From: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org (LuckyTown Digest) To: luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Subject: LuckyTown Digest V9 #79 Reply-To: luckytown@luckytown.org Sender: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Errors-To: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Precedence: bulk LuckyTown Digest Wednesday, August 28 2002 Volume 09 : Number 079 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: Bruce-California connection ["M. Conens" ] Phoenix show notes [Eric Johnson ] more Phoenix show notes ["Eric Johnson"] Re: LuckyTown Digest V9 #75 [DuoStudio@aol.com] 18 Years and Hysterical Blindness ["Paul Feldman" ] The sound of The Rising [JZellers@dhhs.state.nh.us] RE: LuckyTown Digest V9 #76 ["Chris Carry" ] St. Paul Pioneer Press Editorial ["Bob Tracy" ] LA Rocks ["Mark Brogger" ] FREE Springsteen Fantasy Football!!! [RCM3535@aol.com] BEHIND THE SCENES - The 'Today' Show ["Rich Kortz" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2002 17:31:38 -0700 From: "M. Conens" Subject: Bruce-California connection http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/entertainment/3939141.htm On the eve of the San Jose show, this article in the Contra Costa Times chronicles the Bruce-California connection. I never realized it was so deep. The article also goes into great detail about Steel Mill's premiere in California. Very interesting. and yes, Kurt Loder is a brown-noser ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 07:03:51 -0700 From: Eric Johnson Subject: Phoenix show notes The Phoenix setlist was the same as the Tacoma show, Thunder Road played in the main set, and we got the first encore set of DitD, Ramrod, and BtR. Wow, that first encore set simply rocked! Bruce had a goofy grin on his face all through DitD, my wife commented that "he looks like he's having a lot of fun", it was nice to have him just let loose for a few songs, such a contrast to the main set. I had tried to avoid looking at previous show's setlists, but inevitably saw saw a few here and there, but even without the element of (complete) surprise, the show was almost a complete knockout. The new songs fit with the Darkness-era songs very well I thought. It wasn't until Bobby Jean was played that I realized that up until then, the only non-Rising songs had come from Darkness. Bobby Jean seemed to bring the energy level (of the audience) down a bit, though maybe that was just where I was sitting (upper level, corner of away from stage right). Our section stood/danced for the the encores, and that was about it (except for one or two "dance/flail arms to everything" types). Sound quality was decent (especially for America West Arena) but there seemed to be some distortion of vocals early on. Not sure if we got used to it, or if it was corrected, but didn't notice it later on, other than during the band intro's when Bruce was shouting more than singing. Overall, a great show. Most likely, it's the only show of the tour I'll see, unless he returns to Phoenix on another leg, so I consider myself fortunate to have seen the "new" encore set, what a blast. Here's a question: How did security keep people in the back area of the floor from getting closer? From our seats, we couldn't see a fence or physical barrier, just ~10 security guys along the line. The floor looked to be about 2/3 of what it could theoretically hold, I'm guessing it was undersold on purpose for safety reasons? Seating-wise, there were a few empties scattered here and there. The crowd was very sparse until ~8 PM, even with a (listed) 7:30 start time. My wife's only complaint of the night was the late start (at 8:25), as she had to get up at 5 AM today. But, it was her birthday, her name is Wendy, so she was very happy when "her" song (BtR) was played, I promised her 5 years ago that I'd "guard her dreams and visions" :) Eric ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 11:30:49 -0400 From: "Eric Johnson" Subject: more Phoenix show notes Forgot to mention, during Empty Sky, I didn't hear anyone cheer/shout at the "eye for an eye" line, that was nice. Also, anyone know what kind of instrument Nils was playing during Worlds Apart? It almost looked like a banjo (small round body) but the neck seemed too long, and I didn't see a tuning peg mid-neck like a banjo would have. An electric sitar of some sort or ? Eric ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Aug 2002 17:13:14 EDT From: DuoStudio@aol.com Subject: Re: LuckyTown Digest V9 #75 In a message dated 8/24/02 12:39:59 PM, owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org writes: << Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 09:02:04 -0400 From: Dave Marsh Subject: Gore tickets I hate Al and Tipper Gore 100x time as much as Arlen Schumer hates Bruce Springsteen's albums. >> Geez, to be the umpteenth