Bruce Springsteen took the stage at Music America: The Songs That Shaped Us, a two-night concert series at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey, on June 4 and 5. They marked the opening of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music and brought together Jon Bon Jovi, Public Enemy, Sheryl Crow, Jackson Browne, Mavis Staples, Gary Clark Jr., Darlene Love, Nils Lofgren, and Stevie Van Zandt.
Songs spanned rock, soul, folk, blues, gospel, and hip-hop. The Disciples of Soul backed performers on both nights.
The 76-year-old rocker showed up Saturday, June 6, for a ribbon-cutting. The center opens its doors to visitors on Saturday, June 13, sitting on Monmouth University’s campus in Long Branch, New Jersey.
“I took a short tour through the center the other day and when I came out, I was thrilled that I wasn’t dead,” Springsteen said in a speech, according to video posted to YouTube by the Asbury Park Press. “I’m particularly thrilled to be sharing this building with all this wonderful musical history and with so many of my artists, teachers, mentors, and heroes.”
“And I look at my work life as a very small link in a mighty chain,” he added. “And those who visit here will get a sense of that chain through the lives, work, and vision of all these historic, historic artists.”
The two-night event capped a two-week opening celebration. Earlier shows featured Indigenous musicians and Jersey Shore artists before the main concerts kicked off.
The 30,000-square-foot building houses research, education, exhibits, and public programs centered on American music. An exhibit titled America’s Instrument: The Evolution of the Electric Guitar displays guitars Springsteen played over the years, including the Gibson J-200 used to record Nebraska.
Tickets and information can be found at SpringsteenCenter.org. The concerts tied into America’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.
Anne Erickson
Source link