MUSIC: Springsteen Lights up the Sun
Ken Abrams, GoLocalProv Music Critic
MUSIC: Springsteen Lights up the Sun
“It all started a long time ago in the back of a beauty parlor,” declared Bruce Springsteen as he introduced his enduring classic “Growin’ Up.” The song, an anthem of youthful rebellion from his first album Greetings From Ashbury Park, is one of his most requested. It's been a wild ride since he first sang it, one of his first tunes performed live, over “forty years burnin’ down the road.” Last Saturday night, as he wound down the “High Hopes” tour, this seemingly ageless rocker led his band through a typically epic show at Mohegan Sun.
Unpredictable Set list
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe (19 piece!) band has evolved over the years and continues to amaze with its power and intensity. Bruce dusted off some real classics – opening with “Racing in the Street (78),” and played other rarities like “Quarter to Three,” and “The Price You Pay.” There's not a lot of “filler” at these shows; every song truly resonates.
The “earth-quaking” E Street Band rocked the hell out of some unlikely covers, with guitarist Tom Morello powering through “Working for the Clampdown,” the 70’s Clash classic. Morello further displayed his talents on “High Hopes,” playing briefly with his teeth, to the delight of the crowd used to slightly more traditional techniques. The Rage Against the Machine leader also scored big on “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” which featured a blistering guitar solo while trading vocals with Springsteen.
Speaking of guitar players, (of which this band has four!), it was “game on” for veteran E Streeter Nils Lofgren. He dazzled the crowd with an incredible spinning solo on another favorite, “Prove it all Night,” one of several tunes covered from Darkness at the Edge of Town. He led the band through several other songs including “Jesse James” and “Radio Nowhere.”
The trio of top notch background vocalists (recently featured in the award winning movie 20 Feet From Stardom), brought a nice disco vibe to the forefront of “Stayin Alive,” first played earlier this year in Australia. It proved a popular sing-a-long for many in the crowd who remembered the Bee Gees classic word for word. (In a notable show of respect, Barry Gibb played Bruce’s “I’m on Fire” a few nights ago in Boston.)
High Energy Performer
No singer since James Brown has sweat so much on stage; Bruce lives and breathes the work ethic he champions in his songs. In fact, he seems to have taken on Brown’s mantra of the “hardest working man in show business.” With Jake Clemmons and the E Street Horns behind him, he’s a tour de force onstage.
Veteran band mate and lead guitarist Stevie Van Zandt, who re-joined the tour Saturday night, was reminded of that fact early in the show. Having just returned from filming his award winning Norwegian TV show, Lillyhammer, Van Zandt had to catch his breath during an intense version of “Two Hearts.” “You do this every night?” he asked Springsteen. “He’s a little out of shape. Every night you do this? Every fucking night!” answered the Boss in a typically unscripted moment.
The Zen of Springsteen
For the uninitiated, a Springsteen concert is part rock show, part frat party, part revival meeting - where the Boss takes his fans on a three hour jaunt through his catalog of hard rockers, cheery sing-alongs, and heartfelt ballads. There’s a political edge to much of his music, but the narrative never veers too far from mainstream America, where stories about the plight of the working man are augmented by tales of diverse individuals facing hardships.
In “American Skin (41 Shots),” he recounts the story of Amadou Diallo, who was shot and killed by police while reaching for his wallet.
“Is it a gun, is it a knife, Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin.”
His enduring popularity is not surprising. Sure, there’s a certain formula that he's developed over the years, but he's a completely authentic artist, who can sound fresh and original every night. There aren’t many out there like him.
Powerful Encore
Contrary to most assumptions, he explained “it was a song where I wasn’t trying to find myself in it, like I am in a lot of my songs. This was a song where I was trying to literally invent some sort of self.”
“I stood stone-like at midnight, suspended in my masquerade
I combed my hair till it was just right and commanded the night brigade…
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd, but when they said, "Sit down," I stood up
Ooh... growin' up” (Growin’ Up, 1973)
The lights came up for a couple of encore mainstay’s - “Born to Run” and “Dancin’ in the Dark,” were both major crowd pleasers. The requisite “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” was next, honoring the band’s lost brothers, Danny Federici and Clarence Clemmons. “Shout” followed (I told you, frat rock!) and then Bruce went back to his Acoustic for “If I Should Fall Behind” and a beautiful “Thunder Road” to close out the show.
Where’s Mohegan?
