Results tagged “brucespringsteen”

                            

"Hey, bro, take my photo! I'm addicted to adrenaline and I burst all the blood vessels in my eye doing back flips!" Such are the strange, close encounters that happen every few steps while one wanders the 700-acres of Tennessee farmland crawling with 75,000 people during this weekend's Bonnaroo music festival. Time and space don't permit a full accounting of all the bizarre sights, sounds, and smells observed during our three days here (there's still one last afternoon of Snoop Dogg, Andrew Bird, Erykah Badu, and Phish ahead), but click through on the photos here for a glimpse at the recession-defying bacchanal. (The adrenaline addict is in there somewhere.)

For better or worse, American Idol has done its part to change with the times over the last few seasons. The show, for the most part, has gotten away from plucking the most inoffensive generic pop stars from the masses, and settled in on some acts with actual personality. While there is still plenty of room for the Danny Gorkey cheeseballs of the world to give it a go, the final two this year boiled down to emo-glam vs. sensitive lite-rock. While these are by no means underrepresented genres in today’s pop landscape, it does take the show into a new direction. And yet, despite his rabid fanbase, Adam Lambert fell short of Kris Allen's more conventional look and approach. It still feels nearly a half decade behind the curve, and there are numerous peripheral issues with the show, but it does seem to live and evolve with the times, which is better than most shows that have come and gone before it.

Down on the boardwalk, they're getting ready for a fight. Yesterday down in a Toms River courthouse, a judge ruled that the divorce proceedings that outed Bruce Springsteen as an accused homewrecker will stay public.

Bruce Springsteen has doled out his Halloween treat before the sun has even gone down. The Boss posted a song called "A Night with the Jersey Devil," and a video in which he is the infamous hooved and bat winged creature (though a much more dapper interpretation). He left a note for his fans as well, saying: "If you grew up in central or south Jersey you grew up with the Jersey Devil. Here's a little musical Halloween treat. Have fun!" 1010 WINS notes that, "Springsteen earlier this week announced he and his wife decided not to hold their annual elaborate Halloween display at their Rumson mansion. The couple said they were worried about people's safety because the event was attracting too many visitors."

Last night both Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel took the stage for Barack Obama at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The Daily News reports back that the two were "singing together for the first time ... to the delight of 2,500 people at the fund-raiser." The Boss told the audience to "Palin-ize" their expectations for the night, since the two had only rehearsed a little. Michelle Obama looked on from a balcony, as everyone was urged to "rise up and take back this country." The good seats cost $10K, and the likes of Anna Wintour and Harvey Weinstein were on hand, while Marc Jacobs-designed Obama tees were being peddled at the merch table. Joel invited his daughter Alexa Ray onstage and thanked "Sen. Obama for finally getting my kid into politics." Obama himself appeared on stage around 11:30 p.m., and warned the audience: "Don't underestimate the capacity of Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Don't underestimate our ability to screw it up. I want everybody running scared."

Tickets to the upcoming Bruce Springsteen/Billy Joel "Change Rocks" fundraiser concert for Barack Obama are being scalped (shocking!). Tickets already cost $500 to $10,000--and even though the latter are still available, scalpers are hiking up the prices to as much as $25,000! The Campaign Silo reports that ticket scalping breaks campaign finance laws, and "fans who use scalpers could be complicit." David Donnelly of Campaign Money Watch explained, "If someone purchases tickets for the express purpose of reselling them rather than to make a contribution to Obama or the DNC, they appear to be breaking the law." There are other ins and outs to the legality of ticket purchases, but the only legal way to do so is through Obama's website. The show, at the Hammerstein Ballroom, is one day after the final presidential debate, and it's rumored that Obama himself may make an appearance.

It was announced this week that two local legends will be joining forces for a concert in the name of Barack Obama. Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen, neither a stranger to individually selling out multiple nights at stadiums around the country, will co-headline the relatively intimate Hammerstein Ballroom on October 16th. This will go down one night after the final presidential debate at Long Island's Hofstra University, kicking off the campaign’s home stretch leading up to Election Day. Tickets range from $500 for the nosebleeds to $10,000 premiere "lounge" seats, and are still available here, though it appears the, ahem, cheap seats have already sold out.

