From: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org (LuckyTown Digest) To: luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Subject: LuckyTown Digest V9 #64 Reply-To: luckytown@luckytown.org Sender: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Errors-To: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Precedence: bulk LuckyTown Digest Sunday, August 11 2002 Volume 09 : Number 064 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: Responses to previous posts [Don Weisman ] 8/7/02 show [Lauren Onkey ] From FoxNews Story: "Shows Will Not Be Marathons ... Springsteen wants to keep it concise." [Barry Kaplovitz ] Morning After [cltelazo@carolina.rr.com] And then I read the Times [cltelazo@carolina.rr.com] Does Old 97 listen to early Bruce? [Frank Hankey ] Federici performing in Raritan Township next month. [Jacky Abromitis ] Sam Cooke and "Mary's Place" [Enders@aol.com] Musicians On Call Needs Your Help [michael.zorek@musiciansoncall.org]] Re: August 7th Opening night blues [Jim Genuardi ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 20:58:15 -1000 From: Don Weisman Subject: Responses to previous posts Thought I'd comment on several of the previous digest posts. Concerning the old songs that Bruce selected to play at opening night seeming "jarring" in contrast to the new songs, perhaps it isn't the sound that Bruce is trying to blend, but the messages. American Skin in a way addresses the same problems that Worlds Apart does. The problems that exist between the US and the Middle East also exist here in the US among our own ethnic groups. Having Countin' On A Miracle lead into American Skin may be Bruce's way of giving that song multiple interpretations and pleading for us to get along better. Perhaps having Two Hearts follow Worlds Apart is a way of saying that, like the characters in Worlds Apart, we must find a way to live harmoniously to find happiness. Badlands is natural lead-in to Mary's Place. "Badlands, you've got to live it everyday, let the broken heart stand as the price you've got to pay. Keep livin' 'till its understood and these Badlands start treatin' you good." The character in that song is struggling defiently to find a reason to push on in life despite being beaten down by his place in society. In Mary's Place, the character is searching for a reason or a way to continue on in life while faced with overwhelming grief. It seems to me that Bruce is intentionally putting his old songs into a different context to bring new life to them. As for a comment about him performing without a musical instrument, he did that during the Tunnel of Love tour during the song "Fire." He performed only with the microphone stand (rather suggestively) while Nils accompanied him on acoustic guitar. As for him asking for quiet, you need go back no futher than the Ghost of Tom Joad tour for a reference to that occurring, especially when he played NJ. I grew up in NJ and used to see Bruce perform at every chance. However, I've come to appreciate his shows away from his home state because of the difference in the fans. NJ still draws the long-time, diehard fans, who have a love for his music that is ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 09 Aug 2002 09:19:46 -0700 From: Lauren Onkey Subject: 8/7/02 show In LTD #60, John Moye wrote: "But then comes an acoustic "Empty Sky" in which Bruce encourages people to be seated and to hold all applause until the end (what is this, a graduation? I thought we were watching Springsteen)." I don't get why people are surprised when Bruce asks for quiet during his shows. He's done this off and on since THE RIVER tour--I remember hearing him asking for quiet before "Independence Day" in the summer of '81. And he's done it many times since. I thought it was a totally appropriate moment to do it on Wednesday night--and it worked. The crowd was pretty attentive for new & slow songs as a result. Lauren ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2002 14:56:13 -0500 From: Barry Kaplovitz Subject: From FoxNews Story: "Shows Will Not Be Marathons ... Springsteen wants to keep it concise." Fox News Channel Thursday, August 08, 2002 Al and Tipper Wouldn't Pony Up for the Boss By Roger Friedman Al & Tipper Wouldn't Pony Up for the Boss Tickets to Bruce Springsteen's tour are pretty hot stuff. They're hard to get, but they're not too expensive at $77 $ compared to recent Paul McCartney and Prince shows. But not everyone wants to pay for them. Take, for example, former Vice President Al Gore and his lovely wife, Tipper. Sources close to them and to Springsteen tell me Tipper tried to get free tickets to the Springsteen show for the entire Gore staff. When that didn't work, and she was told even paid admission would be hard to come by, the ex-second lady persisted. "They wound up being offered four," says my source. "But when they were asked to pay $75 apiece, they said forget it. And you know, that's why Gore isn't president, in a nutshell." Meanwhile, after the Springsteen show at the Continental Airlines Arena last night, Oscar-nominated actress Elizabeth Shue was one of many people who stuck around and tried to go backstage to congratulate Bruce on a job well done. But Shue was shoo-ed away $ as were most of the others who milled around, including a group of polo shirt-and-khaki-wearing yuppie types. They sported laminates around their necks, but why they wanted to see Springsteen is a mystery. During most of the show they spent their time going back and forth to the beer carts in the lobby. When Springsteen sang his new songs, they belched out, "'Thunder Road,' man! 