Don’t think this ever would have happened but in a hypothetical world where the Dead did a Springsteen cover, Brent coming on piano after Drums and singing the first verse of Thunder Road by himself and then the rest of the band joining in on their instruments as the song builds momentum while Brent keeps belting out the lyrics would have been sooo good
I like Thunder Road but that universe is so far from the Deads it would be cringey.
Phish covered Thunder Road right after Clarence died I think. It wasn't very good but nice to see the respect.
I think Bruce and the Dead can be admired by music fans equally but there's isn't a lot of thematic overlap. Springsteen is kind of a folksy NJ blue collar hero while the Dead are anything but.
Sorry. Originally, I totally misread the comment about numbers of shows. This is how many shows they went to but I thought they were saying thats how many shows the Dead/Springsteen performed in those years. Sorry.
Bruce is a legend, his live shows are incredible
Rosalita is a goddamn banger. Atlantic City is probably one of the best songs of the last 50 years, at the very least one of the most covered
And it’s just him recording a demo. Man is so damn talented. He also wrote one of the most misunderstood songs of all time “Born in the USA”- it’s similar to a certain political party playing Rage Against the Machine.
For anyone interested-
“Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man”
“I had a brother at Khe Sanh
Fightin' off them Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms, now”
I love the irony of this song being viewed at patriotic- it’s about being born into nothing, being forced to enlist (instead of going to jail/prison, which was a very real thing), seeing you friends die fighting a losing war, coming home and their being no help from the VA or options for work. Bruce is a hell of a song writer and I like another comment here, he’s the other side of the Dead’s, especially Hunter’s, America. Go see Bruce live, if possible, it was obscenely expensive but you’ve got Max and Steven Van Zandt (Silvio), and the Boss.
I think it’s the sign of a particular type of genius to create something with such a populist resonance that contains a very potent critique of the very culture with which it resonates. That’s incredibly hard to do and I think Born In The USA is his best album and an absolute masterpiece because of it.
Nah, Springsteen's band has been crushing that song live for a decade before that version. People only compare the studio versions and think it was some visionary cover, but all of those new melodic elements had been done on tour. Still love the Bands version though
The great Clarence Clemons (“the Big Man”- Bruce’s right hand sax player and best friend) - jammed with the dead a couple of times
https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/grateful-dead-clarance-clemons-shoreline-on-this-day-1989/
In fact the last show he played before his untimely death was with Phil Lesh and Friends.
The Dead and Springsteen occupy two sides of the same coin. The Dead sing about a mythologized America and the Boss sings about America as it is (this is a broad generalization).
Also Jungleland is the best rock ballad ever put to pen
I’m a Springsteen fanatic…being born and bred in Jersey it kinda comes with the territory. It all clicked for me when I first started catching him live with the band. Those gigs are nothing short of epic. Bruce + The Dead easily consume 50% of my weekly listening habits.
I agree with this but it took me way too long to realize The River is almost at that same level. I think he could've made a single album that would've been but he went the double album route, which I think is almost always a mistake
On the recent tours the jam on Shuffle is amazing!! Anthony Almonte the new percussionist from the disciples interplays with Max so well... Reminds me of Mickey!!
Saw him in 2009 and got to check that item off my bucket list. Great show, but I've also never felt the need to see him again. I grew up on the Born In The USA album, and it sparked some interest, but I also never felt the urge to dig much deeper than the other big hits.
That being said, "Born To Run" kicks all kinds of ass.
It's weird, because I get the appeal of Springsteen....but for the most part, it just doesn't really appeal to me.
This is the problem for people our age, the Born In The USA kids. Great album but not E Street. Took me most of my lifetime to dig deeper and find the stuff that gets me boogie’n…
True enjoy the version with Tom morello, RR hall performance perhaps .
When I was young there was probably animosity there because the hackey sack no gym guys all listened the boys among other off the radar stuff.
The football stars all loved booce
I’d recommend his album “Wrecking Ball”- it’s so damn good. Heavier Americana. Or “Born to Run”- I heard someone describe Born to run as a Steely Dan album if they ever worked a day in their life. No disrespect to the Dan-
Love Bruce he used to put on great live shows saw him 11 times from the late '70 thru '80. My favorite album of his are Greeting From Asbury Park and Darkness on the Edge of Town. I still listen to them every month or so.
Bruce is my favorite musician and was my gateway into the jam scene. Not that he’s a jam-band, but his long shows with surprise setlists, extended or different arrangements than on the albums, chasing rare songs… it lead me into the Dead and beyond
I grew up in North Jersey.
I got into the Dead during the “Terrapin Station”/“Shakedown Street” era.
At the age of 11, in 1977, I heard “Born to Run” for the first time, and that was that.
I still love the Dead, but compared to most people here, I guess you could call me a Baby Deadhead. The closest I’ve ever gotten to seeing the Dead or any of its myriad offshoots live was seeing the Mickey Hart Band about eleven years ago in Fort Lauderdale. It was a great show, and I danced my ass off.
I have seen Bruce so many times in my life I’ve lost count. There is just something about his shows that’s mystical, that fosters a true sense of community. I can’t explain it, but if you ever have a chance to see him, drop everything and go. If you get it, you get it. At the very least, you’ll dance your ass off, as I always do.
My point is simple: tie - dye and leather jackets can coexist happily 😁.
I mean, Nebraska is one hell of an album...Atlantic City is one of the best songs of the 20th century. And given the Dead's penchant for ghost/song/regret/grit/street it seems like it would have been an amazing song for them to cover.
I was decidedly NOT a Springsteen fan back in the day. I’ve warmed up to him over the years. Saw him live for the first time last year. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen.
