Bruce’s American Land
Another tour debut the other night at Madison Square Garden. The working title we’re going with is “American Land”. It’s not really known yet whether this is a new Bruce tune, but according to Backstreets, “More likely a traditional song with some new Springsteen lyrics.”
“This is an immigrant song for New York City,” Springsteen said before tonight’s new opening number — no, not a song off Led Zeppelin III, but at the moment we can’t tell you exactly what it was, either. A new Springsteen song? More likely a traditional song with some new Springsteen lyrics. On the setlist as “American Land,” it had a recurring refrain of “home in the American land,” but it wasn’t “He Lies in the American Land,” despite that song’s association with Pete Seeger and the similarity in title. Watch this space for more as we know it…. In any case, it was certainly a world premiere, an Irish reel with a Clancy Brothers/Tommy Makem feel to it; lyrically, a vivid portrait of the immigrant experience in the vein of Ry Cooder’s “Across the Borderline.” At the end, Bruce had one more dedication for it: “for all you travelers out there.” – – from Backstreets
If anyone out there has any more information on this song, please do tell (in the comments section below).
Bruce Springsteen & the Seeger Sessions Band:
American Land(mp3) – working title for now until more info surfaces – live from Madison Square Garden, NYC, 06/22/2006.- Here’s video of Bruce being interviewed on CNN yesterday morning. You tell ’em, Boss.
- My friend Charlie unleashes a steamy workplace photo upon the world, of me and his M&M man. Just keep it filled Charlie, just keep it filled. And yes, I work in a sea of cubicles.
- UPDATE: See Bruce and the Band perform “Bring ‘Em Home” and “Pay Me My Money Down“, from Thursday’s Conan O’Brien show, including Conan on guitar and Jimmy Fallon rockin’ the spoons!
UPDATE: Here are the lyrics , with a gap or two (when he starts reeling off names)…. any edits / updates are welcome!
AMERICAN LAND
What is this land of America?
So many travel there, I’m goin’ now while I’m still young
My darlin’ meet me there
Wish me luck my lovely Alison
free you when I can
And we’ll make our home in the American landOver there the women wear silk and satin to their knees
And children near, the sweets I hear are growin’ on the trees
Gold comes rushing out the river straight into your hands
If you make your home in the American landThere’s diamonds in the sidewalks
There’s gutters lined in song
Dear I hear the beer flows from the faucets all night long
There’s treasure for the takin’ for any hard working man
Who’ll make his home in the American landI docked at Ellis Island in a city of light and spire
I wandered to the valley of red hot steel and fire
We made the steel that built the cities
With the sweat of our two hands
I made my home in the American landThere’s diamonds in the sidewalks
There’s gutters lined in song
Dear I hear the beer flows from the faucets all night long
There’s treasure for the takin’ for any hard working man
Who’ll make his home in the American landThe [..], the Smiths are [..]too
The Blacks, the Irish, the Italians, the Germans and the Jews
The [..], the [..], the Asians, the Arabs miles from homeCome across the water with the fire down below
They died building the railroads
Worked their bones and skin
They died in the fields and factories
And they’ve scattered in the wind
They died to get here a hundred years ago,
They’re dying now
The hands that built the country we’re always trying to keep downThere’s diamonds in the sidewalks
There’s gutters lined in song
Dear I hear the beer flows from the faucets all night long
There’s treasure for the takin’ for any hard working man
Who’ll make his home in the American land
Who’ll make his home in the American land
Who’ll make his home in the American landIt’s Been a Long Time Comin’
Bruce and the band have been pulling out some good ones on the final few shows of the tour. Here’s the Seeger Sessions take on one of my favorites from ‘Devils & Dust’, a great tune called “Long Time Comin”. This one stays pretty true to its original version, more so than any of Bruce’s other material that have been given the Seeger Sessions makeover. It’s a nice country rock feel to it with the slide guitar and the full band.
More to come!
Bruce Springsteen & the Seeger Sessions Band:Long Time Comin’(mp3) – live in Detroit, Michigan, June 16, 2006- Original from Devils & Dust
They Blew Up the Chicken Man in Milwaukee last night
I finally got my greedy hands on the Seeger Sessions version of “Atlantic City”, which opened the Phoenix show that I attended. This one comes from the Milwaukee show all the way back on June 14th (okay, well, last night). I love this arrangement. It was a great opener in Phoenix, the place just came alive when the band exploded into the song part way into it. Last night in my birth state of Wisconsin, the tune was #3 on the set list. Check it out.Bruce Springsteen & the Seeger Sessions Band:
Atlantic City(mp3) – live at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, WISo I recently posted about “Rag Mama Rag”, a song by The Band that Bruce has been playing on this tour. Well, let’s swap spots and hear The Band’s version of “Atlantic City”. This came out on their ‘Jericho‘ album, released in ’93.