person to quote Mr. Dangerfield: "I get no respect!" What ever did I do to deserve Dave Marsh's "wrath"? Is it because ever since BACKSTREETS magazine asked me a few years ago to write those two "Top Ten Outtakes" articles (for the DARKNESS and RIVER eras), that not only am I known as "the guy who loves Bruce's outtakes," but because I do, conversely, I must also hate Bruce's albums? (I guess my review of TRACKS for Backstreets, in which I trashed most of what he put on for what he left off, didn't win me any converts either! I was told many readers cancelled their subscriptions! I must've done something right! :) While it's true that in those two articles I stated my dislike for THE RIVER (because of the contrast between what in my opinion is a padded double album of standard material to its abundance of great outtakes), and my preference for DARKNESS live over DARKNESS studio (I do happen to think DARKNESS is a great-to-brilliant album; I just happen to love listening to its live versions more, agreeing with Bruce himself that on the album, Bruce "oversang" and the band "underplayed"; they certainly found their balance live), that does not necessarily mean I "hate" Bruce's albums. On the contrary--I absolutely love Bruce's first 3 studio albums; while I might agree with the recent post by Penn Jillette that Bruce's 2nd album might be his best, I have gone on record as claiming BORN TO RUN to be the best rock 'n' roll album of all time (and the title track the greatest song of all time, agreeing with a British poll of music journalists in the mid-90's). And while we're on record, I think NEBRASKA is an acoustic masterpiece, BITUSA is a severely flawed record, next to THE RIVER in my distaste for its released material over its surfeit of quality outtakes (though I never got to write my "Top Ten BITUSA Outtakes," I'll take Drop Down & Cover Me, My Love Won't Let You Down, None But The Brave, the original version of Janey Don't You Lose Heart, Cynthia and Murder Incorporated over most of what's on the released album), the less said about the LIVE boxed set the better (choosing to only release material he had 24-track recordings of was a gross dismissal of his far-superior bounty of pre-1980 soundboard-quality live recordings), and TUNNEL was his last great album until THE RISING (HUMAN TOUCH and LUCKYTOWN, like THE RIVER, would've made a great single album, and I'm sorry to say GHOST OF TOM JOAD makes NEBRASKA look like BORN TO RUN)! So there you have it: my mini-reviews of Bruce's studio albums! And I'm glad Mr. Marsh gave me the opportunity to get that off my chest! Soon to come: my much-delayed, full-length RISING studio/live review! --Arlen Schumer ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 10:48:19 -0400 From: "Paul Feldman" Subject: 18 Years and Hysterical Blindness Re the following post in LTD #75: > Hello fellow luckytowners, I'm hoping someone can clear something up for me. > Everyone whos interviewed Bruce about the Rising has referred to the new > album being the first recorded with the E-street Band in 18 years, yet the > credits on the Tunnel Of love album state Bruce & the E-Street band??? Can > anyone clarify for me. > Thanks, Rich I'm surprised no one else has brought this up yet. This is the part of the hype of the new album that has ticked me off. The truth is that the credits of Tunnel of Love list the members of "The E Street Band", and the only people who accompanied Bruce on that album were members of that band. So, while the full band was not playing on most of the tracks, at the time of release it appears that Bruce thought that this was an E Street Band record. Anything to the contrary now is just hype. Speaking of Tunnel of Love, folks might want to catch the replay of "Hysterical Blindness" on HBO. This is an original movie with Uma Thurman, and is a good vignette of working class Bayonne New Jersey in the late 1980s (though I didnt like the ending). The first and last tune on the soundtrack is Tunnel of Love. Paul [text/html attachment deleted] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 09:47:57 -0400 From: JZellers@dhhs.state.nh.us Subject: The sound of The Rising In response to "danv" regarding the sound of the album: I hear some shrillness too. I don't think it's any more than what I hear on most rock albums, though - or on previous Springsteen albums. I actually think it's pretty minor, although there are places where it bothers me a bit more than others (e.g. on the song "The Rising", esp. near the end). In general, I like the sound of the album relative to others by Bruce. It has some "real" bass, for one thing, something that has been missing for the most part, other than Tom Joad. The "production" of the album is a different issue than the sound quality, although there is clearly a relationship. My personal opinion is that the production (and therefore the *kind* of sound) is the way Bruce wanted it. Yes, the drums do at times sound quite different; but I think this is done for effect (and sometimes it's a result of using a drum machine). I can't say that I've heard a kick drum sounding like someone slapping a piece of meat, though. I also don't hear the obnoxious high level of the hi-hat. As for Clarence and the guitars, I think - again - the mix is as Bruce wants it. I like the sound and production a great deal. For example, the use of strings and back up voices (especially the females) lends a different and more soulful feel to many of the songs, in my opinion. And I love being able to hear the nuances of Bruce's voice throughout the album. My nitpics are: 1) wishing "Empty Sky" had been done acoustically without the drums and with Patty harmonizing 2) that the piano at the end of "My City of Ruins" continued a little longer (does anyone else find this "jarring"?!) and 3) that the organ/keyboards at the end of "You're Missing" were more fleshed out and longer. My biggest disappointment is sometimes with the dynamics of the album, where I find too often that compression has taken it's toll. This is, of course, true of much rock music. I find it even more of a shame with Bruce's music, though, as he often uses dynamic loudness variations in his music very effectively. Sorry you are disappointed in the sound. If you haven't done this already, maybe you would have some different insights into the production and sound by listening to the CD on other systems. John p.s. I can't help you with wanting to hear more guitar, I guess. Check out "Worlds Apart", though. There's some great guitar on that song, including some great interplay. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2002 14:10:06 +0100 From: "Chris Carry" Subject: RE: LuckyTown Digest V9 #76 ......wow.......just happened to have wandered from my Irish shores to the far reaches of outer Washington State to link up with the tour in Tacoma, a rare combination of fortuitous work requirements and luck, but particularly given that 7 nights in Europe will mean tickets of gold dust proportions. I bought my ticket the day BEFORE the gig from TM and ended up with the best seat I've EVER had at a Bruce gig, the last seat beside the stage, 2nd row, unbelievable! Firstly, don't listen to any of the negative vibes doing the rounds on these pages over the past couple of weeks. This show was outstanding. We also had a "debut" of a Ramones like version of "Dancing In The Dark" which rocked the house, and was followed with "Ramrod" (incl some "bosstime") which had the place thumping. The new songs are superb, the harmonies are incredible, the playing tight but fun (Bruce's "robotic" dance raising a laugh or two). Bruce was in great form, truly. A wonderful experience. During "Ramrod" Bruce spots little Jesse standing beside the stage and waves out at her with a big smile, and she's waving back to Daddy...a lovely moment that I guess only folks in my section got to see. Regards to the gals sitting in the only row in front of me who had been to Vegas, Portland and were planning for California, well done! I heard about a guy from Newfoundland following the tour by bus....living the dream my friend, living the dream. Don't miss any opportunity to chase tickets for this. Advertising for the gigs seems to be minimal which kinda looks like it's selling tickets by word of mouth for this leg which means the fans are getting accommodated. Heading back to Ireland tomorrow, a happy, happy man Chris In Ireland (but temporarily in Seattle) Kells, Co Meath in particular..... ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Aug 2002 14:57:02 -0500 From: "Bob Tracy" Subject: St. Paul Pioneer Press Editorial I'm always intrigued when pop culture makes it to the editorial page. This one appeared August 23rd in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, a paper that has taken a disturbingly conservative slant through the past ten years. It was nice to know that even they are starting to back off of the hyper-patriotism that has blocked our country's abilities to sort through what happened last September. Enjoy. . . TO THE POINT: Springsteen's music helps us rise from the rubble GLENDA HOLSTE Editorial Writer The practicing musician at our house doesn't like Bruce Springsteen, so "The Rising'' hasn't made it to the top of the stack by the CD player. It's not that the old rockers are all rejected, or that the angst of Sept. 11 makes for a musical turnoff. Listening to "The Concert for New York City" inspired admiration for Billy Joel and Elton John, even sending the guitarist back to our piano after years of disinterest. For most of the rest of the audience in the pop music universe, "The Rising'' sorts through the rubble and carries us forward from Sept. 11 without star-spangling. In