Following Billy Joel's two-night performance bidding farewell to Shea Stadium, rumors are whirling around who the Yankees might book for their goodbye in November. The Daily News reports that George Steinbrenner is looking to the other The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen, for the closing ceremony extravaganza--but another rumor is pointing at former Beatle Paul McCartney. If it's true, wouldn't he be turning his back on Shea, where he first played the U.S. 43 years ago (and played again last month with Joel)? The News also notes that "sources close to both rockers weren't aware of any discussions." Can't wait for the Madonna/Lenny Kravitz double-bill rumor! Now that would awkward.

Mayor Bloomberg and NFL Commissioner Roger Gooddell announced today that NYC will host the "NFL Opening Kickoff 2008," to celebrate the Giants' Super Bowl win and commence the 89th season of the NFL. There will be a free concert at Columbus Circle on September 4--with Usher and Keith Urban. Previously, NYC hosted a kickoff event in 2002 in Times Square, with Bon Jovi, Enrique Iglesis, Alicia Keys, Eve and the cast of Rent. More details will be released later (like the exact time), but at this point, the city says, "Fans will be able to enter the concert on 58th Street and 7th Avenue and will line up along Central Park South." And early reports are in that Bruce Springsteen will rock the next Super Bowl.

Take football away, and it would seem that Giants Stadium was practically built to host mammoth Bruce Springsteen concerts. The Boss took up a mini residency this week at the 80,000 seat concrete coliseum, making his earlier MSG shows seem intimate in comparison. With the possible exception of Bon Jovi, who has moved into Manhattan for greater lawns, no other performer could command such crowds across the Hudson, selling nearly a quarter of a million tickets over the three day run. Fans know that Bruce and his band aren't getting any younger, and while showing no signs of slowing down, nothing lasts forever. Catch them while they can still perform at this level.

When the Bergen Record revealed that Senator Frank Lautenberg wanted to buy $108 tickets to Bruce Springsteen's Giants stadium concert--and then "sell" them at $1,500 a pop to potential donors--sparking outrage, the NJ Sports and Exposition Authority decided not to allow the campaign to buy the tickets. The agency has typically allowed the powerful to get coveted seats (in this case, they would have been at the 40-yard line) at cost. A Lautenberg spokesperson it would ask the NJSEA "to re-examine its practice of reserving tickets, in order to ensure that its tickets are available to all New Jersey residents, not just to VIPs." The Record, though, points out "the Lautenberg campaign seemed to have been perfectly content to take the traditional route through the Sports Authority’s back-door box office until the issue became public."

Like Russell Simmons and Ronald McDonald before him, Bruce Springsteen has come out to officially endorse Barack Obama for president.

In 1965 The Beatles performed at Shea Stadium (video), beginning a tradition of rock on the ball field. Sadly, they won't be around to bookend the life of the stadium, which opened its doors on April 17th, 1964 and gets torn down after the 2008 season.

Naked Guy at Ted Leo Concert It's a tad early for year end awards, but this story is making a strong, late push for the greatest live moment of 2007. At the Ted Leo show at The Music Hall of Williamsburg Wednesday night, some dude from Jersey took off his shirt and threw it on the stage. Not satisfied with merely being topless in a crowd on that snowy night, he eventually followed the shirt...

A look at some noteworthy television this week: Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (Sunday, 8:00 p.m., HBO) A look at America's favorite insult comic and last surviving member of the “Rat Pack”, the octogenarian Don Rickles from director John Landis. Everyone from Chris Rock to Bob Newhart to Clint Eastwood to Sidney Poitier talk about the comic. 1968 (Sunday, 9:00 p.m., History Channel) 1968 was a turbulent and tragic year and Tom Brokaw not...

In the final year of baseball in Yankee Stadium, the legendary park will host the 2008 All-Star Game. In its 45th and final year, what does Shea Stadium get? A commemorative logo from the New York Mets. Fitting for the multi-purpose stadium that is a relic of the 1960s. Today, the Mets, the stadium's primary occupant since it opened in 1964, unveiled a logo that players will wear on their sleeves during the 2008 season....

Brand New didn't have to be at CMJ this year. The band doesn't have a new album coming out, they headline shows at Hammerstein Ballroom and have sold millions of records. So why did Jesse and Vin stay behind to play an acoustic set at Mercury Lounge? They wanted to support their good friends in local indie band Aeroplane Pageant, who were playing a showcase after them Tuesday night. A noble gesture, no doubt. The duo played a handful of stripped down gems off their three albums to a CMJ crowd that may not have normally given these guys a listen. A bold move, capped with a risky but impressive Neutral Milk Hotel cover, these guy likely made a few new fans that night. (pic via The Syndicate's flickr)

READING: We've been gushing over filmmaker, performing artist and writer, Miranda July's new book (and its accompanying website), No One Belongs Here More that You. Tonight she reads from her collection of short stories at Paula Cooper Gallery. There she is at left, typing away, and you can listen to her reading on her MySpace.