'Play Thunder Road!'" Springsteen Recalls Sept. 11, But Without False Sentiment The opening night of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's 46-city tour was unique for many reasons. The main one, I think, is that Springsteen, after issuing a masterful new album of songs celebrating and mourning firefighters and others who died on Sept. 11, threw the audience a curve ball. Rather than let this album be misinterpreted $ as Born in the USA was by many $ Springsteen pulled off a stunning performance of his controversial song "American Skin (41 Shots)." It was one of the most brilliant and courageous things I have ever seen executed by a rock star. After all, "American Skin" is a clear reference to the Amadou Diallo shooting, when four New York Police Department officers fired 41 shots at a man in the doorway of his apartment building. Many people probably thought that, because Springsteen had shown such empathy to the Sept. 11 heroes and victims, "American Skin" was forgotten or shelved forever. The fact Springsteen is including it in these shows $ when he could choose from dozens of other more popular, lighter-weight songs $ speaks volumes for him. Here, was Springsteen performing to a crowd of "his people": the local New Jerseyans who are his constituency. But there was a disconnect. This crowd wanted to hear "Born to Run" and "Thunder Road" (see above), to wave their clenched fists in the air and chant "Born in the USA." But Springsteen the artist is working in a different medium right now. His album, The Rising, is full of the kind of poetry that fueled his first two recordings. The songs are precise and heartbreaking $ not about having a kegger and throwing up, or being nostalgic for high school days. The Rising addresses something real and tragic that has happened. This seemed to throw the crowd in many ways. Only during "Waiting on a Sunny Day," an up-tempo pop song, did the audience at the Continental Arena embrace the new material. In fact, as they sang along, Springsteen twice said, "I'm impressed! This is the first time!" In fact, that moment gave hope that the crowd had really listened to The Rising But during the album's three key numbers $ the exquisite "You're Missing," "Empty Sky" and "Into the Fire" $ an aerial view of the arena would have shown a room quickly balding of people. Even in the so-called "VIP" area, invited guests (I could only think of calling them "youts," from My Cousin Vinny) talked loudly and ate like they had been on a desert isle. It was only when Springsteen finally did perform "Born to Run" and "Glory Days" with the lights up that we could all see the party atmosphere for Bruce, circa-1984, take hold. Compared to the somber, mature material of "The Rising," it felt like schizophrenia had settled into the room. Springsteen may have sensed it, too. When it came time to sing "Born in the USA," he slowed it down and seemed to make it deliberately morose and angry. The lighting even changed, starting in near darkness and never lightening up enough to turn the song into a cheer of any kind. The show ended not with a hit, or a populist rouser, but two new Springsteen classics: "My City in Ruins" and "Land of Hopes and Dreams." Preceding the former song, Springsteen spoke first about Asbury Park, New Jersey $ how it was changing and improving, and mentioned charities that were present to collect money that night which helped the poor and the hungry. (They were largely ignored by the crowd.) "My City in Ruins" had been written originally for Asbury Park, but was subsequently adapted to the Sept. 11 tragedies. It met, as "American Skin" did, with a muted response. How completely bizarre. In the 1970s, if Paul Simon had performed something similar, it would have been revered and given the Grammy for Best Song. Here it was greeted with apathy. And while the audience may have been sub-par, Springsteen and the E Street Band were spectacular on every level. Max Weinberg is driving the band behind a wall of powerful drums. Steve van Zandt's and Nils Lofgren's work gives Bruce more depth and texture. Clarence Clemons' saxophone is still the joyful noise of a trademark, like Stevie Wonder's harmonica. The women, Patti Scialfa and Soozie Tyrell, do the important embroidery, while Garry Tallent, Roy Bittan and Danny Federici are like the Scotty, Zulu and Chekhov of the Starship Enterprise: the finely-tuned machine doesn't work without them. Shows Will Not Be Marathons For Springsteen fanatics, there are some interesting tidbits about opening night. Nearly all of The Rising was performed, while only a few old songs were mixed in before the encores. Four of