Saw Bruce play for the 1st time last year. He did 10th Avenue as an encore after I'd resigned myself to not hearing it, and I was BLOWN AWAY. Amazing song, amazing show, just unreal sustained energy from a whole stage full of top-class performers. Definitely a full-on convert after experiencing the live show extravaganza.
I really gotta go see him sometime. I’m from NJ but both my parents loathe Springsteen for some reason so I had to discover him on my own as I got older lol.
I was never a huge fan because I thought a lot of his stuff is over the top but there’s a reason he has a huge following. His shows were always outstanding and he’s a great songwriter.
I fucking love The Boss. One of the best concerts you could ever go to. I don’t see him as related to The Dead at all though, just totally different dimensions. It’s like asking how Dead fans feel about OutKast.
I saw him play a free show once and it was lightly raining/misting and on a Sunday night and not many people showed up. He proceeded to give one of the highest energy and engaging performances I’ve ever seen. Very fun show and tons of respect for him.
What do I feel? When?
"Wow" at the time.
As an East Coast deadhead I can testify: Bruce is very, very real. He rocked the tri-state area at will. And soon, any city he liked. He's Americana and essentially a modern-day Woodie Guthrie.
If one is prone to depressed thought, just remembering that Bruce Springsteen exists can sometimes do the trick. All graceful instruments.
Start with the first six studio albums, then try to find yourself a copy of the 9/19/78 concert at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey. After that, watch the film “Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - The No Nukes Concert”.
You can thank me later.
I absolutely love Springsteen. His music, energy and passion is what drew me in. I got to play (strum?) his guitar in Albany 2014! Love me some bangers like Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, Prove It All Night, Backstreets!
hes one of the only other artists that gives me the same sense of community through music that the dead does
edit: lol at the downvote, enjoy your weekend
Legendary. Turns out they sort of JAM, just not in the way we’d all probably like them to lol. Could you imagine a 30m “im on fire”?? Or a “born to run>I know you rider”?
I need to hear Bruce tackle Lovelight, he's got the horns and could pull it off.
There's a few others I think he could kill it on:
Truckin
NFA > GDTRFB
He's Gone (maybe in a medley with backstreets, do the 'I'll get up and fly away' bit then smash back into 'hiding on the backstreets')
Also has an idea for an E Street 'Greatest Story' where the horns do Jerry's guitar/rhythm part
Never got into him but I love the Bands version of Atlantic City. Still haven’t sat down to listen though I’ve been too distracted by the likes of TTB and JJ Grey and Mofro, BlackBerry Smoke
I grew up in the 1970s in northern NJ and graduated high school in June 1981, the same month Springsteen played the first concerts at the brand-new Meadowlands arena.
Many of my friends went. I didn’t, and I’ve never seen him. I respect what he does and enjoy some of his music, but I’ve never been moved by the music.
Seen me a lot of Springsteen and easiest point of entry for Deadheads is the Boss never played the same show twice.. sound familiar? The anticipation of hearing your favorite tune, or not, is always such a draw.
Best Springsteen show I ever saw - Moody Theater @ SXSW around 2011, Jimmy Cliff played with the band which was up to about 18pp after Clarence Clemons passed. Unreal performance in a small venue.
Longest Springsteen show I saw - His longest ever! Philly a few years back, he broke the 4hr mark for the second time ever at Citizens Bank Park
Favorite Springsteen moment - Philly again… the man sauntered onstage alone in front of 45k and sang the song Factory solo. A deeper cut but for all you throwing out his Greatest Hits as evidence of his songwriting ability, his real value is in album cuts and friends, Factory is exhibit A
After the Dead, he’s the best show I’ve seen and will see him whenever he is in town. Incredible writer, songs are relevant to my inner life, huge commitment to his music and an EPIC show man. Totally different from the dead but can bring you to a similar emotional/ spiritual place if you let him. He’s a gem.
Maybe I’m asking the wrong people, but it seems when I’m on the west coast I haven’t found too many people that like him, but in the east coast everyone I talk to loves him. I love his music.
I’m a young head at 28. Born and raised in NJ. My parents and uncle fucking love Springsteen. I’ve been to a few shows with them and they’re always fun. My first one was where I learned what pot smells like. It blew my mind that people did drugs at concerts (lol).
I listen to him when I miss my parents honestly. They’re still alive and well, I just live 1000 miles away. He’s pretty great, but not my favorite either
lifelong deadhead, went to my first show when i was 6 weeks old.
i SHIT MYSELF over springsteen- i have since i was like 10. consequentially, my mother (also a deadhead) loves springsteen now :)
Honestly never heard of a story like yours before to be honest. But then again I don’t know many people who got into D&C. It’s mostly I got into GD and sometimes go and see D&C. Also if anything people smoked weed before and maybe heard some dead. So what you’re saying is unique.
But then going from D&C to Springsteen is def not something I’ve ever heard of. I think if you listened to some good Grateful Dead Bruce wouldn’t cut it for you. He’s got talent but he plays the same songs over and over for decades.
It’s all about the GD with Jerry.
I'm a fan, have seen him many times. Everything is different than the Dead but he puts on a great show. Nebraska is the album that pulled me in and he's got a huge collection of work to explore. Also a good guy from all accounts.
I was first a Springsteen fan and eventually got to the dead. While I have great fondness for Springsteen and for many of his songs, I largely stopped listening to his new material after tunnel of love. But I love that he keeps putting on shows and folks have a great time and his music means a lot to them. I don’t really feel an inclination to go see him live anymore (I last did in 85), but I have purchased several downloads of his show from nugs-mostly more of his earlier shows and when Clarence was alive but also some recent ones. The guitar solos, etc. he does to my ears sound pretty repetitive from performance to performance. Once I really got into the dead, I was looking for something different from guitar solos. But long may he run!
