From: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org (LuckyTown Digest) To: luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Subject: LuckyTown Digest V9 #33 Reply-To: luckytown@luckytown.org Sender: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Errors-To: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Precedence: bulk LuckyTown Digest Thursday, July 11 2002 Volume 09 : Number 033 NOTE: Sale/trade posts should be emailed to luckytown-ads, *NOT* to luckytown. That includes tix wanted/tix grovels, post them to luckytown-ads, please. Contents: GA floor [luckytow (LuckyTown)] The sky was falling and streaked with blood - Detroit listening party report, July 10, 2002 [Matthew] Detroit Listening Party ["Jeff LeBlanc" ] couple thoughts on the Rising ["Bryan L. Gros" ] Floor [Tom Ross ] RE: LuckyTown Digest V9 #32 ["Joe Piechowski" ] Bruce and Sony's Exploitation [OmanIV@aol.com] Quick thoughts on LTD #32 ["Gregory Herr" ] Re:2002 Tour: No Bay Area Dates? ["gocart mozart" ] Re: ticket experience [Mommysews4us@aol.com] Songs I want to Hear ["John Moye" ] Re: Bandwagons '84/'02 ["Benj Moore" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 17:34:12 -0500 (CDT) From: luckytow (LuckyTown) Subject: GA floor To replace a flurry of posts saying "What? GA floor? Is this right?" From the AP article about the tour : "One other change for this tour: To add "looseness and excitement" to the show, there will be no seats on the floor, Landau said. U2 took the same approach on its recent tour." My guess is that Bruce saw how the GA floor worked at the the past few Asbury Park shows and liked it. Who was it that said "If it's too loud, you're too old."? I have a feeling I'll need a variation of that for wails about the GA no-seats-on-the-floor policy. Personally, I think it'll be a good thing re: cutting down on scalping and giving more fans the opportunity to get close without shelling out major $$$. It worked for U2, and I daresay Bruce has an older fan base. I can't envision Obie disappearing in a mosh pit of forty-somethings. And our European subscribers are probably saying "What? The Americans put *chairs* on the floor?" - ----- Kevin Kinder kvk@luckytown.org ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 01:16:38 -0400 From: Matthew Orel Subject: The sky was falling and streaked with blood - Detroit listening party report, July 10, 2002 Eight songs were previewed at the Detroit listening part this evening. Here's my summary. Ambient sound in the theater, as a result of air circulation fans, caused the overall sound quality to be substantially less than it could have been. Nonetheless, it was still much better than at 64kbps on the mp3 feeds, and sufficient to give some feedback. 1. Lonesome Day. This is the album opener, and it continues to grow on me. I had read the lyric sheet previously, but in the listening party, each verse was shown on a big screen as it came up in the song. So, the 2nd verse came up all by itself -- and, now divorced from the 1st verse, its impact was immediate and startling. Not just another relationship song. The music serves the song well, in my opinion; this is among the catchier songs of tonight's listen. Well received by the audience, most of whom had heard it previously off the mp3 feeds. 2. Into the Fire. This is a tribute song; starting off slowly with an acoustic guitar lead-in and then hit like the proverbial ton of bricks (think of Max's description of "Blood Brothers" in that video). In some ways, this reminded me a bit of Streets of Philadelphia, and I'd like to hear some of the background flourishes (brass? keyboards?) on my own system. The lyrics started out strong for me -- see the title of this post -- but also included some terribly klunky lines (e.g., "then walked into the darkness of your smokey grave"). No reaction at all from the audience when it was over. 3. Nothing Man. For me, this was the weakest song on tonight's list. Maybe there's a hook in there, but other than Bruce singing "pearl and silver" as "poil and silva" (at least, that's how it sounded to me), I couldn't find one. Reminded me a bit of some ToL songs or maybe "I'm on Fire," but not in a good way. Forgettable. 4. You're Missing. Everything is everything, but you're missing. "This song is really depressing!," exclaimed Lori. But it is a strong song nonetheless, strong and to the point without overdoing it. Well received. 5. Worlds Apart. Without a doubt the winner of the evening, the strongest rock song from Bruce in a very, very long time. Those who haven't heard it yet will be stunned as much by Bruce's voice in this song as by the mixture of sounds and rhythms. The lyrics aren't half bad, either -- We got this moment now to live/then it's all just dusk and dark. Very well received. 