Rock Hall selection process; and more.

And see RollingStone.com's Rock & Roll Daily for Stevie's take on Bruce's Michigan/Ohio mix-up: "...I’m like, 'Please, God, don’t give him a chance to do it again before I get a chance to talk to him.' Sure enough, he did it a third time and I’m like, ‘That’s it. This crowd is about to rebel. They’re going to attack us!'"
- November 18, 2009

TONIGHT: STEVE TO GUEST ON MOJO'S NASHVILLE PRE-SHOW
Little Steven's certainly no stranger to the airwaves. In addition to his syndicated "Underground Garage" show, Steve created and executive produces the Outlaw Country channel on SIRIUS XM. And with the Springsteen and the E Street Band tour rolling into Nashville today, he'll be guesting on the channel in a live broadcast leading right up to showtime.

Mojo Nixon, who hosts a daily music show on Outlaw Country, will broadcast live from SIRIUS XM’s Nashville studios prior to tonight's E Street Band concert at the Sommet Center -- a four-hour pre-show. In the final hour, Steve will join Mojo in-studio for an hour-long simulcast, on both the Outlaw Country (SIRIUS 63 / XM 12) and E Street Radio (SIRIUS 10 / XM 58) channels, from 7:00 - 8:00 pm.

Mojo's E Street Band pre-show broadcast will begin at 4:00 this afternoon on Outlaw Country, with other in-studio guests including Todd Snider, Raul Malo, Dan Baird and Chuck Mead.

If you don't have satellite radio, go to siriusxm.com for a free 30-day pass to listen online.
- November 18, 2009

BRUCE WORKS THE ROOM AT CARNEGIE DELI -- ER, HALL
Last night at Carnegie Hall, Springsteen performed four songs solo acoustic at the Concert for Autism Speaks: "No Surrender," "If I Should Fall Behind," "Working on the Highway," and "Thunder Road."

The night opened promptly at 7:30 with its master of ceremonies and host of NBC's Meet the Press David Gregory on violin, solo, on a big, empty stage. No pretty sounds out of this violin: David admitted that he did it so he "could say I've played in concert at Carnegie Hall." Former NBC Chairman, Bob Wright, escorted by his wife Suzanne (the founders of Autism Speaks) were next out. Bob called for "silence... A moment of silence for David Gregory, because he thought tonight would be about him." Bob later took a moment to address Bruce and Jerry Seinfeld: "We thank you for your enormous gift tonight. We can never repay you, we thank you so so much." Also thanked were Jon Landau and Max Weinberg. After Bob and Suzanne discussed some alarming autism facts and statistics, as well as recent progress, Gregory escorted them off stage then came back to the mic: "Ladies and Gentlemen, the one, the only.... Bruce Springsteen!" Amazingly at this black tie affair, civilized people seemed to forget where they were for a moment and the entire house erupted with cheers of "Bruuuuuuce!"

"I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen, I must apologize. Apparently I'm a little underdressed." And boy was he, appearing at Carnegie Hall in what seemed to be his backup getup for the WOAD shows — and I mean waaay back. "I thought it was Carnegie Deli. Sorry... I see some high rollers out there. Forgive me.... Ehhh, whatever."

After a beautifully deliberate version of "No Surrender" with Bruce alone on an acoustic, which is how he'd remain throughout (deliberate and solo acoustic), he said to himself, "Sounds good, Boss, this place is all it's cracked up to be." Given the sound of the opener, he was surely right. "My Mom is here," he went on, "she was talking to Jerry before the show. She was explaining about the time I opened a Shop Rite supermarket... Now I'm at Carnegie Hall!"

Next Bruce delivered an absolutely stunning "If I Should Fall Behind." The lyrics seemed to hit home with many in attendance, as there were quite a few teary eyes. After the applause, Bruce rubbed his stomach: " Send me over one of those hot corned beef and pastramis... and some damn cole slaw, too. I'm working up here — gotta work!"

"Working on the Highway" was an unusual choice given the event and the venue, and it was performed was about half the tempo of what you'd see on the road. But it brought a good dose of fun: midway through, Bruce dedided to "test the acoustics of this Carnegie Hall," abandoning the mic and relying upon the venue's famed acoustics as he walked around the enormous stage playing to the crowd. Most notably, he played to the "Lincoln Seats" and tried to get them "off their asses." "C'mon, lets get working!" Lots of clapping along, and it got this who's-who crowd up and alive, all the way down to the front of the parquet where you could see even Mr. and Mrs. Trump getting their groove on.

Finally, "Thunder Road." Bruce called on the audience to sing the usual part, and though they were a little slow to respond, it was nice to hear this full of CEOs, Wall Street execs, and celebrities singing "Show a little faith..." "Not bad," Bruce said, "We'll get it next time."

