Boring Stories of Glory Days

The Boathouse, Belmar, NJ, October 8, 2011

2011-10-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

Our shows at the Boathouse have always been known being somewhat chaotic. The cramped quarters near the stage area often result in microphones to the teeth, people tripping over monitors, drinks being spilled on various instruments, drunk people crowding the stage to the point where there’s no room left for the band members, and the threat of a brawl breaking out at various points in the evening. Saturday night’s show featured all of the best elements of a Boathouse show, but without any of the carnage. The bar was packed to the rafters with people looking to have a blast. What was originally planned as a three-set show ended up being a two set show with an extra long second set because we were feeding off of the energy of the room and didn’t want to stop playing. One of the highlights of the evening was Bill “Butterfingers” Shanker spontaneously lifting a young beauty up into his arms as she grinned from ear to ear in delight. Tragically the saxophonist’s clumsy tendencies took over and he stumbled over a monitor while dancing, nearly dropping the poor girl to the floor. Poor guy can’t catch a break. Now he’s got human being to go along with saxophone and PA speaker on his list of notable items dropped during or after a performance. Not to be outdone by Shanker, one of the Shuffle superfans “The Coach” took “Rosalita” to new heights by dancing between two gorgeous women (one of whom was apparently an exotic dancer) atop the bar. We’ll just say it was a distracting moment and leave it at that. Needless to say it was a night for the ages at the Boathouse.

Rivoli's Chill and Grill, Howell, NJ, 10/7/11

2011-10-10T12:29:00.000-07:00

Friday night was our first time playing at this great bar/restaurant in the Ramtown section of Howell. We weren’t sure what to expect, but what we got was a crowded bar full of enthusiastic patrons, a friendly and accommodating staff and great night overall. Once I spotted some folks in the audience wearing Bruce shirts I had a feeling we were going to be OK and I was right. The set included intense versions of “Atlantic City” and “Darkness on the Edge of Town” to go along with plenty of upbeat rockers to keep people on their feet and dancing. We look forward to returning to Rivoli’s on December 10th.

The E Street Shuffle Unplugged- Edgar’s Pub, September 15, 2011

2011-09-16T07:56:00.000-07:00

On Thursday night, The E Street Shuffle Unplugged debuted at Edgar’s Pub, with guitarist Ryan Loughlin and myself performing as a duo in a stripped-down acoustic setting. In sharp contrast to the usual raucous party which is the full band, electric E Street Shuffle, this incarnation presented the other side of Springsteen’s music, highlighting the quieter, stark material. Songs such as “Janey Don’t You Lose Heart,” “Reason to Believe,” “Point Blank,” “The River,” “Downbound Train,” “Open All Night,” “Johnny 99,” “Brilliant Disguise” and “Darkness on the Edge of Town” were able to take center stage for a change in this intimate environment. The hits weren’t completely absent however, with stripped-down versions of “Hungry Heart,” “Born to Run,” “Badlands” and “Rosalita” all making appearances. The show also featured several non-Springsteen covers of songs by the likes of Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, Pearl Jam, U2, R.E.M. and Bob Dylan, which is something that we never do with the full band. Future E Street Shuffle Unplugged performances will feature various smaller configurations of the band and the dates will be posted on the website. Anyone looking to enjoy a mellow, fun night out during the week featuring some deeper cuts from the Springsteen catalogue should come check out one of our acoustic gigs. Thanks!
-SL

Labor Day Weekend 2011

2011-09-06T06:10:00.000-07:00

Another great summer wrapped up with three great shows over the course of Labor Day weekend. We kicked things off Friday night at the Mad Hatter with a fun, up-tempo show in front of an enthusiastic crowd. The typical Hatter pandemonium broke out by the end of the second set with the triple punch of “Thunder Road,” “Born to Run” and “Rosalita,” followed by “Born in the USA” and “Quarter to Three” to close the night.

On Saturday we performed a show on the beach in Ocean Beach, NJ. The show held special significance for Ryan and me since Ocean Beach is the town that four generations of my family has been vacationing in since the early 1950s. To be there on the same beach I played on as a kid, singing my favorite songs with the waves crashing in front of us and my family looking on was really a wonderful experience. It was also a great show on a beautiful evening with a fantastic turnout. The second set featured a special guest performance by E Street Shuffle alumnus Mike Radosti on guitar and backing vocals. We had a lot of fun being on stage with our old friend again. Although sand isn’t the easiest substance to dance on, people still got up off of their comfortable chairs and managed to cut a rug. While the set featured plenty of rockers, the laid-back beach vibe also led to the inclusion of songs like “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy), “Jersey Girl,” “Something in the Night,” “Backstreets,” and “Brilliant Disguise.”

Sunday night’s show was a private affair at the Peninsula Country Club in Delaware where we have performed for three straight years now. No trip to Delaware is complete with a stop for lunch at the Big Fish Grill in Rehoboth Beach, and this trip was no exception. The cream of crab soup more than lived up to its reputation and put everybody in a great mood. The show itself got off to a late start due to some electrical issues and were asked to take a break after only 35 minutes to make way for a fireworks show that never materialized , but once the second set started we were off and running and everybody had a great time. With the exception of two slower songs, this was a pedal to the metal set from start to finish, which made for a dance floor which never cleared. The grand finale of the evening came during “Quarter to Three” when I leapt into the pool with my clothes and boots on. It was a fitting end to a great summer. Oh, and the trip to Delaware also included a traditional stop at The Cove in Dewey Beach for some fantastic Orange Crushes and a stop at The Dog House on the way home for some good eats. Thanks to everybody who came out to support us during the summer of 2011. We had a blast and hope you did too!
-SL

Plum Beach Club, Saunderstown RI 08/13/11

2011-08-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

On Saturday the Shuffle headed up to Saunderstown, RI for a show at the beautiful Plum Beach Club. As is usually the case with these type of road trips, good eats often take top priority with several band members stopping off at Danny’s Drive In in Stratford, Connecticut on the way for some delectable loaded hot dogs. The delicious lunch set the tone for an enjoyable trip. The folks at the Plum Beach Club couldn’t have been nicer or more hospitable as we enjoyed drinks and food with a wonder bayside view.

The show itself was also great as we performed right next to the beach with a beautiful moon reflecting on the bay. After somebody in the band was handed a bottle of Narragansett beer, I proceed to inquire with the audience about whether this was actually a local microbrew or just a cheap beer that happened to be manufactured locally. The reason I asked dated back to my college days in South Jersey when we would routinely purchase the rancid-tasting, $1.99 a six-pack beer for a somewhat naïve schoolmate who refused to specify exactly what kind of beer he wanted us to buy him. Anyway, the consensus amongst the crowd was that this was not a high quality product. I breathed a sigh of relief and we proceeded on with the show. One of the highlights was the impromptu “Sad Eyes” interlude during “Backstreets,” which wasn’t something we’d ever discussed or attempted before. Our closing song was “Rosalita,” but we came back on for an encore of “Quarter to Three.” During the finale I made the split-second decision to sprint down the beach and jump into the Narragansett Bay. Thankfully the water was a comfortable 74 degrees and quite comfortable. Soaking wet, with sand-covered boots, I made my way back to the stage, ended the show and called it a night.