6. Mary's Place. Touted as a party song, and I suppose it's the new tour sing-along song where Out in the Street might have gone. I've got 7 pictures of Buddha/The prophet's on my tongue... ok, I wanna party, too. More sax here than anywhere else, and some very faint echoes of the Thundercrack style. Very faint. But it did bring out the only Broooocing of the night, for whatever it's worth. Not a great song, at least not to me, but it'll do. 7. The Fuse. Shut Out the Lights/The Fuse is Burning/Come on let me do you right. In which Bruce finally gets to clean his room a capella, if you know what I mean. Strongest lyrics, or at least most memorable, of any song presented, including my favorite couplet of the evening: "Blood moon risin' in a sky of black dust/Tell me baby, who do you trust?" I live for lines like that. Not as well received as the prior two songs, but for me this was 2nd only to Worlds Apart. 8. The Rising. On better speakers, we can finally hear the base, and the sound is more textured, more urgent. Vocals out front, as they should be. Well received, and should do well in concert. It's hard to make an overall impression on the album, as there are still several tracks I've not heard, nor have I listened in the context of a straight run-through. For the most part I liked what I heard -- two standouts, several very good tracks, and only one I could have done without. Not bad for a start. - --Matt ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 08:31:37 -0400 From: "Jeff LeBlanc" Subject: Detroit Listening Party Thanks to an on line posting on Backstreets, I hooked up with some folks from Ann Arbor who were great to allow me to join them at the Detroit Listening Party at the Magic Bag. Thanks guys!! THE RISING material is simply too powerful to digest in one sitting but lyrically and Musically the content is, in my opinion- some of Bruce's best work. I walked out of that party and lyrics and music of some of the songs were stinging my brain. I got in the car and another verse came at me and I didn't even see it. I got on the freeway and one of the tunes wisped past my ear, a subtle reminder that things aren't always as they first appear. Clearly- almost all of the songs played had a direct and some not so direct references to 9-11. As someone said last night- "he is taking us back to 9-11- making us see it again... through his perspective" There is no doubt its all 9-11. Some of the songs are dark- yes- but Jesus- this is Bruce!! Its NEBRASKA with much better music? (uh-oh) I caught some of the message- that sometimes things happen and there's nothing we can do about it....and I caught several messages of hope. Clearly this is a work about pain and suffering but there are underlying messages that I couldn't fully catch in one sitting...Some of the songs were dark yet the tunes were very catchy- a strange mix but one that upon hearing more will make more sense to us I suspect. Obviously Bruce was effected big time by the events of 9-11 as were most. But as a recording artists and one that deeply cares about what he is saying to people-it is his job to make us think- THE RISING is a work that will make us think. He is taking us on a ride, and we are going whether we like it or not. Jeff LeBlanc, www.c21jeff.com jeff@c21jeff.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 13:05:38 -0700 From: "Bryan L. Gros" Subject: couple thoughts on the Rising I have only heard two songs off the Rising so far. I think the longevity of this disc will depend on whether the songs are "about" 9/11 or inspired by 9/11. Bruce's said that most songs were written after Sept, and they are definitely inspired by the events. But if the lyrics are broad enough, like I feel they are in "The Rising", then we will enjoy the disc for years to come. Otherwise, it will become dated quickly. Jon Mendez wrote, " Is Sony looking to "cash-in" on 9/11? Even if it is unintentional is it right and just to profit from an artistic interpretation of the events...or profit in anyway from what happened?" I've been thinking about this as well. There was a short discussion on a local radio station the other day about Tori Amos, who also has a new album coming out developed after 9/11. Artists have to take inspiration and respond, and there is certainly a long history of social commentary by artists in general, and songwriters in particular. But music is both an art and a business, so how do you deal with companies making money off of a tragedy? I guess you just have to let Sony or whatever market this disc as any other, regardless of the inspiration. Jon also wrote, "And now we have a full disc of songs about 9/11. Is it time for this? Is America ready and willing to listen to stories of the longing, sorrow and death that surrounded the tragic events?" Of course it is time. This is certainly not the first artistic comment on what happened. There have been many books, and there will be more. Some will want to read, and some won't. And the publisher will make money. What about Neil Youngs song about