Photo Credit: Joseph Quever.

Jesse Malin has been building and nurturing the music scene in the five boroughs for over forty years. He is essentially the New York Mayor of Rock and he makes friends wherever he goes. Through the decades he’s played countless benefit shows and spearheaded more than a few efforts to try and get help where it’s needed. He embodies the idea of community through music so naturally we’ve had a long and rewarding relationship with him at WFUV. Eighteen months ago, Malin suffered a rare spinal stroke that left him without the use of his legs. All the compassion and empathy that he has shown throughout his career is now coming back around in the form of a tremendous new tribute album and a pair of benefit shows coming up in December that will be his first time on stage since then.

It was an honor to visit Jesse in his East Village apartment and create a one-hour radio show to celebrate the new collection, preview the concerts – featuring full sets from him and his band – and get an update on his situation. It was a rare opportunity to have a freewheeling conversation that touched upon everything from spitting ketchup Gene Simmons style at a talent show in Whitestone to being at the Saturday Night Live performance of Fear to having Bruce Springsteen congratulate him on a good review in Rolling Stone to combing through lyrics at a kitchen table with Lucinda Williams. At the same time we got to play some of his great tunes and hear some of the marvelous new interpretations of his songs. Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malin does what great tribute albums do: It’s a reminder of a lot of great songs and an introduction to a bunch of new versions of them. See you at the Beacon Theatre on December 1st and 2nd.

Jesse Malin radio show on 90.7 FM WFUV – Broadcast 9-10p on 10/14/24
Links below give you the whole show with music and conversation in 2 parts

OR cherry pick below…
Click link to hear song, Click play to hear each interview segment

“Room 13”    Jesse Malin    3:57    Sunset Kids     2019

“New York Comeback”    Lucinda Williams    4:14    Stories from a R&R Heart    2023

“She Don’t Love Me Now”     Bruce Springsteen    3:28   Silver Patron Saints    2024

“Queen of the Underworld”     Jesse Malin    3:53    Fine Art of Self Destruction    2003

“Before You Go”    Jesse Malin    3:46    Sad & Beautiful World   2021

“Brooklyn”   Dinosaur Jr.    4:01    Silver Patron Saints    2024

“Sally Can’t Dance”     Lou Reed    4:13    Sally Can’t Dance    1974

“Turn up the Mains”    Mosshart Morello Gang    3:41     Silver Patron Saints    2024

“Cycles”     Rickie Lee Jones    3:19    It’s Like This    2000

This Monday the 23rd through Thursday the 26th, between 6 and 10 (but only 6-9 on Monday as explained below) in the evenings I’ll be asking listeners to become members as WFUV’s fall membership drive will be going on. This is the station’s first member drive since I took over the evening show back in April and it’s important that I pull my weight when it comes to fundraising. Please, please, please consider becoming a member of the unique non-profit radio station that has been my radio home now for over a decade. If you do it during my show or otherwise make mention of the fact that Eric Holland is your main man, better and better! Any amount contribution makes you a member and you can scoop up some a spiffy thank-you gift like a t-shirt, sweatshirt, cap, live CD or download of exclusive live performances, or even join as a marquee member and get invitations to intimate shows in and around New York. You can call 833-907-WFUV (9388) or go online here.

• Artists and Songs:       
• Glen Hansard – “Drive All Night”
• Amy Ray Band – “Racing in the Street”
• Robert Randolph & the Family Band – “Ain’t Got You”
• The Tallest Man on Earth – “Tougher Than the Rest”
• Seratones – “State Trooper”
• David Gray – “Mansion on the Hill”
• Titus Andronicus – “Glory Days”
• Pete Yorn – “Your Own Worst Enemy”
• Craig Finn – “Magic”
• The Head and the Heart – “Hungry Heart”

The Film Western Stars, following Springsteen’s album of the same name released earlier this year, is expected to hit theaters next month!

I spoke with Steven Van Zandt at Carroll Studios in Hells Kitchen before the group blasted through a pair of tunes from the Soulfire album for WFUV Public Radio. Vaz Zandt spoke about his latest album but also looked back on how a hurricane helped he and Southside Johnny create the Jersey Shore sound and forever change what it meant to be a bar band.  Springsteen fans will also enjoy his remarks about The Boss as a soul singer and his favorite E Street Band songs that were initially left unreleased.  Hear the radio show featuring a generous interview HERE. 

