Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band @ Giants Stadium

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
@ Giants Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ - October 9, 2009

"Wrecking Ball" is such a cheap sop, his rhyming of "balls" with "ball" proving how his songwriting has rapidly declined this decade. The filler cuts from the recent records sprinkled throughout the set, emphatically set in place by his church-like revelry, stink. And what is up with that...wait...wait...HOLY CRAP I'M AT THE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN CONCERT.

The Boss and the most famous backing band in the history of Rock n Roll sent (and set) Giants Stadium off with the exact kind of show this unit has been known for well over 2 decades now, even 3. And Springsteen sought to signify this farewell with the performance of the record that ushered in the era of BIG in the Springsteen liturgy - Born in the USA. When Michael Jackson died, I immediately thought of how "Beat It" was arguably the first song I remember knowing and singing along to. "Born in the USA" was number 2. As these things go, the King of Pop quickly faded in my musical life, but Springsteen kept coming back. The anthems from his older works, the legendary stuff from Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town and The River all took a foot hold. In college, I appreciated all of Born in the USA, even with the 80's synth (a sound I've eventually come around to). For reasons even I don't understand, "I'm Going Down" is my favorite Bruce Springsteen song of all time and when it was performed before the insane crowd at Giants Stadium, I died a little. And even the music from this decade, in which his stature is almost impervious, considering records that by and large blow the big one are cherished, there are individual tracks that are not only the finest on those records but the finest songs of our time (and that included the churchy one "The Rising" that the band did play this night).

But let's strip it down a bit. This is the man who made Nebraska. And played the Bottom Line in the dank heyday of New York City. This is the man who wrote a song intended for the Ramones. He's also the man that can turn his glossy, too-perfect-for-their-own-good emporioum of musicians back into the greasy bar band they used to be and into a prime soul-rhythym and blues-and-blues machine. The Boss' guitar chops are underrated and he can stand toe-to-toe with the insanely good Nils Lofgren. And look over there - isn't that the dude I know from CBGB's and Mercury Lounge gigs back in the garage days of the mid 2000's? You know the guy with that radio show that sort of saved rock n' roll this decade? Oh right that's Little Steven Van Zandt who before the Undergound Garage and before he was on The Sopranos was kind of the heart-and-soul of the E Street Band (what? Clarence Clemmons isn't the heart-and-soul of the E Street Band? How can you say that? Because Clarence Clemmons isn't the heart-and-soul of the E Street Band. Clarence Clemmons is the heart-and-soul of Bruce Springsteen).

All these thoughts dancing through my head as this spectacle unfurled before me. Eventually, I just let go and took it in. For one night - and only one - I was from New Jersey. But if Bon Jovi had shown up, I was out of there.

The Sonic Parthenon Playlist: Early March, 2009 Vol. I

Well this was the fear and it came true. Too many outside factors going on, affecting the productivity of the blog. It's a shame because I have been listening to more music now than in the past several months at least. So in order to fill the gaps between the gig reviews, here is this occasional series to keep this blog relevant and up to date:

Camera Obscura - "My Maudlin Career"
The kids are coming back with a new album and two sold out small shows in late March. The title track, made available via the band through their site, is a dashing bit of that classically sad-eyed whimsy that these Scots (+ darling Manchester girl/band news scribe) are known for. It is always so good to feel so cutely blue around Camera Obscura.

Heartless Bastards - "The Mountain"
Another title track, this from Erika Wennerstrom's project, represents a side of the band yours truly did not notice when they came through town a few years ago with the Soledad Brothers. With a startlingly complex voice to go along with her smokin' guitar chops, Wennerstrom may just steal the show from the Gaslight Anthem at Webster on the 27th of this month.

The Takeover UK - "Ah La La"
Watching Lost led to watching promos. The early promos for that bad-looking Castle featured a hard, happenin' rock n roll song. The power of the internet revealed it was this track from a band (not from the UK) that I think may be one of those old fashioned big record label start-up bands.

Bruce Springsteen - "My Lucky Day"
Working on a Dream doesn't sound too hot (Magic sure didn't) but like with the last one, there is one solid, killer cut the whole world should play over and over. Last time, with "Radio Nowhere", it was punchy, almost roadhouse-y Bruce. This time it's more of that sweeter, bar band of friendly pals atmosphere.

Sam Roberts Band - "Them Kids"
I caught this band once a couple years ago and thought nothing of it but this single is a happy kicker, one to smile and dance to in times like these.

Bon Iver - "Blood Bank"
He's back and in good form. Emphasizing more of that soul-vocal underpinnings to his darkly rich folk, Justin Vernon is already not destined to be a one-hit wonder in the Indie world. This chap has staying power.

Handsome Furs - "I'm Confused"
All I know is the promo photos for this act's new record are too hot for their own good but more important than that, I heard this song for the first time a couple days ago and I am already obsessed with it.

Hold Steady Cover Springsteen OMG; Gaslight Anthem Channel Him on Letterman

Who wants to wait for that damn comp to come out? Stereogum has it.

In other Springsteen-esque news, the Gaslight Anthem were on Letterman.