The ride back on Sunday included a stop in Fairfield, CT at the magnificent Super Duper Weenie which features Boylan’s sodas in addition to delicious hot dogs and cheeseteaks.
-SL

July 4th Weekend 2011

2011-07-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

As in years passed, it was another fun-filled 4th of July weekend for The E Street Shuffle. Things kicked off on Friday night with a show at The Mad Hatter, which featured everything we’ve come to expect from a good Hatter show: a large crowd, lots of drinking, people nearly taking out one of the keyboards and bar owner Scott Kelly waving an American flag from atop the bar during “Born in the USA.” This highlight of the night was without a doubt Bill Shanker’s saxophone solo during “Jungleland.” The “Big Shank” took center stage as he belted out a tribute to Clarence Clemons that left everybody in awe. It was one of those magical moments as a musician that we’ll always remember.
Saturday night we headed further down the beach to Point Pleasant for a performance at Farrell’s. The night started off slow, but picked up steam as the set wore on, ending with a triumphant “Rosalita.”
After a day of rest the band continued down the Jersey coast to Cape May for the second annual 4th of July Bash at Harry’s Ocean Grill at the Montreal Inn. The rooftop setting overlooking the ocean was simply splendid and as the temperature cooled off a bit throughout the show, the crowd’s enthusiasm increased to a fever pitch. The third and final set of the night was an all-out dance party made up of a diverse age range of people from toddlers to senior citizens. “Murder Inc.” and “Downbound Train” were amongst the many requests performed and “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” was dusted off and performed for the first time in months. A wonderful Independence Day at the shore came to a close appropriately with a fireworks display over the ocean.

The Big Man, R.I.P. June 18, 2011

2011-06-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

After enjoying a few drinks following a very enjoyable first set at The Parker House in Sea Girt, NJ on Saturday night, we walked onstage to begin set number two and were immediately informed by Matt, our sound engineer that Clarence Clemons had died. For me it was one of those surreal moments when somebody tells you something but it doesn’t really fully register and your immediate thought is that it’s impossible and couldn’t be. Unfortunately it was the truth. The DJ made an announcement to the crowd who all raised their glasses and cheered in memory of the late great sax man. It was now our job to keep it together and do our best to pay tribute to the Big Man. Complicating matters for us was the fact that our own saxophonist Bill Shanker was unable to play the show and was not present. Thankfully Joey Arminio was filling in and did an admirable job. But above all, it was the crowd at The Parker House on Saturday that really held things together. Everyone who was there seemed to really get the significance of what had just happened and as the night wore on it became clear that this was going to be a celebration of the spirit that Clarence Clemons brought to The E Street Band for all those years. On behalf of the band I’d like to personally thank everyone who was with us at The Parker House on Saturday for keeping that positive vibe and energy going all night. It is a night that we’ll never forget.

Yesterday I was in Asbury Park with my family and just about every boardwalk shop we passed had a sign up mourning Clarence’s passing. It seemed like every other person who walked by was wearing a Springsteen t-shirt. At The Stone Pony there were pictures, candles and flowers on stage and at least a hundred people gathered around the stage as “10th Avenue Freeze Out” blared from the house system. People sang, cheered, wept and the little pretties raised their hands. It was as if The E Street Band were right there on stage in front of us with The Big Man smiling with that wonderful ear to ear grin of his. Walking around town yesterday really gave me a sense of just how much this man was loved and how special the bond between artists and their fans can be. Personally, I’ll never forget being an 18-year old at The Meadowlands in June of 1993 when Clarence strode out onstage unannounced to join Bruce on “10th Avenue Freeze Out” at the precise moment when he sings “They made that change uptown and the Big Man joined the band…” The roar from the crowd at that moment is legendary amongst fans, but having been there myself I can tell you that it truly was the loudest noise I’ve ever heard before or since, and that includes being at Yankee Stadium in 2003 when Aaron Boone hit that walk-off homer to beat the Red Sox. I’ll never forget literally jumping up and down screaming “Clarence” at the top of my lungs as he danced and played the sax joyfully as the place went bananas.

The great thing about music is that it endures long after we’re gone, and in the case of Clarence Clemons, his contributions to music and the spirit, energy and enthusiams he brought to The E Street Band and all its fans is something that will live on forever. We love you Big Man. Thanks for a lifetime of great memories.

Rocks Off Concert Cruise, New York City, 4/30/11

2011-05-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day as we set sail aboard the majestic Half Moon for a three-hour tour down the East River and into New York Harbor. With the sun shining brightly, we launched into “10th Avenue Freeze Out” to kick off the show and cruised through the calm waters between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Performing on a boat became challenging at times when we’d get caught up in the waves caused by another boat’s wake, leaving us clinging to our microphone stands. “Mr. Keyboard” lost his footing at one point during the show due to choppy seas, but he made a speedy recovery without missing a note. I collapsed to my knees at the end of “Jungleland” but that was only for dramatic effect. As the first set was wrapping up, the Half Moon dropped anchor directly in front of the Statue of Liberty for one of the most breathtaking views one can hope to witness. The sun had just set behind Lady Liberty and it was one of those magic moments that we’ll never forget. The second set began with “Born in the USA,” which really got the crowd going. As night closed in the dance party began with the band slamming through hits like “Badlands,” “Thunder Road,” “Glory Days,” “Born to Run” and “Rosalita.” The concert cruise came to an end triumphantly with “Quarter to Three.” Many thanks to everyone who helped sell-out our first concert cruise and a very happy birthday to Mike who was celebrating his 50th along with friends and family. We hope to be seeing you again soon either on land or at sea.

Edgar's Pub, Manasquan, NJ 04/23/11

2011-04-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday was another fun-filled night at Edgar’s Pub which featured a performance of the classic “Darkness on the Edge of Town” album from start to finish. It’s not the easiest album to attempt to do in a bar setting due to the fact that it’s an intense album with several slow songs and a lack of many danceable tracks, but for the most part the crowd was very attentive and receptive to what we were trying to do. Ryan’s blistering guitar solos on “Prove it All Night,” Adam Raised a Cain,” “Streets of Fire” and “Candy’s Room” were the highlights of the evening. After we were done performing the album we kicked things into party mode with an assault of rockers guaranteed to get people moving. Forgoing a planned second break, we plowed ahead, adding songs to the set as we went along and finishing with a total of 39-songs in all. Many thanks to the wonderful staff at Edgar’s and everybody who came out to see us play.