Little Steven toured this year behind the Soulfire album – his first as a bandleader since ’99.  It’s a marked contrast since his previous album 1999’s Born Again Savage which was a garage-y power trio recorded with Adam Clayton (who called recently) and Jason Bonham.  The stacked new group revives The Disciples Of Soul name first seen on Van Zandt’s debut, Men Without Women, that came out in ’82.

The Jersey Shore Sound architect is surrounded by a crack band boasting three fabulous backing singers as well as a five piece horn section. Here’s how it breaks down…
Marc Ribler – Guitar
Lowell “Banana” Levinger – Piano/Mandolin
Jak Daley – Bass
Charley Drayton – Drums
Andy Burton – Organ/Strings/Accordion

Eddie Manion – Baritone Sax
Stan Harrison – Tenor Sax/Flute
Clark Gayton – Trombone
Ravi Best – Trumpet
Ron Tooley – Trumpet

Soulfire was arranged and produced by Van Zandt at his own Renegade Studios in New York City, co-produced and recorded by GRAMMY® Award-winner Geoff Sanoff and co-produced and music directed by guitarist Marc Ribler.

The rare break in E Street Band action that Bruce is using to make a Broadway run allowed Steven the opportunity to revive The Disciples Of Soul concept and sing some of the best songs that he’s written throughout his career and given to the likes of Southside Johnny and Gary U.S. Bonds to sing.  Perfect touches abound with nods to doo-wop, blaxpoloitation, spaghetti westerns, and Etta James.  The 180 gram wax is recommended…natch!

Catch them if you can at The Capitol Theatre tomorrow night & The Gramercy Theatre on Monday Little Steven (AKA Steven Van Zandt and Silvio Dante among other things) is touring behind the undeniable Soulfire album – his first as a bandleader since ’99. That record, Born Again Savage was garage-y power trio.  The stacked new group revives The Disciples Of Soul name and sees the Jersey Shore Sound architect surrounded by three fabulous backing singers as well as a five piece horn section.  Here’s how it breaks down…

Stevie Van Zandt – Guitar/Vocals
Marc Ribler – Guitar
Charley Drayton – Drums
Everett Bradley – Percussion/Backing vocals
Lowell “Banana” Levinger – Piano/Mandolin
Andy Burton – Organ/Strings/Accordion
Rusty Cloud – Organ (Paris through Barcelona)
Jak Daley – Bass
Eddie Manion – Baritone Sax
Stan Harrison – Tenor Sax/Flute
Clark Gayton – Trombone
Ravi Best – Trumpet
Ron Tooley – Trumpet
Jessica Wagner – Backing Vocals
Erika Jerry – Backing Vocals
YahZarah – Backing Vocals

Soulfire was arranged and produced by Van Zandt at his own Renegade Studios in New York City, co-produced and recorded by GRAMMY® Award-winner Geoff Sanoff and co-produced and music directed by guitarist Marc Ribler.

The rare break in E Street Band action that Bruce is using to make a Broadway run allowed Steven the opportunity to revive The Disciples Of Soul concept and sing some of the best songs that he’s written throughout his career and given to the likes of Southside Johnny and Gary U.S. Bonds to sing.  Perfect touches abound with nods to doo-wop, blaxpoloitation, spaghetti westerns, and Etta James.  The 180 gram wax is recommended…natch!

I got to speak with SVZ at Carroll Studios in Hells Kitchen before the group blasted through a pair of tunes for WFUV Public Radio that will air in the future.  I took a few photographs while they tuned up and for the first short while of the performance.

Springsteen Reaches New Heights (& Lengths) In Jersey (8-23-16) 8-25-16 & Tonight at Metlife Stadium.

“I want to hear that satisfied sound!” – Bruce speaking to the audience at approximately the 3 hour, 50 minute mark of Thursday’s show shortly after refreshing himself by squeezing a sponge over his head.

It was epic because of the love! The communion between the man and his home and his hometown fans neared a religious intensity. Bruce closing his eyes and bowing his head and holding it together during Backstreets while The Professor Roy Bittan rang emotional notes on his piano. Bruce talking about how My City O Ruins was written about his adopted hometown of Asbury Park and how it’s experiencing a Renaissance these days with people on the beach again. The moment when the “Queen of E Street” Patti Scialfa shares the microphone with her husband on Tougher Than The Rest. The video tribute to Clarence Clemons during Tenth Avenue Freeze Out and the spirit of cherished friendship transmitted when Steven and Nils do vocals on Out In the Street. The feeling you get when 55,000 cheer on a 3-year-old singing Waiting On A Sunny Day. The fact that Bruce said, “My Mother’s here tonight…Take a bow Ma!” and “Tonight’s your lucky night” to the fan with the sign that said: 150 shows and No Lost In The Flood. The topper: a Jersey Girl finale with a newly engaged couple on stage.