After a lengthy applause/"Bruuuuuuce" session, Seinfeld came out to join Bruce; they exchanged a hug, Bruce took several more bows, and he was on his way. "You want him to come to your house?" Seinfeld asked, "That's the best we could do. It's like he was in your living room. What a beautiful guy [laughs all around], what a beautiful thing. You know how they always do the 'world's most beautiful people.'... why not him? He's beautiful, just gorgeous."

Jerry delivered a 50-minute set, took his bow and the house lights came on at 9:20 p.m. All in all a shorter evening than most expected; nevertheless, millions of dollars were raised for a very important and worthy cause, Autism Speaks.- November 18, 2009 - Michael Zorn reporting

SHUFFLE OFF TO BUFFALO IN STYLE
The final night of the tour is Sunday, and for the occasion, Bruce Springsteen has donated 4 VIP tickets with E Street Lounge passes plus a meet & greet session for the November 22nd show at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY. The package is being auctioned off to benefit Musicians On Call/The Kristen Ann Carr Fund, with bids being taken now at charitybuzz.com. Lot closes Thursday at 3:00 p.m.!
- November 17, 2009

WAKE UP WITH NILS LOFGREN
A five-part interview with Nils Lofgren airs this week on New York's WRXP, with Matt Pinfield and Leslie Fram talking with the E Street Band guitarist. Listen to the first installment here, and tune in to 101.9 each morning this week at 7:20 a.m. to hear the remaining four parts.
- November 16, 2009

GREETINGS FROM BUFFALO, NY
A week from tonight, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform the album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. during their November 22 concert in Buffalo, NY, the final date of their 2009 Working on a Dream tour. Released in January, 1973, Greetings marked Springsteen's debut as a recording artist; it is the first time this album will be performed in its entirety. With this performance, Bruce and the band will have played every E Street Band album through 1984 during their fall tour.
- November 15, 2009

THE BOSS-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB:
2010 CALENDARS ARE HERE!
Now in stock at Backstreet Records: The official Bruce Springsteen wall calendar for the new year! Striking imagery from Danny Clinch for each month of 2010, and a nice layout, too, with a Working on a Dream graphic theme.

We know a lot of people like giving these as holiday gifts; this year we can guarantee pre-Christmas arrival for all U.S. orders placed by December 10. Of course, the sooner you place your order the better, particuarly for delivery outside of the U.S., where it's harder to make such guarantees. As always, we'll be working hard to get these out the door just as quickly as possible.

LET IT SHINE
Jon Stewart on an E Street Band concert: "It's the closest I will ever go to going to church. It's this incredible experience of just pure — after all these years of performing — unadulterated joy." Clarence Clemons replies: "For me, it is a church. It is my religion. It is my belief. To bring joy and light to the world is my purpose in life, so my spiritual teacher tells me. So when I go out on that stage, I'm bringing that spirit of joy to a lot of people, and it's just wonderful." Watch the Big Man on last night's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

The Associated Press also has a nice profile today: "Clarence Clemons Keeps Rockin' With Raw Willpower." As Stewart said to him on the show, "I believe that you will, in the year 2080, still be blowing... you'll just be lungs and a head. You are unstoppable."
- Updated November 12, 2009

AUTHOR! MAN OF LETTERS! DAILY SHOW GUEST!
Jon Stewart, who was spotted at Sunday night's Madison Square Garden show, hosts Clarence Clemons on his own turf tonight. The Big Man talks Big Man on The Daily Show — tune in to Comedy Central tonight at 11 pm!
- November 11, 2009

11/4, NEW YORK, NY: STAND UP FOR HEROES
Last night at the Stand Up for Heroes Benefit for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, the first three rows in New York's Town Hall harbored the injured and recovering troops. After a surprise appearance by Elvis Costello, who performed two songs, host Brian Williams introduced Bruce Springsteen, describing him as a "very good friend of the Foundation and everyone in uniform."

After saying he was "honored and humbled" by the service of the men and women in those three rows, Springsteen told a pun-filled joke about a new soda containing Viagra (this was a New York Comedy Festival Event, don't forget). He began his acoustic set with a heartfelt and jagged (but not ragged) "This Hard Land." Another joke, about the housewife who isn't Betty Crocker, preceded "Born to Run," which wasn't universally recognized until the first chorus.

Bruce told his third joke about a fiendishly trained chihuahua, punctuating a door knock with three raps on his guitar, and then started to play "The Rising." Unlike "Born to Run," it was immediately acknowledged and appreciated by this New York crowd. The lyrics seemed particularly appropriate for those who have been harshly dealt with by the "fiery light" of IEDs. I noticed Brian Williams and (I think) Bob Woodruff watching intently behind the stage.

Afterwards, Williams and legendary Sotheby auctioneer Jamie Niven (son of actor David Niven) joined Bruce onstage and together auctioned off the black guitar Bruce had just finished using "for the past 20 years." As the bidding increased, Springteen whispered in Niven's ear an offer to sweeten the pot — four tickets to one of this weekend's Madison Square Garden shows.