The only “flaw” in this show came during the call and response moment where Bruce yells out the show location and the crowd answers with a rousing “Bruuuuuuuuuce.” Whether confused (according to the New York Daily News), or deliberate, the man who sings about all kinds of places began by calling out “Massachusetts.” After hearing a smattering of “No” in the crowd, he switched to “Connecticut.” Through it all, he forgot Rhode Island, which is technically closer to the casino than Massachusetts.
No worries Bruce. We’ll forgive you when you come back to play Providence sometime soon.
Ken Abrams reviews Roots, Rock and Blues for GoLocal. Click here to e-mail him.
Spring and Summer Music Festivals
Boston Calling Music Festival
May 23-25
City Hall Plaza
Boston, MA
Boston Calling Music Festival is a three-day, two-stage festival featuring some of the biggest and best acts in live music. The event will be one big party with easy access to both stages, food, services and more. All ages are welcome and children under 10 are free.
Lineup Features:
Jack Johnson
Modest Mouse
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
The Decembrists
Bastille
Death Cab for Cutie
Tegan & Sara
Brand New
The Neighborhood
Built to Spill
Magic Man
Maximo Park
Walk Off The Earth
The Districts
Warpaint
Kurt Vile and the Violators
Jenny Lewis
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Strange Creek Campout
May 23-26
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Presented by the Wormtown Trading Company, the Strange Creek Campout features live music, on-site camping, disc golf, yoga, a holistic village, and the Strangers Helping Strangers Food Drive.
Lineup Features:
Rusted Root
Max Creek (2 Shows)
Zach Deputy (2 Shows)
Donna the Buffalo
Ryan Montbleau
Turkuaz
Goosepimp
Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band
Fungus Amungus
Consider the Source
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Roots on the River
June 5-8
Bellows Falls, VT
Roots on the River is an annual roots music festival featuring 23 sets, 7 shows, 6 venues over 4 days.
Lineup Features:
James McMurtry
Curtis McMurtry
Mary Gauthier
Carolyn Wonderland
JD McPherson
Sean Rowe
Poor Old Shine
Heather Maloney Band
Caitlyn Canty
Hayley Reardon
The Meadows Brothers
Leominster Starburst Festival
June 14 (Rain Date June 15)
Various Locations
Leominster, MA
For a free music festival in Central Massachusetts, check out Leominster’s Starburst, hosted by the Leominster Cultural Council. Everyone in your family will enjoy this day of music and fun, topped off with a firework show in the evening.
Paulie's New Orleans Jazz & Blues Festival
June 20-22
Canal District
Worcester, MA
Now entering its seventh year, the mission of Paulie's New Orleans Jazz & Blues Festival is to provide quality New Orleans & Louisiana jazz, blues, country, funk & zydeco music & food within an urban setting.
Lineup Features:
Roomful of Blues
Honey Island Swamp Band
Marcia Ball
Little Freddie King
Mem Shannon & The Membership
Bobby Patlauf Band
Big Al Carson & The Blues Masters
Eric Lindell & The Sunliners
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New Bedford Folk Festival
July 5-6
New Bedford Whaling National Park
New Bedford, MA
The New Bedford Folk Festival brings together over 70 renowned and emerging folk performers and 90 juried arts and crafts vendors in New Bedford's authentic historic district during the first weekend in July.
Lineup Features:
Chris Smither
Christine Lavin with Don White
John Gorka
Poor Old Shine
Jonathan Edwards
RUNA
Vance Gilbert
Bill Harley
Green River Festival
July 12-13
Greenfield Community College
Greenfield, MA
The Green River Festival is a premier Pioneer Valley Music event that takes place every July. The event attracts national talent, the great local food and fine crafts, and even hot air balloons.
Lineup Features:
Puss'N'Boots Featuring Norah Jones
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Trampled by Turtles
Lucius
Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin & The Guilty Ones
The Lone Bellow
Ana Tijoux
James Hunter Six
The Iguanas
Poor Old Shine
Barnstar!
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
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North Atlantic Blues Festival
July 12-13
Public Landing
Rockland, ME
The North Atlantic Blues Festival is an annual two-day blues music festival featuring national blues performers and considered one of the most prestigious on the East Coast.
