MOG - LaserBurn's Posts

Springsteen Rides into Milwaukee-Last Show for 2008?

LaserBurn — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:38:42 GMT

Springsteen Rides into Milwaukee

Details: http://pinotblack.livejournal.com/

Springsteen To Close Yankee Stadium

LaserBurn — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:08:46 GMT

Details: http://pinotblack.livejournal.com/13776.html

Last Chance For You

LaserBurn — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:41:20 GMT

Your last chance for ‘For You’!
August 2008 by Pete
We interrupt our extended Gillette coverage for a public service announcement: Illegal wiretapping — bad! Wait, that’s not it. What I meant to say is, word has it that there are fewer than 200 copies left of Lawrence Kirsch’s fabulous limited-edition Springsteen book "For You." There will be no second printing — once those are gone, all you’ll be able to do is press your little nose up against the windows of the homes of friends who were smart enough to buy one and watch them read theirs.
"For You" is of course the impressive hardcover compilation of first-person accounts by Springsteen fans new and old. From my review back in December:
In reading "For You," at first it’s hard to believe that one performer could possibly have touched this many people this deeply — lifted them from depression, kept them from suicide, helped them through divorce or the death of a parent, or worse, a child. But story after story reveals just how much Springsteen’s music and his almost superhuman presence on the concert stage have penetrated people’s lives and, in as much as it is possible for music to do so, made them whole.

order your copy at the "For You" website.

June 23/08 Leonard Cohen Enthralls Home Town Audience

LaserBurn — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:07:27 GMT

http://pinotblack.livejournal.com/

Springsteen Plays Tribute to Tim Russert

LaserBurn — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:46:32 GMT

http://pinotblack.livejournal.com/

Icon Leonard Cohen Breathtaking...

LaserBurn — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 23:24:48 GMT

Icon Leonard Cohen Breathtaking...http://pinotblack.livejournal.com/

Biography of A Cult

LaserBurn — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:45:37 GMT

Alex Verhoeff in Interviews/Reviews Dave Marsh, the biographer of the Boss, has dubbed Springsteen fans the cult. Springsteen fans habitually follow the guy around. Waiting in line at a show, waiting for the gates to open it is not uncommon to hear a cacophony of accents and languages. Some more than others. Natives from New Jersey and Italians tend to follow the Boss with just a tad more fervor than the average Springsteen fan, but it’s a trait that runs through all of us. There are many rewards of following the man around, of collecting every recording, legally or otherwise. Few artists allow you to actually grow old with them, few artists manage to maintain a certain level of integrity and artistic merit throughout their entire career. Springsteen does just that and gives a mean show to boot. For those in the know, following Springsteen around isn’t as odd as it may seem on the outside. Springsteen may also be one of the few artists that is defined as much by his audience as he is by his body of work. After all he is continuously looking for that connection with the fans that surround him. So as good as Dave Marsh’s biography may be, it only tells half the story. For the other half you need to turn to the fans themselves. “For You” does just that. The book is the labor of love of Lawrence Kirsch, part of the cult since ’75. Kirsch first had the pleasure to experience Springsteen on a freezing winter night in ’75, in Montreal. “Bruce acted out the songs with such conviction he seemed to be living them out on stage. The audience was spell bound as this small skinny whirlwind of a man commanded their attention, he remembers now. Realizing, after attending many shows that felt like a family reunion, that the cult has a “pent-up desire to share” he set out to collect those stories. He received over 1500 stories from all over the globe. Kirsch gave himself the task to edit through them and decide which to publish. “It was very difficult to pick the ones that appear in the book” Kirsch relates. “the ones that made it into the book are not necessarily the best” he confesses, “No these stories are representative of the ‘Springsteen experience’ from the poignant and heartfelt, to the passionate and the trivial.” Lawrence himself calls the book a testimonial, and a treasure trove of tales. I think “For You” became more than that. Taken as a collective these stories represent the missing half of Springsteen’s biography. Through the book we get a different perspective on Springsteen. We watch him grow up through the eyes of the cult and see the cult growing up with him. Kirsch allows us to unravel the secret of Springsteen’s magnetism like few other books can. There’s the complete awe of first concert experiences over the decades. There’s the fulfillment of that promise years burning down the road. There’s stories of fans coming to terms with strained family relations, Springsteen as the natural soundtrack in the back. We share in the battle against cancer, Springsteen offering that comforting shoulder. Flipping through its pages we meet Wendy from Born to Run, learn that the Big Man’s name is also Paul. Story after story the picture unfolds, after you’re done you feel like you’ve captured an essential element of Springsteen a classic biography could never capture. In a sense Kirsch is re-writing the book on how these things should be done or at least giving us the other side of the coin. The 400 something gorgeous pictures that were contributed to the book almost seem like a side note compared to that. “Bruce fans are a fraternity” Kirsch reflects on the book now, “we share something deep and special, a relationship with the artist and with each other. At every show you meet old and new fans and the “family” grows larger and larger”. That probably explains why Springsteen is the first artist to have an alternative biography like this. You could wonder if the same kind of biography could even work for other artists. I like to think Springsteen fans are pretty unique in our seemingly unhealthy devotion. Although Kirsch called the book “a very personal tribute to an inspired and inspiring human being”, I think the reverse is also true. “For You” is a tribute to the cult as well. “For You” was printed as a limited edition of 2000, available through the web only, get yours while they last. www.Foryoubruce.com