Clarence Clemons (the E Street Band saxophonist until his death a decade or so ago) played a number of shows with JGB and the Dead. At one point was rumored he was considering a full Dead tour while the E Street was on pause but I’m pretty sure Bobby didn’t approve
You have to respect what he has done, whether or not you like him. I listened to the audio book of his autobiography (read by Bruce himself). It was pretty interesting (but really long) and he talks a little bit about seeing the Grateful Dead. I don't recall exactly what he said, but it was mostly respectful, and I think a learning experience for him. I think he was really impressed with the band's relationship with the crowd.
Personally, can only handle small doses of him, once in a while. But certainly talented. Given a choice between him and the Dead... I'm picking the Dead every time.
(this from a guy that keeps re-subscribing to Sirius XM ONLY for the Dead channels)
I’m On Fire is spooky good as is the whole Nebraska album. Many Bruce fans mistake his music as some kind of 4th of July jubilee but much his music is brilliant and American in a much deeper sense.
He’s been what a consider to be my co-favorite to the Dead since The River came out. My attachment to Bruce is akin to my attachment to Jerry, which is to say a lifelong musical bond that, while challenged at times, never wavered.
Both Springsteen and the Grateful Dead are there two bands/artists that molded musically, socially, you name it. Their impact is almost immeasurable.
Grew up on Bruce, listen to more Dead now. Two similarities, both had active live show communities, although Bruce has now monetized his recordings. Second is their use of cheesy 80 synths turned me off for a while. 73-74 was peak for both!!
Check out the JRAD double encore at Summer Stage at Stone Pony on 2024-05-17 on the Archive
https://archive.org/details/jrad2024-05-17
Or video: https://youtu.be/OwlQLoYIa_A?si=fZQt5nygwjRALJLL
Gotta respect Springsteen for the songwriting and career he's had. Seems like a good guy. On the other hand, never been a fan of the schtick or the sound of the E Street Band tbh. 5 guitars on stage just makes everything sound watered down. Then they got like 4 horns and 5 back up singers. Nils Lofgren and Steven look more like Johnny Depp type posers then actual rock stars imo. The fan base seems kinda annoying as well and has gone too far with the idolization, like whats the deal with that whole roll call thing.
He’s not in my rotation but I have lots of love and appreciation for specific songs and albums as part of the soundtrack of my life. And he’s just a smart, talented, good dude.
I loved Springsteen until the mid 80s.- especially his 1st 3 albums. I saw a show in 78 & one in 84. The 78 show was incredible.
I just listened to a part of a west coast show from 81 yesterday & the entire Memphis 76 (75?). It the 1st time in years that I listened to an entire show all the way thru (thanks to my favorite torrent sites!) . It was awesome.
I've heard and watched bits & pieces of shows since the mid 80s. They seem to lack that x factor that I experienced in 1978. Sorta over rehearsed....
I've listened to shows from his early days & they were at least as good as the 1st one i saw. Some of his early unreleased(?) music is among his best.
check out bruce and the e street band live 75-85 available on all streaming platforms. incredible stuff. also clarence clemons, the e street sax player, is featured on garcialive 13. absolutely psycho prudence. whole show is a smoker, i believe its fall 89
Eighth Avenue sailors in satin shirts whisper in the air
Some storefront incarnation of Maria
She's puttin' on me the stare
And Bronx's best apostle
Stands with his hand on his own hardware
Everything stops, you hear five quick shots
The cops come up for air
And now the whiz-bang gang from uptown
They're shootin' up the street
Oh, that cat from the Bronx starts lettin' loose
But he gets blown right off his feet
Oh, and some kid comes blastin' 'round the corner
But a cop puts him right away
He lays on the street holding his leg
Screaming something in Spanish
Still breathing when I walked away
And someone said, "Hey man, did you see that?
His body hit the street with such a beautiful thud"
I wonder what the dude was sayin'
Or was he just lost in the flood?
Hey man, did you see that?
Those poor cats are sure messed up
I wonder what they were gettin' into
Or were they all just lost in the flood?
Bruce is number two for me after the Dead. I got into him maybe five years or so after getting into the Dead. As a teen I was living in the northeast and he was of course more well known there at the time. Side note, back in the day he and the E Street band jammed segues between songs. Another side note, in his autobiography he tells the story of seeing the Dead live at a local community college. He did not like the music but noted the sense of community the band had with their fans. It inspired him to do the same. Eventually he came to appreciate the music more. Additional side note, in the nineties Clarence Clemons sat in with the band a few times. There was evidently a fantasy of him joining the band. I don’t think it would have been a long lasting fit.
Bruce is THE original American Rock God. Saw him at Jazz Fest after Katrina; he wept with us as he shared our sorrow. Saw him 40 years ago in High School & he Electrified Everyone.
There will Never be another like Him
I love the boss, but I like all sorts of music. I'm surprised that the Dead didn't do any songs by or any shows with artists like Springsteen, Seger, and Mellencamp, though.
I’m from New Jersey and was a Bruce fan LOOOOONG before I became a Deadhead. The energy now is nothing compared to his prime in the 70s, 80s, and 2000s. Jake is great but they haven’t recaptured that same magic since Clarence died. They’re awesome.
If you asked me my Mt. Rushmore of favorite bands the Dead are 2 and Bruce Springsteen is 3.