507 Main, Belmar, NJ 04/15/11

2011-04-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

Seven months had gone by since we last played 507 Main, so we were quite happy to be back on Friday night with a fantastic crowd in attendance to cheer us on. The show included many audibles, requests and set list changes, which made for a nice freewheeling kind of night. An abundance of well-deserved Shuffle beads were distributed throughout the evening as various groups of girls climbed atop the bar to dance along to “Thundercrack,” “Glory Days” and “Badlands.” During “Thunder Road” seemingly everyone in attendance sang “Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night. You ain’t a beauty, but hey you’re alright,” in unison. As is now an E Street Shuffle tradition, the night was capped off by a delicious trip to The Windmill for hot dogs at a quarter to three.

Brennan's Place, Holyoke, MA 3/18/11

2011-03-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

For the second year in a row we traveled to Holyoke, MA to take part in their annual St. Patrick’s Day weekend festivities, and once again we were rewarded with beautiful weather, warm hospitality and a fun show. The set list included three debuts in “Ain’t Good Enough For You,” “American Land” and “From Small Things.” The show also featured the debut of the Shuffle Mardi Gras beads, which were a big hit. Due to time constraints we eliminated one of our planned breaks, and plowed through with two long sets instead, which included two encores. Other highlights of the road trip included stops at three legendary Connecticut joints: Rawley’s, Super Duper Weenie and Danny’s Drive-In. All three were outstanding. Many thanks to Patrick and the staff at Brennan’s for taking care of us and making us feel at home. We’re looking forward to a return trip next year!

Farrell's, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 03/12/11

2011-03-14T05:49:00.000-07:00

It was a rollicking night at Farrell’s in Point Pleasant as the band gave a high-energy 37-song performance to a crowd that was dancing from the first song on. Audience members weren’t the only ones cutting a rug as saxophonist Bill "Dancing Machine" Shanker proceeded to tear it up on the dance floor throughout the night as well, jamming out on his beautiful brand new sterling sax. Forgoing our planned second break, we wound up performing an extra-long second set that included a few audibles as well as songs like “Candy’s Room” and “Thundercrack” which were both performed by request to close out the show. Also, we want to wish a Happy Birthday to our friend Joe who was celebrating his 40th with family and friends at Farrell’s Saturday night.

The Manasquan Beach House, Manasquan, NJ, 2/26/11

2011-02-28T05:33:00.000-08:00

The Manasquan Beach House was rocking on Saturday night with a great crowd on hand for a three-set show. Apparently the drinks were flowing freely at the bar as several enthusiastic fans wiped out over the course of the evening near the stage area, including one gentleman who did his best impression of Rickey Henderson sliding into second. Thankfully there were no serious injuries. The set included particularly fierce renditions of “Prove it All Night,” “Murder Incorporated” and “Because the Night” as well as a very-well received version of “For You.” Thanks to Rick Meale for filling in for “Mr. Perfect” on the keys and to everyone who came out, sang, danced, cheered and made it such a great night.

The 6th Annual Polar Bear Ball, Lewes, DE 02/05/11

2011-02-07T12:01:00.000-08:00

A wonderful tradition that began back in 2006 continued as the band performed at the 6th Annual Polar Bear Ball in support of the Delaware Special Olympics. Chipper's Dippers, an insane group of generous people who jump into the frigid Atlantic Ocean every year on the first Sunday of February were out in full force once again on the eve of their great plunge. Saxophonist Bill "Birthday Boy" Shanker took center stage at the affair, making both the horn and the ladies scream with his patentented spin move and walk-in-place. All 38-songs in the set were ones which featured saxophone, which was an E Street Shuffle first. "Growin' Up" featured another Big Shank story, this one involving Bill parading around the Rehoboth beach in just a Speedo and his horn, resulting in significant shrinkage. Many thanks to Chip Simpson, Jim McQuaide and all of Chipper's Dippers for another great Polar Bear Ball!

Oh, almost forgot. Thanks also goes out to The Dog House and The Big Fish Grill for providing a couple of delicious meals during our stay in Delaware.

2010 Year in Review

2011-01-04T08:59:00.000-08:00

Another year burning down the road for The E Street Shuffle and with it came more good times. 2010 saw the band carrying the momentum gained in the second half of 2009by performing 58 shows in the states of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Massachusetts. Throughout our journeys we got to stay in such fine resorts as the enchanting Anchorage Inn in Rehoboth, DE, the classic Sea Esta III in Dewey Beach, DE and the lovely Days Inn of Holyoke, MA. We also had the privilege of visiting some top notch local eateries during our travels such as Nick’s Nest in Holyoke, Rawley’s Roadside in Fairfield, CT, Pat’s Steaks in Philly, Gray’s Papaya in Manhattan and The Big Fish Grill in Rehoboth. The Orange Crush (a cocktail consisting of orange vodka, triple sec, Sprite and orange juice) was designated as the official drink of the band and it was also determined that The Lighthouse Bar and Grill in Dewey Beach makes the best Orange Crushes on the planet. So if you’re ever down that way, be sure to stop in for one…or ten.

An additional 17 songs were added to the band’s repertoire during the year including long-requested gems such as “Thundercrack,””Talk to Me” and “For You.” The addition of all the new songs meant more varied set lists from night to night along with more wildcards.

The Jersey Shore bars continued to be our bread and butter with Edgar’s Pub, The Mad Hatter, 507 Main and The Boathouse consistently offering some of the wildest, most passionate and fun crowds anywhere. A big thank you goes out to the many good people we have met at these venues over the past few years. Your support is something that keeps this band going and we truly appreciate it. Another bar that joined the regular roster in late 2010 was The Manasquan Beach House, which looks to be a promising addition to our home base.

Some of the other public shows which were highlights for us during the year were playing at First Energy Park in Lakewood as part of the Blue Claws’ Bruce Springsteen fan appreciation night, a return trip to Holy Cross College, UPenn and Bally’s Beach Bar, Asbury Park’s 4th of July Liberty Bash and The Move for Hunger Benefit, the summer concert series in Langhorne, PA, the Hawthorne Festival, Bay Head Shores in Pt. Pleasant and Brennan’s Place in Holyoke. We also managed to play quite a few private events throughout the year including weddings, birthday parties, going away parties, surprise parties, you name it.

Looking ahead 2011 is primed to be even more exciting with Jersey Shore venues such as The Parker House, Columns and Farrell’s on the roster in addition to our old favorites. We’re also working on expanding our range to travel to more exciting locales. 2010 was our most successful year to date and we owe it all to those of you who have come out and see us play, danced, sang along, called out requests, bought us drinks, spilled drinks on our equipment, tripped over cables and monitors and professed your love for all things Springsteen. We’d also like to thank all of the Jersey Shore bar and club owners who keep bringing us back to their establishments month after month and have allowed us to continue to build a following and to entertain their patrons. A special thank you goes out to our families for putting up with our busy weekends, late nights, traveling and war stories. Many thanks to Arlene Rudo for her help with the website, posters and stickers, engineer Matt Jugan for providing us with great sound and Dennis Loughlin for taking great live photos of the band. We’ll be seeing you in 2011!