Limited Edition Bruce Springsteen Book: Spanish

LaserBurn — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:59:54 GMT

LOS SEGUIDORES DEL CANTANTE CUENTAN SUS EXPERIENCIAS 'For you' y los legendarios fans de Springsteen

El libro, del fotógrafo Lawrence Kirsch, ofrece testimonios de cientos de seguidores

21/05/2008 10:15 (CET) JULIO VALDEÓN BLANCO

NUEVA YORK.- Lawrence Kirsch, fotógrafo canadiense, mordió la fruta prohibida a finales de 1975, cuando compró dos entradas para ver a Bruce Springsteen y la E Street Band en el Place des Arts de Montreal.

Cuestionado al respecto, aclara: "En el 75 yo no era un gran fan de Springsteen, me tiraban más Bob Dylan, David Bowie o los Rolling Stones. Aquella noche, cuando apagaron las luces, olvidé todo e inicié mi viaje con Bruce y con Roy Bittan (pianista de la E Street). Arrancaron con una versión acústica de 'Thunder road'.

Nunca había sido testigo de una apertura de concierto tan sencilla y, sin embargo, tan efectiva y apasionada. Bruce cantaba con tanta convicción que parecía revivir sus temas. El concierto duró tres horas, mucho más que cualquiera que yo hubiera visto antes, y al final la audiencia estaba exhausta. Abandonamos el teatro sabiendo que habíamos visto algo especial".

Treinta y tres años, y 60 conciertos de Springsteen más tarde, Kirsch publica (mejor reedita: la primera edición, limitadísima, se agotó hace meses, al poco de salir) 'For you'. Ofrece testimonios de cientos de seguidores del de Nueva Jersey contados en primera persona. Sus vivencias alumbran toda una épica.

Van de la anécdota descacharrante al bosquejo de una vida enroscada en torno a la música. Demiurgo, socio, compañero y maestro, Springsteen proyecta entre sus seguidores una imagen atípica. Trasciende su papel asignado (megaestrella) y se transforma en algo más, tal vez el buen pastor que consuela sin arengar, cronista implacable del sueño americano y sus desvelos.

Convocados por Kirsch para enviar textos y fotografías, los seguidores respondieron con entusiasmo. Había que documentar décadas de conciertos masivos y secretos, de los estadios de fútbol a los bares donde a veces, muchas, Springsteen rocanrolea hasta la madrugada.

También era necesario explicar por qué se trata de uno de los dos o tres artistas más pirateados de la historia y las decenas de miles de entradas que registran páginas web como 'Backstreets' (desde 1980, documentando los pasos de Springsteen, primero como fanzine y más tarde como web), contar, como hace Kirsch, porque "Springsteen nos da esperanza. Si se limitara a entretenernos, sería estupendo.

Pero hace más, ha contribuido a nuestra educación, nos pide mantener la mente abierta y receptiva hacia los problemas sociales y (desde 2004) la situación política de los Estados Unidos. Algunos fans no están de acuerdo con este último aspecto, pero es su problema". Sugestión y mordisco

Kirsch, él mismo uno de tantos 'tramps' (vagabundos, por 'Born to run') que planean sus vacaciones con la idea de ver tantos conciertos de Springsteen como sea posible, apostó todo en 'For you', dispuesto a colocar el espejo en el lado contrario.

