Browse 75896 Reviews & Comments (Page 777)

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 Brucefan24 One show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys headlining and local country-rock group Old Salt opening. Held indoors in the 350-seat Student Center. The show was not a sellout, with a reported 300 tickets sold. Given Springsteen was a virtual unknown at the time, this gig at Niagara received an unprecedented amount of pre and post concert press coverage in the school's modest campus newspaper, all articles written by students. The student who orchestrated this event (Kerry McNamara) was obviously a serious Bruce fan. A student reporter even seems to have travelled south to get a brief but fascinating interview with Bruce a couple of weeks before this show. In this interview Bruce mentions he is now playing "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)", including "Fun, Fun, Fun", as a special encore (a tape exists of it from February 14 at VCU). In addition Bruce mentions "Ring Of Fire" and the instrumental "Apache" as two cover songs he's been incorporating into his recent shows. Interestingly it is also revealed that this gig had originally been planned for March 2 but had been rescheduled to March 24 because of the West Coast tour with Paul Butterfield's Better Days. This seems to have been an intimate, inspired crowd that elicited an equally inspired performance. Bruce even donned his legendary Elvis t-shirt at this show, a guarantee of a special evening! After Old Salt opened with a 60-minute set, Springsteen performed a 120-minute show with no intermission, including a triple encore. As reported in the reviews of the show that followed, Bruce opened with two (unnamed in print) acoustic numbers (accompanied by Clarence on the first and Danny on the second) and then brought out the entire band. The final song in the main set was "Thundercrack". The first encore was "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) (including "Fun, Fun, Fun") and the second encore was "Twist And Shout". The title of the third encore is not mentioned. This is the longest verified Band performance up to this point and one of the very few two-hour shows Bruce did in 1973. Different attendees at this show recall some highly surprising setlist possibilities, including the Beatles' "Come Together" and, according to then-Crawdaddy! editor Greg Mitchell, "Kitty's Back", "Quarter To Three", and even an encore of the Cascades' "Rhythm Of The Rain". Given the surprising nature of these song choices given the relevant recording and performance histories, we have excluded them from our setlist listing pending further confirmation, but see our Eyewitness and News tabs to make your own judgment. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band / Old Salt May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 No more set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for headliners Blood, Sweat & Tears. Bruce and the boys were allowed to play nearly a headliner-length set at this show. A contributor to the Greasy Lake website notes that "Lost In The Flood" was played solo on piano: "I remember "Lost In The Flood" because we had just heard on the news at the motel that there was an agreement made at the Paris Peace Talks to end the war in Vietnam that we were all opposed to. Bruce made a specific dedication of "Lost In The Flood" to the guys who made it back from 'Nam." Following this show Blood, Sweat and Tears flew to Colorado for a three-night residency (March 4 to 6) at a nightclub in Boulder called Tulagi. Although the possibility of Bruce joining them for this residency at Tulagi may have been discussed, it definitely never eventuated. A day or two following this Santa Monica show Bruce and the band flew back to New Jersey, with Bruce's road crew driving back and arriving a few days later. Blood, Sweat & Tears / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 One show, double bill, with Springsteen opening for headliner Paul Butterfield's Better Days. A poorly attended show, with less than half the tickets sold, but enough for the show to go ahead. Bruce plays for about one hour. This would turn out to be the only show with Butterfield that actually took place on this west coast mini-tour leg, all others were cancelled. Paul Butterfield’s Better Days / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for Pan (a just-formed band headed by former Beau Brummels guitarist/songwriter Ron Elliot). Springsteen's first west coast show as a signed artist. For the occasion Columbia sent out postcard invitations to the gig - see our Gallery tab to view one of these cards. This was actually 'hoot night' at the club, but some of the LA music press were present to listen to the much-respected Elliot's new outfit. A couple of songs into the six-song, 30-minute set Bruce's guitar amp failed and, because minimal spares had been brought out to the west coast, the road crew were unable to fix it, so Bruce performed most of this show on piano instead of electric guitar. This was the same amp that had been fried at the November 25, 1972 show in Detroit. The four listed tracks were played but these represent only a partial setlist from this show. Springsteen's performance received brief (but positive) reviews by Billboard's Nat Freeland and LA Free Press journalist Peter Jay Philbin. Of the performance the LA Free Press said "It was Bruce Springsteen who made the crowd collision, the stepped on toes, the smoke-pained eyeballs, the walk away from the TV set all worthwhile…never have I been more impressed with a debuting singer than I was with Bruce Springsteen on Monday night." Also in the 400 member audience to watch Bruce was soul singer Jerry Butler, who was about to begin a six-night stint at the club, starting the following evening. Pan / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 Second of two shows. As had been the case the previous two nights, the performing schedule was altered, with Springsteen and band opening, Biff Rose playing next and then Springsteen playing a headliner length second show to close the evening's festivities. David Bowie showed up on this final night to see Biff Rose (a friend of Bowie's) and caught Springsteen's performance, although the two weren't introduced to each other. Bowie had never even heard of a guy named 'Springsteen' until this night. In a Musician Magazine interview in 1987 Bowie commented on Bruce’s performance on this night: "I hated him as a solo… as soon as the band came on it was like a different person and he was marvelous… I like the Greetings From Asbury Park material, my favorite period of Springsteen is the early stuff." In June 1973 Bowie would be the first artist to record (though not release) a Springsteen composition ("Growin' Up"). Bowie and Bruce would finally be introduced in late 1974 (see the November 25, 1974 listing). Biff Rose / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 First of two shows. As had been the case the previous two nights, the performing schedule was altered, with Springsteen and band