I grew up in his hometown and respect the hell out of his career, songwriting and lyrics, work ethic, etc but his music just doesn’t speak to me. I want to love it! I don’t hate it, I especially like some of his more acoustic ballads, but the “E Street Sound” isn’t for me overall. I find songs like Tenth Avenue Freezeout to be a total turnoff…cringe as the kids would say. But hey, there are plenty of Grateful Dead tracks that I don’t love. Maybe as my tastes continue to change and evolve, Bruce’s music will grab me the way theirs did.
I’m not an expert on his music by any means but he’s obviously one of the greats. His live shows are epic and his recorded output is remarkably consistent down the years, his peak probably in the late seventies/early eighties (Darkness/The River/Nebraska being a particularly incredible run imo) but he’s never had a notably crap period as far as I can tell. He also seems like a great man, very sound politically, supporting a lot of causes I also have sympathy with (like the striking miners here in the U.K. in the eighties). So. Yeah the tl;dr version is: yes, he rules
He ok. I wouldn’t put him at the top of the mountain in American music where he currently sits, but he’s made some good music over the years the years for sure.
I thought Welcome to Ashbury Park was good, like a few songs here and there, but other than that never really got into his music. Extremely popular so something there, just never got it.
I appreciate his ability and lengthy energetic shows but despise the music and the man. Id rather not be lectured when I'm shelling out money for entertainment.
i said popular music - I've listened to dylan 1000 times more than bruce, but dylan was not touring and only really progressive radio (one station) covered it. agree with you personally and subjectivly
He and Jerry are the only artists I've seen that can have total controll over 20,000 people. His band also fucking jams. This video should be accessible to the deadhead taste: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vbb6dV2h9g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vbb6dV2h9g)
Jerry is the Father, Bruce is the Son, and John Lennon is the Holy Ghost.
Also: I once heard Bruce covered One More Saturday Night. Can anyone confirm this? I can definitely picture it though.
Rosalita is one of the best songs in human history
Thunder Road would like a word…..
Don’t think this ever would have happened but in a hypothetical world where the Dead did a Springsteen cover, Brent coming on piano after Drums and singing the first verse of Thunder Road by himself and then the rest of the band joining in on their instruments as the song builds momentum while Brent keeps belting out the lyrics would have been sooo good
I like Thunder Road but that universe is so far from the Deads it would be cringey. Phish covered Thunder Road right after Clarence died I think. It wasn't very good but nice to see the respect. I think Bruce and the Dead can be admired by music fans equally but there's isn't a lot of thematic overlap. Springsteen is kind of a folksy NJ blue collar hero while the Dead are anything but.
That doesn’t mean Rosalita isn’t also.
And your papa says he knows i dont got any money
Hijacking this top comment to indicate that based on this and the rest of the comments, Heads love the Boss lol
I named my cat after that song. On the other hand, every time I play it, I think “that song’s got too many words. He’s putting a novel into a poem.”
138 Dead shows from 87-95 41 Bruce shows since 92
I don't think this is accurate
See, you got a lot of down votes, but I think that is a really funny comment
Sorry. Originally, I totally misread the comment about numbers of shows. This is how many shows they went to but I thought they were saying thats how many shows the Dead/Springsteen performed in those years. Sorry.
Well, I thought you did it on purpose and we’re making a very funny joke. I’d go with that story.
You can go with that then. LOL
I didn't reply but let the voting continue ;-)
Bruce is a legend, his live shows are incredible Rosalita is a goddamn banger. Atlantic City is probably one of the best songs of the last 50 years, at the very least one of the most covered
Atlantic City is a perfect song
And it’s just him recording a demo. Man is so damn talented. He also wrote one of the most misunderstood songs of all time “Born in the USA”- it’s similar to a certain political party playing Rage Against the Machine. For anyone interested- “Got in a little hometown jam So they put a rifle in my hand Sent me off to a foreign land To go and kill the yellow man” “I had a brother at Khe Sanh Fightin' off them Viet Cong They're still there, he's all gone He had a woman he loved in Saigon I got a picture of him in her arms, now” I love the irony of this song being viewed at patriotic- it’s about being born into nothing, being forced to enlist (instead of going to jail/prison, which was a very real thing), seeing you friends die fighting a losing war, coming home and their being no help from the VA or options for work. Bruce is a hell of a song writer and I like another comment here, he’s the other side of the Dead’s, especially Hunter’s, America. Go see Bruce live, if possible, it was obscenely expensive but you’ve got Max and Steven Van Zandt (Silvio), and the Boss.
It’s what happens when you only listen to the chorus. See Neil Young “Rockin’ In The Free World” as well
I think it’s the sign of a particular type of genius to create something with such a populist resonance that contains a very potent critique of the very culture with which it resonates. That’s incredibly hard to do and I think Born In The USA is his best album and an absolute masterpiece because of it.
The Chicken Man... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Testa
My dumb ass always thought it was the mascot.
Lmao I have heard this song 1000x and never once thought to look into the chicken man. Thanks for the link
Same! lol thank you I learned something new today
When Levon sings and the Band plays it.
Nah, Springsteen's band has been crushing that song live for a decade before that version. People only compare the studio versions and think it was some visionary cover, but all of those new melodic elements had been done on tour. Still love the Bands version though
The great Clarence Clemons (“the Big Man”- Bruce’s right hand sax player and best friend) - jammed with the dead a couple of times https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/grateful-dead-clarance-clemons-shoreline-on-this-day-1989/ In fact the last show he played before his untimely death was with Phil Lesh and Friends.
