Browse 73018 Reviews & Comments (Page 622)

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 Brucefan24 One show, double bill, with The Bruce Springsteen Band opening for headliner Powers Flower (a local musical troupe that performed an adaptation of the rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar). Although billed as the undercard, Springsteen actually closed the show. Powers Flower / The Bruce Springsteen Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 First of two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner David Bromberg. Opening night of a seven-day (14-show) residency at this famous Jazz-heritage club. Although Bruce was the undercard, David Bromberg allowed him to perform about 80 minutes at each show. This show is Bruce's first known appearance in Massachusetts, and encompassed a couple of solo performances followed by seven or eight songs with the band. During his August 14, 1992 show in Worcester, Bruce mentions that he played "Growin' Up" during his stand at Paul's Mall; we have placed the song at this show, but it may have been performed at any of the shows during the stand. David Bromberg / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Mark Judkins Love Spells did not perform because the singer was not 21 and wasn't permitted in the venue. Sharon Van Etten May 14, 2025
 Caleb Williams Sanguisugabogg was there also Cattle Decapitation / Immolation / Sanguisugabogg / Castrator May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 Bruce's first ever appearance in Ohio. One show, triple billing, with Springsteen and the boys opening for Brownsville Station and headliner Sha Na Na. As the gig opener on a three-artist bill, Bruce's performance was approximately one hour. Billed as "a holiday rock festival", Springsteen was incorrectly billed as "Rick Springsteen". The promoter presumably had him confused with Australian pop singer Rick Springfield, who had a U.S. hit that year with "Speak to the Sky". Also a week earlier, when Greetings was released, Rick sang "She called me Bruce", so the mix-ups went both ways. Sha Na Na / brownsville station / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 One early afternoon show for inmates of 'Sing Sing Prison', with Springsteen and the boys the sole act on the bill. This nearly two hour show was held in the Prison Chapel. Apparently Mike Appel organized this as a bit of publicity stunt, and it did indeed attract reporters from Crawdaddy! magazine. A performance at this prison isn't as bizarre as it may seem, as there had been a similar concert on November 22 starring Joan Baez and B.B. King that was filmed and is available on video. Setlist-wise this has to rank (along with February 23, 1974) as the most unique show ever performed by Bruce and the band since it featured nearly all cover material, including a Clarence Clemons vocal rendition of Buddy Miles' "Them Changes". Greetings Tour Sound Manager Albee Tellone has commented that an inmate with a saxophone was invited onstage to play with the band on a blues number in the key of C (possibly "Secret To The Blues"). The inmate was playing a small "C Melody" saxophone tuned to the key of C. It was the only key he could play in, so Bruce accommodated his presence by playing in C. Albee recalled that one of the lines in the tune said, "she had limousine legs" - which brought a cheer from the crowd on inmates. Intriguingly, the line is similar to a lyric in Bruce's early demo "Street Queen". Springsteen made reference to this gig in a 1973 Columbia Records media release. Of the inmate audience he comments: "They're tough dudes. They got nobody to impress at all. It was good that they liked us". Albee received a call from photographer Eric Meola (of Born To Run fame) asking about this show and the inmate with the sax. He was trying to track him down because he had taken a photo of him playing on that same stage with B.B. King and Joan Baez a few months before Springsteen performed there. Meola later told Tellone that the man was located but was uncooperative. Following this show Springsteen and the band made the 90-minute drive to New York City to play two further shows that evening at Kenny's Castaways. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 First of two shows, with Bruce and the boys the sole act on the bill. Opening of a six-night (twelve-show) residency at this famous East Side supper club, which closed in September 2012. This was Springsteen and the band's first extended club residency of the Greetings Tour. Each show was 80-90 minutes in duration and included an opening 'solo' segment featuring two or three songs, followed by a band segment. Albee Tellone believes that the solo segment was developed for the Kenny's Castaways shows, when Bruce hadn't rehearsed enough songs with the band for a long night club engagement. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 Bruce's first ever appearance in Michigan. Bruce and the band perform a free promotional gig (organized by Mike Appel) at the 1972 Detroit Auto Show along with a number of other bands. The exhibition ran from November 18 to 26 and the theme was the circus with numerous clowns at the event. It is possible that Appel was able to get the band a slot due to the soon-to-be-released "Wild Billy's Circus Story". The band play on a temporary riser in a large showroom, as they start their set Danny's amp fails because it is plugged into a 220 volt line rather than the correct 110 volt. The amp literally had smoke pouring out of it and was a total loss. The other amps had to be quickly unplugged to prevent further damage. Albee Tellone recalled that "the amps started to burn up right away when they started the first song. It was a disaster. We were confused and upset. We drove home right away thinking "what the fuck happened?" Federici's amp was a total loss. Bruce's Marshall head was fried too but we took it to get repaired in NJ." Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 One show, double bill, with Bruce and the band opening for headliner Crazy Horse (whose line-up here did not include Danny Whitten or Nils Lofgren). Bruce had previously opened a show for Crazy Horse (see February 12, 1972 listing). Springsteen performed about an 80-minute set at this show held on the York College of Pennsylvania campus, Gymn A.. Albee Tellone comments on the Greasy Lake website: "This was my first gig as roadie for them. By 'them' I mean Bruce and the the band with no name, or the Pre-Street Band as I like to call them. Bare bones stage. Bruce played guitar and piano. Danny played organ, Garry on bass and of course Clarence and Vini doing their thing." Photographs of this show were taken for the college newspaper and the photographer was approached by Mike Appel for copies. These photographs have not, as yet, surfaced. Crazy Horse / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 One (informal) show, with Springsteen (solo) performing during a late afternoon-early evening 'open-mic' Monday at the club. This was the Labor Day holiday and no pre-advertised acts were booked. As fate would have it, resident Greenwich Village folkie David Blue happened to be socializing downstairs at Max's prior to his own gig later in the evening at The Bitter End. In a 1992 interview in Musician magazine, Springsteen seemingly made reference to this specific performance, commenting: "I used to come down to Max's Kansas City and play by myself… David Blue came down one night and as I was walking off stage said, 'Hey man that was great, come with me.' We got in a cab and went downtown to The Bitter End, where I (first) met Jackson Browne." Jackson Browne / David Blue / Bruce Springsteen May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 Springsteen plays some early evening solo acoustic shows during the New York Dolls five night (August 30 - September 3) residency at the club. Bruce was not part of the bill, he played several hours prior to the Dolls show. Springsteen seems to positively confirm his non-advertised appearance(s) at Max's during this week when, in a November 1992 Musician magazine interview with Bill Flanagan, Bruce commented: "I use to come down to Max's Kansas City and play by myself… and then late at night the New York Dolls would play at Max's, they'd play at 2.00am." This five night residency was the Dolls' only one at the club in 1972. It is still not verified if Springsteen played one, some or all of these five nights. Bruce Springsteen May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 Second of two shows, triple bill, with Springsteen (solo) opening for headliner Dave Van Ronk and folk stylist Doris Abrahams. Each of Bruce's shows was limited to about 30 minutes (three to five songs). All together Springsteen performed twelve shows during his stand at Max's Kansas City, with three to five songs played per show (approximately 40 to 60 song performances over the course of the week). Although the setlist details for these shows is not known, it is highly likely that all nine songs from the Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. album were performed. As well as the Greetings LP material (and in addition to "Henry Boy", which is on the video), the other songs likely to have been played during this residency are those known to have been recorded at 914 Sound Studio in Blauvelt, NY for potential inclusion on the debut album. These include "Arabian Nights", "Two Hearts In True Waltz Time", the still uncirculating/unheard song "Let The Words", "Visitation At Fort Horn", "Lady And The Doctor", "Circus Song" and "Song For Orphans". Two other major songs written by Bruce around this time, "Balboa vs. The Earthslayer" and "Calvin Jones & The Thirteenth Apostle", may also have been performed over the course of these shows. Dave Van Ronk / Doris Abrahams / Bruce Springsteen May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 First of two shows, triple bill, with Springsteen (solo) opening for headliner Dave Van Ronk and folk stylist Doris Abrahams. Each of Bruce's shows was limited to about 30 minutes (3 to 5 songs). Dave Van Ronk / Doris Abrahams / Bruce Springsteen May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 HENRY BOY / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? / GROWIN' UP Setlist incomplete and may be inaccurate. First of two shows, triple bill, with Springsteen (solo) opening for headliner Dave Van Ronk and folk stylist Doris Abrahams. Each of Bruce's shows was limited to about thirty minutes (perhaps four or five songs). During his introduction to the song, Bruce explains that he wrote half of the song on a bus, the other half on a train. This is the earliest known performance for "Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?" and the only confirmed "Henry Boy". "Henry Boy" and "Growin' Up" are known from circulating video. "Henry Boy" is the opening number of Bruce's show and "Growin' Up" is the closing number. The show begins with the MC (believed to be Max's Kansas City manager Sam Hood) taking the stage and introducing Bruce prior to "Henry Boy". Following "Growin' Up" Bruce begins to introduce the artist who is to follow him by stating to the crowd "here's a protégée of mine", at which point the video ends before the name of the performer is mentioned. It would seem that Bruce is using the word 'protégée' in its feminine context and that he is referring to Doris Abrahams. In a 1978 interview Bruce also mentions playing the Night Owl and it is likely that it was around this time. Brucebase has placed these audio/video segments under this date but it could be from any of the shows during this residency. Video of "Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?" was first shown to the public at "An Evening with Thom Zimny", an event held at Monmouth University on September 23, 2014. Dave Van Ronk / Doris Abrahams / Bruce Springsteen May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 First of two shows, triple bill, with the bottom-billed Springsteen (solo) opening for headliner Dave Van Ronk and the second-billed Doris Abrahams. Van Ronk's six-night (twelve-show) residency at Max's Kansas City included Bruce's first series of 'official' public performances after signing with Columbia, although there was absolutely no CBS sponsored promotion of the event. The club's earliest promotional material for this residency only mentions Dave Van Ronk and not the two unknown 'understudies'. A later advertisement mentions Van Ronk and Abrahams, but not Springsteen. However, an advertisement from mid-residency mentions Bruce. It is likely that Bruce was a last-minute addition to the billing but performed at all the shows. Bruce's inclusion on the bill may have been arranged by John Hammond, a good friend of Van Ronk. Springsteen has briefly mentioned opening for Van Ronk, with his most well-known comments coming during the 1990 Christic Benefit gigs. Shortly before Van Ronk died he also acknowledged letting Bruce open for him during his 1972 residency at Max's (Van Ronk's only appearances at the club that year). Dave Van Ronk / Doris Abrahams / Bruce Springsteen May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 Bruce Springsteen And The Red Hot Mammas the sole act on the bill. Bruce's backing band is likely to have been David Sancious, Steven Van Zandt, Vini Lopez, and Garry Tallent. The Hot Mammas are believed to have been some of the girls in the The Zoomettes, not the soon-to-be-hired Bruce Springsteen Band vocal duo of Barbara Dinkins and Delores Holmes. This is a key transitional