Todd Beemer? Something he felt as an artist that he had to do, and great for Neil, he got it out and on the airwaves quickly. Not sure if anyone made money on it. Does it matter? Bruce now has his own artistic work reflecting his comments on the event. Does it matter how much Sony promotes it? Would it matter if it was "about" 9/11 or if it was only "inspired by" 9/11? Sorry, I think I got more questions there than responses! Bryan Gros Oakland, CA ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 02:28:44 -0400 From: Tom Ross Subject: Floor Just wondering what everyone thinks about the fact that apperently all floor tickets will be general admission. Also an aside to Jeff LaBlanc, in Detroit, I think you got your geography a little mixed up, the official Rock and Roll capitol of the World, you know, where Alan Freed coined the term Rock and Roll, the town where you can find the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a short drive from you, just follow the shore of Lake Erie, down to Cleveland. You know the town Bruce will play the night before Detroit. Guess he figured he didn't need a night off before a Detroit audience...........(kidding, kidding) Tom In Vegas But born and raised in the TRUE R'N'R capitol! Cleveland ROCKS!!!!! ;-) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 00:14:05 -0700 From: "Joe Piechowski" Subject: RE: LuckyTown Digest V9 #32 In LTD, V9 #32, jsavage@concentric.net wrote: >Wow. It's a little surprising and disappointing that 'The Rising' Tour >will bypass the San Francisco/Oakland area in August, as it's been the site >of well-attended, enthusiastic shows in 1980, 1984-85, 1995 and three gigs >in 1999. Johnny, Blame it on the poor excuse for a ticketing company Tickets.com. They blew it big time on the last tour. That's why San Jose is getting the show. Tickets.com is far worse than TM ever was. Joe ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 08:06:31 EDT From: OmanIV@aol.com Subject: Bruce and Sony's Exploitation In a message dated 7/10/02 11:57:52 PM, Jon Mendez writes: << This brought me to a interesting place when afterward I heard the Sony rep start "selling" the disc to us as we sat there and thinking of the huge promotional push Sony intends to give the disc. Is it right for Sony to promote with such a blitz of media buys and Bruce appearances and in the end hope to profit from a work that is about the greatest human tragedy this country ever endured? Is Sony looking to "cash-in" on 9/11? Even if it is unintentional is it right and just to profit from an artistic interpretation of the events...or profit in anyway from what happened? Sony isn't even an American company. >> Uh, in case you hadn't noticed, the "record" biz ain't what it used to be. Aside from Bitme Spores and Boys In The Sink, there are no sure fire - not "shore fire" ;-) - hitmakers out there. Even the gloved one bombed - well, he should have bombed a long time ago - Sony has a big investment in Bruce, and for all the capitalist cash-in nay sayers, I think it's great that they are getting behind Bruce, and getting the word out, and generating a little excitement out there for Bruce. And for those who appaud Bruce's genuine humility and sincerety (me included) he did want to be he did want to be he did want to be...................... a Rock & Roll Star!!!!!!!!!! And he's pulled the duality (star and common man) off better than almost anyone. Sony sees a hit on the horizon. They'd be stupid not go for the gold, er platinum, er multiple platinum. Born In The USA was somehow exploited as an AMERICAN (i.e. I am an....) album. I don't see any such "misdirection" (for lack of a better word, or ironically, lack of a better world, as I just mistyped!!!) It is the "record biz", and if Bruce sells, it may help revive an interest in music, and trickle down to some other lesser known artists (Oh Momma, can this really be the end, to be stuck here inside of Lucky Town spouting "trickle down economics"!!!) Bruce has contibuted to a family in Pa, or talked to someone who lost a husband down on the shore, and done other things which were only brought to our attention thru sources other Bruce/Sony. There's a million hucksters out there who came up with Flag ties or something to milk the tragedy, and I'm sure gave very little back. Don't sentence Bruce to that den of greed. (And, cynically, Sony would be stupid not to make contributions from their profits....... it's a tax write-off! As Arthur Anderson would say, "It's a Good Thing." ) Having said that, I will return to reality and curse Sony for making it probably impossible for me to get tickets, or if I do, have to put up with umteen beer guzzling loonies around me screaming incoherently at the concert-of-the-week for them......... And as someone who "lost" no one I knew on 9/11, and had my own set of very real problems at the time; yes, an entire album about the tragedy is more than I would want from Bruce right now. But as the "Frog in the Window"* would say, "if his answer is not the best, it's so much better than all of the rest." Johnno in NJ *from the great Tom Rapp (Pearls Before Swine) cd "Constructive Melancholy" "You're only old, when you will not be young." (thanks, Froggy!) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 10:08:30 -0400 From: "Gregory Herr" Subject: Quick thoughts on LTD #32 *** The question raised in the LTD #32 about the appropriate level of marketing/hype for an album like The Rising is an interesting one. I'd give Bruce the benefit of the doubt here. My reaction to the rising tide of promotional activity is that Bruce knows he's made an excellent album, feels that overall it says something that needs to be heard now, and thinks that these promotions are the way he'll get his music heard these days. Lots of albums by rockers his age (Petty, Mellencamp, etc.) disappear without a trace absent major promotional efforts. Heard much from the new, and by all reports excellent, Elvis Costello album? *** No Bay Area dates? Johnny, don't you know the way to San Jose (8/27)? *** The Philly shows are set for the "First National Center." Is that a new arena, or has the bad karma from the 9/25/99 ticket drop forced a name change for the FU Center? - ------------------------------------------ Greg Herr [text/html attachment deleted] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 22:54:05 -0700 From: "gocart mozart" Subject: Re:2002 Tour: No Bay Area Dates? San Jose isn't part of the Bay Area ? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 20:27:38 +0200 From: "Han Med roda mulen" Subject: "Better ask questions..." Hi guys. Just a thought about the line "better ask questions" before you shoot" in "Lonesome day". Now, I haven't read the lyrics (I've looked all over the net for them, but couldn't find them) for the song, so I can't "see" the whole song and get my own opinion of the meaning. But can't the line "better ask questions before you shoot" be related to the whole "American Skin"-incident? As I understood it from other Luckytowners the song isn't about that, but what do you guys think? Jeez, Bruce better come to Sweden this fall during the European Tour. I can't wait until next spring! Christoffer _________________________________________________________________ Join the world's largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 09:28:28 EDT From: Mommysews4us@aol.com Subject: Re: ticket experience << can anyone comment on their experience the last tour- did you get tickets on the phone line, at a ticket locale, or internet and which seemed to yield the better seats? >> Sure. Last tour I called in...didnt get through on line and missed the first listing of shows. Then an aditional show/s (dont recall) was added for Boston. I called, got through and got 6th row!!! Way awesome...On the phone, I asked the person..."can you do any better that those?" because i was thinking 6th row way on the side or balcony or whatever..and she said 'ma'am, these are 6th row to the stage" Dream come true...my best tickets yet. Never had been this close..always in the cheap seats though I paid just as much as everyone else...(not fair, either!) I also went the last day for the tour all by my onsies...was a liberating experience. My husband refused to go and didnt think I'd get a very good seat..compared to 6th row, he was right! Anyway,for the last show in Boston, bought a ticket from some bozo for face value and had really awful seats. I have waited in line the day of the show from early in the day. I did get tickets this way as we are told, bruce always 'drops' tickets for his true fans waiting the day of the show. I had a great seat.I was #50 inline (kept a list for fairness) and still a bunch of others had gotten in behind me. Dont recall the seat I got because we rushed in. It was after the music had already started ...floor seats about midway back in a really small place (lowell, Ma). This was a *fun* experience! I'll do this again if I dont get a ticket this time. I enjoyed standing with other fans. I would LOVE to hear others experience! Specifically if you come up empty handed with tickets. I found it very difficult to find a ticket the day of the show from someone selling them, though i know there were tons. I think i wasnt loud enough with my 'need a tix' . Love to hear from other Boston fans... Tabatha mommysews4us#aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 15:07:10 -0400 From: "John Moye" Subject: Songs I want to Hear In addition to the bulk of his new material, which I am sure we will hear, these are the songs I am hoping to hear Bruce play during the upcoming Fall tour: Incident on 57th Street (He performed it solo a couple times in Winter of 01-02; it's time for the full band treatment) Rosalita (It's time to bring it back; she wants to come out tonight) Darlington