this celebrated album by the troubadour of Everyman in blue jeans, our music is growing into the new skin of America. Quite beyond the hype that propels such an album on the commercial charts stands the genius of "The Rising.'' Its songs capture the costs, swagger through the pain. They spread the prayers of the survivors with perfect pitch for 2002. "The Rising'' lets us break free from the anthems of other risings, to sort a bit further through the one in which we have lived both acutely and chronically in the past 11 months. Until now, there wasn't musical language. Oh, there was music. All the arts have given us vision and voice to process the shock, the anger, the endurance, the loss and the fear. Enormity and proximity have aided the flow of art to meet life. When New York was hit, some of the greatest photographers in the world were there to record the day and the days after. The capacity to tell the stories with words springs from a rich concentration of authors and journalists in Washington and New York. And in the band shells and concert halls these long months, we have sung together, heard the rockers do benefits for survivors, gathered for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. We have listened to re-released albums and stood with more than perfunctory attention for the National Anthem at ballgames. The music has helped us come together and then be able to separate in order to act. It has helped us pray and mobilize, deploy our troops and bury our dead. The music has let us cry without embarrassment and to take in the majesty of simple things. The music to meet these longings has, until now, mostly come from history. "The Rising'' has none of Copland's elegance, of Sousa's stirring order. None of its songs keen "Amazing Grace" from the funeral piper. The music here is not Kate Smith's "God Bless America,'' or Billy Joel's "A New York State of Mind.'' The new Springsteen ballads might not entirely move the Greatest Generation or pull in all the young folks who had never heard of "Born in the USA." But "The Rising'' gives us musical language to reconsider mortality in the world we now occupy. That's a gift worth accepting with thanks. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Write Holste at gholste@pioneerpress.com or at the Pioneer Press, 345 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55101. [text/html attachment deleted] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 Aug 2002 19:17:13 -0400 From: "Mark Brogger" Subject: LA Rocks One of the best Bruce shows I've seen in terms of energy, focus, sound quality, vocal performance. It was a great show and one that will stand out from the rest. If Bruce's reputation is built on conveying a great deal of raw emotion in his concerts, then you'd be hard pressed to find any moment more emotional than "Empty Sky" and "You're Missing". The woman next to me was practically sobbing. Bruce is signing better than the last tour. The sound quality is far superior to the shows I saw on the reunion tour. "Lonesome Day" really got things going and it didn't stop. "Dancin in the Dark" in the new rockin arrangement that loses the synth totally works. My only gripe would be that "Countin on a Miracle" doesn't quite work. The soft accoustic intro gets everyone back in their seats and when the full band kicks in people stay seated. Loved "Ramrod" and "BITUSA". Also "American Skin" was a wonderful song to include amongst the Rising songs because it reminds us that we have plenty of problems here at home to take of. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 16:12:36 -0400 From: RCM3535@aol.com Subject: FREE Springsteen Fantasy Football!!! I started two Fantasy Football Leagues on ESPN.com. It's FREE all you need to do is goto the links below. When you click on the first link (This league is for creating a team of NFL players who's weekly stats will be added up in five positions) it ask you to join a league search for E Street Nation Rising. For the second link the league name is Part Man Part Monkey this is for the weekly game spread(kind of like what most office's have and very simple). The password for both leagues is Rising. This is a private group but we will compete against others for national rankings and if your good you could win prizes from ESPN. You can e-mail this link to any of your football/Bruce fans. I will try to come up with a prize for the person who wins the season who is a Bruce fan. If you have any problems e-mail me. I would like to fill it up (50) before the season starts. First League (Create A Team) http://games.espn.go.com/gridiron/frontpage Second league (Weekly Game Winners) http://games.espn.go.com/pigskin/frontpage ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 13:10:14 -0400 From: "Rich Kortz" Subject: BEHIND THE SCENES - The 'Today' Show BEHIND THE SCENES - The 