A Word on Springsteen at the Super Bowl

Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, and the Rolling Stones may have played the Super Bowl, and by sheer talent, Prince may be the best to have ever played it - but Bruce Springsteen just gave the first performance at the Super Bowl to be bigger than the game, the hoopla, and the culture around it. That was great.

Obama Inaugural Concert Highlights: U2, Springsteen, Pete Seeger

U2


Springsteen with the guy who gave me a piece of corn in Beacon, NY last Summer:

Your Election Day Playlist

To get the anger out and over with:

"All You Fascists" by Wilco & Billy Bragg
"American Idiot" by Green Day
"Keep on Rockin' in the Free World" by Neil Young

If you're still huffing about 2004, and if Sarah Palin, Joe the Plumber, and the Republican rally mongrels really boil your blood - use these three songs to fume a bit and get some catharsis. You may want to skip this if you want to get right to the excitement and, hopefully, the vindication.

To get through the day and as the early returns come in if it looks close:

"Stay Positive" by the Hold Steady
"Mr. November" by the National
"I Believe in Miracles" by the Ramones

The Hold Steady one speaks for itself, and the National song - while maybe being a little uncomfortable in its line "I'm the great white hope" - is a real humdinger and has also been dedicated to the candidate by the band, which has endorsed him wholeheartedly.
In regards to the Ramone song, see my big mushy final note on the campaign.

If it's a loss...
Well as there is no song called "I can't believe this fucking happened (again)":

"Don't Stop Believing" by Journey - for the ever-hopeful
"Old Man" by Neil Young - for the resigned
"Miami 2017" by Billy Joel - the Obama-loving Piano Man has just the song to console yourself in that drunken sad but rock sort of way
"Walk" by Pantera and "Take Off" by Bob and Doug McKenzie with Geddy Lee for those thinking of doing something drastic

If it's a win...

"The Touch" and "Dare by Stan Bush - oh yeah
"The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen - of course
"Sign Sealed Delivered" by Stevie Wonder - you'll probably hear it from Obamapalooza in Grant Park either at the victory moment or at his entrance or exit
"Instant Karma" by John Lennon - good post-hippie liberal party music
"Simply the Best" by Tina Turner - for the sports-like atmosphere
"City of Blinding Lights" by U2 - Obama's entrance song at the convention; not the best U2 song but it has their stock dramatic opening that they are so damn good at
"Yes We Can" by will.i.am and friends - just because, and if you're feeling really sappy

Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel @ Hammerstein Ballroom (Not a Review)

Slowly but surely we'll all get a sense of what it was like inside the Hammerstein last night with The Boss, Billy, John Legend, and India Arie.

Caroline Kennedy introduces the guys

Glory Days (snippet)


New York State of Mind

Spirit in the Night

Allentown

Born To Run

People Get Ready (with Obama arriving at the end)

Hopefully more to come...

A Musical Interlude With Bruce Springsteen

Remember when this blog was about music?

From the recent rally in Ypsilanti

Billy Joel...Bruce Springsteeen....Together....for Barack

Hammerstein Ballroom Thursday 10/16

The cheap tix were $500, those are all gone. All that's left are the big wigs who can snag the $2500 seats, and the mega donors who can fork over $10,000 which must mean the Piano Man and the Boss play on your lap...presumably at the same time.

As the Times points out, Billy and Bruce played together once before, doing "Glory Days" with Rhymin' Simon for a charity show at MSG in 1987.

Even Dylan <3's Obama

How impressive is Barack Obama (even with his Jerusalem flip-flop pandering)? He even has Bob Dylan speaking out in support of him, and in uncharacteristically (for Bob) direct, blunt, non-cryptic, non-cynical terms.

Amazing.

Could the Dylan/Springsteen/Bright Eyes/Arcade Fire/Decemberists/M. Ward concert for Obama be not far off from now?

Sonic Parthenon's The Year In Music 2007: Part 4

The National

• Live Show
• Record: Boxer
• Songs: “Mistaken For Strangers”; “Apartment Story”.
  

Along with Camera Obscura and the Hold Steady, the National dominated 2007.

This triumvirate of bands took up, arguably, the most blog time, the most listens, and the most energy. In the case of the National, it was the most blissfully dark. The band’s penchant for salty and raw but nevertheless dramatic lyrics coated in a garden of lush sounds – spanning a line from Joy Division to Bruce Springsteen – makes them a true standout. The boys are a thinking band, a thoughtful band, a deliberative band but also a no frills, unfiltered, savage excursion into base feelings about the bleak state of the world, the urges of human behavior, and maybe even the melancholia of the good things in life. In addition to having one of the records of the year and two of the best singles of the year (“Apartment Story” should find itself in the Top 10 singles of the decade in a few years) the Brooklyn-by-Cinci boys put on a heck of a show and they even made Terminal 5 sound good on its opening night.
"Apartment Story":

Mistaken For Strangers
Fake Empire (on Letterman)
SPTV: "Mr. November" at Terminal 5

“Need Your Needs” by Georgie James
Very late in the year, this sugary, peppy, dance-rock single made a big impact on the SP earbuds. Stay tuned for more of it in 2008.