-Sean, Ryan, Bill, Chris, Rich, Dave and Mark

The Mad Hatter, Sea Bright, NJ, 12/31/10

2011-01-03T06:14:00.000-08:00

A fantastic year for The E Street Shuffle wrapped up at the Mad Hatter in Sea Bright on New Year's Eve with a 4-set show that went until the wee hours of the night. The unquestionable highlight of the evening came towards the end of the first set when two of the band's biggest supporters, Kaitlyn and Tommy got engaged right on stage with us in front of everybody with Tommy getting down on one knee, presenting a beautiful diamond ring and popping the question. With a look of total shock on her face, Kaitlyn said yes and the band launched into a debut performance of "I Wanna Marry You." It was truly an honor for us to be a part of such a special moment and it is one that we will never forget. We wish them a lifetime of happiness in the promised land.

Edgar's Pub Christmas Party 12/18/10

2010-12-20T05:23:00.000-08:00

Edgar's Pub was filled to the brim with good cheer on Saturday for the bar's annual Christmas party. The crowd was amped up from the get-go as the band tore into "Sherry Darling" to kick off a 35-song set. The highlight of the evening came at the end of the second set when we finally unveiled "Thundercrack" and dedicated it to Kaitlyn, Allie, Tommy and James who have been some of the band's biggest supporters and had been dying to hear us play that song. To say that it went over well would be an understatement. Towards the end of the night things became even more festive as saxophonist Bill "St. Nick" Shanker delivered treats to all the good boys and girls in the audience during an extended instrumental break in "Merry Christmas Baby." Then he sprung to his sax, to the band gave a whistle, and away we all flew, like the down of a thistle...

Holy Cross College, Worcester, MA, 12/10/10

2010-12-16T10:27:00.000-08:00

After sitting in a horrific traffic jam on Interstate 95 for several hours and scoffing down several hot dogs at Rawley's Drive In in Fairfield, CT, we finally made it up to Worcester, MA for our show at Holy Cross College. As was the case with previous shows we've done at this college, the crowd of enthusiastic students did not disappoint. "E Street Shuffle" chants started while we still setting up our gear as the pumped up crowd got ready for a long winter's night of rock n' roll. The show included the premier of "Talk to Me" as well as the year's first performance of "Merry Christmas Baby." We gave everybody a choice of hearing either "The E Street Shuffle," "Pink Cadillac" or "Quarter to Three" to close the show and "The E Street Shuffle" emerged as the winner. We want to send out a big thank you to the kids at Holy Cross for once again treating us so well. We're already looking forward to a return trip. Oh, and a special thank you also goes out to Rawley's for making such delicious hot dogs. We love ya!

Edgar's Pub and the Boathouse, Thanksgiving weekend

2010-12-02T07:17:00.000-08:00

It had been nearly a month since we last played a Jersey Shore bar, having done shows in various locations outside of our home base, so it was a nice homecoming for the band on Thanksgiving weekend with a show Friday night at Edgar's Pub in Manasquan and Saturday at the Boathouse in Belmar.

Friday night's show ranks amongst the best we've played at Edgar's, with an attentive, enthusiastic audience on hand that kept the energy level rising throughout the evening. The show opened with the obscure "I Wanna Be With You" and included other rare treats like "Living in the Future" and "My Love Will Not Let You Down." The Christmas season was officially ushered in late in the night with a performance of "Santa Claus is Comin' To Town" complete with each band member donning their own unique yuletide hat and jolly old St. Nick Shanker ho ho ho-ing the night to a triumphant close.

Saturday night's show at the Boathouse opened with "Cadillac Ranch" and also featured performances of "The Ties That Bind," "Darkness on the Edge of Town," "Racing in the Street," "So Young and in Love" and "Paradise by the C." Once again Santa Claus came to town and the result was an exuberant crowd sing-along. With the houselights on for last call, the evening came to a close with funky version of "The E Street Shuffle."

Joey's Casa Italiana, Hewitt, NJ, November 19, 2010

2010-11-26T06:02:00.000-08:00

On a cold November evening, the band ventured up to the wilderness of Sussex County, NJ for what was to be a memorable performance at Josey's Casa Italiana. Playing this venue for the first time, The Shuffle whipped out five debuts in "Because the Night," "Paradise by the C," "For You," "The Fever" and "So Young and in Love." Other notable songs played by request were "Candy's Room," "The Price You Pay" and "Drive All Night." With the crowd continuing to dance and have a great time we decided to just keep playing, throwing an additional 6 songs on at the end of our set.

The Manasquan Beach House, Manasquan, NJ 10/29/10

2010-11-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

This show was our first performance at The Manasquan Beach House and we had a great group of our biggest supporters on hand for the festivities dancing and singing up a storm. The highlight of the evening was the performance of "Seaside Bar Song" for one fan who "dared" us to attempt to the obscure track. Although we hadn't played the song in months, we gave it our all and it was greeted with a tremendous response. It's one thing to have people going crazy on "Rosalita," but it's another thing entirely when a crowd is singing all the words to a song like "seaside Bar Song." It's what makes being in this band so much fun. Another highlight of the evening was s Halloween-themed story in the middle of "Growin' Up" which featured Bill Shanker as a sax-playing Frankenstein.

2nd Annual Hawthorne Day, Hawthorne, NJ 10/2/10

2010-10-05T06:39:00.000-07:00

On a crisp, fall evening in Hawthorne, NJ we played to an enormous crowd of enthusiastic people at the town's annual Hawthorne Day Festival. Although it was an abbreviated set, the band hit on all cylinders, punching out classics like "Badlands" and "The Promised Land" with authority. A barricade was set up about 20 feet in front of the stage which several concert-goers attempted to take down in order to get closer to the band, but alas that sucker was well-secured, so there would be no stage rush on this night. Ryan unfortunately broke a string before "Thunder Road," yet managed to run to his car, grab another guitar, get back on stage, plug in, tune up and jump into the song at the precise moment that the lyric "I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk" was being sung. The show ended with a triumphant "Rosalita," which was immediately followed by a fireworks display.

507 Main, Belmar, NJ 9/25/10

2010-09-27T05:38:00.000-07:00

The summer may be officially over, but apparently nobody told the packed house at 507 Main in Belmar on Saturday night. This high-energy show kicked off with the one-two punch of "Prove it All Night" and "Night" and continued rocking all night. After a two-week vacation the band was hungry and loving every minute of being back onstage. The crowd was tremendous, providing the energy and enthusiasm to keep us going full throttle. "Adam Raised a Cain" and "Trapped" were played by request and the evening wrapped up with the roof-raising "Rosalita" and "Quarter to Three."