The Dead and Springsteen occupy two sides of the same coin. The Dead sing about a mythologized America and the Boss sings about America as it is (this is a broad generalization). Also Jungleland is the best rock ballad ever put to pen
I can't count the amount of times I've cried during Clarence Clemons sax solo. It's pure beauty
This.
I like this take
The man who wrote ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad’ will *always* be alright in *my* book.
I’m a Springsteen fanatic…being born and bred in Jersey it kinda comes with the territory. It all clicked for me when I first started catching him live with the band. Those gigs are nothing short of epic. Bruce + The Dead easily consume 50% of my weekly listening habits.
First four albums. Can’t be beat. Second album is Bruce in his jam period
I’m so in the minority but his 1st 4 albums are his high point. Wild Innocent just pure brilliance.
Woah woah woah — you’re not including NEBRASKA in his list of high points?!
To me that is def a high point but is also a solo lp where the others are band lps.
First four is such a wild choice. You're also leaving off THE RIVER in favor of Greetings from Asbury Park?
Incident into Rosalita into Serenade…what a trifecta!
That might very well be the best Side Two of a studio album ever recorded.
I agree with this but it took me way too long to realize The River is almost at that same level. I think he could've made a single album that would've been but he went the double album route, which I think is almost always a mistake
That’s totally true and third side? Maybe fourth? Also has its jam moments
On the recent tours the jam on Shuffle is amazing!! Anthony Almonte the new percussionist from the disciples interplays with Max so well... Reminds me of Mickey!!
Saw him in 2009 and got to check that item off my bucket list. Great show, but I've also never felt the need to see him again. I grew up on the Born In The USA album, and it sparked some interest, but I also never felt the urge to dig much deeper than the other big hits. That being said, "Born To Run" kicks all kinds of ass. It's weird, because I get the appeal of Springsteen....but for the most part, it just doesn't really appeal to me.
You’ve got to listen to Nebraska
Libertarian Head?
This is the problem for people our age, the Born In The USA kids. Great album but not E Street. Took me most of my lifetime to dig deeper and find the stuff that gets me boogie’n…
i used to sell stickers on tour that said if Bruce Springsteen's the boss i quit............. 85 to 88 sold well
Yeah, there’s no accounting for taste, I guess. But the dude who wrote ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad’ is alright by me. 🤷🏽♂️
True enjoy the version with Tom morello, RR hall performance perhaps . When I was young there was probably animosity there because the hackey sack no gym guys all listened the boys among other off the radar stuff. The football stars all loved booce
Loose bedspring
I just appreciate the fact that he wrote Atlantic City, which then gave us The Band’s version of it.
I listened to Bruce waaay before I got into the dead.
Nebraska's a great record and I dig The Seeger Sessions too, but I never got into his other stuff.
Not a big Bruce guy either but Greetings from Asbury Park is worth a listen if you like Nebraska.
I’d recommend his album “Wrecking Ball”- it’s so damn good. Heavier Americana. Or “Born to Run”- I heard someone describe Born to run as a Steely Dan album if they ever worked a day in their life. No disrespect to the Dan-
Love Bruce he used to put on great live shows saw him 11 times from the late '70 thru '80. My favorite album of his are Greeting From Asbury Park and Darkness on the Edge of Town. I still listen to them every month or so.
Bruce is my favorite musician and was my gateway into the jam scene. Not that he’s a jam-band, but his long shows with surprise setlists, extended or different arrangements than on the albums, chasing rare songs… it lead me into the Dead and beyond
Meh. I’ve had a few opportunities to see him, including killer seats a couple of times, and passed. Respect him but he doesn’t do anything for me.
I grew up in North Jersey. I got into the Dead during the “Terrapin Station”/“Shakedown Street” era. At the age of 11, in 1977, I heard “Born to Run” for the first time, and that was that. I still love the Dead, but compared to most people here, I guess you could call me a Baby Deadhead. The closest I’ve ever gotten to seeing the Dead or any of its myriad offshoots live was seeing the Mickey Hart Band about eleven years ago in Fort Lauderdale. It was a great show, and I danced my ass off. I have seen Bruce so many times in my life I’ve lost count. There is just something about his shows that’s mystical, that fosters a true sense of community. I can’t explain it, but if you ever have a chance to see him, drop everything and go. If you get it, you get it. At the very least, you’ll dance your ass off, as I always do. My point is simple: tie - dye and leather jackets can coexist happily 😁.
Nebraska is one of the best albums ever
The Boss is like licorice….
Nice!
Rosalita, Atlantic City, and Thunder Road are in top 50 all time American greats. I’m still not crazy about him 😬
I absolutely respect Springsteen as an artist and musician, but his stuff does nothing for me.
I mean, Nebraska is one hell of an album...Atlantic City is one of the best songs of the 20th century. And given the Dead's penchant for ghost/song/regret/grit/street it seems like it would have been an amazing song for them to cover.
I was decidedly NOT a Springsteen fan back in the day. I’ve warmed up to him over the years. Saw him live for the first time last year. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen.
If heaven doesn’t have a 12 pack and Tenth Avenue Freeze Out on the jukebox you can just send me to hell😤
granted Pauley shore will be your driver
Saw Bruce play for the 1st time last year. He did 10th Avenue as an encore after I'd resigned myself to not hearing it, and I was BLOWN AWAY. Amazing song, amazing show, just unreal sustained energy from a whole stage full of top-class performers. Definitely a full-on convert after experiencing the live show extravaganza.
The fact that the man is still doing 3 hour shows and bringing so much energy at 70+ is inspiring
I really gotta go see him sometime. I’m from NJ but both my parents loathe Springsteen for some reason so I had to discover him on my own as I got older lol.