Quienes quieran conocer las causas del hechizo deben saber que Springsteen rara vez decepciona en vivo. Sus conciertos sugestionan y muerden a partes iguales. Aparte la duración (maratoniana, pero sin llegar a los sobrehumanos excesos de los viejos tiempos: al cabo Springsteen tiene 59 años), destaca la perenne sensación de sorpresa.

Sirva como ejemplo que durante la segunda parte de la gira americana de 'Magic' (que ahora desembarca en Europa), Springsteen ha llegado a cambiar más de 10 canciones entre un concierto y el siguiente, tocado temas nunca antes escuchados en directo (caso de 'None but the brave', una de tantas joyas descartadas durante las sesiones del 'Born in the USA', sólo escuchada en vivo durante unos conciertos navideños en 2003).

Arrancas 'For you' inquieto, fascinado con sus fotografías y, sí, temeroso por la perspectiva de un aluvión de cartas del tipo Bruce salvó mi vida y 'blablablá'

Ha invitado a Arcade Fire, Connor Oberst ('Bright Eyes'), Alejandro Escovedo, Joe Ely, Tom Morello ('Rage Against the Machine') o Roger McGuinn a acompañarlo en distintas ciudades y versioneado temas ajenos (por ejemplo, 'I´ll fly away', clásico gospel que Springsteen y la E Street Band tocaron como homenaje a Danny Federici, miembro fundador y legendario teclista del grupo fallecido el pasado abril).

Arrancas 'For you' inquieto, fascinado con sus fotografías y, sí, temeroso por la perspectiva de un aluvión de cartas del tipo Bruce salvó mi vida y 'blablablá', y vale, bueno, algunos mensajes turban por ingenuos, pero en el cómputo final pesan infinitamente más las increíbles historias de gente corriente y los nudos que el mejor arte sugiere, haciendo de la ecuación música/biografía fascinante sucesión de lágrimas, risas, polvo y sudor, besos y estrellas, que viaja de lo divertido a lo mágico sin derrapar en el misticismo barato.

'For you', al cabo, termina por ser un canto de amor, pero no el previsto desde la trinchera cínica. Gozoso, vibrante, lírico y poético, demuestra que si bien "lo más difícil es conservar tu idealismo tras perder la inocencia" (Springsteen dixit), siempre nos quedará la música (nuestro París de Fenders).

Antes de concluir la entrevista, Kirsch avisa a los fans españoles con entrada para los conciertos de junio: "Verán a unos Bruce Springsteen y la E Street Band más decididos que nunca a mostrar lo que hay. Es su única oportunidad para volarte la cabeza. Sin retiradas, segundas oportunidades o mañanas. Con la reciente muerte de Danny Federici el grupo está repasando su historia personal e, incluso, su propia mortalidad... Ve esta gira todo lo que puedas, creo que será la última de la E Street Band". www.foryoubruce.com

Springsteen Book

LaserBurn — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:52:42 GMT

Bruce Springsteen Limited Edition Book

For You, titre d'une chanson du premier disque du E Street Band, est également le titre du livre-témoignage du montréalais Lawrence Kirsch. En 200 pages grand format bien tassées, For You fait revivre en photos toutes les tournées du Boss depuis 1973-et même quelques spectacles avant la naisssance officielle du E Street Band- jusqu'aux répétitions de la tournée Magic, en septembre dernier. www.Foryoubruce.com Of all the great armies of rock fans, few can match the devotion of Bruce Springsteen's. For them it's not just catching just one show-it's about catching them all. Anyone who has experienced Springsteen in concert will testify that the bond between audience and artist transcends the usual adulation. Something magical, almost mystical happens. Some might describe it as spiritual-most definitely it is life affirming. It is in trying to nail this phenomenon that the beautiful hardbound For You has arrived. www.Foryoubruce.com

