Spread Out Now Rosie
To borrow a classic turn of phrase from the legendary David Palmer, your Uncle Grambo and The Senator spent last night in the presence of overall greatness. We had the good fortune (read: we bought tix through Ticketmaster) of attending an event at Carnegie Hall entitled “The Music Of Bruce Springsteen”, benefitting the Music for Youth charity foundation. When tix first went on sale three or four months ago, it was a bit of a gamble to shell out $65 for a balcony seat, seeing as how Jewel and Babyface were the headliners. But now, with the benefit of hindsight, some say it was one of the best investments evs.
The evening featured a wide variety of interpretations of songs from the Springsteen canon; virtually every musical form — from solo acoustic guitar to jazz piano to spoken word — was represented. Highlights included Josh Ritter’s solo acoustic rendition of “The River” (replete with a touching story of how the “Live 75-85″ cassette inspired him to become a musician), Juliana Hatfield’s heartache-laden take on “Cover Me”, Pete Yorn’s decidely gloomy arrangement of “Dancing In The Dark”, Joseph Arthur’s hauntingly stirring performance of “Born In The USA” and Badly Drawn Boy’s empassioned “Thunder Road” (backed by the evening’s house band, Elysian Fields). In fact, virtually all of the evening’s performances were stunning, the notable exceptions being the sonic abortion that was The Bacon Brothers performance of “Streets Of Philadelphia” and the implosion of Jesse Malin’s “Hungry Heart” (a direct result of an intrusion by the clearly unprepared Ronnie Spector).
The evening featured not one, not two, but THREE special guests that weren’t on the original bill. First out was Patti Smith, who huffed and puffed and blew the house down with her only Top 10 hit, the Springsteen-penned “Because The Night.” Then, a shockwave of chills reverberated around the country’s most-famous performance hall as surprise guest The Hold Steady (!!!) knocked the crowd for a loop with a ridiculously best ever version of “Atlantic City.” Lastly, after a deafening cheer of “BRUUUUUUUUCE” rattled through Carnegie’s Halls, The Boss emerged from the wings to rapturous and reverential applause.
As always, it’s a magical moment when Springsteen takes the stage. Wielding an acoustic guitar, Springsteen tore into “The Promised Land”, which surged to new life as an anthem of revolution for the politically disparaged Boss. He then took on “Rosalita”, replacing the third and fourth verses with a seemingly improvised autobiographical take on his life and the way our country has evolved during his thirty-plus year career (“Somewhere along the road, kids stopped buying records and began magically downloading things through the air”, “…and then America stopped being a democracy and turned into a kingdom”). But the evening’s A#1 Highlight came when Springsteen brought all of the evening’s performers out on stage for ANOTHER rendition of “Rosalita”, this time backed by a full-band. Craig Finn, Drizz and Jesse Malin traded verses with a jubilant and energized Springsteen. The jam lasted a full eight minutes, the first 90 seconds of which I captured from my perch in the nosebleeds with my crappy digital camera and YouTube’d for your enjoyment.
Man oh man, talk about your all-time best ever evenings. Glad I rolled the dice on these tix, even gladder that The Boss showed up and played THREE SONGS! Be sure and check out other reviews of the evening on Backstreets.net, Stereogum, Fresh Bread and Trouser Mouse (who, btw, got WAY better video of “Rosalita” than I did). The full set list is, of course, listed after the jump. BEST EVS!
- Nebraska - Steve Earle
- Streets of Philadelphia - The Bacon Brothers
- Streets of Fire - Elysian Fields
- The River - Josh Ritter
- Because the Night - Patti Smith
- The Rising - Marah
- My City of Ruins - Holmes Brothers with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City
- Brilliant Disguise - Robin Holcomb
- Jersey Girl - Jersey Guys with Bobby Valli
- Spirit in the Night - North Mississippi All-Stars
- New York City Serenade - Uri Caine
- Cover Me - Juliana Hatfield
- One Step Up - Low Stars
- Thunder Road - Badly Drawn Boy
- Born in the U.S.A. - Joseph Arthur
- Dancing in the Dark - Pete Yorn
- Hungry Heart - Jesse Malin with Ronnie Spector
- I’m Goin’ Down - M. Ward
- 57 Channels - Odetta
- Atlantic City - The Hold Steady
- The Promised Land - Bruce (solo acoustic)
- Rosalita - Bruce (solo acoustic)
- Rosalita - All-Star Jam, verses by Craig Finn, Badly Drawn Boy, Jesse Malin and The Boss!
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23 Comments so far
1. dean @ t.a.m.s.y. wrote on April 6th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
!
That sounds AMAZING. I got chills just reading it.
2. Grizz wrote on April 6th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
So best.