those songs $ "Badlands," "Promised Land," "Prove it All Night" and "Darkness on the Edge of Town" $ come from one album, named for the latter song and released in 1978. There's one clunker $ "Two Hearts" $ which should be removed and never heard again. And while the set will undoubtedly change a bit, it will not lengthen. Both Lofgren and Tallent told me before the show that Springsteen wants to keep it concise. None of those famous four-hour long shows from years past. This one runs a tidy two hours and fifteen minutes, give or take. And what are the band's favorite songs from the new album? Tallent said, "'Waitin' on a Sunny Day,' because it just fell into place and it was obvious." Indeed, it could be a hit single. Also: "'Into the Fire,' it's so beautiful." Lofgren likes "The Rising," but also chose "Nothing Man." My own personal favorite is still "You're Missing," which, like "My City of Ruins," should get some kind of award. In the meantime, it will be interesting to see how the Manhattan audience responds next Monday to the Sept. 11 material. My guess is they will take it more seriously and show more appreciation for Springsteen's art. Associated Press. All rights reserved. Copyright 2002 Standard & Poor's Fox News Network, LLC 2002. All rights reserved. Article At: http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,59875,00.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2002 07:09:15 -0700 From: Lauren Onkey Subject: 8/7 comments/clarifications In response to John Leisenring's review of opening night in LTD #63, I just want to clarify a couple of things. He points out that two of the songs in the set were from TRACKS--actually, none of the songs played were from TRACKS. He may be thinking of "Land of Hope and Dreams" and "American Skin," which were both released on LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY. Also, he thinks that the band should get rid of "American Skin" because it was "played on the entire tribute tour." Before the opening show of this tour, "American Skin" had only been played 11 times--in Atlanta on 6/4/00 and on every night of the Madison Square Garden shows that closed the 1999-2000 tour. Bruce fans who weren't at these gigs have never seen the song live. Maybe most of us have seen it on HBO, but not in concert. Lauren ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 11:17:36 GMT From: cltelazo@carolina.rr.com Subject: Morning After I've been reading reviews and comments about The Rising and there was something bothering me about all of them (mine included) that I could not put a finger on until it hit me this morning. The Rising is not so much about 9/11 as it is about 9/12. Gene Lazo ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 11:55:48 GMT From: cltelazo@carolina.rr.com Subject: And then I read the Times http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/08/arts/08BRUC.html I guess that shit about great minds must be true ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2002 22:00:50 -0400 From: Frank Hankey Subject: Does Old 97 listen to early Bruce? Regarding Alan Lyon's question about Mary's Place: I don't know. Maybe Bruce is an Old 97 fanatic. But if Bruce has been ripping anyone off with Mary's Place it is himself. This is something you'd hear from Springsteen in the early / mid 70s. Listen to Tracks - So Young and In Love, Zero and Blind Terry, Seaside Bar Song. And I think it is a conscious choice. The lyric of the song is the flip side of You're Missing, just dealing with loss in a different way. In the Time magazine article they talked Bruce reading all those NYTimes obits that talked about this person being a big Bruce fan, or that another's favorite song was Thunder Road. In Mary's Place their lost one's "favorite record's on the turntable. I drop the needle and pray", it's supposed to be an early 70s Asbury Park rave-up ON VYNIL, which is why this song has that sound. I confess I haven't heard Old 97 (sounds interesting, I'll give it a whirl), but it may be that they are influenced by all that early Bruce / Southside stuff. Shakespeare stole all his plots. [text/html attachment deleted] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2002 17:15:22 -0400 From: Jacky Abromitis Subject: Federici performing in Raritan Township next month. From the local paper of Hunterdon County, the Hunterdon Democrat... http://www.hunterdon-online.com/cgi-bin/news/news3.cgi?news=1 Boss's band member will perform in local benefit 08/08/02 By Emily Vergara A member of Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band will be performing in Raritan Township next month. Danny Federici, who grew up just outside of Flemington on Pennsylvania Avenue Extension in Raritan Township, is the accordionist for the band. Federici was set to start a world-wide tour with Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band last night at Continental Airlines Arena in the Meadowlands. He'll be coming home on Saturday, Sept. 14, for a concert benefiting the Hunterdon Central High School Foundation, at 8 p.m. in the school auditorium. Don't expect to hear Bruce tunes though. The Danny Federici