Un libro da non perdere: con oltre 400 foto e più di 200 racconti inediti narrati da alcuni dei più devoti fan di Bruce Springsteen Il nuovo ed attesissimo libro su Bruce Springsteen – “For You” – una collezione di storie, racconti ed esperienze narrate dai fans di tutto il mondo, è attualmente in stampa. Oltre due anni di preparazione, contiene centinaia di storie ed aneddoti scritti dai suoi leggendari fan così come più di 400 fotografie, la maggior parte delle quali mai pubblicate prima d’ora. Questo è un libro da non perdere per i fan più affezionati al Boss. L’editore Lawrence Kirsch dice: “Essendo io stesso da sempre un seguace di Springsteen ho sentito che c’era un crescente desiderio da parte di tutti i fan come me di mettere insieme e condividere. Ai concerti di Bruce succede sempre qualcosa di magico. Ogni serata è come una grande riunione di famiglia, anche se in realtà si conoscono solo poche persone. Dei perfetti sconosciuti si incontrano e si collegano con un’immediatezza tangibile.” “I Fan saranno in grado di identificarsi e relazionarsi l’un l’altro attraverso i ricordi di altre persone. Vi prometto che ci sarà qualcosa per ciascuno in questo libro.” Nonostante Kirsch abbia richiesto di inviare le storie in Inglese ha ricevuto contributi in tutte le lingue del mondo. Così, a sottolineare che la musica suonata da Bruce Springsteen, dalla leggendaria E-Street Band, dalle Sessions Band così come da ogni altro musicista con cui Bruce abbia suonato di fatto attraversi le barriere linguistiche toccando i fan di tutto il mondo Kirsch ha disseminato nel libro alcuni racconti scritti nelle loro lingue originali. “Volevo che ognuno si sentisse coinvolto”, ha detto Kirsch, “così questi racconti servono a ricordare che il Boss ha fan in ogni parte del mondo e che l’esperienza di un concerto di Bruce Springsteen travalica i confini di una specifica lingua. www.Foryoubruce.com

Some thoughts on Danny...

LaserBurn — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:54:43 GMT

When I heard the news that E Street Band keyboardist Danny Federici had died at age 58, it took quite a few minutes for the reality to sink in. When it did, there was only one thing to do: Call the biggest Springsteen fan that I know, my old pal and former colleague Nancy. Nancy and I were like family, which is the same context in which I have always viewed the E Street Band. Even more than the music, the band represents the noble idea of sticking together, through thick and thin, forever. That's a pretty lofty notion to take in, especially if you've run into a bad relationship, bad marriage, single-parenthood, health issues or any of the myriad struggles that make life so challenging. So, anyway, Nancy picked up the phone and we started reminiscing about the band's history and then our own. She and I have been to a few Springsteen shows together and through more than a few adventures at work. Without her presence, I never would've had a chance to do what I love. After the shock wore off, she got feisty: "This pisses me off," she is telling me, "because these guys are the good guys. Hey, tramps like us..." The E Street Band didn't do drugs, didn't carouse irresponsibly. They don't fit into the new tabloid mentality. Federici's three-year battle with melanoma had been kept so low-key that attentive fans such as Nancy and I weren't aware of it. He had joined the band in 1969, according to the biographical information in the forward to a new Springsteen volume, For You: Original Stories and Photographs by Bruce Springsteen's Legendary Fans.(www.Foryoubruce.com) Federici played with the Boss in the seaside juke joints with Child and Steel Mill. "In Danny's case," the Chicago Tribune's Louis Carlozo writes. "greatness is understood, measured in the sublime flicker of his organ-playing hands." After 40 years in the band, Federici's hands are still, but I'm optimistic that, like all families, the E Street Band will find a way to persevere. It gives hope to the rest of us.

Springsteen For You

LaserBurn — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:15:03 GMT

A spectacular new book called "For You" is one of the best Bruce Springsteen books ever published. What's real special about this is that it's all about Bruce and his fans. The 208-page book is a collection of recollections from fans about Bruce from the early 1970s to present. This marvelous collection of hundreds of fan tales, testimonials and memories also features tons of fan photographs of Bruce and the E Street Band over the years. Many of these photographs have never been published. It's the photos that really impressed me. So many great shots of Bruce over the years, from his Steel Mill days in 1970 to even the Magic Tour. Only 2,000 copies of the book were printed The stories by fans really capture how Bruce Springsteen and his music has touched our lives over the past 30-plus years. This is a 'must have' for any Springsteen fan. http://www.Foryoubruce.com