The Dictators 1978 album Bloodbrothers was shot by Chris Colln in a New York City school yard. The front is shown at right, the back can be seen here.

Almost five months after Yankee pitcher Cory Lidle's private plane crashed into an Upper East Side apartment building, a couple is suing Lidle's widow and estate for $7 million. Larry Rosenthal, a dentist, and his wife, whose apartment was damaged, claim that Lidle was "reckless, careless and negligent." The Rosenthals' lawyer said, "If you're not an experienced pilot, you don't belong on the East River with skyscrapers on either side."

This picture makes it look like Corn Mo should be singing Love Reign O'Er Me. And if you've ever seen Corn Mo, you know that he can hit those notes as well as Roger Daltrey. You also know that Corn Mo is quite the story teller, and you'll get a few tasty Mo-resels in this interview.

I saw Zach Galifianakis(Comedy Central Presents, Comedians of Comedy, Dog Bites Man) at the UCB theater a few months ago and he was going some crowd work. Some lady said something, I don't remember what, but Zach's response was, "Don't get me farted." From that, you can gather two things: Zach Galifianakis is a comedic genius and you should definitely see him at Irving Plaza on the 24th of February.

There hasn't been much going on to mark the occassion, but The Daily News put together a Top 10 list of their favorite Letterman moments over the years. Their picks include Madonna's 1994 appearance in which she "dropped 13 F-bombs", Britney breaking the news she was pregnant with a 2nd child just last year and of course Drew Barrymore who came on the show and flashed Letterman in 1995.

It's hard to believe Run DMC's "Christmas in Hollis" came out almost 20 years ago. The song was included on the 1987 A Very Special Christmas album, the first in a series of compilations to benefit the Special Olympics. Also on that cd (which included cover art by Keith Haring): Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band singing "Merry Christmas Baby". Happy Holidays!

We've heard Mayor Bloomberg speak (Mayor Monotone!), so after reading the lyrics to "Born to Run" as he and his staff performed it at the Mayor's staff holiday party, the idea of him singing was both frightening and irresistible. But now the NY Times reveals why government holiday parties really should become part of the public record:

At the annual holiday party for his staff on Thursday night, Mr. Bloomberg, wearing a T-shirt, jeans, mullet wig and bandanna, performed his own version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run,” imagining a successful campaign for president ending with a White House “painted saffron by Christo” and Washington playing host to the Olympics.

Continue reading "Mayor Mullet Sings"

A whole bunch of bands just came together to pay tribute to Bob Dylan. Here's some video from that tribute show, of Phil Lesh and Warren Haynes singing "Thunder on the Mountain". Also on hand were Patti Smith, Ryan Adams, Philip Glass, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Cat Power, and many more.

Bruni three-stars L'Atelier Joel Robuchon. While "it hit the ground limping," he says, "it improved quickly and greatly, and your focus can now fall on its mostly exhilarating food." He also finds at L'Atelier a new contender for the city's best haute burger: made with Kobe beef, foie gras, caramelized peppers and brioche buns.

Brooklyn Vegan (via Reuters) reports that New York's Hit Factory studio will be turned into condos. The building, which is on West 54th Street between Ninth and 10th, closed in 2005. Prior to that musicians like John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Madonna and U2 recorded there. This place should be a museum, not someone's $1 million bachelor pad.

We don't kow whether to cheer or chastise after hearing that a musical of Nick Hornby's book, High Fidelity, will be coming to Broadway this December. We can see it now: A recurring song called "Top Five List," a ballad about Laura, an ensemble dance piece at the end when Rob opens the club. The musical will be set in New York City, which makes it the third stop for the concept (book was in England, movie was in Chicago), which makes us wonder if songs mentioned in the book, like Katrina and Waves' Walking on Sunshine (in both the book and movie) or anything Bruce Springsteen-related, will make it to the Great White Way. The record for rock/pop on Broadway is pretty mixed - for every Mamma Mia or Movin' Out, you've got a Lennon, Good Vibrations and All Shook Up. Hmm, the more we think about it, what with bringing The Wedding Singer to Broadway, it seems like producers are desperately trying to reach the 18-34 - heck, the 25-45, year old male demographic. But will it work?

Shari Goldhagen, Author, Family and Other Accidents