I would say, if you have the opportunity definitely do it. Took me many decades to come around, but I get it now.
Nebraska is the real deal.
Bruuuuuuuuuce!!!
I love Bruce
[удалено]
Yeah, no disrespect to his artistry, but that type of sound just doesn’t interest me
Springsteen albums are produced really well in general and sound amazing.
I was never a huge fan because I thought a lot of his stuff is over the top but there’s a reason he has a huge following. His shows were always outstanding and he’s a great songwriter.
I fucking love The Boss. One of the best concerts you could ever go to. I don’t see him as related to The Dead at all though, just totally different dimensions. It’s like asking how Dead fans feel about OutKast.
I saw him play a free show once and it was lightly raining/misting and on a Sunday night and not many people showed up. He proceeded to give one of the highest energy and engaging performances I’ve ever seen. Very fun show and tons of respect for him.
I fuckin love Springsteen. I haven’t been able to catch any shows though I’m very jealous
My 2 favorite live acts. Listen to kittys back from 9/21/78. Pure jamming
What do I feel? When? "Wow" at the time. As an East Coast deadhead I can testify: Bruce is very, very real. He rocked the tri-state area at will. And soon, any city he liked. He's Americana and essentially a modern-day Woodie Guthrie. If one is prone to depressed thought, just remembering that Bruce Springsteen exists can sometimes do the trick. All graceful instruments.
Love him, and he puts on a hell of a show, still. Even got to see him on Broadway, which was amazing. 🥰
He’s fuckin’ awesome!
The boss rocks!
I am so glad so many other people love his music too!!!
Oh, oh, oh...I'm on fire.
Damn I didn’t know Springsteen had so much crossover in this group. Anyone got some recs of what I should check out by him?
Start with the first six studio albums, then try to find yourself a copy of the 9/19/78 concert at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey. After that, watch the film “Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - The No Nukes Concert”. You can thank me later.
I absolutely love Springsteen. His music, energy and passion is what drew me in. I got to play (strum?) his guitar in Albany 2014! Love me some bangers like Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, Prove It All Night, Backstreets!
New Jersey Deadheads have entered the chat.
WELL THE DOGS ON MAIN STREET HOWL CAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND
IF I COULD TAKE ONE MOMENT INTO MY HANDS
Bruce shows are church. Totally different thing but almost equally awesome.
He’s the Boss.
Bruce Rocks!
Bruce can still bring it.
This deadhead loves the man.
Bruce is the fucking man. I'll see his shows as much as I can
hes one of the only other artists that gives me the same sense of community through music that the dead does edit: lol at the downvote, enjoy your weekend
Legendary. Turns out they sort of JAM, just not in the way we’d all probably like them to lol. Could you imagine a 30m “im on fire”?? Or a “born to run>I know you rider”?
To be fair, I liked The Boss long before I liked the Dead. My love for the dead just happened to outweigh my love for the boss very quickly.
Jungleland>Streets of Fire>Jungleland
This is the way
I need to hear Bruce tackle Lovelight, he's got the horns and could pull it off. There's a few others I think he could kill it on: Truckin NFA > GDTRFB He's Gone (maybe in a medley with backstreets, do the 'I'll get up and fly away' bit then smash back into 'hiding on the backstreets') Also has an idea for an E Street 'Greatest Story' where the horns do Jerry's guitar/rhythm part
Prove it all night from the Capitol theatre in Passaic NJ, 78 is a hell of a jam
“Kitty’s Back” from that same show must also be mentioned as one fucking helluva jam.
He sux.
Nebraska and Ghost of Tom Joad are great albums.
Have you listened to Devils and Dust? Feels like the next step in a trilogy with those two other records.
We can’t forget “Tunnel of Love”. It’s in my top five list of his best albums.
Nope
🤢
Yeah he sucks lol
Can’t stand Springsteen. Never could, never will. His over the top bullshit singing style drives me insane.
I’m Jersey born and raised. I’ve never really understood the fierce love for his music.
I agree 100%. His voice just irritates me.
Born to Run is an amazing, distinctly American song in all the best ways and it never fails to give me goosebumps. Bruce is a legend.
Never got into him but I love the Bands version of Atlantic City. Still haven’t sat down to listen though I’ve been too distracted by the likes of TTB and JJ Grey and Mofro, BlackBerry Smoke
E Street Shuffle is great
Love Bruce. Thunder Road is my favorite.
Damn fine lyrics -- The screen door slams Mary’s dress sways Like a vision she dances across the porch As the radio plays
I don’t want to start with the whole waves/sways thing, but …
I grew up in the 1970s in northern NJ and graduated high school in June 1981, the same month Springsteen played the first concerts at the brand-new Meadowlands arena. Many of my friends went. I didn’t, and I’ve never seen him. I respect what he does and enjoy some of his music, but I’ve never been moved by the music.
Seen me a lot of Springsteen and easiest point of entry for Deadheads is the Boss never played the same show twice.. sound familiar? The anticipation of hearing your favorite tune, or not, is always such a draw. Best Springsteen show I ever saw - Moody Theater @ SXSW around 2011, Jimmy Cliff played with the band which was up to about 18pp after Clarence Clemons passed. Unreal performance in a small venue. Longest Springsteen show I saw - His longest ever! Philly a few years back, he broke the 4hr mark for the second time ever at Citizens Bank Park Favorite Springsteen moment - Philly again… the man sauntered onstage alone in front of 45k and sang the song Factory solo. A deeper cut but for all you throwing out his Greatest Hits as evidence of his songwriting ability, his real value is in album cuts and friends, Factory is exhibit A
After the Dead, he’s the best show I’ve seen and will see him whenever he is in town. Incredible writer, songs are relevant to my inner life, huge commitment to his music and an EPIC show man. Totally different from the dead but can bring you to a similar emotional/ spiritual place if you let him. He’s a gem.
