So now, on this morning's sweep through the farmland, I'll be blasting Better Days, a truly great studio recording with a bunch of Jersey all-star guests including Max Weinberg, Springsteen, Bon Jovi and long-time Jukes cohort and songwriter Steve Van Zandt. Though I think the live record Reach Up And Touch The Sky provides a better document of what the Jukes are all about, this album is just full of great songs and inspired playing. The guitars snarl, the vocals are soulful and the horns belt you upside the head.
So on Saturday night, while all of you bloggers are hopefully having a grand time at Chez Olsen, I'll be at Hampton Beach, singing my brains out and filling myself, The Wife and both stepsons full of bar band bliss.
Happy end-of-summer everybody!
Article comments
1 - Vern Halen
Better Days is a great album, just about up there with Hearts of Stone. I wish Southside Johnny would've hit it bigger than he did - I really don't know how anyone can NOT like his rockin' yet soulful version of classic r'n'b.
And I bet he's great live, too.
2 - Mark Saleski
on some nights the shows can get close to E St. band intensity.
as usual, i'm very excited.
3 - Vern Halen
Only saw the Boss once, but, yeah, what a performance.
4 - Mark Saleski
the funny thing is that the first time i saw Springsteen was on The River tour.
the show was out in cleveland at the now-bulldozed colliseum.
this was also in the middle of my completely heavy into Southside Johnny phase.
apparently, Southside was playing shows at the Blossom right around the same time...because they brought him out and did a version of "I Don't Want To Go Home".
as i like to say, i almost had an organism.