Bruce and Joe throw a party on 5th
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Bruce Springsteen had a rousing good time Thursday night at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland where he rocked with Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers. -
Bruce Springsteen joins Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers for a sold-out jam Nov. 3 at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland. -
Bruce Springsteen holds up a young fan at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland on Nov. 3. -
Joe Grushecky and Bruce Springsteen at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland on Nov. 3.
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Mac Miller -- you know, the rapper, who has nothing to do with this story -- has a new song out called "Party on 5th Ave." There's no better way to describe what went down Thursday night at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall where we got another hot round of the annual Bruce and Joe Show.
Hometown rocker Joe Grushecky, who brings the Boss to our fair city, promised there would be surprises and they started early. Bruce Springsteen didn't even wait for the Houserockers. He jumped out for the last song by opening band The Composure, which includes Mr. Grushecky's son Johnny, for a version of "Dancing in the Dark" that was anything but composed. Talk about good ways to get people in from the lobby.
As he did last year, Mr. Springsteen took the stage first with an acoustic guitar, saying "Hey Pittsburgh, it's good to be back. I'm gonna open for Joe a little bit." He started with a gentle take on one of his most beloved songs, "For You."
He set up "Land of Hope and Dreams" talking about how he came up with the Guthrie-style song during the rehearsals right before he rolled out an E Street Band reunion tour. His third solo song was "I'll Work for Your Love," a workmanlike love ballad from the "Magic" album.
Joe Grushecky came out saying "All right, let's get this house rockin'," which he did, although gently at first, with "Everything's Gonna Work Out Right" and then harder with "Swimming With the Sharks."
The Springsteen/Houserockers reunion began with a heavy "Atlantic City" that built till the chorus became a mantra. "Never Be Enough Time" came with Mr. Springsteen playing a solo to a little kid in front and then lifting him onto the stage. He doesn't get to play much lead with E Street, so this is a chance for him to unload, and his solos were incendiary.
The two singers stuck fairly close to the set lists from last year: They did their two co-writes "Another Thin Line" and the Grammy winner "Code of Silence." They blistered through "Murder Incorporated," did a campy "Fire" duet and turned "Johnny 99" into a wild Chuck Berry like romp.
New additions to the Springsteen/Houserocker set were "Because the Night," with Mr. Springsteen sparring with guitarist Danny Gochnour; "Two Hearts," with Johnny Grushecky standing in for Little Steven at the mike; and the jubilant "Waiting on a Sunny Day," with the Boss, with just the mike, out in the seats, lifted in the air by the folks in the front rows.
The show started the typical stand-up/sit-down dilemma, with fists almost flying over it. By mid-set, the old monument got hot and boozy, with people crushing up against the stage, dancing, drinking, screaming, clapping, falling over, etc. Perfect for Joe Grushecky's "Pumpin' Iron," the Boss' "Light of Day" and an ecstatic, lights-up "Glory Days."
It was like being back at the Decade again. And the Stone Pony. Combined!
Party on 5th for sure, capped with a sweet ride down "Thunder Road."
First Published November 4, 2011 12:11 am