'Today' Show By Rich Kortz - -------------------------- THE SCENE - Rumson, NJ, July 30th, 4:30 AM. Patti attempts to roust Bruce out of bed to prepare for the band's 'Today' show appearance later that morning. - -------------------------- Patti (nudging Bruce): Rise and shine, Scooter... c'mon, baby... let's go. Bruce (half asleep and dreaming): On the edge of the bed yewww slip off yerrr... Patti: (nudging Bruce again): Baby.... Bruce (still dreaming): Yer, uhhh... bittersweet taaaaste on my... Patti: Let's GO, baby. Bruce (still dreaming): C'mon, Katie, let me dooo ya righhh... Patti: BRUCE FREDERICK JOSEPH SPRINGSTEEN!! Bruce: Uhhhhh.... whuuuu... huhhh? Patti: Up 'n' at 'em. Let's go. Bruce (groaning): Damn... what's... what's goin' on? Patti: We've got the 'Today' show this morning, remember? Rise and shine. Bruce (eyes closed and grinning): Seems like... seems like I'm already risin'... in some fashion, if ya know what I mean. Patti: Baby... that is SO played. Bruce: Can't ya crawl back in for, like, ten more minutes? Patti: No. They need us there by 6:30 the latest. Bruce: Damn... I ain't had ta get up this early since, like... since, like... St. Rose. Patti: You're probably right about that. Bruce: I remember, right... like, every mornin' Maw would be callin' us ta come down for Froot Loops, right? And we'd get down inta the kitchen and Maw would have the rock'n'roll goin' on the radio, right? And, like, pop, he'd be out there lyin' on his back under the car. Patti: Your poor father. Sounds like that car never did cooperate with him. Bruce: Huh? Naw... naw... the car was fine... the car was fine. Pop just didn't like Froot Loops OR rock'n'roll. Where else was he gonna go? Patti: Well, I'm getting in the shower. And I'm assuming you WON'T be. Bruce: Hey... it ain't Sunday. I ain't showerin' for nobody today. Patti: What a suprise. Katie Couric will smell you coming a mile away. Bruce (after a reluctant pause): Ya know... maybe I WILL take a quick shower. Want me ta hop in with ya? The fuuuuuuse is burrrrrning..... Patti: NO. And WHAT were you just dreaming about, anyway? Bruce: Huh? Patti (glaring at Bruce): You KNOW what I'm talking about, mister. Bruce: Uhhhhhhh..... so.... uhhhh... think maybe we'll have time for Froot Loops? Patti: No. We'll grab some breakfast burritos on the way. Bruce (swinging out of bed): COOL! That works for me. Hey... what should I be wearin' ta this gig? Patti: What? Bruce: What're people wearin' this early in the mornin' these days? Patti: Just put on your poor man's shirt. I washed it for you yesterday. Wear that. Bruce: Ya sure? Even though I'm, like, a rich man 'n' all? Patti: Yes. Even though you're a rich man. Bruce: Whatever... whatever... hey, ya think all them other clown's are gonna be able ta get up this early? Patti: I think they'll manage. Bruce: Don't be too sure... don't be too sure... Stevie ain't never seen dawn in his whole life. He don't even know there IS a dawn. - ---------------------- Two hours later, backstage with the band: - ---------------------- Bruce: Okay, you guys... we're on in five. Let's do a good show. Let's do it for Katie. You guys all ready?? Nils: You bet, Boss! Danny: Sure thing, man. Roy: Unquestionably! Garry: We're with you, man. Steve: Let's get UNDERGROUND on their mainstream asses! Max: Ready when you are, Boss! Bruce: Big Man, you ready?? Steve (nudging Bruce): Uhhh, Boss... Bruce: Big Man, you been... you been practicin' real hard now? Steve: Boss... Bruce: Hey, Big Man.... what's the hell's the matter with you? You gotta speak when yer spoken to. It's in yer contract. Steve: Boss... Bruce: You ain't lookin' so good, C. What happened ta the diet, man? Steve: Boss.... that's Al Roker. Bruce: Huh?? Steve: We just called Clarence. The dude overslept. His ass is still in bed. *There's an awkward silence backstage* Bruce (stewing): That bum. THAT FRIGGIN' BUM. I just KNEW one'a you clowns was gonna screw this whole morning thing up. Steve: He DID say he'd tape the show if we wanted him to. Bruce (after a long pause): Hey Al... you up for this? Just fake it... we'll cover ya. All them people out there in TV land won't know the damn difference. Al (shrugging his shoulders): Sure thing, Boss. Bruce: Somebody get this guy a saxaphone. The Big Man is IN THE HOUSE!! The End Need an antidote to the 'Rising' publicity blitz? "BEHIND THE SCENES WITH BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - The Parody Collection" is available through 'Backstreets,' 'The Ties That Bind,' 'Bosszine,' and direct from the author at kortzrg@att.net OR www.behindthescenescentral.com [text/html attachment deleted] ------------------------------ End of LuckyTown Digest V9 #79 ****************************** ********************************************************************* ** 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.