I wonder if The Boss will show up at Badly Drizz tribute night. I know Damizz will be there, if only so afterwards he can say (everybody say it with me now)…
WERE YOU THERE?
3. michael bacon wrote on April 7th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
I have no experience with blogs but I assume your blog name is Uncle Grambo and that you are afraid to say your actual name. My name is Michael Bacon and I am the brother of Kevin Bacon in the band the Bacon Brothers whos performance in the Music for Youth Tribute to Bruce Springsteen you described as “a musical abortion”. I suppose describing anything as “an abortion” makes you kind of edgy. This was a benefit to fund music education for underprivileged children. Like many pathetic, jealous sychophants who would suck up to my brother for an autograph and cell phone picture for your girlfriend, choose to automatisally discredit any endeavor that he pursues in the world of music. I challenge you to download “Swing Low” from i tunes. If you can’t afford the $.99 I’d be glad to gift it to you. Listen to the words with your heart open and tell me if he doesn’t deserve to sing one Bruce Springsteen song at a charity benefit without disgraceful venom from a non-entity like you. I’ve about had it with little anonymous blog critics . It’s a sad fact that my brother is quietly making an important contribution to the world of popoular music and my hope is that someday people like you will encourage him instead of automatcally blowing him off.
4. cat wrote on April 8th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
wow. well i was just going to say that it’s pretty funny that you can see craig finn flailing his arms about from 8,000 feet up even before he starts singing, but now i’m just full of love for kevin bacon and his musical contributions to the world.
5. gorilla wrote on April 9th, 2007 at 9:50 am
This reminds me of a little story from my home town of Fartknock, NB.
The town was run de-facto stizz by the minister of the Reformed Spirit of the Bloody Lamb Church (side note: He totally looked like the bad guy from Buckaroo Banzai, LOL). And he totally got the city council to ban what he called “the rock music”.
This ban included even the discussion of “the rock music” or even a printed criticism of the “rock music”.
But there was this one kid, I think his name was Stimpy and he may not have really been a kid but a 30 year-old high school senior, and he wrote a review of Kenny Loggin’s “Return to Pooh Corner” and read it at the senior prom IN FRONT OF EVERYONE.
The premise of the review was that nothing on the album was as good as “Danger Zone,” but that it would probably be good for retarded kids. Even the adults in the crowd nodded in agreement. Ironically, they then stoned the minister with what else, ROCKS!
After that we cut the lock off the book jail and spent the rest of the night reading entries from the Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock N Roll out loud. It was the coolest night in the history of Fartknock.
6. Uncle Grambo wrote on April 9th, 2007 at 11:33 am
To Michael Bacon: My bad for being honest. The reasons that I called your performance a “sonic abortion” had nothing to do with your band’s reputation (or even the fact that your brother is a movie star), it’s because I thought that the arrangement was staid and that the vocals were delivered in a manner that did not even come close to matching the intensity of the lyrics. While I respect the fact that you three donated your time to a worthy cause but, as a Springsteen fan, I was just hoping for a more empassioned rendition of “Streets Of Philadelphia.” That’s all.
That said, I will gladly download the song “Swing Low” and give it a listen. You can keep your 99 cents.
7. JPMcKrengels wrote on April 9th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Michael, can I have the 99 cents instead?
I’m really craving a Jr. Bacon Cheese Burger from Wendy’s.
Come on, it’ll be used to purchase someting Bacon…
8. DanM wrote on April 9th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
AS for the Bacons, I too was a bit of a sceptic but was quite suprised at how much I enjoyed the Bacon Brothers night last summer at BB Kings. Was there some star power that got us there that night? Maybe, but it was the melodic overtures, complex lyrics/stories, and solid backbeat rocking that kept us there. I was much more entertained than many concerts I have attended and it made for a great night.
I agree with Michael. This was a benefit. This is about the cause. No musician that dedicates his or her time and talent should be forced to aspire to a standard set by a non-musical internet hack. What you do discourages other talented people from donating and has an adverse effect on all worthy causes.
Lastly, I would love to have an autograph from Kevin Bacon the Musician, not the Actor. The musician who’s music I do enjoy no matter how much ribbing I get from coworkers & friends. If for nothing else to let him know I appreciate the effort and courage it must take to be so exposed outside your natural element. He clearly isn’t doing this for the money. Spend a little more than the $.99 if you can afford it, and download the White Knuckles CD. You too may be quite suprised.
DanM
9. Yale Bloor wrote on April 9th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Michael Bacon who? I’m sure glad the Bacon Bro’s are still out there on the road teaching middle america how to dance, what with the movie career on the down swing and the music career getting slagged by anonymous bloggers, its a good thing your brother can still support you with underwear commercials…..
