The Official Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Thread.
 

Ok Gold you can ask all the questions you want here.

Also:

1) Why do you like him/them?
2) Best album?
3) Best Song?
4) Best gig you've seen?

Oh you mean so-and-so.

Rule #1. For every post a member makes in here, they must make two in the a-ha thread.


Anyway, question time!

Is it true Bruce Springsteen never had a real job?

And I've forgotten my other damn ones :mad:

1) Bruce seems to be a musician's musician. He seems to have stuck to what he believes in, hasn't jumped on any bandwagons or changed his sound to fit a passing trend. The songs speak for themselves. Live he is mind blowing. And he has a great band behind him. And Clarence is a god :)

2) At the moment for me the best album is Darkness on The Edge of Town. Pure quality from 1st to last song, and some brilliant lyrics in there (but i could say that about most of his albums, that's why it changes).

3) Thunder road. One of my top 3 songs of any artist ever, so it has to be.

4) Only seen 1 gig - Cardiff 2007. Great performance, it amazed me the stamina and the interaction with the crowd. Also most of my favourite songs were played. Just like Hyde Park for Bon Jovi this gig started me off as a proper fan.

I don't know anything about A-ha....are they the ones that did Take on Me?

Oh I thought they were rhetorical questions.

1. I'm not sure really. I like story-telling songs. And his political songs are told in a nice, clever way, not just plain insulting.

2. I don't actually own many Springsteen albums :( I own 4 and overall I've heard 5, so I'll have to settle for Magic :p I'm gonna concentrate on getting the older stuff though now, though Tunnel Of Love hasn't done much for me :(

3. Oh I love so many! Magic, Devil's Arcade, Streets Of Philadelphia, The River, The Ghost Of Tom Joad...someone pick for me!

4. I haven't had the privelege :(

*places a gold sticker on zero's top. On the left to be precise.* :)

Winner :cool:

And it wasn't just any gold sticker, it was a gold sticker in the SHAPE OF A SAUSAGE!

I am truly honoured.

1) An amazing songwriter, with an amazing band. Springsteen has the ability to write lyrics and music that really rip at one's soul. And what can one say about the E Street Band that hasn't been said a million times. The use of keys and organs (RIP Danny) is ****ing mind-blowing.

2) I know it's cliched to say, but it's got to be Born To Run. To me, its the perfect Springsteen and E Street album. No filler songs, great myrics, great music. Above all that, the album has a picture perfect mix of stark reality and dreamy optimism. On most of Springsteen 's other albums, no matter how good they are, that balance seems to be thrown to far one way or the other.

3. Really hard, yet really easy question. Easy because my answer is Jungleland, which is not only my favorite Springsteen song but one of my favorite songs of all time. Hard because there are a great deal of other amazing Bruce songs, but none of them are near Jungleland IMO.

4. Only seen two gigs (MSG-10/18/07 and Giants Stadium-7/27/08) Both shows were great. 7/27 gets the edge because the setlist was just tremendous. However nothing will top hearing Jungleland in MSG the first time it was played on the tour, NTM the fact that it's the only time I'll ever see the full E Street Band.

1. Because he's a classic songwriter who releases good albums and plays good shows all the time. Band are good too.
2. Born To Run.
3. Jungleland. Brilliant song.
4. Never seen him.

1- Because he's the Boss. Enough said.
2- Magic
3- Thunder Road. The piano version from Storytellers is just amazing.
4- Firts time I saw them. Belfast, december 2007. First part of the magic tour.

1. He is poetry and passion and the band have an amazing chemistry.
2. Born to Run (esp the keys) or The Rising
3. there's a few but I guess Jungleland or American Skin (41 Shots)
4. never seen him/them live :(

You seem to really love music. If you can afford it - do yourself a favor and go to a show on this tour. You certainly won't regret it. You can listen to all the Bruce you want - but Bruce really is all about the live show. He (and I) come from an era of "don't sit home and listen to a record - get your ass out to a rock and roll show" Bruce really believes in the power of live music - and it shows.

I guess you could say that I like them for all of the above. I think the only shows that I have been completely "in the moment" all the way through are Bruce shows.

My all time favorite album is Born to Run with Jungleland being right at the top of the list of favorites - tied perhaps with Thunder Road. They were both on the same album LOL.