Lineup Features:
Mr. Sipp
Joe Louis Walker
Jarkeus Singleton
Teeny Tucker
Joanna Connor
Victor Wainwright
Melvin Taylor
C.J. Chener
Jimmy Thackery
In Layman Terms
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Lowell Folk Festival
July 25-27
Various Locations
Lowell, MA
One of the largest free folk festivals in the country, the Lowell Folk Festival attracts thousands of people over three days. The event features traditional music, food, crafts and good vibes.
The Pine Leaf Boys – Cajun
Bud Hundenski & the Corsairs – Polka
James Kelly, Donna Long, & Sean Keane – Irish
Kevin Doyle – Irish Step Dance
Marquise Knox – Blues
Seichi Tanaka & the San Francisco Taiko Dojo – Taiko Dojo Drums
Nikki D & the Browns – Sacred Steel Gospel
Sonny Burgess & the Legendary Pacers – Rockabilly
Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers – Bluegrass
Samba Mapangala & Orchestre Virunga – East African Rumba
E.U. – Go Go
Hassan Hakmoun – Moroccan Gnawa
Seizmos Band – Greek
Thomas Maupin, Daniel Rothwell, & Overall Creek with Kory Posey – Appalchian Buck
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Gathering of the Vibes
July 31 - August 3
Seaside Park
Bridgeport, CT
Gathering of the Vibes is an annual music, arts and camping festival now in its 19th year. Vibes has grown into a four-day festival that has featured such world-class talent as Crosby, Stills and Nash; all original members of the Grateful Dead; the Allman Brothers Band; Jane's Addiction; James Brown; the Black Crowes; Buddy Guy; Elvis Costello; George Clinton and P-Funk; Bruce Hornsby; Les Claypool; and many, many more big names, while continuing to showcase extraordinarily talented, young, up-and-coming bands to the 20 thousand people who attend each year.
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John Fogerty
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Rusted Root
Widespread Panic
Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros
moe.
Slightly Stoopid
Maceo Parker
Deep Banana Blackout
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Newport Folk Festival
July 25- 27
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Newport, RI
Folk music has been a presence in Newport since 1959, when the Newport Folk Festival was founded by George Wein. Backed by board members Pete Seeger, Theodore Bikel, Oscar Brand, and Albert Grossman, the Festival became renowned for introducing a number of performers who went on to become major stars, most notably Joan Baez (who appeared as an unannounced guest of Bob Gibson in 1959), and Bob Dylan, whose first Newport appearance, as a guest of Joan Baez in 1963, is generally regarded as his premiere national performance.
Lineup Features:
Deer Tick
Ryan Adams
Nickel Creek
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Jimmy Cliff
Mavis Staples
Band of Horses
Jeff Tweedy
Kurt Vile and the Violators
Conor Oberst
Sun Kill Moon
The Devil Makes Three
Puss N Boots
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Newport Jazz Festival
August 1-3
Fort Adams State Park
Newport, RI
Established in 1954, the Newport Jazz Festival begins its 60th year this August, one week after its sister event, the Newport Folk Festival, takes place. The first event was originally billed as "First Annual American Jazz Festival" and featured many notable jazz musicians, including Billie Holiday.
Lineup Features:
Bobby McFerrin
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
David Sanborn & Joey DeFrancesco
George Wein & Newport All-Stars
Dee Dee Bridgewater - To Billie With Love
Dave Holland
Dr. John
Gregory Porter
Gary Burton
Robert Glasper
Vijay Iyer
SFJAZZ Collective
Danilo Pérez
Ravi Coltrane
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Peacham Acoustic Music Festival
August 15-16
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The Peacham Acoustic Music Festival is also a blend of the old and the new - roots music from the Celtic traditions, old time fiddle tunes, and a touch of blues and bluegrass - not to mention The Dance. Smoke and alcohol free.
Lineup Features:
Jonathan Edwards
Bob Amos & Catamount Crossing
Carl Jones
Alan Greenleaf & The Doctor
The Bayley-Hazen Boys
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The White Mountain Boogie & Blues Festival
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Lineup Features:
Brandon Santini
Moreland & Arbuckle
Southern Hospitality
Samantha Fish
Jeremiah Johnson
Gracie Curran
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Rhythm&Roots Festival
August 29-31
Ninigret Park
Charlestown, RI
The 17th Annual Rythym&Roots Festival features award-winning roots music artists on the Main Stage and at two big tented dance floors, plus intimate one-of-a-kind workshops and kids activities.
Featuring The Duhks as the featured host band
2014 Artist Lineup Announcements Coming Soon