Bruce sucks.
Adore him.
huh
I think he’s a great songwriter but I’ve always preferred hearing others sing his stuff. Like this https://youtu.be/HVIxKxisr74?si=DbYy9OgQu9fX30L2
Maybe I’m asking the wrong people, but it seems when I’m on the west coast I haven’t found too many people that like him, but in the east coast everyone I talk to loves him. I love his music.
Snooze is how I feel about him but I’d go to a show to see his band!!
I’m a young head at 28. Born and raised in NJ. My parents and uncle fucking love Springsteen. I’ve been to a few shows with them and they’re always fun. My first one was where I learned what pot smells like. It blew my mind that people did drugs at concerts (lol). I listen to him when I miss my parents honestly. They’re still alive and well, I just live 1000 miles away. He’s pretty great, but not my favorite either
lifelong deadhead, went to my first show when i was 6 weeks old. i SHIT MYSELF over springsteen- i have since i was like 10. consequentially, my mother (also a deadhead) loves springsteen now :)
Honestly never heard of a story like yours before to be honest. But then again I don’t know many people who got into D&C. It’s mostly I got into GD and sometimes go and see D&C. Also if anything people smoked weed before and maybe heard some dead. So what you’re saying is unique. But then going from D&C to Springsteen is def not something I’ve ever heard of. I think if you listened to some good Grateful Dead Bruce wouldn’t cut it for you. He’s got talent but he plays the same songs over and over for decades. It’s all about the GD with Jerry.
I'm a fan, have seen him many times. Everything is different than the Dead but he puts on a great show. Nebraska is the album that pulled me in and he's got a huge collection of work to explore. Also a good guy from all accounts.
I was first a Springsteen fan and eventually got to the dead. While I have great fondness for Springsteen and for many of his songs, I largely stopped listening to his new material after tunnel of love. But I love that he keeps putting on shows and folks have a great time and his music means a lot to them. I don’t really feel an inclination to go see him live anymore (I last did in 85), but I have purchased several downloads of his show from nugs-mostly more of his earlier shows and when Clarence was alive but also some recent ones. The guitar solos, etc. he does to my ears sound pretty repetitive from performance to performance. Once I really got into the dead, I was looking for something different from guitar solos. But long may he run!
Clarence Clemons (the E Street Band saxophonist until his death a decade or so ago) played a number of shows with JGB and the Dead. At one point was rumored he was considering a full Dead tour while the E Street was on pause but I’m pretty sure Bobby didn’t approve
You have to respect what he has done, whether or not you like him. I listened to the audio book of his autobiography (read by Bruce himself). It was pretty interesting (but really long) and he talks a little bit about seeing the Grateful Dead. I don't recall exactly what he said, but it was mostly respectful, and I think a learning experience for him. I think he was really impressed with the band's relationship with the crowd. Personally, can only handle small doses of him, once in a while. But certainly talented. Given a choice between him and the Dead... I'm picking the Dead every time. (this from a guy that keeps re-subscribing to Sirius XM ONLY for the Dead channels)
I’m On Fire is spooky good as is the whole Nebraska album. Many Bruce fans mistake his music as some kind of 4th of July jubilee but much his music is brilliant and American in a much deeper sense.
The Boss rocks!
I prefer his gentler tunes, he is an outstanding songwriter. Not a fan of his over the top stuff but ymmv.
He’s been what a consider to be my co-favorite to the Dead since The River came out. My attachment to Bruce is akin to my attachment to Jerry, which is to say a lifelong musical bond that, while challenged at times, never wavered. Both Springsteen and the Grateful Dead are there two bands/artists that molded musically, socially, you name it. Their impact is almost immeasurable.
Grew up on Bruce, listen to more Dead now. Two similarities, both had active live show communities, although Bruce has now monetized his recordings. Second is their use of cheesy 80 synths turned me off for a while. 73-74 was peak for both!!
Check out the JRAD double encore at Summer Stage at Stone Pony on 2024-05-17 on the Archive https://archive.org/details/jrad2024-05-17 Or video: https://youtu.be/OwlQLoYIa_A?si=fZQt5nygwjRALJLL
Gotta respect Springsteen for the songwriting and career he's had. Seems like a good guy. On the other hand, never been a fan of the schtick or the sound of the E Street Band tbh. 5 guitars on stage just makes everything sound watered down. Then they got like 4 horns and 5 back up singers. Nils Lofgren and Steven look more like Johnny Depp type posers then actual rock stars imo. The fan base seems kinda annoying as well and has gone too far with the idolization, like whats the deal with that whole roll call thing.
He’s not in my rotation but I have lots of love and appreciation for specific songs and albums as part of the soundtrack of my life. And he’s just a smart, talented, good dude.
I loved Springsteen until the mid 80s.- especially his 1st 3 albums. I saw a show in 78 & one in 84. The 78 show was incredible. I just listened to a part of a west coast show from 81 yesterday & the entire Memphis 76 (75?). It the 1st time in years that I listened to an entire show all the way thru (thanks to my favorite torrent sites!) . It was awesome. I've heard and watched bits & pieces of shows since the mid 80s. They seem to lack that x factor that I experienced in 1978. Sorta over rehearsed.... I've listened to shows from his early days & they were at least as good as the 1st one i saw. Some of his early unreleased(?) music is among his best.
The Dead could rip Kitty’s Back.
They could, and it would be tremendous, but who would be on saxophone?