Labor Day Weekend/Summer wrap-up 2010

2010-09-07T06:54:00.000-07:00

Three excellent shows on Labor Day weekend helped to close out what was a fantastic summer for the band. On Friday night the Shuffle rocked out the Mad Hatter at what many people felt was the band's best show there of the summer. It was one of those nights where everything seemed to hit, and the band was firing on all cylinders. 11 hours after wrapping up Friday's show, the band was back onstage in Asbury Park for the Surfside Food Drive, which was a benefit organized by Move for Hunger. The weather couldn't have been more perfect as a nice crowd assembled on the boardwalk and on lounge chairs to take in a 2-hour set. Simply a great show for a great cause. The summer ended off with a private show at the Peninsula Country Club in Delaware on another beautiful evening under the stars.

The summer of 2010 was a busy one for The E Street Shuffle with the band playing a total of 27 shows in all. After a rough winter and early spring which saw the cancellation of several shows due to a blizzard, flooding, etc. Mother Nature cut us a break and all 12 of our scheduled outdoor summertime gigs went on as planned. Shows at the shore bars such as the Mad Hatter, 507 Main, the Boathouse and Edgar's were all an absolute blast, while performances at the Lakewood Bruce Claws game, the Margate Log Cabin, the Surfside Food Drive and the Langhorne Summer Concert allowed us to win over some new fans who hadn't previously seen the band. But one of the key factors in having such a successful summer has to be attributed to the folks who came out to see us time and again. People like Kaitlin, Allie, Tommy, James, Melissa, Jacelyn, Mike, John, etc. plus all of the familiar faces who we see singing the words to every song. We really appreciate the support and can't thank you enough. Also, thanks go out to our families and friends who came out to many a show on The E Street Shuffle 2010 Summer Tour.

Edgar's Pub, Manasquan, NJ 08/29/10

2010-08-30T10:32:00.001-07:00

When we agreed to play a series of Sunday night shows during the summer at Edgar's we weren't really sure what to expect. Would anybody be there? Would people be too tired and hung over from the weekend and just sit back in their chairs? To our delight each of the Sunday shows were a success, with a great group of people coming out to party and have a good time. This show featured multiple audience requests including "Atlantic City," "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)," "Racing in the Street," "Something in the Night," "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" and "Pink Cadillac." Another highlight of the evening was the rarely-performed "Hearts of Stone." "Growin' Up" featured yet another tale this time with "The Big Shank" working as a bouncer at a bar who is willing to let you in after closing if you allow him to either sing "More Than a Feeling" or play the Jungleland sax solo for you. We opted for the latter. Many thanks to our families, friends and fans for helping to make these Edgar's Sundays a success.

The Boathouse, Belmar, NJ 8/14/10

2010-08-16T06:37:00.000-07:00

It was pure pandemonium in Belmar on Saturday night as a crazy, packed house of people were crammed into the Boathouse for a summer night of sweaty rock n' roll music. Dave's piano took a beating during the show with one bar patron deciding to use it as a table before spilling his drink all over it and shorting the thing out temporarily, while another highly-inebriated gentleman proceeded to fall backwards, trip over the monitor and fall into the piano and mic stand. Thankfully the instrument and Mr. Keyboard survived both incidents. Eventually security was called in to restore some order and to prevent any more potential disasters. Many thanks to our friends Tommy and James for imploring their crowd-control techniques. Other highlights of the evening included bar owner Tim Harmon singing lead on "The Rising" and a Justin Bieber lookalike being harassed by a Pauly D wannabe. It was definitely a most memorable night in Belmar that we're not soon to forget any time soon. Thanks to all who attended.

Edgar's Pub, Manasquan, NJ 07/25/10

2010-07-26T08:44:00.001-07:00

It was another great all-around show at Edgar's with people partying on a Sunday as if it was Saturday night. This show featured many audience requests including "Girls in Their Summer Clothes," "Radio Nowhere," "I'm on Fire," "Racing in the Street," "Quarter to Three" and Cadillac Ranch." "Growing Up" featured a lengthy mid-song story about encountering saxophonist Bill "Big Shank" Shanker in a Manasquan Dairy Queen late at night where he made a deal with Shuffle band members where they would listen to him perform the "Jungleland" sax solo in exchange for ice cream. This event apparently led to the big man joining the band. Other show highlights included the rarely-played gem "Something in the Night" and a fierce version of "Adam Raised a Cain."

Margate Log Cabin, Margate, NJ 07/17/10

2010-07-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

It was another hot, but beautiful night at the Jersey Shore as we performed at the Margate Log Cabin, while watching a gorgeous sunset on the bay. Kudos to the folks at the Log Cabin for their promotion of the show which included newspaper advertisements and placing our poster at the toll booth on the Margate Bridge. A great turnout of people was on hand as we ran through two sets worth of music. "Drive All Night," "Murder Incorporated" and "The E Street Shuffle" were all performed by request.

Lakewood Bruce Claws, Lakewood, NJ 7/10/10

2010-07-13T07:38:00.001-07:00

It was Springsteen Appreciation Night at First Energy Park in Lakewood, NJ as the hometown Lakewood Blue Claws donned special jerseys with stars and stripes and an electric guitar and went under the alias "Bruce Claws" for the evening. Our performance took place just beyond the center field wall in the WRAT Trap tiki bar area and it was most enjoyable. After some initially threatening skies, the clouds gave way and the sun came out. As soon as they opened the front gates a crowd of Bruce fans wearing concert t-shirts came strolling over ready to get the party started. It was a short show, only 15 songs long because we had to stop in time for some pesky baseball game to begin; A great day at the ballpark was had by all.

Summer Concert Series, Langhorne, PA 7/7/10

2010-07-08T05:57:00.000-07:00

The temperature was hovering close to 100 degrees as we readied for this free summer concert in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, but much to our delight it didn't stop the townsfolk from coming out in full force, ready to rock n' roll. What was originally scheduled to be a rather short 24-song set turned out to be a closer to standard 30-song affair inspired by the appreciative crowd. The show featured the rarely-played "Hearts of Stone" and "My Hometown" in addition to the classic showstoppers. Insects of all kinds made guest appearances during the show on this hot and muggy July night. An ant scurried across Ryan's pedal board, while a grasshopper showed off his chops on Dave's piano during "Ramrod" and an unidentified flying bug kissed me on the mouth during "Rosalita." It was great to have both humans and insects getting into the show.

