Cover Spotlight - "Dancing in the Dark" by Hot Chip

As with Nathaniel Rateliff, here we have another one of my personal favorite musicians covering one of my all-time favorite musicians.  I'm not sure whether that means Springsteen is highly influential across multiple genres and generations, or that I don't have a very diverse musical taste.  Either way, enjoy a version of "Dancing in the Dark" that sounds even more 80s than the original 80s version (and stick around towards the end for a surprise song change).

Cover Spotlight - "Atlantic City" by Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

COVER ROOM - Nathaniel Rateliff and The Nightsweats - Atlantic City from Chris Tartaro on Vimeo.

While "Atlantic City" isn't Springsteen's most famous song, it remains extremely popular among fans and other fellow musicians.  Its stark, romantic imagery has led to several covers, including this quite recent version by Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats.  Rateliff's version does owe a lot to The Band's interpretation, but it is still a terrific performance.

Big Man's Brew!

So, there I was, just minding my own business at a local bar, when suddenly a great gust broke down the doors!  Something powerful had arrived, that would change my life forever.

Yes, friends, that Big Man's Brew, an officially licensed beer to honor Clarence Clemons.  Unfortunately, I am in the middle of a Sober September, so I didn't get to try it, but I can assure you it is the greatest beer ever made by humans.  Rest assured, once my sobriety is complete, getting my hands on this beer will be my number 1 priority.  But the rest of you drunks have no excuse - go out and get one for the Big Man today! 

Springsteen at the Tony Awards

We've been lazy here at Legends of Springsteen, and should have posted this video months ago.  But, better late than never.  Here's the man himself giving us all a glimpse of the magic of Springsteen on Broadway (coming soon to Netflix subscribers everywhere).  Springsteen on Broadway was a great night for me, and the memory of the show only grows fonder with time.  Whether you can see it live or streaming, the clip above proves that it is definitely worth watching.

Bruce received a special Tony award that night, putting him one Emmy away from EGOTing.  Which, at this point, isn't a given - hopefully he can figure out a way to get a writing credit on Succession.

Great Moment In Springsteen Comic Book History - Guardians of the Galaxy #148

It's been a while, but the worlds of Springsteen and comics have finally crossed over again!  Unlike previous entries, I have not read Guardians of the Galaxy #148, so I don't know exactly the context.  I assume Drax is picking up the sax, to try to emulate his hero Clarence Clemons.  However, while listening, he is overwhelmed by the emotion of the song, and cannot continue.  Listening to the Big Man is a heart-wrenching moment for this particular big man.

Well, at least that's what I think.  I guess I could look up what exactly was happening, but where's the fun in that? 

Indie Spotlight - Lowlight's Born To Run EP

Call me a sucker for a good album name, but I've been recently turned on to Lowlight's Born To Run EP.  Hailing from the great Garden State themselves, and frequent guests on the Great Albums podcast, the other Born To Run isn't full of bombastic rockers, but rather slow, emotional ballads that make it the perfect companion for a lonely night-time drive.  Should you feel so inclined to check out and support the local New Jersey indie music scene, you can check out Lowlight's music and merchandise on their Bandcamp page. 

Great Moments in Springsteen Decor History - Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City

Earlier this month, I made a brief visit to the newly opened Hard Rock Casino in beautiful Atlantic City!  The place was very crowded, as it had only been open less than two weeks at the time, so I didn't stay very long.  You could spend all day combing the walls, which are adorned with various pieces of rock memorabilia like guitars and outfits.  However, the above mural took the cake.  Springsteen has previously been sneaky in his Atlantic City appearances, but there's no missing this masterpiece.

I'll have to go back soon to do a proper hunt for more Springsteen-ness within the Hard Rock Casino.  Seeing as fellow blog writer OB stayed on a Bon Jovi themed floor, I'm sure there's plenty more out there.

Cover Spotlight - "I'm On Fire" by the Staves

Tip of the hat to my wife for this one.  She has been raving about the Staves for some time now, and honestly, I wasn't paying much attention.  Then she said, "They do a cover of 'I'm On Fire'," and I was all ears!  Gotta say, it's pretty good!  Give it a listen, and get in touch with your feminine side.