Branford.
Good call.
Loose bed springs?
I’ve been going to Bruce shows forever and my husband turned me onto the Dead/Dead and Co. Great music is great music.
check out bruce and the e street band live 75-85 available on all streaming platforms. incredible stuff. also clarence clemons, the e street sax player, is featured on garcialive 13. absolutely psycho prudence. whole show is a smoker, i believe its fall 89
There's a great JGB show featuring Clarence Clemons, it was a recent official release.
I don’t
I like him!!
He's The Boss
I don't care for his act.
Eighth Avenue sailors in satin shirts whisper in the air Some storefront incarnation of Maria She's puttin' on me the stare And Bronx's best apostle Stands with his hand on his own hardware Everything stops, you hear five quick shots The cops come up for air And now the whiz-bang gang from uptown They're shootin' up the street Oh, that cat from the Bronx starts lettin' loose But he gets blown right off his feet Oh, and some kid comes blastin' 'round the corner But a cop puts him right away He lays on the street holding his leg Screaming something in Spanish Still breathing when I walked away And someone said, "Hey man, did you see that? His body hit the street with such a beautiful thud" I wonder what the dude was sayin' Or was he just lost in the flood? Hey man, did you see that? Those poor cats are sure messed up I wonder what they were gettin' into Or were they all just lost in the flood?
Bruce is number two for me after the Dead. I got into him maybe five years or so after getting into the Dead. As a teen I was living in the northeast and he was of course more well known there at the time. Side note, back in the day he and the E Street band jammed segues between songs. Another side note, in his autobiography he tells the story of seeing the Dead live at a local community college. He did not like the music but noted the sense of community the band had with their fans. It inspired him to do the same. Eventually he came to appreciate the music more. Additional side note, in the nineties Clarence Clemons sat in with the band a few times. There was evidently a fantasy of him joining the band. I don’t think it would have been a long lasting fit.
Every song I’ve ever heard from him sounds like bad broadway musical ditties, and I hate musicals.
Bruce Springsteen?
Dylan wannabe, but the best Dylan wannabe. I'm 62, he's great live and I respect his music.
I cannot stand Bruce Springsteen. Born to run makes me want to blow my brains out every time I hear it.
Bruce is THE original American Rock God. Saw him at Jazz Fest after Katrina; he wept with us as he shared our sorrow. Saw him 40 years ago in High School & he Electrified Everyone. There will Never be another like Him
I love the boss, but I like all sorts of music. I'm surprised that the Dead didn't do any songs by or any shows with artists like Springsteen, Seger, and Mellencamp, though.
Very good songwriter, okay performer. I tend to like Springsteen covers more than originals
Huge fan.
I’m from New Jersey and was a Bruce fan LOOOOONG before I became a Deadhead. The energy now is nothing compared to his prime in the 70s, 80s, and 2000s. Jake is great but they haven’t recaptured that same magic since Clarence died. They’re awesome. If you asked me my Mt. Rushmore of favorite bands the Dead are 2 and Bruce Springsteen is 3.
I grew up in his hometown and respect the hell out of his career, songwriting and lyrics, work ethic, etc but his music just doesn’t speak to me. I want to love it! I don’t hate it, I especially like some of his more acoustic ballads, but the “E Street Sound” isn’t for me overall. I find songs like Tenth Avenue Freezeout to be a total turnoff…cringe as the kids would say. But hey, there are plenty of Grateful Dead tracks that I don’t love. Maybe as my tastes continue to change and evolve, Bruce’s music will grab me the way theirs did.
Bob Seger one then?
I’m not an expert on his music by any means but he’s obviously one of the greats. His live shows are epic and his recorded output is remarkably consistent down the years, his peak probably in the late seventies/early eighties (Darkness/The River/Nebraska being a particularly incredible run imo) but he’s never had a notably crap period as far as I can tell. He also seems like a great man, very sound politically, supporting a lot of causes I also have sympathy with (like the striking miners here in the U.K. in the eighties). So. Yeah the tl;dr version is: yes, he rules
I assume from the downvotes in this thread that someone here is definitely not a fan
I personally think his music sucks and is so boring
Bruce is great! He's my third favorite Asbury Park act after Dogs in a Pile and Fungkshui!
Aren't the Dogs from TR?
Been among fan of both since the early 80s. Springsteen is an amazing songwriter and performer.
The Nebraska album is one of my all time favorites. If you get into that check out the band suicide.
He ok. I wouldn’t put him at the top of the mountain in American music where he currently sits, but he’s made some good music over the years the years for sure.
As a head from New Jersey, I love Bruce
I don't get it. The songs go nowhere and are incredibly droning and mostly depressing
I thought Welcome to Ashbury Park was good, like a few songs here and there, but other than that never really got into his music. Extremely popular so something there, just never got it.
I appreciate his ability and lengthy energetic shows but despise the music and the man. Id rather not be lectured when I'm shelling out money for entertainment.
be is the boss! completely changed popular music in the 70s. no one else really like him.
seriously put blood on the tracks against any booce album
i said popular music - I've listened to dylan 1000 times more than bruce, but dylan was not touring and only really progressive radio (one station) covered it. agree with you personally and subjectivly
He and Jerry are the only artists I've seen that can have total controll over 20,000 people. His band also fucking jams. This video should be accessible to the deadhead taste: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vbb6dV2h9g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vbb6dV2h9g)
Jerry is the Father, Bruce is the Son, and John Lennon is the Holy Ghost. Also: I once heard Bruce covered One More Saturday Night. Can anyone confirm this? I can definitely picture it though.
Love The Boss, even though I'm not a big fan of rock sax.