Harry's Ocean Grill, Cape May, NJ 7/4/10

2010-07-08T05:49:00.000-07:00

Although the hot sun was beating down, we were cooled by the Atlantic Ocean breezes, while perched upon a roof-top deck across the street from the beach in Cape May on this 4th of July. A nice crowd was on hand as we ran through three sets while the sun set. In addition to the holiday favorites "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" and "Independence Day," we also broke out the more obscure "Drive All Night" and "Living in the Future." Five minutes after our performance ended the fireworks show began over the ocean, making for a perfect ending to a great weekend.

Asbury Park Liberty Bash

2010-07-06T06:44:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful evening in downtown Asbury Park during 4th of July weekend as we performed out in the street on Cookman Avenue before an attentive, appreciative crowd. The newly revitalized downtown area was alive and buzzing with activity on this First Saturday and it was a great experience to be outside in the midst of it all playing this music. Although we were a day early, performing "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" on this night was a joy.

The Mad Hatter 7/2/10

2010-07-06T06:30:00.000-07:00

What better way to kick off a holiday weekend than with the madness of a Mad Hatter crowd? In typical fashion the Yaeger bombs were flowing and people were already jazzed up and ready to rock before we even set the equipment up. The crowd did not disapoint and were clapping, singing, howling and dancing the whole night. Some people were hoisted up on to shoulders, while others danced on the bar and a good time was had by all. We performed the "Born in the USA" album in its entirety for the first time and it was received very well. Night 1 of the E Street Shuffle July assault was a success.

Edgar's Pub 06/27/10

2010-06-28T06:08:00.000-07:00

Truth be told we were a little skeptical about playing a show on a Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m. We were even more skeptical when we arrived at the bar to find only handful of people sitting around at the bar. But thankfully we needn't have worried as this is the Jersey Shore in the summertime that we're talking about and a stream of Springsteen faithfuls began to filter into Edgar's Pub. By the second set people were dancing and singing, prompting the bar owner to request that we play for an additional hour. We gladly obliged and wound up performing our longest show to date, clocking in at 4 hours and including a whopping 42 songs. A big thank you to everyone in attendance for making Sunday feel like a Saturday night.

Chuck's 50th birthday party, Fair Hills, MD 6/26/10

2010-06-28T06:01:00.000-07:00

Chuck Skelley's 50th birthday party can only be described as a real barn-burner. I mean, how else would you describe a gig that took place in an actual barn? Our host was gracious and generous enough to build us an enormous stage complete with a drum riser for the performance and it really helped transform the show from a party into more of a concert. The songs that comprised the 38-song set list were hand-picked by Chuck himself and he even joined the band onstage to sing lead vocals on "Racing in the Street" and "Rosalita." Thanks to Chuck and his wife Kathy for putting the party together, hiring us and treating us well. We had a great time!

The Mad Hatter 6/12/10

2010-06-14T04:29:00.000-07:00

It was a typical hot, sweaty and crowded night at The Mad Hatter featuring a good crowd whose enthusiasm reached a fever pitch during the last 45 minutes of the night. This show featured "Girls in Their Summer Clothes," which hadn't been played since last summer, as well as "My Love Will Not Let You Down" and "The Rising," neither of which had seen their way into a set list in quite some time. The show was a special one in that keyboardist Mark "Mr. Perfect" Bistis (the man with the tan) celebrated his birthday at the stroke of midnight. Happy birthday Mark!
Mad Hatter shows are famous for pushing the bar to the brink of a fine for cutting it so close to the 2 a.m. curfew and for pushing the band to the brink of pure exhaustion. But after being urged on by bar owner Scott Kelly, who stood atop the bar waiving an American flag, we couldn't say no, and performed an encore rendition of "Born in the USA," which wrapped up at 1:59 a.m.

The Boathouse 6/05/10

2010-06-08T04:21:00.000-07:00

A rowdy, pumped-up crowd was on hand Saturday night at the Boathouse in Belmar singing along to every song, dancing it up and enjoying a drink or twenty. “I Wanna Be With You” and “Cover Me” were dusted off and were met with a good response, while standards like “Born to Run” and “Rosalita” had the crowd in a state of near-pandemonium. This show ranks as one of the craziest thus far in 2010. Definitely a fun night was had all around and was aided by the enthusiasm of the audience which was there to party and have a blast.

Bay Head Shores 5/29/10

2010-06-01T04:40:00.000-07:00

There's nothing quite like Memorial Day Weekend at the Jersey Shore to get you in the summertime frame of mind, and the stunning bay views, cool breezes and warm hospitality at the Bay Head Shores in Point Pleasant provided the perfect venue to start the summer of 2010 off right. An enthusiastic crowd was on hand dancing and singing along as we rolled through three upbeat sets. "Candy's Room," "Murder Incorporated" and "Jersey Girl" were all played by request. Thanks to the kind folks at Bay Head Shores for treating us so well. We had a really great time and hope you did too.

507 Main 5/21/10

2010-05-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Summer was in the air in Belmar on Friday night as an extremely enthusiastic packed crowd rocked the night away at 507 Main. From the opening drums of "She's the One" to the closing sax solo of "Jersey Girl," the great group of people on hand were with us every step of the way, dancing, singing all the lyrics, screaming out requests and pumping their fists to songs like "Badlands" and "Born to Run." Even the semi-obscure "Something in the Night," which was played by request wound up getting a fantastic response. These are the type of nights that you live for when you play in a band like ours. A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone in attendance who partied with us all night and made it so much fun. An extra-special thank you goes out to those who continue to come out time again to support the band. We love you guys and are looking forward to an amazing summer at the shore!

The Lighthouse 5/08/10

2010-05-10T05:09:00.000-07:00

It was a gorgeous, warm, breezy evening in Dewey Beach, Delaware. A perfect night for a show. Perfect except for the fact that my head and chest were totally congested and I had virtually no voice. But hey, the show must go on right? Thankfully my shufflin' compadres wouldn't let me down and rose to the occasion. My brother Ryan stepped up and provided a lot of extra vocals where he could, even singing all of "Glory Days" by himself to close out the night when I simply had nothing left. The "Big Shank" ventured out into the crowd on various occasions and the other guys played their hearts out and offered lots of encouragement. In the end, we battled through it and everyone in attendance seemed to have a great time despite my shortcomings. Many thanks to my band mates Ryan, Bill, Dave, Rich, Mark and Chris as well as everyone who came out to see us Saturday night.

Edgar's Pub 04/17/10

2010-04-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

With its spacious stage area and consistently enthusiastic crowd, Edgar's is quickly becoming one of our favorite local bars to play. Saturday night's show was noteworthy not only because of the great group of people on hand dancing and singing up a storm, but also due to the fact that guitarist Ryan Loughlin battled the flu in order to play the show. Amazingly he didn't miss a beat, offering blistering solos on "Prove it All Night" and "Johnny 99." Other stand-outs of the night included "My Love Will Not Let You Down," "No Surrender" and a passionate "Darkness on the Edge of Town" played by request.