The E Street Band was in absolute top form. Beginning with the guitars: Nils Lofgren was especially wicked offering tremendous runs on, most memorably, Youngstown and Because The Night. Steven Van Zandt, the boss’s right hand man, didn’t miss a cue or a trick all night from I’m A Rocker to Prove It All Night. Bruce Springsteen did some damage himself including complementing guest Tom Morello whose fierce, blinding work on The Ghost Of Tom Joad as well as 41 Shots was worth a trip to East Rutherford in itself. Soozie Tyrell rocking the fiddle on Cadillac Ranch. Jake Clemons strutting and burning on Rosalita. The eight violinists who helped start the show so dramatically on the rare New York Serenade. And the Max Weinberg and Garry Talent rhythm section propelling the whole glorious dynamism.

Catch ’em tonight (8-30-16) if you can and keep an eye out for the memoir and companion album next month.

Ho Ho Ho!  Here’s some suggestions if you’d like to give (or receive) the gift of music this holiday season whether it is boxed or unboxed.

In a seven day stretch that started with Van Halen at Mohegan Sun and included They Might Be Giants at Terminal 5, (not to mention Boston Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall) Soulive at Brooklyn Bowl was not only my favorite show of the week but is the show to beat for the best of 2012. Of course if I had a ticket to the Apollo on Friday for Springsteen (see vid at this link), that might not be the case but even a dude at large can’t always get a ticket…

Beginning at the casino, the main questions were these –
Can Eddie Van Halen still blind us with speed and amaze us with inventive technique?
Can David Lee Roth still command the stage like a gladiator while guiding us through the raunch of Everybody Wants Some and bravado of Unchained?

Answers…yes and yes. David’s California cocaine cool is undiminished. He moved like a yogi and instead of repeating spoken word bits in the songs verbatim, he riffed on things like losing all his income for the show before it started by playing Blackjack. He and Eddie even did a call and response thing in which David sang the notes that were played that was reminiscent of Ian Gillian and Richie Blackmore of Deep Purple. David didn’t kill himself reaching for notes. He stayed in his comfort zone while Eddie dazzled with his trademark tapping, hammer-ons and pull-offs.

Wolfy did fine but Michael’s backing vocals were missed. That’s hardly a deal breaker though. They didn’t go heavy on the new stuff but their new album A Different Kind of Truth is surprisingly strong and the tracks they did feature went over well. Something that you rarely see at an arena show and less so at a casino show; everyone was UP the whole time. It would have been unthinkable to sit…

And that goes for the Soulive show too at my favorite venue in NYC – Brooklyn Bowl. The principal three are loaded weapons:
Neil Evans’ Hammond organ and clavinet intoxicates and draws a template for his drummer brother Alan and guitarist Eric Krasno to riff over. They bob and weave, shake and shimmy, and groove in a monstrous way and were joined on stage for this, the eighth night of the ten night Bowlive residency, by a ridiculously talented and diverse crew. Citizen Cope knocking out Bullet and a Target and 107 Degrees was glorious but only the beginning as Alice Smith was stunning when it was her turn to sing. Billy Martin (One of the M’s in MMW), George Porter Jr. of The Meters, Questlove, and Kofi Burbridge all contributed to the celebration.

Whereas Soulive do better what a lot of bands try to do, They Might Be Giants are singularly idiosyncratic. I had forgotten what a large handful of their songs had burrowed into my brain. Particle Man, Birdhouse in Your Soul, Ana Ng, Don’t Let’s Start, and Istanbul all were welcome and familiar while a bit of Sabbath’s Paranoid accompanied by sock puppets, references to Sleestaks, and the two Johns’ psychic nickname power delighted as well. The audience was as engaged and obedient as any evidenced by a spirited Battle for the Planet of the Apes. That’s when one half of the audience chants “people!” and the other half chants “apes!” Add John Linnell’s bass clarinet, Mark Pender’s trumpet, and dog biscuits on video projection and you’ve got yourself a fun night. Opener Jonathan Coulton was a savvy pairing and he offered some memorable tunes including one from the perspective of Rick Springfield and another from Pluto’s moon. Suzanne Vega’s appearance on stage was an unexpected highlight.

As for Bruce, be sure to take a peek at the pictures and get the details from the Backstreets site that always does a good job on all things Springsteen.