The Boathouse, Belmar, NJ, October 8, 2011

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.