The Mad Hatter 04/16/10

2010-04-19T06:49:00.000-07:00

Another fun, sweaty night at the Mad Hatter. The rarely-played "The Price You Pay" and "Hearts of Stone" were brought out for this show which ended in typical Hatter fashion with an audience-member on stage with a tambourine, the lead singer standing on top of a bar stool, people dancing like maniacs and a round of Jaeger shots for the band. Gotta love it!

The Boathouse 4/10/10

2010-04-12T05:51:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful night at the Jersey Shore as we tore through a 37-song set list in front of a packed crowd at The Boathouse in Belmar. Lots of enthusiastic folks on hand dancing and calling out requests. Highlights of the evening included a powerful "Prove it All Night," the obscure "Seaside Bar Song" and a fun, loose improptu take on "Johnny 99." Thanks to all who came out to see us play.

Brennan's Place 3/19/10

2010-03-22T05:06:00.000-07:00

It was an absolutely gorgeous night in Holyoke, MA and a great night for rock n' roll under a big top tent. An enthusiastic crowd of people were on hand for three chronological sets of Springsteen songs. Special thanks to Patrick and everybody at Brennan's for their warm hospitality. We really had a great time and can't wait to return!

Redd's 2/20/10

2010-02-22T05:30:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Mike, John and everyone else for throwing a fantastic party of Springsteen die-hards at Redd's in Carlstadt. It was a real treat for us to be able to pull out so many obscurities like "The Price You Pay," "Back in Your Arms Again," "Take 'Em As They Come," "Brothers Under the Bridges," "I Wanna Be With You," "Roulette," "Seaside Bar Song" and "Drive All Night." Just a great group of people on hand having as much fun as we were, which is always the ultimate goal.

2009 Year in Review

2010-01-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

2009 proved to be the most successful year so far for The E Street Shuffle. We managed to finally solidify the lineup with the additions of piano player Dave Turner and organ/keyboard player Mark Bistis. Their talents, enthusiasm, patience and dedication were huge factors in getting to the point where we were able to perform on a regular weekly basis. 2009 saw us playing a little bit of everything from Jersey Shore bars like the Mad Hatter, the Boathouse, 507 Main, Edgar's and the Wonder Bar to college shows at Holy Cross and the University of Pennsylvania to festivals such as Wall Township Day, the Feast of Mt. St. Carmel and the Asbury Park Oyster Festival to Atlantic City casinos, to several private functions. We got to meet a lot of great people along the way. Special thanks go out to Scott and Amy Kelly from the Mad Hatter, Jay Silverman, band photographer Dennis Loughlin, Tim Harmon from the Boathouse, Debbie from the Wonder Bar, Kyle from the Stone Pony and Cindi D'Onofrio from the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce. A very special thank you goes out to the 8th member of the E Street Shuffle, Arlene Rudo who has spent countless hours designing and updating the website and designing fliers, posters, stickers, cards, etc. for all of our shows. We really appreciate it! It's been a tremendous help. Thanks also to all of you good people who have come out to see us time and again. We hope you have enjoyed the shows as much as we have.
Our goal for 2010 is simply to build off of our successes in 2009 and continue to deliver the best possible shows we can so that everyone in attendance can leave the stress of the work week behind for a few hours and just sing, dance, drink and have a great time.
-Sean

The Mad Hatter 12/31/09

2010-01-04T06:52:00.000-08:00

A fantastic year came to a close appropriately enough at our favorite local haunt, The Mad Hatter in Sea Bright, NJ. The audience was great from the beginning, with people singing along and dancing as we tore through a marathon 42-song show comprised of 4 sets. We performed "Born to Run" as the first song of the New Year and of the new decade. This was our longest show to date, wrapping up with a 3 a.m. encore performance of "Rosalita" at the request of bar owner Scott Kelly. It was a night filled with good cheer all around, and one that we won't soon forget. My ears are still ringing. And now on to 2010...

The Wonder Bar 12/26/09

2009-12-28T07:35:00.000-08:00

It was a dark, stormy, windy night in Asbury Park...but the Wonder Bar was alive and jumping on this night after Christmas. The show featured the full album performance of "Born to Run," which is something we've been talking about doing for a while and finally got around to. It went over quite well and was really a lot of fun. Those songs just flow so nicely into one another. We saw a lot of new faces in the crowd which is always nice, had some lovely ladies join us onstage and got to talk with some very nice folks between sets and after the show. Richard Blackwell, conga player on "The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle" even stopped in at the end of the night to say hello. All in all it was an excellent show with a great turnout, especially considering the fact that the weather was just awful. Thanks so much to all who braved the elements to come out and see us play.

DKE Fraternity, University of Pennsylvania 12/5/09

2009-12-08T06:16:00.000-08:00

It was the 39th Street Freeze-Out on a cold, snowy Saturday night at the DKE House at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. One of the craziest crowds you’ll ever find was on hand for the 33-song set, rocking out with bandannas and sleeveless flannel shirts until the wee hours of the morning. Rarely do you find an audience at a fever pitch from the beginning of a show till the end, but that’s exactly what we had at the DKE house. Even the more obscure songs like “The Ties That Bind” and “The E Street Shuffle” had the crowd going as did the slow songs “I’m on Fire” and “Racing in the Street.” Speaking of "Racing in the Street," a humorous episode occurred during that song as drummer Rich Hodder went outside to relieve himself during the beginning of the song, figuring he'd have plenty of time to get back in by the time he had to kick in with the drums. Unfortunately the door wound up locking behind him and he was stuck outside in the cold. Amidst all of the noise, nobody could hear him pounding on it to get back in. He had to run around the house to the front, eventually made it in and hightailed it back to his drum kit.
By the end of the evening enthusiasm had turned to borderline chaos as guys and girls ran to the stage area singing along on our microphones, playing tambourines and snapping photos. At the end of the night when the show was finally done and the crowd was filtering out saxophonist Bill “Butterfingers” Shanker put an exclamation point on the evening by dropping one of the PA speaker cabinets into the fire alarm, setting it off and sending the cabinet crashing to the floor. Thankfully the cops were cool, no major damage was sustained by the equipment and we all had a good laugh. Thanks to Mike and Gage at DKE for their unbridled enthusiasm, hospitality and delicious Keystone beer.