I would have listed a few long ago gigs here in Jersey as my favorites until I saw 9 out of the 10 shows at Giants Stadium in 2003. All those shows just blew away all the others.

If I had to pick just one I would go for the last night at Giants Stadium this past summer - Bruce and the band were simply on fire - very enthusiastic - and the setlists were all over the place. Bruce took requests on signs and played just about anything: Any time you get Incident and Jungleland and Jersey Girl at the same show it's pretty special. Here's the setlist:

01 Summertime Blues
02 Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
03 Radio Nowhere
04 Prove It All Night
05 Two Hearts
06 The Promised Land
07 Spirit In The Night
08 Light Of Day
09 Brilliant Disguise
10 Pretty Flamingo
11 Blinded By The Light
12 Cadillac Ranch
13 Candy's Room
14 Night
15 Because the Night
16 She's the One
17 Livin' in the Future
18 Mary's Place
19 Incident on 57th Street
20 The Rising
21 Last to Die
22 Long Walk Home
23 Badlands
24 Jungleland
25 Born to Run
25 Bobby Jean
27 Dancing in the Dark
28 American Land
29 Jersey Girl
30 Rosalita

1. His songs just speaks volumes and as Kathleen says the live performances whether it's with ESB or solo are just magic.
2. This is a tough one, The River lives very close to my heart as it was the first album I heard BUT both BtR and Darkness are equally up there.
3. So many to choose from, but every time I hear The River I get a kick in the gut, and Thunder Road...and Drive all night.
4. Second gig at Emirates last year was just mindblowing setlist wise. There were a few songs we hadn't heard live with ESB and we got them! also second gig in Gothenburg last year, just because of Drive all night, and the atmosphere, it's always very special when Bruce and the boys play in Sweden.

1) Why do you like him/them?
He is just such a great songwriter,great lyrics and a great musician seems to be all he wants to do, which is great.
2) Best album?
Born to Run or Rising, i dont have them all yet
3) Best Song?
Thunder Road
4) Best gig you've seen?
Not seem him yet, but hoping to change that if he announces a uk tour:D

1) Why do you like him/them? His lyrics are amazing but its more about the energy in his live performances that gets me!
2) Best album? Greetings From Asbury Parl N.J, i'd say its bruce at his best
3) Best Song? Growin' Up
4) Best gig you've seen? only seen him once but it was amazing, the setlists doesnt really compare to some of the ones some of you guys witnessed but it was still amazing. He puts more into his show than most of today's newer bands do! Roll on Glasto :D

Stevie Van Zandt's radio hits British airways february 9th (Absolute Radio)!
Article here:http://www.nme.com/news/bruce-spring...eet-band/42454

When he announces a UK tour, he's can't not play the UK....

i hope so, i really wanna see him live:D

Wow... that's like a flippin 3 hour set..... is that normal for Bruce, or is that like a "few times in a tour" thing... sort of like what Bon Jovi does....

It's normal. The guy doesn't stop before everyone's standing up.

Ice

Am i right in thinking i read that he was known to do 4 hour sets in his early days?

if so that sounds bloody epic! 3 hours is enough lol

Uggh, I desperately want to get Bruce tickets, but I saw them in '07 and '08. An right now, my very depleted ticket fund is earmarked for Billy Joel and Elton John, Green Day, U2, and No Doubt. Still the temptation is very huge ATM.

Yup, my aunt and uncle saw him years ago and it was a 4 hour set.

How does a guy SING for 4 hours? And not just one night, but a regular basis. I was talking to my uncle, and when Bruce & E Street band had there reuinion tour (a few years ago), he saw them in Calgary, and he did a bit over 4 hours, and walked around the whole arena playing one of his songs. Also, apparently, when he left to get a guitar (or something) he said that the management was kicking him out (after about 3 hours)..... so he stayed for 4. I just don't understand how you can keep your vocals after doing shows of 3+ hours every night.

I think i had a damn good setlist at the show i went to (Cardiff Millenium Stadium june 14th 08)...