10. Damore wrote on April 9th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
b/c it’s a benefit, no one’s allowed to call a lackluster performance just that? Seriously, why does Mike Bacon seemingly spend (much of) his free time tracking down poor press received on blogs that he dismisses as irrelevant anyway? If you’re a musician, deal w/ criticism w/ some fucking dignity. Maybe take some more lessons? Learn from your bro, do you think he tracked down every bad review received for “Hallow Man”? No, he’d still be only half-way down the list. Worst $4 I ever spent.
11. DanM wrote on April 10th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Damore,
Yes you have every right to point out a lackluster performance, this is America. But show a little class here. Grambo’s describing it as a musical abortion may have been him being swept up in the moment, but it does more damage than good. Is his need to be a wannabe fantasy reviewer so strong that he has to tear into a benefit for disavantaged children? Cmon, he can do better.
It was one song, and he admitted it only lacked some of the power of the original. Call it lackluster if you need to, but Michael is right about the venom. Kevin has gotten much much better musically, and it sets a precedent for other crossover artists, so his contribution is important. Michael is a pure professional artist who I hope to meet someday. I miss Harry Chapin and Jim Croce a little less because of him. They both deserve better.
DanM
12. thigh master wrote on April 10th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
i wish ham wrapped in bacon cost 99 cents
13. JPMcKrengels wrote on April 10th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
It looks like DanM totally wants to bang Michael Bacon… and he misses Harry Chapin and Jim Croce. Dude get a room with all 3 and have yourself some totally hot folksy man sex. And if you dig folksy man sex, do it. If you dig it a lot, do it twice.
14. spencer wrote on April 10th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
i bet michael bacon has to recite that crap to someone new every day of his life. poor bastard. today was just your day, grambo.
15. .:DataWhat?:. wrote on April 11th, 2007 at 7:11 am
Psst..this is the internet folks. DanM may in fact be Mike Bacon.
16. Gorilla wrote on April 11th, 2007 at 8:43 am
I find your ideas intriguing and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
Note: I prefer telegram to mimograph.
17. DanM wrote on April 11th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
JPMcKrengels,
Hey good one. Does your mother know your using her computer when she’s not home? Must be tough living in a basement apartment in your parents house at your age huh?
Isn’t Springsteen a little old for you anyway? Isn’t there a Nickelback gig you should be blabbing about somewhere? BTW, Chapin and Croce are dead. Maybe someone can explain so you can understand what I said. Loser.
DanM
18. JPMcKrengels wrote on April 11th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Dude, I’m 32. I’m married to hot chick and I own a home with 2 laptops actually. Besides my parents have a shitty PC with bad internet speed. And while not a huge fan, I’ve been listening to Springstien since the 80’s.
Come on man, don’t put all your faggity folk song guilt on me. Just go with it and find Michael Bacon and tell him how much you want him to hold you.
I won’t judge you, much.
And I know Croce and Chapin are dead. It was a joke at your expense. But you and Michael could always get out some old album covers, put a nice Croce or Chapin track, and rub one out together. Just a suggestion, since the 4 of you can’t be together on this mortal plane. As far as being a loser, I’m not the one that thinks The Bacon Brothers are good.
Jesus… you’re a douche bag.
It’s true, Michael Bacon told me so.
19. Peabs wrote on April 11th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
What’s funny is that JP is 55 years old.
20. Yale Bloor wrote on April 11th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
DanM aka Space Monkey aka bacon bro super groupie…I happen to like Mrs McKrengals so try and come up with some original insults, ie (”I know you are but what am I”) you should be banned from the back blog for poor taste and dressing funny, post your fan letters at www.baconbros.com, at least there they will be appreciated. and if possible let me know what drugs you took at that Bacon show (brown acid?) post your e-mail and I will forward a rar file of Footloose, the version with Ron Jeremy…
21. DanM wrote on April 12th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Is this what you blogger losers do all day long? Just try to last word everyone with sophmoric taunts because you always wanted to be the cool kids? Pathetic. Last posting, but you all need to get lives and grow up. The performance wasn’t that bad, it was a benefit, and they didn’t soil the sanctity of your masters work. Good luck with the puberty thing.
DanM
22. tennysol wrote on April 12th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
BEST EVER…fighting on the internet! Bacon vs. Cheese…the art of Folk singer three-ways, and defending sonic abortions! Here’s a little light on the subject…Bruce Springsteen is the greatest example behind Bob Dylan of turning shit into apple pie this country has ever experienced…some harmonically challenged cover for poor kids is apparently a good reason to argue…and as we all know…
23. Popular Science wrote on August 25th, 2007 at 3:19 am
Popular Science…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…