Band has a jazz funk sound with no vocalist. In addition to Federici the band features saxophonist Michael Cates of Middlesex. "The Hunterdon Central Foundation raises money for the school and different events, they asked me to do this," said Federici. "And it was such an honor, that they think that much of me." Bob Benjamin, a Central board member who is organizing the performance, said the foundation gives computers to needy children, sponsors the teacher of the year awards, and computer classes for seniors as well as a number of the high school's events. Benjamin is the president of Flemington Fur Co. Federici attended Central but dropped out in 1969 to pursue a career in music. Although he loves his career "I do regret dropping out," he said. Those who have grown up in this area may remember Federici as the red-headed kid who at the age of 7 performed on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour, winning first prize for his talent as an accordion player. His album, "Danny Federici," includes the song "Flemington," about growing up here. "My mother was a stage mom, she really encouraged me . . . It took me 30 years to make it (an accordion) a popular instrument. I could not get girls playing that thing. That's why I started playing the keyboard, I'm not kidding" said Federici. He's performed with Springsteen since 1969, when they met a club in Asbury Park, where Federici moved after leaving Central. The two have been playing together ever since, performing in two other bands before forming the E-Street Band. In a television interview last week, Springsteen said of Federici: "He's the most natural musician I've ever met." Federici noted that with E-Street, "I'm in the background. In this (Danny Federici Band) I get a chance to see what it's like to be in the front. I have to do a lot of talking . . . This is something completely different." When people come see his band play, "they're really surprised about my abilities. In the E-Street Band there's so many of us that its hard to hear the individual . . . I was classically trained since I was 7. This is what I do. The E-Street Band is fun, but I was trained for this." Tickets for the Central show are $40 and can be purchased at Wald Drugs in Flemington, Sneakers Plus Main Street Haircutters, Higgins Newsstand and Kries Jewelers, all in Flemington, and ShopRite, Angelo's and Commerce Bank, all in Raritan Township. Or order by phone by calling 284-7270 or 284-7105. - -- Jacky Readington Twp. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2002 21:31:20 -0700 From: "Donna Kahwaty" Subject: What is a "real" fan? Whether or not you thought the 8/7 show was the best you've ever seen or needed work, I think all this talk of what a "real" fan is is sickening. This isn't some kind of competition. The greatest fans are not necessarily the ones who think Bruce can do no wrong. I swear some of you would condone wife-beating if you felt like Bruce was under stress (no doubt caused from bad concert reviews) when he did it. Yes, every complaint that has been written can be rationalized that Bruce wants to make this statement, or promote his album, or is old, or whatever. It doesn't change the fact that EVERYONE is entitled to an opinion on a public performance; when somebody goes public, he opens himself up for criticism both positive and negative and is naive if he thinks there isn't going to be any. And a lot of you here are naive if you think that just because somebody has something negative to say that said person is not a "real" fan and should therefore give away all his tickets to someone more worthy, someone who would feel "blessed" to have them. Contrary to what many believe, Bruce is an extraordinary artist and performer, but he is a man; he ain't God. Saying you're disappointed in his concert is not akin to taking the Lord's name in vain, though you'd never know that from the reactions on this list. Finally, I think that all opinions should be welcome, as long as they are not bashing, are submitted respectfully and especially if they are backed up with sound reasoning, as everything I read so far has been. In fact, I think that somebody who can offer sound arguments as to how this or that might have created a better concert experience has spent considerable time thinking about it, used his broad Bruce knowledge base to analyze, and thoughtfully offered it for perusal and discussion, not bashing. Please give yourselves a reality check; you do not need to be Bruce's savior and defend him from all evil. He's a big boy. Who knows? If he were lurking, he might actually get an idea or two. Donna K in NJ (who will not see Bruce until Monday and considers herself a "real" fan even though Bruce actually has songs that I think suck) [text/html attachment deleted] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2002 21:29:03 EDT From: Enders@aol.com Subject: Sam Cooke and "Mary's Place" Thanks to Tanna for the great post about Sam Cooke's influence on the writing of "Mary's Place." Funny, the first thing I noticed when I listened to "Mary's Place" is that one line is a paraphrase of Marah's song, "Why