Edgar's Pub 11/28/09

2009-12-04T08:31:00.000-08:00

This was our first time playing at Edgar's in Manasquan and by all measures it was a great night. The show featured our longest set list to date, a whopping 40 songs in all that included several debuts such as "Hearts of Stone," "The Ties That Bind" and "Downbound Train." We also kicked off the holiday season with the yuletide favorites "Merry Christmas Baby" and "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town." One of the more unique aspects of the night came late into the second set when a lovely female patron generously bought the entire band a round of shots and then politely requested that we perform "Thunder Road" a second time since she had arrived after we already played it. We obliged. Two songs later she was back with another round of shots, this time requesting a repeat performance of "Born to Run." We were really torn as to what to do, not wanting to bore the rest of the audience who had already heard the song a half hour earlier, but in the end we wound up playing it again and if people were unhappy, they didn't show it. Who knows, maybe next time out people will start countering by buying us shots to try to persuade us NOT to play a song a second time.
We had an excellent crowd on hand and the whole staff at Edgar's was really great. Thanks to all who came out to see us. Hope you had a great time.

Boathouse Bar and Grill 11/7/09

2009-11-09T06:49:00.001-08:00

Another great night at the Jersey Shore as the band made its debut at the Boathouse in Belmar. The bar was packed and the drinks were flowing freely as we tore through two sets of high-octane rock n' roll. The party really got going at the outset of the second set with the one-two punch of "Born to Run" and "Rosalita" and we were off and running. We also got to meet and talk to some great people after the show and apparently made some new fans.

The Mad Hatter 11/6/09

2009-11-09T06:29:00.000-08:00

There's no place like home. That's what the Mad Hatter feels like for us at this point. The crowd at this Sea Bright bar never disappoints, and in addition to the normal party time vibe, we were treated to an audience filled with some real die-hard Springsteen fans requesting songs like "Sandy", "Adam Raised a Cain," "Something in the Night" and "Drive All Night." The highlight of the evening was bar owner Scott Kelly perched atop the bar waving an American flag during Born in the USA. Gotta love a place where the guy who owns it is leading the party.

507 Main 10/30/09

2009-11-03T07:51:00.000-08:00

Mischief Night it was indeed Friday at 507 Main as the band made its debut at this Belmar bar and grill. A terrific group of people were on hand intently listening, singing along, dancing exotically and making requests. 507 Main also has an extremely friendly staff who made our night there an absolutely pleasure. The musical highlight of the evening was an impromptu performance of "Sandy" which was done after one audience member suggested that we play something that we, the band felt like playing rather than a request from somebody else. A fun night was had by all and we hope to return soon.

The Wonder Bar 10/24/09

2009-10-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

There's nothing quite like performing Bruce's music in Asbury Park. It just feels right. Plus, rather than getting the standard requests for songs like "Born in the USA" and "Glory Days", we get requests for "Thundercrack," "Kitty's Back", "Detroit Medley," "Ramrod" and "Prove it All Night." All in all it was a great night with an enthusiastic crowd who braved the wind and the rain to come out to the historic Wonder Bar to watch the show. Debbie and the entire staff who works there couldn't be nicer and made us feel right at home. We look forward to many more nights celebrating the music of Asbury Park's favorite son in the city by the sea.

The Mad Hatter 10/17/09

2009-10-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

This show was somewhat unusual in that a thrilling extra-inning ALCS game between the Yankees and Angels was taking place simultaneously. Trying to compete with the 26-time world champions is never an easy task. Thankfully for us the Yankees pulled out a victory so everyone at the bar was in a good mood and "Sherry Darling" which we happened to be playing at the time, became an all-out victory party song complete with the ad libbed line, "Let there be sunshine, let there be rain, let the Yankees win again.."

The Forum Theatre 10/10/09

2009-10-12T07:08:00.000-07:00

What a night! The beautiful Forum Theatre in Metuchen provided the setting for an exhilarating show that was captured on film for a future release. The classic old theater possesses fantastic acoustics and a big stage with seats practically right up to it. The audience was exactly what you'd want for this type of a show: quiet and intently listening during the slow songs and on their feet singing and dancing during the party numbers. Highlights of the set included a powerful "Jungleland," a rousing "Born to Run," an intense rendition of "I'm on Fire," a show-stopping "Rosalita" and a loose, exuberant show-closer in "Quarter to Three." Thanks to all friends, family and fans who came out to this show.

Holy Cross College 10/2/09

2009-10-05T08:49:00.000-07:00

This was our second trip up to Holy Cross College, and like the first trip, the crowd of crazy college kids made the night. People were on their feet singing and dancing from the second song in and several songs later the shirts started to come off (Thankfully the band members shirts stayed on). It's tough to explain why this phenomena has become a Holy Cross tradition at E Street Shuffle concerts, so we won't try to. People started joining us on stage about midway through the show, and by the end of the night it was total pandemonium as our previously roomy stage became as crowded as the dance floor. Needless to say a blast was had by both the band and those in attendance and we thank the good people at Holy Cross for their gracious hospitality. You guys rock!

Asbury Park Oyster Festival 9/27/09

2009-09-28T07:38:00.000-07:00

Although the rain poured down in the morning and the skies looked threatening all day, the second annual Asbury Park Oyster Festival went on as planned and a great time was had by all. With a large, enthusiastic crowd taking it all in, the band performed a power-packed, streamlined 50-minute set. Relatives, parents, children, friends, Asbury Park natives, New Jerseyians, dancing clowns and oyster-lovers were all in attendence as we played on a huge stage that was set up literally right beyond where The Palace once stood. "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" was performed in honor of the Asbury's glory days as well as the new revitalization of the city. Thanks to all who attended.

Shady Katie's 9/19/09

2009-09-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

Despite some early technical difficulties with the house PA, it was another fun night at Shady Katie's where audience members called out requests and danced until the wee hours of the night. Special thanks to the folks sporting our stickers during the performance.

Monmouth Beach 9/12/09

2009-09-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Cyndi and Billy for a great party on Saturday and for extending your gracious hospitality to the band. Hope everyone had a great time!

Labor Day Weekend 2009-

2009-09-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

A glorious summer came to a close with a sweaty Jersey Shore bar gig on Saturday night and a posh, elegant country club gig in Delaware on Sunday. Although the venues couldn’t have been more different, the net result was the same: a rockin’ good time was had by all.

Saturday night’s show brought us back to our favorite local bar, The Mad Hatter in Sea Bright and as expected a crowd of rowdy, enthusiastic, fun-loving, fantastic guys and girls were on hand to sing and dance the night away. It’s a great feeling to walk into a venue knowing that the crowd is going to be awesome and the good people at the Mad Hatter have never let us down. The night was highlighted by the now-customary dancing on the bar and sing-along during “Thunder Road.”

Sunday’s show took place at the gorgeous Peninsula Country Club in Millsboro, Delaware. The skies initially looked threatening, but thankfully the rain held off and we wound up with a beautiful evening complete with a pleasant breeze coming off of Indian River Bay. This show’s crowd was pumped up from the get-go and featured an abundance of families and kids all dancing along. While the first set was a hit, the second set was outstanding as country clubbers rocked out to songs like “Ramrod,” “Rosalita,” “Dancing in the Dark” and “Quarter to Three.” We couldn’t have asked for a better way to close out the summer of ’09.