Springsteen, E Street Band to play benefit shows
Posted: Tuesday, September 25, 2007
ASBURY PARK, N.J. (AP) -- Bruce Springsteen is performing two benefit rehearsal shows on the city's boardwalk this week to give fans a preview of his new album and upcoming tour.
The shows, set for Monday and Tuesday night at the oceanfront Convention Hall, quickly sold out, with fans paying $100 to hear the Garden State's favorite son perform on his home turf.
Fans young and old gathered in warm sunshine on the boardwalk outside the hall hours before Monday's show.
"I think it's rare that you get any musician who appeals to so many generations," said Dara Webster, 34, of Westport, Conn. She was there with her 63-year-old mother, Maida Webster.
The elder Webster, a retired social worker from New Canaan, Conn., was attending her 20th Springsteen show. "I think he speaks from the heart," Maida Webster said. "He's down to earth."
Those without tickets hoped to be included in the group of 100 people traditionally given last-minute admission. Standing among 300 hopefuls, Kevin Statesir, 52, a nightclub owner from Burlington, Vt., said he wasn't optimistic.
The hall isn't far from the clubs -- many now closed -- where Springsteen and the E Street Band rose to fame in the 1970s. Springsteen has used Convention Hall for other pre-tour rehearsals.
A native of nearby Freehold, the 58-year-old rocker still lives in Monmouth County.
Springsteen and the band are to begin a tour in support of their new album, "Magic," which is due out Oct. 2. The tour opens with a show in Hartford, Conn., that night.
Other dates include Oct. 9-10 at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J., and Oct. 17-18 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
"Magic" is the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's first album with his longtime New Jersey mates since the Sept. 11-inspired "The Rising" in 2002. Their 15-month tour in support of the album has sold out stadiums and arenas around the globe.
Aside from the atmospheric title track, "Magic" returns Springsteen to rock 'n' roll, and all 11 songs are new. He released a solo acoustic effort, "Devils & Dust," in 2005 and the folk-inspired "The Seeger Sessions" last year.
"Magic" features guitarists Steve Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren, bassist Garry Tallent, drummer Max Weinberg, keyboardists Danny Federici and Roy Bittan, "Big Man" Clarence Clemons on saxophone, violinist Soozie Tyrell and vocalist Patti Scialfa, Springsteen's wife.
On the Net:
Bruce Springsteen:
http://www.brucespringsteen.net/
The shows, set for Monday and Tuesday night at the oceanfront Convention Hall, quickly sold out, with fans paying $100 to hear the Garden State's favorite son perform on his home turf.
Fans young and old gathered in warm sunshine on the boardwalk outside the hall hours before Monday's show.
"I think it's rare that you get any musician who appeals to so many generations," said Dara Webster, 34, of Westport, Conn. She was there with her 63-year-old mother, Maida Webster.
The elder Webster, a retired social worker from New Canaan, Conn., was attending her 20th Springsteen show. "I think he speaks from the heart," Maida Webster said. "He's down to earth."
Those without tickets hoped to be included in the group of 100 people traditionally given last-minute admission. Standing among 300 hopefuls, Kevin Statesir, 52, a nightclub owner from Burlington, Vt., said he wasn't optimistic.
The hall isn't far from the clubs -- many now closed -- where Springsteen and the E Street Band rose to fame in the 1970s. Springsteen has used Convention Hall for other pre-tour rehearsals.
A native of nearby Freehold, the 58-year-old rocker still lives in Monmouth County.
Springsteen and the band are to begin a tour in support of their new album, "Magic," which is due out Oct. 2. The tour opens with a show in Hartford, Conn., that night.
Other dates include Oct. 9-10 at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J., and Oct. 17-18 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
"Magic" is the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's first album with his longtime New Jersey mates since the Sept. 11-inspired "The Rising" in 2002. Their 15-month tour in support of the album has sold out stadiums and arenas around the globe.
Aside from the atmospheric title track, "Magic" returns Springsteen to rock 'n' roll, and all 11 songs are new. He released a solo acoustic effort, "Devils & Dust," in 2005 and the folk-inspired "The Seeger Sessions" last year.
"Magic" features guitarists Steve Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren, bassist Garry Tallent, drummer Max Weinberg, keyboardists Danny Federici and Roy Bittan, "Big Man" Clarence Clemons on saxophone, violinist Soozie Tyrell and vocalist Patti Scialfa, Springsteen's wife.
On the Net:
Bruce Springsteen:
http://www.brucespringsteen.net/
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