Song Spotlight - "Frankie Teardrop" by Suicide

In doing my research for last week's Nebraska review, I came upon the note that Springsteen's "State Trooper" was heavily influenced by Suicide's "Frankie Teardrop".  This is not the first time that I've seen the Suicide-Springsteen connection, as Bruce's "Dream Baby Dream" has been frequently discussed on the blog.  However, I was still unfamiliar with Suicide, so I dove right in with the above song, having no idea what I would be getting myself into.  "Frankie Teardrop" is a frightening, experimental track, featuring monstrous screams and a maddening drone that makes the song almost too brutal to play in a haunted house.  It is not for the faint of heart, but, as the wannabe Springsteen historian that I am, it is interesting to hear this song and see how it shaped "State Trooper" (i.e. the screams and the slow, repetitive rhythm) and Nebraska as a whole (with multiple tales of murder).

Concert Review: The Killers, Brooklyn, NY (05/18/2013)

I've always heard that The Killers were enormously influenced by Springsteen, and if you loved Bruce, you'll love The Killers.  I just never believed it.  Until I saw them live...

A little personal history first.  I was late to get into The Killers.  In 2004, when all my friends were raving about this new album, Hot Fuss, I wasn't really into it.  Sure the single from it "Somebody Told Me" was fairly catchy, but I was sure NYC rock radio stations would outplay it that summer, which they did.  When they followed it up with another huge single, "Mr. Brightside", I simply thought "Ok, they are not 1 hit wonders.  But they're not Metallica, so no need to get overexcited about them like some of my friends were."  They weren't Metallica, and they weren't trying to be.  I just didn't understand that at the time.  

Next year, when they released Sam's Town, highlighted by the hit single "When You Were Young", I stopped being so negative and acknowledged that The Killers were for real and deserved a listen.  It was around this time, while reading reviews of Sam's Town, that I started reading about how much you can tell the influence of Bruce in their music.  I went out and bought Sam's Town and Hot Fuss.  And I was underwhelmed...Sure, they were good (not great) albums, but Ijust didn't hear any Bruce influence.  I was actually a little disappointed in myself, thinking I'd bought into the hype around this band.  Their next album, Day and Age, again I liked a lot, but I would still barely even acknowledge that I was a Killers fan.  Then this past September, when I head "Runaways", I realized two things: This was the first time I really, truly loved a Killers song.  And this was the first time I heard a clear Springsteen influence.  When they released the album, Battle Born, and I listened to it in its entirety, I was seriously impressed.  It was a solid album, and I thought to myself, "I really am a fan of this band."

It was with that mindset, that I went and bought tickets to see them for the first time at  this past weekend at The Barclays Center in Brooklyn.  I went with my buddy Tom.  Tom and I have the exact vice-versa feelings when it comes to Bruce and The Killers.  Tom LOVES The Killers, I'm pretty sure they are his favorite band, and while he definitely likes and respects Bruce, he's not obsessed like I am.  I like and respect The Killers, but they are miles away from my level of Bruce fandom.  However, after seeing them live I absolutely gained a new appreciation for them as their own separate band but also as them being  fans of Springsteen(Ironically enough, it was taking Tom to his first Bruce concert that got really got him into in Springsteen.)  

Yes, the Springsteen influence could be felt right from the start.  When their lead singer, Brandon Flowers, walked out with zero fanfare and played solo piano piece "Enterlude" right into "When You Were Young", with the house lights still on, in that same  "1,2 punch" that it is on Sam's Town, I thought "straight from Bruce's playbook.  Very nice."  When Flowers addressed the crowd, and said "It's Saturday night, and you knew The Killers were in town!  So don't tell me you forgot to bring your dancing shoes!"  as the intro for "From Here On Out"(one of the best songs on the new album), it was "Springsteen 101".  When he got the fans chant along "Woah oh oh oh oh ohhhh" during "Spaceman", it was like hearing Bruce get the crowd into "Badlands".  Flowers also gave the band the same, over the top, but sincerely heartfelt, introductions that Bruce gives the boys and girls from E Street.  Even hearing certain lyrics, just reminded me of Bruce's songwriting style.  For example:

"Should our paths ever decide to cross
You may wonder what the trouble cost
That don't matter now, life goes on
Hallelujah, the troubles' gone"

("From Here On Out", Battle Born)

Tell me that's influenced by a guy who just has Darkness On The Edge Of Town on repeat, and I'll call you a liar!

It's hard to explain without being their live, which is the best endorsement I can give The Killers.  If you're a fan of rock and roll music, you really owe it to yourself to see them live.  We had awful seats, and that's what I was most annoyed about.  I wanted to be down on the lower levels, closer to the stage to really get into those songs.  I know all great lead singers find a way to interact with that crowd but Flowers has a certain "Springsteen-esque" quality that has to be seen.  Speaking of Flowers, he is easily one of the best lead singers I've heard live.  He hit every note, and gave it his all for the entire concert without showing any signs of struggle. 

I've been listening to their four studio albums non-stop since Saturday night, and I feel like such a dummy for never hearing the Springsteen influence before.  Seriously,I don't know how I didn't know songs like "Dustland Fairytale" and "For Reason Unknown" are descended from a band that truly loves Born To Run.  

If you're on this blog, clearly you're a fan of Bruce.  In which case I definitely would say they are worth the money to see live, and if you have the means, spend a little extra for good seats.  You won't be disappointed.

Springsteen Video Of The Week- "It's Been A Long Time"

"It's Been A Long Time"- Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes (Featuring Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Van Zandt)

Ah Southside Johnny, the other guy who made Asbury Park famous.  In a more perfect world, Southside Johnny would be much more famous, but unfortunately that's just not the case.  Southside Johnny was a major influence on Bruce and Bon Jovi and is barely known outside of South Jersey, while Bruce and Jon tour the world playing major stadiums.  However even though he's a fraction as popular as Springsteen and Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes have legions of their own fans and they're as hardcore about him, as we are about Bruce.  And it doesn't hurt to have Bruce Springsteen as one of your biggest fans.

It was actually this song that introduced me to Southside Johnny.  I had heard his name mentioned before, however didn't know much about him.  But I came across this video a few years back on YouTube, and liked it so much that I immediately bought Southside's Better Days album, which featured this song.  And ever since then, I have called myself a fan of Southside Johnny.