The Band:
Atlantic City(mp3)
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Rag Mama Rag
For those curious to hear the Seeger Sessions take on The Band’s “Rag Mama Rag”, look no further! Bruce debuted it May 30th in Columbus, Ohio. I also heard it in Phoenix on Saturday night, and to be totally honest, I wasn’t that blown away by it. It was enjoyable, but I think it paled in comparison to “Ramrod”, which preceded it, and had the whole joint going crazy. But still very cool to see and hear Bruce pull out these gems along the tour.
Bruce & The Seeger Sessions Band:
Rag Mama Rag(mp3) – Live from Columbus, OH, May 30th, 2006The song, written by Robbie Robertson, originally came out on the Band’s second album, ‘The Band’, in 1969. All Music has this song review:
One of the most popular songs in the Band’s catalog, “Rag Mama Rag” is a wonderful, swinging song with some of the Band’s most perfect playing (which is saying something) and great, funny, almost nonsensical lyrics. The success of this song, unusually on The Band, is not due to Robbie Robertson’s lyrics but to the music. Garth Hudson creates an amazingly intricate rolling piano line, while bassist Rick Danko plays a wonderfully country-influenced fiddle, weaving in and out of Levon Helm’s always subtle drumming. Indeed, singer Helm believed the song could have been a hit single, arguing that it “swung like ‘Blue Suede Shoes’.” Although it was not a hit, and is not one of the deepest songs in the Band’s repertoire, it is enormous fun, and the group played it regularly in concert throughout the 1970s. The song received a reverential cover version from Little Feat, although there are no other major recordings of the song.
The Band:
Rag Mama Rag(mp3) – from The Band- Reader Britt clued me in to a full show download available over in the Backstreets forums. If you care to hear the infamous Main Point show from Feb. 1975, go and get it while it’s hot.
- Someone posted a Youtube video of Bruce and the band doing “Johnny 99” in Phoenix the other night.
- And by all means, if you’re digging the sounds of the Seeger Sessions Band and you haven’t bought the CD, go…do….it….now.
Recap: Bruce and the Seeger Sessions Band in Phoenix
Music lovers, whether you’ve enjoyed Bruce Springsteen’s work in the past or not, go see this show when it stops through your town. Seeing Bruce and his 17 piece Seeger Sessions band tear through those great old songs last night was something to behold, and never to be forgotten. It’s a total assault on the senses: juke-joint, carnival, revival, you name it…
A favorite part of the show for me was THE HORN SECTION: Eddie Manion on sax, Richie “La Bamba” Rosenberg on trombone, Mark Pender on trumpet, and Art Baron on tuba. Those guys in many ways made the show for me. The songs are teeming with life without them, but add them to the mix, and it’s goosebump time. Amazing. They’d parade around the stage, dance jigs and circles around eachother, point their instruments at the drummer and wail… man, it was something to see. If (or when) Bruce tours with the E Street Band again, they HAVE to come along.
Other highlights were Greg Liszt’s banjo, and Marc Anthony Thompson’s vocals. Marc joined Bruce on “Eyes on the Prize” and the closer, the bittersweet and emotional “When the Saints Go Marching In.” He has an amazing voice, low, raspy and soulful. Look for a feature on him in the weeks ahead.
Liszt was great on the banjo, and comes across as quite a character. He’s got a big poofy fro’, and has a cool, laid back stage presence. If you’re familiar with Phish, he reminded me of bass player Mike Gordon with his stage mannerisms. Great stuff. Liszt is in a band called Crooked Still. Look for a feature on them in the weeks ahead too. You can see Liszt open “Jesse James” on AOL Music. They already have the video up from last night’s show.
And on to Bruce himself. It was such a kick to see him having such a genuinely good time. How could you not, leading a band like that, unleashing those great songs in such fashion? I’ve been listening to the bootlegs of the tour so far, and l’ve listened to the CD a bunch of times, but nothing compares to experiencing this music live. Of the set list (listed below), highlights for me were: the opener “Atlantic City”, “Open All Night” (reworked like some sort of 50’s rock n roll sock hop revival), the Tex-Mex, polka infused “Ramrod”, “Saints”, and of course “Pay Me My Money Down”, which wasn’t the same without our 2 and a half year old. She demands to hear it or see it on DVD every single day. She knows it as “Me Me”. “Me Me Dada, Me Me!!”.
Here’s the full set list:
1. Atlantic City
2. John Henry
3. O Mary Don’t You Weep
4. Johnny 99
5. Old Dan Tucker
6. Eyes on the Prize
7. Jesse James
8. Erie Canal
9. My Oklahoma Home
10. Bring Them Home (If You Love Your Uncle Sam)
11. Mrs. McGrath
12. How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?
13. Jacob’s Ladder
14. We Shall Overcome
15. Open All Night
16. Pay Me My Money Down with Nils Lofgren17. My City of Ruins
18. Ramrod
19. Rag Mama Rag
20. You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)
21. When the Saints Go Marching InI’ll leave you with their New Orleans performance of “When the Saints go Marching In”, as Bruce and Mark Anthony Thompson trade the vocals. Like I said folks, anyone who loves music should make it a point to see this show.