performance in the rapid-fire evolution between Dr. Zoom and the Bruce Springsteen Band. Bruce Springsteen / Hot Mamas May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 The second (and final) performance of Dr. Zoom & The Sonic Boom at the first annual "Ernie the Chickin' Festival", an excuse for an all-day, outdoor party extravaganza featuring several local bands including Sunny Jim and Odin. The show opens with the Bob Dylan-penned "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry", sometimes incorrectly labelled "Group Therapy". Steven Van Zandt can be heard jokingly warning the campus ambulances (who were parked nearby) to get ready as Bruce opens the show with some screeching guitar! It was long thought that this statement was made by Kevin "Bird" Connair, but Albee Tellone has confirmed that Connair was not at this show. "Last Night In Texas" is a rewrite of Sonny Boy Williamson II's "One Way Out"; "Zoom Theme" is a rewrite of Irving Berlin's "Alexander's Ragtime Band". "Lady Of Boston" includes an interpolated section of The Rolling Stones' "One More Try". J.D. Woofer, Tinker West's dog, is present. Although we can never be absolutely certain, it is probably J.D. who can be heard barking during the acoustic "Look Towards the Land". Albee Tellone has recounted that the band tried to get him to roll over during the 'roll over' refrain in "Jambalaya (Roll Over)". It didn't work. Dr. Zoom & The Sonic Boom / Bruce Springsteen / Sunny Jim / Odin May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 One show, triple bill. This is the first of only two performances ever of Dr. Zoom & The Sonic Boom (the other show was outdoors the following day). Undercard acts for this debut show were Sunny Jim and Godzilla (who were a late substitution for Cornerstone). In reality, Dr. Zoom was merely a progression of Springsteen's March 1971 The Friendly Enemies shows at The Sunshine In and his April 1971 "Jam Concerts" at The Upstage. Much of the long-standing confusion about how many Dr. Zoom shows were performed stems from the fact that some people count the earlier March-April gigs as Dr. Zoom events, while others don't count them. Technically speaking they weren't Dr. Zoom shows, but they did contain most of the musicians and the same party-like atmosphere. The members of Dr. Zoom & The Sonic Boom were Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt (guitar), David Sancious (keyboards), Garry Tallent (bass), Vini Lopez (drums and backing vocals), Southside Johnny (harmonica and vocals), Bobby Williams (drums), Albee 'Albany Al' Tellone (tenor saxophone), and Bobby Feigenbaum (alto saxophone). There was also an eight-member backing vocal troupe nicknamed "The Zoomettes", consisting of Jeannie Clark, Robin Nash, Connie Manser, Fifi Longo, Sherl Tallent, Kevin Kavanaugh, Steve Large, and John Luraschi. The MC was Kevin "Bird" Connair. Big Danny Gallagher handled the on-stage props. Danny Federici was not involved in the Dr. Zoom shows. The ten-song setlist listed has been culled from a document (in Bruce's handwriting) that is probably the song schedule for this debut Dr. Zoom gig. The material is clearly identifiable by Bruce's header of 'Sonic Tunes'. Whether or not Bruce made any late changes to this setlist for the actual performance is not known. Written on the setlist as "Dave Dudley", the third song is actually "Six Days On The Road", the 1963 hit made famous by country music singer Dave Dudley. The song is a celebration of the American trucker and was covered regularly on the Jersey-shore in the 1970s by many bands, including Albee Tellone's Hired Hands. "Fast Blues Shuffle" may be Bruce's name for "Last Night In Texas" (as also performed at the following day's Zoom gig). "Zoom Theme" is a rewrite of Irving Berlin's "Alexander's Ragtime Band". Dr. Zoom & The Sonic Boom / Sunny Jim / Godzilla May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 First of two shows, billed as the 'Bruce Springsteen Jam Concert'. Bruce's method of finding the right combination of musicians for a new band. Out of these shows will emerge The Sundance Blues Band, Dr. Zoom & The Sonic Boom and ultimately The Bruce Springsteen Band. Bruce Springsteen May 13, 2025
 Brucefan24 First of two shows, billed as the 'Bruce Springsteen Jam Concert'. Bruce's method of finding the right combination of musicians for a new band. Out of these shows will emerge The Sundance Blues Band, Dr. Zoom & The Sonic Boom and ultimately The Bruce Springsteen Band. Bruce Springsteen May 13, 2025