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It actually wasn’t for a wedding but for a great “celebrity roast.” Have a DVD of the roast which includes an audio version of this song. Really very funny if you know Larussa and his relationship with Hornsby and others.
Where was it listed as a second MA show? I know the setlist on the homepage has it as such which I assume Si will fix. Was it listed somewhere else as a second show?
This was the Atlantic City, NJ show. I’m guessing that the capacity was a few thousand but only 300-400 showed. Of those that showed, there were only a handful of Hornsby fans thus prompting Bruce to make this an All Radio “Hits” show in chronological order. There was minimal conversation with the audience and minimal jamming–just the “hits.” It was sort of amusing since you knew what Bruce was thinking without him having to say it. It was one of the those shows where even the vast majority of the songs were not well known by the audience but Bruce and the band upheld themselves as professional musicians.
Bruce ran out of time (as usual) when he got to Spirit Trail so he didn’t include that album in his setlist. I think they’ve played this type of hits only show a few times in the past. It may have been corporate gigs but this is not the first time they’ve taken this approach.
When he first came on stage and thanked those that came, he mentioned that he hadn’t opened with “this song” (The Way it is) in a few years and maybe it was also time to play Jack Straw. Only a few in the audience appreciated that comment and of course he never played it.
It was an unusual show and sort of funny to see a hits only show. I kept thinking that if Bruce ever abandons his approach and becomes a Vegas act, this could be the nightly setlist!!!
Bruce mentioned when we spoke to him that he was likely to release Biltmore from earlier this summer as well as some solo piano shows (can’t remember location or date). Not sure how he fells about releasing most recent shows since he’s still working out the new songs but at least there will be something released and I would assume before the Holidays.
I’m really sorry to hear this. Met R.S. a few times and he was a real nice guy with humility and talent–a rare combination. Not much more to say other than it’s really sad for those who knew him and condolences to his family. Damm . . .
Just a couple of insights on Spirit Trail:
1. Swan Song was a song Bruce wrote as a pissed off reaction to some record company exec during the recording of the album. I guess it was his way of saying that if you hold me up, I can just as easily hang it up although the key line is (“I’ll do alright, but in truth I might”).
2. The first two songs on Disc 2, I believe, were written at a different time than the rest and seems headed towards the direction of Big Swing Face. I think the biggest missed opportunity, according to Bruce, was See the Same Way. I agree. I think it had as much radio potential as any song on the record.
I think this is show from Concord Pavillion (Concord, CA) from 1991. It might have been aired in 1991 and the show took place in December 1990 when Bruce was touring in California. Not sure but I’m pretty sure this is the show. I’d have to listen to it again to verify.
I think “Rock Star” is the same reference as “Pop Star” if I had to guess the general reference of the writer.
I’ve thought often whether Bruce will make into the RxR Hall of Fame and I think he’s so well regarded by fellow popular musicians, is such an accomplished muscian, and has had commercial success that he should be inducted. I would hope it would be in 2011.I think the better show Bruce played that year with the Dead was 3/23/95. Garcia specifically asked Bruce to come to that show and give the band “a kick in the ass” and that’s exactly what Bruce did. IMO the best show the Dead performed in 1995.
I think the best way to describe Bruce’s career is that it’s been a constant evolution and pursuit of unchartered territories. I’ve always found it hard to define his career as peaks/valleys. Presently, I think Bruce is not pushing like he’s been for last 20+ years. I don’t think writing is happening like it once did but this is not to say it won’t since Bruce’s is constantly full of surprise. I think the next record will be similar to Halcyon Days but after that, I’m not sure where he goes. It might be more jazz, solo piano stuff. All I know is that it’s been an absolute pleasure to have been along for the ride all this time!!