1.From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)
2.Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
3.Radio Nowhere
4.No Surrender
5.Lonesome Day
6.The Promised Land
7.Blinded By The Light
8.Magic
9.Atlantic City
10.The River
11.Gypsy Biker
12.Darlington County
13.Because The Night
14.She's The One
15.Livin' In The Future
16.Mary's Place
17.Working On The Highway
18.Devil's Arcade
19.The Rising
20.Last To Die
21.Long Walk Home
22.Badlands

23.Jungleland
24.Thunder Road
25.Born To Run
26.Rosalita
27.American Land

Check out that encore!
I think this time around when the UK tour happens i may end up doing a couple of shows...Fingers crossed for news on monday.

i never knew you got blinded by the light! thats one of my favourite Bruce songs!
The manchester set:

No Surrender
Radio Nowhere
Night
Lonesome Day
The Promised Land
Magic
Trapped
Adam Raised a Cain
Darlington County
It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City
Because the Night
She's the One
Livin' in the Future
Mary's Place
I'll Work for Your Love
Devil's Arcade
The Rising
Last to Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands
* * *
Growin' Up
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out
Born to Run
Rosalita
Dancing in the Dark
American Land

not too bad! :)

Ditto. And apparently it's pretty rare, so i was well chuffed.

But you got an ace set too.
Adam Raised A Cain and Trapped - i'd love to hear those.

As Ice said - it's normal. That was just this past July. He has been known to do 4 hours sets and not that long ago. Rumor has it that sometimes the band has to drag him off stage.

Which is why I say that the band may retire, but Bruce will keep on playing until they carry his cold, dead body off the stage. LOL The man loves his music, and he loves to connect with an audience and perform it.

He doesn't act, he doesn't own football teams he makes music.

Ouch pointed :wink: True though.

You know what struck me today, correct me if i'm wrong, but it seems he doesn't do many interviews?

MSG: 10/18/07
Radio Nowhere
Night
Lonesome Day
Gypsy Biker
Magic
Reason to Believe
Candy's Room
She's the One
Livin' in the Future
The Promised Land
Tougher Than the Rest
Meeting Across the River
Jungleland
You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)
Devil's Arcade
The Rising
Last to Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands
* * *
Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Thundercrack
Born to Run
Dancing in the Dark
American Land

Giants Stadium: 7/27/08
Tenth Avenue Freeeze-out
Radio Nowhere
Lonesome Day
No Surrender
Adam Raised a Cain
Spirit in the Night
Summertime Blues
Brilliant Disguise
Atlantic City
Growin' Up
Janey, Don't You Lose Heart
I'll Work for Your Love
Youngstown
Murder Incorporated
The Promised Land
Livin' in the Future
Mary's Place
Working on the Highway
Tunnel of Love
The Rising
Last to Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands
* * *
Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Jungleland
Born to Run
Bobby Jean
Dancing in the Dark
American Land
Rosalita

Should I assume he doesn't smoke either? :p

Bruce has avoided commercial TV for years. Only in the past few years has he even appeared on TV unless he was a musical guest in order to play with someone else. It was pointed out in the Superbowl press conference that the last press conference that he did was in 1987. He keeps a very low profile outside of his music.

And I wasn't bashing Bon Jovi with my comments above. To each their own - Jon obviously needs the outside stimulus of doing something different - Bruce is all about the music and doesn't seem to need something different. Different strokes........

He does appear briefly as himself in High Fidelity...one of the best damn movies ever.

Let's be honest, Jon doesn't act either...

Hee hee, that was a good one.

I saw most of the press conference online and I hadn't realized that was his first since 1987. He also has gotten a lot of attention over the past few days since he admitted that giving Wal-Mart exclusive rights was a mistake. I guess this will keep him away from the press for quite a bit...


As for Bon Jovi, whether it was a statement or not it's true and there is no way to sugar coat it. Bruce just doesn't get involved in outside projects and focuses all of his attention on music. He doesn't have the outside distractions of how many tickets the Soul sold.

Staying up to see Bruce at the half time show tonight. And i hope i get snowed in tomorrow so i'm not sleepy at work :)
Trying to think what he might play as apparently he's got 12 minutes.
At a guess -
The Rising
My Lucky Day
Born to Run

haha same here!

i think you got the song predictions bang on! but on the official superbowl website they have about 7/8 predictions of what Bruce might play and all of them contain 4 songs! if so i reckon the other will be dancing in the dark