This increased bidding, and there was an added benefit for the winner, actress Mariska Hargitay of Law and Order: Special Victim’s Unit: backstage passes. And if that weren’t enough, Bruce went into the audience and personally delivered the $50,000 guitar.

Over six million dollars has been distributed by the Bob Woodruff Foundation to individual soldiers and their families, along with service organizations who assist our wounded military personnel. More than $100,000 was pledged last night to this excellent cause.

ON THE AUCTION BLOCK: MEET THE BOSS AT MSG
Need an "in" for Saturday or Sunday? Mere minutes left in this auction!
4 VIP Tix, E St. Lounge Passes, and a soundcheck meeting with the man
Bruce and the E Street Band return to Madison Square Garden this weekend for two never-before-seen album sets, W&I and The River. Tickets are next to impossible at this point... but not quite impossible: For a charity auction, Bruce has generously donated an incredible meet and greet opportunity, with soundcheck access, four VIP tickets and E Street Lounge Passes to one of these special NYC shows: Saturday, November 7 or Sunday, November 8 — winner's choice!

It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to chat with Bruce face-to-face — not to mention being there for soundcheck and getting prime tickets to one of the most in-demand shows on the tour.

Seats are located in the Loge Section (first tier above the floor) within the first five rows, either to the left or right of the stage, OR, the auction winner may choose to be in the General Admission "Pit," rather than seats. The E Street Lounge passes will enable the auction winner to relax and have a drink before the show (the Lounge has a cash bar and is open before show only, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.).

Of course, this one requires deep pockets. Bidding begins at $10,000, with all proceeds proceeds to benefit The Bob Woodruff Foundation. Check out the auction at charityfolks.com.

Auction ends today at 3:00 p.m. Eastern, but extended as follows: "If a bid is placed during the last 10 minutes on a lot during the auction, the closing time will be automatically extended for an additional 10 minutes from the time of the latest bid. The lot will close once all bidding activity has stopped for a period of 10 minutes."
- Updated November 5, 2009

JUST AROUND THE CORNER...
It's Light of Day time again, the annual concerts that benefit the fight against Parkinson's Disease (as well as celebrating LOD founder Bob Benjamin's birthday). Light of Day NYC kicks off the series this Friday night, as Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan headline a show at Bowery Electric (327 Bowery at 2nd Street). Sarah Solovay and Outside the Box are also on the bill. Tickets are $25 each.

Light of Day New Jersey, featuring Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers, D'Urso, Willie Nile, and other regulars, will take place in January. Visit our Concert Calendar, just updated, for more related concert info.
- November 4, 2009

IT'S MY LIFE
With Clarence's biography out now, Springsteen has taken to introducing the Big Man onstage as "Author!" "Man of Letters!" And "Bigger than Shakespeare!" If you believe the New York Post, Bruce may be looking to follow in those Big footsteps:

TWO FACES HAVE I
How about this for a New York City Serenade? After performing Born to Run, Darkness, and Born in the U.S.A. album sets on this leg, Bruce and the E Street Band have something extra special up their sleeve for their return to the Garden this weekend — the premiere of two more album performances, and ones that we honestly never thought we'd see. Saturday night: The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, live, top to bottom for the first time ever. Sunday night: The River, live, top to bottom, for the first time ever — all 20 tracks. If Steve were to have his way, there'd be even more, as he told Rolling Stone earlier this year: "If I could pick, it's gotta be The River. I'd want to include the outtakes on the Tracks collection. Then you have a hell of a show." But hey, even if it's "just" a double-album set that includes "Stolen Car," "The Price You Pay," "Drive All Night"... still sounds like a hell of a show to us.

This leaves November 22 in Buffalo as the only remaining show on the itinerary with no album announced. See our Tour/Ticket Info page for the line-up.
- November 4, 2009

HOLD ON, IT'S COMIN'!
Last week's silver anniversary blowouts for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will be coming to the small screen later this month, debuting November 29 at 8 p.m.on HBO. At four hours, it's a condensed presentation of the two nights at Madison Square Garden, but there's sure to be plenty of Bruce. The program will have a number of repeat airings throughout December. If you don't want to wait for a taste, check out Sam Moore's guest appearance with the E Street Band on YouTube.
- November 2, 2009

MR. SPRINGSTEEN GOES TO WASHINGTON
Bruce and the E Street Band come to D.C. tonight, the first Working on a Dream show since last week's canceled Kansas City stop. For the pit lottery, sequentially numbered wristbands will be distributed between 1:00 and 4:00 this afternoon at the 6th Street Entrance, near the corner of 6th and F Streets NW. Click here for full G.A. Procedure info from the Verizon Center.
- November 2, 2009