opening, Biff Rose playing next and then Springsteen playing a headliner length second show to close the evening's festivities. David Bowie showed up on this final night to see Biff Rose (a friend of Bowie's) and caught Springsteen's performance, although the two weren't introduced to each other. Bowie had never even heard of a guy named 'Springsteen' until this night. In a Musician Magazine interview in 1987 Bowie commented on Bruce's performance on this night: "I hated him as a solo… as soon as the band came on it was like a different person and he was marvelous… I like the Greetings From Asbury Park material, my favorite period of Springsteen is the early stuff." In June 1973 Bowie would be the first artist to record (though not release) a Springsteen composition ("Growin' Up"). Bowie and Bruce would finally be introduced in late 1974 (see the November 25, 1974 listing). Biff Rose / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 First of two shows. As had been the case the previous night, the performing schedule was altered, with Springsteen and band opening, Biff Rose playing next (one show only), and then Springsteen playing a headliner length second show to close the evening's festivities. Biff Rose / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 Second of two shows. As had been the case the previous night, the performing schedule was altered, with Springsteen and band opening, Biff Rose playing next (one show only), and then Springsteen playing a headliner length second show to close the evening's festivities. Biff Rose / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 Second of two shows. Due to Springsteen's crowd popularity during the previous few nights the performing schedule was altered for this night and the following two nights, Springsteen and band opened, Biff Rose played next (one show only) and then Springsteen and band played a headliner length second show to close the evening's festivities. Biff Rose / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 First of two shows. Due to Springsteen's crowd popularity during the previous few nights the performing schedule was altered for this night and the following two nights, Springsteen and band opened, Biff Rose played next (one show only) and then Springsteen and band played a headliner length second show to close the evening's festivities. Biff Rose / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 Second of two shows, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliner Biff Rose. Biff Rose / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 First of two shows, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliner Biff Rose. Although long-rumored to have been played during the stint at Paul's Mall in January, the only verified live performance of "Visitation At Fort Horn" stems from a show during this week-long residency at Max's, although the specific night has yet to be determined. During an interview with Charles Cross in 1990, Mike Appel commented on the performance: "I was sitting in Max's Kansas City and Bruce decided to do it that night. He used Clarence, Vini and Garry as these 'Sons Of The Pioneers' type singers. I was with this guy from Epic (Records) and he turned to me and said, "I just don't believe this guy. This is the greatest thing I've ever heard." Biff Rose / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 Second of two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner Biff Rose. Biff Rose / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 First of two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner Biff Rose. In the February 17, 1973 issue of Billboard magazine, a review by Jim Melanson included mention of five songs performed at one of the Max's Kansas City shows. These are "Mary Queen Of Arkansas", "The Angel", "Spirit In The Night", "Growin' Up" and "Blinded By The Light". Brucebase has placed this information here, but they could have been played at any of the twelve shows in the stand other than the first two on January 31. Biff Rose / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 Second of two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner Biff Rose. As undercard Bruce's performances would have been limited to about 60 minutes per show. The show featured an introduction by Max's owner Mickey Ruskin. To start the show Bruce plays two solo numbers before bringing out the band. The listed setlist is culled from circulating soundboard recordings of both shows from this night. The band segment of the second show is missing from the recording. Biff Rose / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Sondra19 1st PJ show! Pearl Jam / Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 First of two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner Biff Rose. This was the opening of a six-night (12-show) residency at the club. As undercard Bruce's performances would have been limited to about 60 minutes per show. This is the earliest known performance of "Spirit In The Night". The show featured an introduction by Max's owner Mickey Ruskin. To start the show Bruce plays two solo numbers before bringing out the band. Recordings from this show are often misidentified as coming from solo Springsteen shows at Max's Kansas City in mid-1972. The listed setlist is culled from circulating soundboard recordings of both shows from this night. The early show is believed to be complete. Biff Rose / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 Second of two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner The Paul Winter Consort. Bruce's shows were limited to about 60 minutes. Paul winter consort / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 First of two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner The Paul Winter Consort. Opening show of a four-night (eight-show) residency at the small ~400 capacity club on Long Island. Club manager Michael Epstein had booked Springsteen in November 1972 because the owner of My Father's Place had a son who was married to Mike Appel's sister. Epstein thought Springsteen was a solo folk singer, so he placed Bruce on the bill with Paul Winter's quiet, India-influenced band. There was a small contingent of New Jersey shore area locals who came to the show each night specifically to listen to Springsteen, so the four nights proved to be a clash of musical as well as audience styles, in Epstein's words, "fifty partying Asbury Park hippies dancing on tables and 300 middle-aged suburbanites trying to meditate." Paul winter consort / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025
 Brucefan24 One show, held in the tiny 150-seat St. Mary's Hall Auditorium Theatre, with Bruce and the boys the sole act on the bill. Due to a strike at the time by Villanova's school newspaper The Villanovan, this concert went unadvertised and less than 50 people attended, probably the smallest crowd before which Bruce and the band have ever played. According to Albee Tellone, however, this gig did not ultimately take place. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band May 14, 2025