Seems like The Gaslight Anthem has had a youthful, positive influence on Bruce and given him a bit of a kick in the ass.

Had to put in a good ten listens before I loved the new track. But...I love it now.

Part of me feels like this will be Springsteen's 'this machine kills fascists' Pete Seeger/Woody Guthrie record. The political undertones of We Take Care of Our Own and Wrecking Ball are apparent, but I think they are broad enough to appeal to everyone. Their is spite and anger, but there is also pride in country. It feels like this could be another Born in the USA and The Rising...i.e. albums that perfectly captured their time and become mega hits.

Of course, I've only heard one track and a live version of another...

Always excited for the Boss.

I totally get the comparison of those two albums to Woody/Pete records...but Nebraska/Joad/Devils don't have the 'feeling' I'm thinking of. Yes, they are political and acoustic and obviously influenced by folk music (Joad in particular)...but this new one has the rousing, sing along Woody/Seeger aspect I'm associate with those old guys. Maybe that's what I meant.

I'm not trying to be a smartass but he's done the 'this machine kills fascists' Pete Seeger/Woody Guthrie record thing to death for the last 30 years. In fact he's even made an album that is exactly that.

Yeah, but he wrote the songs of this one. Agree to disagree?

The only time I saw Bruce in concert was back in 1992. I thought I had gotten lousy seats, because I was facing the back of the stage! My group was essentially looking at the back of Bruce's head. But Springsteen is a statesman! A true gentleman, a sport, and a great all-around guy...know why? Because every so often, he turned around and faced us! I thought that was real class.

I'd love to see him and his 3+hour concert again. I would take my wife (who's never been), and try and get better seats this time.

Speaking of Bruce live, does anyone know why the sound on all the E Street Radio XM concerts sound so terrible? I mean sure, the 1977 stuff sounds awful and was probably taken off a bootleg tape deck recording, but even the late 2000's stuff sounds as muddy as swamp water and I have no idea why. Aren't they recording digitally off the mixing board?

U.S. Tour dates announced...nothing close to me

US Tour Dates
March 18 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena (on sale Feb 4)
March 19 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum (on sale Feb 3)
March 23 - Tampa, FL - Tampa Bay Times Forum (on sale Jan 28)
March 26 - Boston, MA - TD Garden (on sale Jan 28)
March 28 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center (on sale Jan 28)
March 29 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center (on sale Jan 28)
April 1 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center (on sale Jan 28)
April 3 - East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center (on sale Jan 27)
April 4 - East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center (on sale Jan 27)
April 6 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden (on sale Jan 27)
April 9 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden (on sale Jan 27)
April 12 - Detroit, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills (on sale Jan 28)
April 13 - Buffalo, NY - First Niagara Center (on sale Jan 28)
April 16 - Albany, NY - Times Union Center (on sale Jan 28)
April 17 - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena (on sale Jan 28)
April 24 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion (on sale Feb 3)
April 26 - Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (on sale Feb 3)
April 29 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (on sale now)
May 2 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center (on sale Jan 27)

Hopefully more dates are announced later..

Albany for me on April 16th!

I'm gonna try for April 1 in DC, last couple shows here have sold out super fast.

Of course no Vegas dates. Maybe on the second leg?
Best concert I ever saw in my life was Bruce & the E Street Band at the L.A. Sports Arena in 1988. It was a dump even then. Can't imagine it's much better now.

Huge Bruce fan. I will try to get to atleast 5 or 6 of these...

March 28 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center (on sale Jan 28)
March 29 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center (on sale Jan 28)
April 3 - East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center (on sale Jan 27)
April 4 - East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center (on sale Jan 27)
April 6 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden (on sale Jan 27)
April 9 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden (on sale Jan 27)
May 2 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center (on sale Jan 27)

must be nice living in areas like New York or California that get most major concerts. Would love to go to more.

I see Bruce still likes paying the old run down LA Sports Arena. I saw him there 30 years ago and I don't think it's been worked on since.

Got GA floor tix for DC! Hell Motherfuckin' Yeah!

Is Anybody Alive Out There?

Congrats. Be sure to post here right after the show!
I'm almost tempted to make the LA trip to see him, but not for that dump (the Sports Arena). Hope he makes a more dates out west on the second leg. Also hope XM can broadcast some of the concerts without it sounding like shit.

Got tix for pretty much all the ones I said I would. GA for both Izods and Prudential. Lower Reserved for MSG. Still on the hunt for 1 GA to Philly Night 2.

got 2 for both Izods. one in section 122 and one in 123.

i'm impressed that Dex got those seats with all the ticketmaster issues. i had 2 PCs, an iphone and ipad all going at the same time.

Izod wasnt an issue for me. I got in right away with the GAs and was done in 2 minutes. Prudential was an issue...but I could tell that from what was going on that NOBODY was getting tickets, not only for Bruce but for anything on Ticketmaster. Once they refreshed their server around 11:45 I knew it was go time. I started it up again and got my GAs for that. MSG is a hard ticket regardless, and I wasnt expecting to get GAs for it especially when its only half the floor. I just took what I could get. One in section 118 and one in section 225. I had a rough time getting Philly tickets, but I'm not too bummed about it.

Add me to those surprised that he's actually touring with the E Street Band after the loss of Clemons.

The new song: only listened to it once, but my reaction is meh. I'm hoping that this is Wrecking Ball's equivalent to Radio Nowhere, a song I still don't think is all that great, although I like a lot of the other songs on Magic. Perhaps it will grow on me.

I never miss a Springsteen album though, as I am addicted to his music, so I will buy it. What I really want though are more concerts on BD in lossless audio.

Guess we'll find out how they are going to replace Clarence at the Grammys. I'm guessing the Seeger Session horn section:

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND SET TO PERFORM ON THE 54TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS®
Just announced: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform live on this year's Grammy Awards®, to be broadcast on CBS Sunday, Feb. 12, 8 ET/PT

Bruce Springsteen's new album 'Wrecking Ball' has been set for March 6 release on Columbia Records. Marking his 17th studio album, 'Wrecking Ball' features 11 new Springsteen songs and was produced by Ron Aniello with Bruce Springsteen and executive producer Jon Landau. A special edition of 'Wrecking Ball' will also be available and include two bonus tracks and exclusive artwork and photography.

'Wrecking Ball' Song Titles:

We Take Care of Our Own
Easy Money
Shackled and Drawn
Jack of All Trades
Death to My Hometown
This Depression
Wrecking Ball
You've Got It
Rocky Ground
Land of Hope and Dreams
We Are Alive

Said long-time manager Jon Landau, "Bruce has dug down as deep as he can to come up with this vision of modern life. The lyrics tell a story you can't hear anywhere else and the music is his most innovative in recent years. The writing is some of the best of his career and both veteran fans and those who are new to Bruce will find much to love on 'Wrecking Ball.'"

I don't think it has been officially announced yet but I'm pretty sure they are bringing on Southside Johnny's horn section.

Yeah, I'd hate to see a show in a place with a dirty roof.

Your venue is in better shape than my old favorite