Springsteen tribute band will re-create legendary 1978 show on February 11 in Times Square
A TRIBUTE TO THE BOSS
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
237 West 42nd St. between Seventh & Eighth Aves.
Thursday, February 11, $26-$37.50, 7:30
212-997-4144
www.bbkingblues.com
www.trampslikeus.com
On September 19, 1978, we very clearly remember sitting up in our room, taping a live concert being broadcast over WNEW, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band playing the Capitol Theater in Passaic in what would become one of their most legendary shows. We also recall heading into the Village shortly thereafter and buying the bootleg boxed set, called PIECE DE RESISTANCE. Last year, for the first time ever, Springsteen began playing some of his albums in their entirety, and now tribute band Tramps Like Us will be playing the famed 1978 concert in its entirety at B.B. King’s on February 11. Generally, we are not big fans of tribute/cover bands — like the one that played our high school prom — but Bruce’s 9/19/78 performance was extraordinary, featuring memorable versions of such unreleased songs as “Independence Day,” “Fire,” “Because the Night,” and “Point Blank,” a spate of tunes from his latest album, DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN, including a “Prove It All Night” that nearly blew the roof off with its blistering guitar solo, and a killer finale of “The Detroit Medley” and “Raise Your Hand.” But the highlight of the show was the triple shot of “Not Fade Away” into “She’s the One” followed by an unforgettable “Backstreets” with a majestic, emotionally powerful “Sad Eyes” near the end (later to be adapted into “Drive All Night” on THE RIVER). We’ve been waiting, hoping, and praying for Bruce to go into “Sad Eyes” every time we’ve heard “Backstreets” since then, to no avail, so this is the closest any of us are likely to get.