Live from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, April 30, 2006:
115 Degrees and Bruce
No, you’re not hallucinating, it’s going to be 115 degrees here in the Phoenix area today. This is the time of year when we desert dwellers seriously question our sanity. On top of that, it’s Springsteen time tonight at the Glendale Arena, and having General Admission floor tickets, my wife and I get to line up early for the ol’ wristband lottery! The show should be great if the entire GA floor isn’t passed out from heat exhaustion. Ahhh summer time.
Some Springsteen items….
- AOL Music is featuring a video performance from each stop on Bruce’s US tour. You can check out what’s up so far right here.
- Reader Brad from Bristol forwarded me this link showing what is undeniably Bruce Springsteen busking in the street in Sweden (I think) in 1990, singing “The River” in front of a stunned and appreciative crowd. I can’t read French, so if anyone cares to translate some of it, great.
Anti War Mix
I don’t mention the politics and events of the day too much, but I must say, like most people, the war in Iraq makes me sick to my stomach, and I believe we were misled into it by the war-mongers surrounding our misinformed bozo of a President. Believe me, I want to, as an American, be able to be proud of and stand behind our president, but when it comes to Iraq (and other policies of this administration), he’s lost me.
I see no justification for the deaths, maiming, and permanent psychological damage to the brave troops put in harm’s way. It is sickening, profoundly sad, and completely unnecessary. To those who argue that this stance is “unpatriotic” or not in support of our troops, you’re wrong. How could you support the troops more than wanting them to come home alive from a living nightmare? Lives are being destroyed as our prez “the decider” and his puppetmasters joke it up at the black tie Republican fundraisers. And the Democrats are no better. There should be accountability, and there should be outrage. Meanwhile we Americans drive around in our gas guzzling Hummers and sit glued to our televisions, casting more votes for American Idol than for any presidential election ever. Oblivious.
Ickmusic (Anti) War Mix(mp3)- My Strange Nation (Susan Werner) – a novelty of sorts, but the lyrics are dead on at points, though she does call ol’ Abe Lincoln gay
- Rich Man’s War (Steve Earle) – raw truth from a true rebel poet
- Bring them Home (If You Love Uncle Sam) (Bruce Springsteen & the Seeger Sessions Band) – ’nuff said
- Oil Well (Carbon/Silicon) – Mick Jones makes his case about the state of current events
- Road to Joy (Bright Eyes) – Conor Oberst’s brilliance: The sun came up with no conclusions / Flowers sleepin’ in their beds / The city cemetary’s hummin’ / I’m wide awake, its mornin’
- No Mother (Old 97’s) – a sad and beautiful dirge
The Boss Brings it Home
The Seeger Sessions Band has landed safely on U.S. soil. In six short days, my wife and I will be lined up in triple digit heat waiting to enter the Glendale Arena to witness the experience firsthand. Last night was their first show in the U.S. since last month’s New Orleans Jazz Fest performance. Bruce and the Seeger Sessions Band hit the stage in Mansfield, Massachussetts. Peter Wolf joined in for the last couple of songs: “Dirty Water” and “Buffalo Gals”. The show went a little something like this:
May 27, 2006
Tweeter Center
Mansfield, MA*[Buy We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions]
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John HenryO Mary Don’t You WeepJohnny 99Old Dan TuckerEyes on the PrizeJesse JamesCadillac RanchErie CanalMy Oklahoma HomeIf I Should Fall BehindMrs. McGrathHow Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?Jacob’s LadderWe Shall OvercomeOpen All NightPay Me My Money Down
Encore:
IntroductionsBring Them Home (If You Love Your Uncle Sam)RamrodYou Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)When the Saints Go Marching InDirty Water*Buffalo Gals*
*joined by Peter Wolf
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The Boss in Oslo (Bosslo?)
Well, the time is upon us. Bruce kicks off his US leg of the Seeger Sessions tour tomorrow night in Mansfield, Mass. To tide us over, here are a few from last Saturday’s show in Oslo, Norway.
Bruce Springsteen & TSSB:
My City of Ruins|Devils & Dust|Pay Me My Money Down(my 2 yr old daughter’s song of the year!) – Live, Oslo, Norway – May 20, 2006Bruce Tour Debut: Ramrod
From May 12th in Milan, Italy, here’s the Seeger Sessions debut of “Ramrod” (original version found on ‘The River‘). You should be able to hear the music through the screams and singing of many many loud Italians. So yeah, the quality aint great, but it’s still fun to hear. The vino was flowing May 12th in Milan….
Bruce Springsteen & TSSB:
Ramrod(mp3) – live 05/12/2006 Milano