Norah Jones

• Record: Not Too Late
• Song: “Thinking About You”
  

Norah’s been long forgotten by the Indie crowd (if she was ever really accepted) but that didn’t stop her from putting out a decent LP that has a lovely title track and a single – “Thinking About You” - that would probably win the old fashioned Best Single by a Female Vocalist award. And that would have been her fourth win in six years.


“North American Scum” by LCD Soundsystem
This one is finding it’s way on a lot of year-end best-of lists and for good reason, James Murphy’s production project doubles as a good rock n’ roll band. And best of all: Murphy sounds like he’s singing with a cold.


Okkervil River

• Live Show
• Record: The Stage Names
• Song: “Our Life Is Not Like A Movie But Maybe”
  

In a great year for band singles, Okkervil’s “Our Life…” rivals the National’s “Apartment Story” for single of the year and also has a best-of-the-decade slot in its future. It is one of the greatest post-break-up analysis songs ever written and Will Sheff sings it with an unmatched passion. The live scene delivers on all the goods – it is truly knee shaking. And oh yeah, The Stage Names is one of the best albums of the year.


Pianos
A hell of a year for the Lower East Side venue: The Hard Lessons, the Love Me Nots, and Looker put on excellent shows. And they have a nice, accommodating person working the live space door.

“Postcard to Nina” by Jens Lekman
A very sweet, very introverted bit of romantic comedy by Indie darling Lekman. His affable attempt to masquerade as his lesbian friend’s boyfriend in front of her old fashioned family makes for a fun 4 minute romp, aided and abetted by a heavy dose of blue eyed soul in the background. It was quite the year for soul music as led by the ladies mentioned elsewhere and producers like Mark Ronson. But this Swedish single may have trumped them all.
Stream

“Radio Nowhere” by Bruce Springsteen
Magic was a turkey, sorry. The opening salvo though was the Boss’ best single in 25 years, which made the ensuing LP all the more disappointing when it turned out to be so bad. But it’s always better to have Bruce around than not. He’s Bruce. And you’re not.
Video

Jay Reatard

• Live Show
• Record: Blood Visions
• Song: “Blood Visions”
  

You may notice no account of the Black Lips in this year-end review. Well that’s because everyone else has them covered (and boy have they been put into overkill. Remember when they played every couple months to no one? That was a long time ago). Next up in the garage punk-turned-hipster-cavalcade is Jay Reatard, though unlike the Black Lips, it remains to be seen if he will embrace the hipsters back. Jay is a tough, tough dude. But despite the uninviting atmosphere, he puts on a hell of a show in support of a more than decent punk record. He also sports some damn fine vocals.
SPTV at CMJ:


“Rehab” by Amy Winehouse
Blah blah blah blah, it’s all about Mark Ronson OK? And the Dap Kings. That’s it. Other than that, she should win an award for Best-Description-Of-My-Pathetic-Life-Turned-Smash-Hit-Single. Whatever.
Video

Josh Ritter

• Live Show

The Historical Conquests may not have been the totally perfect follow up to Animal Years (Pre-Camera Obscura and Hold Steady, the best album of last year), but Josh can do it live.
SPTV Insta-Clip

“Rock N Roll Backlash” by the Woggles
The last of the pocket of Little Steven pushed singles, the razzle dazzle nitty gritty Woggles did what they do best: make fun songs. Still best to see them live though.
Sample

Rodrigo Y Gabriela by Rodrigo Y Gabriela
Another 2006 release but that didn’t stop the duo from packing headlining Roseland at CMJ. Perfect, consistent guitar. Bravo.
"Tamacun" live

Carina Round

• Live Show
• Record: Slow Motion Addict
• Songs: “Come To You”, “Stolen Car”
  

It was a smashing year for British siren Carina Round as she toured in support of her superior follow-up record. “Come To You” and “Stolen Car” are two of the best songs heard this year. And she’s a darling live singer.

Why Most of the Big Boys Won't Be Reviewed

Thought it was about being a cool Indie hipster eh? Thought anyone that gets played on Q104.3 is just too old for this blog's flagship reviews huh? Well you'd be wrong. Springsteen, Van, the Police, and Neil may not be all be able to fit under an umbrella of "important" or "exciting" (though in certain groupings they do), but unlike say any other acts commercially labeled as "classic rock" that tour, these young whippersnappers made such staggeringly important music, and continue to sound relevant and that's what counts. But there still won't be reviews of these upcoming gigs. Why?
$$$$ that's why.

(All pre-surcharges:)
Springsteen - $99.50
Van Morrison - $79-$254
The Police - $54-$254.50
Neil Young - $54.50-$186

That being said the $65 Friday Morrissey show is set for a review. Why? Is Morrissey that much more special than the rest of these acts? Nope. Is it that the universal $65 had the best savings value? Yes in so much as these tickets presented themselves first and that sealed the deal.

Of course, if some paying music publication wants to hire this blog and pay for admission to these shows...by all means, step up to the plate.