Independent Record Stores Fail": Springsteen: "Your favorite record's on the turntable I drop the needle and pray" Marah: "Little hands all filled with vinyl Sweet contentment in your eyes My heart is skipping beats As I let the needle fall on Sam Cooke and pray" Since both songs are obviously influenced by Sam Cooke, and since Springsteen and Marah have done a lot of playing and recording together lately, this can hardly be a coincidence. It's interesting that Bruce has come to be influenced by Marah, a band of twentysomethings who spent much of their youth idolizing him. Eric Enders ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2002 21:56:39 -0500 From: michael.zorek@musiciansoncall.org] Subject: Musicians On Call Needs Your Help Dear LTD Readers: Musicians On Call needs your help. About Musicians on Call:Musicians on Call (www.musiciansoncall.org) (MOC) was founded in 1999 with the mission of using music to promote and complement the healing process in healthcare facilities. Additionally, Musicians on Call seeks to raise awareness of the beneficial effects of music and entertainment for people in healthcare facilities. To date, MOC has accomplished this through room-to-room hospital performances by both local musicians and national celebrities, weekly music lessons, CD Pharmacies and Project Playback. Among the artists who have supported Musicians on Call through ticket donations and hospital visits are Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Hanson, Def Leppard, Sting, Britney Spears, The Who, Bon Jovi, Levon Helm of The Band, Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, Dave Koz, Barenaked Ladies, David Gray, Peter Frampton, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, to name a few. We will be holding a "Music-A-Thon" at Roseland Ballroom on Saturday, October 5th and are looking for volunteers in all areas. The second Musicians on Call volunteer meeting will be held on Thursday, August 15th at 7:00pm. The meeting will take place at the MOC offices at 216 West 18th Street (b/w 7th and 8th Avenues) - Suite 201B. The phone number is 741-2709. Please RSVP to me, Michael.Zorek@musiciansoncall.org. And please remember, if you know additional people who would like to attend, please forward this to them as well! Thank you! Hope to see you on the 15th! Michael Zorek ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 09 Aug 2002 22:14:01 -0400 From: Jim Genuardi Subject: Re: August 7th Opening night blues I wanted to comment on a particular criticism that John Leisenring posted in LTD #63. He stated: > 2. The show didn't hit a true peak and there were no surprises>>EVERY Bruce > show that I have ever been to has peaks and valleys. Like the great showman > and virtuoso that Bruce is, he knows how to work the crowd into a lather and > then cool them down with slow music. If you look at the setlist, this show > had the possibility of doing that at various stages but it pulled back into > slow songs too quickly leaving the audience with no peak payoff. It is > possible that the band is finally showing its age. > There has been a fair amount of criticism about the pacing of the opener on Weds. night with most of it mirroring John's comment that whenever the show (and the crowd) seemed to build some momentum it was quickly stopped by a quiet or somber new song. John suggests that this may even have something to do with the aging of the members of the band. I have a different thought about this, which of course is just speculation. We all know that Bruce is very deliberate about how he structures his albums and his set lists when touring. That would leave me to believe that Bruce had a reason for putting together the set list the way he has for this tour. My thought is that the way fans experience the concert is meant to reflect the emotional roller coaster that those most affected by the loss of a loved one go through in the days, weeks, months and even years after such a loss. In the days and weeks immediately following such a loss, most people have extended periods of grief and depression which are only occasionally interrupted by feelings of joy and/or a return to normalcy. As people move further from the time of their loss, the periods of happiness and normalcy become more frequent and last longer while the periods of grief and depression are shorter and less frequent. However, the periods of happiness that do occur are usually not as satisfying as they were before the loss of their loved one and we are often snapped out of that happiness simply because we wish we could share it with the person we have lost. Perhaps Bruce wanted to set the show up in a way that our emotions during the show would reflect this same pattern, even to the point that just when everyone is building toward a peak of enjoyment we are quickly brought back down by a somber memory in the next song. Just something for everyone to consider. Jim ------------------------------ End of LuckyTown Digest V9 #64 ****************************** ********************************************************************* ** 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.