The Gaslight Anthem's The '59 Sound - 10 Years Later

This week, the Ringer published an oral history on Gaslight Anthem's seminal album The '59 Sound, which you can read by clicking here.  It is long, but definitely worth the read, featuring quotes by our website's namesake.  I've written about the Gaslight Anthem many times on this website, and the article addresses the elephant in the room: their connection to Springsteen.  Being soulful rockers from Central Jersey, the comparisons were frequent.  But, it was both a blessing and a curse: while it helped expand their audience, it brought an avalanche of hype and expectations from the group going forward.  While I consider their albums American Slang and Handwritten to be classics, you could see how they were still under pressure to deliver a more mainstream, crossover success.  Anyway, the Gaslight Anthem are currently reunited and on tour, celebrating the 10 year anniversary of this album, and, yes, I do have my tickets for later this summer.

Great Moments in Springsteen Cinema History: Ready Player One

If you haven’t heard, Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Ready Player One is chock full of 1980s pop culture. This includes a host of instantly recognizable Top 40 pop songs from the decade. But then suddenly, surprisingly, amidst the traditional tunes, appears none other than Bruce Springsteen’s “Stand On It” – a lesser known b-side to "Glory Days" that was apparently released on the soundtrack to the Danny Devito comedy Ruthless People before also appearing on Tracks.

How did Spielberg choose this song – of all Springsteen songs, of all '80s songs – to feature in the movie? There’s plenty of evidence of Spielberg’s appreciation for the Boss. Whether it’s red carpet photo bombing, opening night seats at Springsteen on Broadway or vacations in Naples, Italy (with Daniel Day-Lewis in tow – imagine the conversations the three of them were having!). I like to imagine this was Spielberg’s first chance after decades of admiration to fit a Springsteen song into one of his movies, and he decided to use it as an opportunity to bring more attention to one of his personal favorites. Perhaps “Hungry Heart” or “Glory Days” would have felt too obvious for a Springsteen fanboy.

This is the beauty of the Bruce Springsteen catalogue. Beside the iconic pop hits, there’s a treasure trove of decade-specific songs just waiting to be rediscovered. I’d wager that the majority of Ready Player One audience members this past weekend were likely to hear “Stand On It” and recognize it as something distinctly created in the '80s without even noticing it’s Springsteen. Maybe you'd recognize his voice, but it sounds pretty different than his big hits. I like to think a contingent of that audience scrolled through the soundtrack listings and with pleasant surprise, developed a new appreciation for Springsteen.

Springsteen's back...in purse form!

In our never almost-ending quest to bring you all the random Springsteen-ness from across the globe, here is a Springsteen purse:

Found in a random store in New Hope, Pennsylvania, this Springsteen purse stands out among other rock legends such as Kiss, Prince, Queen, and Jack Skellington.  

I did not buy it.  Thanks for reading!

Legends of Springsteen's Legendary Super Bowl Picks!

Sure, this blog is just sputtering along, with only a handful of posts the last six months.  But, never fear!  We're back, with what you've all been craving: our Super Bowl picks!  Let 'er rip:

OB: Patriots 34, Eagles 28 (Overall 3-3)

Rory: Patriots 23, Eagles 20 (Overall 3-3)

Steve: Patriots 45, Eagles 7 (Overall 3-3)

There you have it.  With a combined record of 9-9, you can take those picks to the bank.  Or don't take them.  Let's end with something by quasi-related:

Enjoy the big game!

Hidden Bruce in Bally's Atlantic City!

(Click to embiggen!)

Theme park goers may be familiar with the concept of "Hidden Mickeys" at Disney parks.  Basically, the theme park designers hidden Mickey heads throughout the park, only to be spotted by the most eagle-eyed Disney fanatics.  Well, I think I may have found the first every "Hidden Bruce", in none other than my favorite stomping ground, Atlantic City!

Just look at the glorious mural above!  That, my friends, is located in Bally's, just behind Harry's Oyster Bar, brightening an otherwise dank hallway where casino-goers wait for a shuttle to Harrah's.  This glorious mural/potential back tattoo features many legends of New Jersey enjoying the Atlantic City beach, from Frankie Valli to Shaquille O'Neal.  And, who are those two handsome gentlemen bopping together in the lower left?

Why, it's our boy Bruce, and....Bon Jovi I want to say?  Judging by his appearance (as well as Shaq's Lakers jersey), I'd date this work of art as going back to the late 90s/early 00s.

Either way, I want this hanging on my wall.  And as my permanent Christmas card.

As I've clearly run out of things to write about on this blog, I will keep an eye out for all the "Hidden Bruces" I can find.  You're welcome.