County (Notwithstanding the reference to the World Trade Center--(which might actually induce a bit of nostalgia in listeners rather than cause offense)-- this is a rocker, a total crowd pleaser, and it's gotta be played for the folks of "New York City...") Lost in the Flood (Thunderous on the last tour, and all about the chaos of war-- apropos of the times) Born in the U.S.A. (Acoustic, apocalyptic blues version) (See above; Both pro-U.S. and tremendously skeptical at the same time-- perfect for the times) Independence Day (see above) Back in Your Arms Again (sad, lovely, a farewell love ballad-- given new weight post-9-11) Detriot Medley (Because sometimes you just wanna dance and let it all hang out) Atlantic City (no reason, but just because I love it) Throw in the ones we know he loves to play, like Youngstown, Murder, Inc., Born To Run, Thunder Road, Land of Hope and Dreams and If I should Fall Behind, and I'd say we have ourselves a good idea of his standard "setlist." ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 22:25:58 +0000 From: "Benj Moore" Subject: Re: Bandwagons '84/'02 Just wanted to say that good Doc makes a great point and very much practices what he is preaches. He took me in and showed me the way and I have been fortunate enough to be able to turn on my great friends. It just took a little guideance in the right direction. Thanks Doc, ~Benj Trading List: http://www.geocities.com/lbl_music/musictradingpage.html http://www.benjmoore.com/list.htm Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 04:13:36 -0500 From: pfischer Subject: Bandwagons '84/'02 Hi all. Might as well get this said in advance: If the new CD is as good as some say, really resonates with post 9/11 America, and becomes a mainstream sales success, we're gonna have a whole new "bandwagon" of fans to cope with. A very good point was made that BITUSA was nearly twenty years ago, and many of those fans are still "with it" and "get it." However, as people new(er) to Bruce's music popped up in this "community" they haven't always been welcomed warmly. Think of them as just waking up and needing some time to reach the full potential of their awareness. Be accepting of them-- they're clearly seeking something more than they've already got if they get HERE. When you catch on to an artist well after their career has begun, it takes time to work one's way backward through the catalog to see how she/he got to be where they are. Let's try to be tolerant of new arrivals and assist in their discovery of and education about the nearly thirty year experience of Bruce and his music. There's going to be a healing message for America on The Rising, that "The People" could surely benefit from in these times, but it remains to be seen how widely it spreads. It takes pretty predictable, simple musical forms to spread songs widely via radio these days. If the music fits the slot of a format or two, the message gets out more broadly. What "The People" make of the message, should they get to hear it that way, is largely up to them. When people arrive here with a less than fully formed sense of "the message," they should not be ridiculed or flamed for a lack of depth. They should be encouraged to find more than they already have by following the discussions here and joining in when they have a question or something to say. That we way become part of the healing process too. That's one of the true functions of community. Peace. - - -PDF Paul D. ("Docrock") Fischer- Assoc. Prof.- Dept. of Recording Industry- Middle Tennessee State U. President IASPM-US, United States branch, Int'l Ass'n for the Study of Popular Music "There are only two things in life, but I forget what they are." -John Hiatt _________________________________________________________________ Join the world's largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ End of LuckyTown Digest V9 #33 ****************************** ********************************************************************* ** LuckyTown WWW URL ** The LuckyTown FAQ, back issues, web-based subscription/unsubscription, and many other things can be found on the LuckyTown WWW Page: http://www.luckytown.org ** LuckyTown mailing list addresses ** You can send email to go into the next LuckyTown Digest to: luckytown@luckytown.org You can send email to go into the next LuckyTown-Ads Digest to: luckytown-ads@luckytown.org Any questions for the list admin should be emailed to: owner-luckytown@luckytown.org To unsubscribe, send email to majordomo@luckytown.org with message body: unsubscribe luckytown-digest To get further information on how to subscribe/unsubscribe/change your subscription address, as well as the other available commands, send email to majordomo@luckytown.org with message body: help ********************************************************************* The contents of this digest are not necessarily approved by the list admin.