For several weeks there has been talk of one or more warm-up shows in Asbury Park before the real tour kicks in. The first concrete bit of information can now be found on the website of LA based radio station, Star 98.7. There you can win a trip for two people to Asbury Park to see an alleged show on July 26. Apparently, this is mostly for LA residents, but if there's any truth to this, other radio stations in the US, and perhaps around the world, will probably soon join in and offer up ticket prizes. Read more

   

Sony representatives at at least one of last night's listening parties informed the fans that the upcoming tour would begin with single night stands in selected cities in the US, and that later on more shows in 3000 seat theatre-like venues would be added. If this is indeed true, it would be the first E Street Band shows in such small venues since the Darkness tour in 1978. Read more

   

The new album has received a very mixed response from fans attending the so far three listening parties that took place last night in Austin, Boston and Cleveland respectively. Different songs were played each place, and while few reports have been ecstatic there seems to be a consensus that this is an album that will need to listen to many times to make it grow on you. More listening parties are arranged in the next couple of weeks. Read more

   

Once again there's talk of an imminent tour announcement, maybe as early as tomorrow, Thursday. There are even consistent rumors about what the first leg of the tour is going to look like. According to the rumors, the tour will kick off in Boston on August 9 and will continue through September, including a birthday show in New Jersey. But there is still a lot of doubt as to whether these rumors are true. Other sources are confident the tour will open in Phoenix, Arizona. Only time will tell. Read more

   

After its official release to radio stations last Monday, the airwaves have been resounding with Bruce's new song, "The Rising" in both the United States and elsewhere. So far the reaction from DJs and reviewers has been mostly positive. New York Daily News says Bruce has hit a homer while the Norwegian newspaper VG gives it six stars out of six and calls it a prayer on behalf of humanity. Only negative media reaction that we've heard of came from the Swedish newspaper Expressen that says the song resembles Enya (huh?). If you haven't heard "The Rising" yet, you can do so via Bruce's official site. Read more

   

Everyone with an interest in Jersey music should be aware of the online magazine Chorus & Verse. This month the magazine has put the spotlight on Danny Federici and asked him about his own music as well as life as an E Streeter. Read more

   

On June 25 four original Phil Ceccola photos and a poster of Bruce will be auctioned off via the CooperOwen auction house. During the early Seventies Phil Ceccola took several classic shots of Bruce, including the one that later on wound up on cover of Tracks. Go check out the pictures. Read more

   

While thousands of fans have already heard the title track of Bruce's upcoming album thanks to a circulating mp3 file, the rest of the world will get a chance when the song is released as a single in about three weeks. At least, according to CDNow which lists the single for a July 16 release. The b-side will be the previously released Live in New York City version of "Land of Hope and Dreams". The same single is set for release on July 25 in Spain. Read more

   

It should be official. On July 30, the release date of The Rising, the Today Show on NBC is going to broadcast from Asbury Park featuring Bruce Springsteen. The show will probably include 3-4 songs performed live by Bruce and the band as well as an interview. Read the article in the Daily News. Read more

   

This morning New York radio station WPLJ played "The Rising"... twice... before it was withdrawn again from the playlist. According to what we've heard, radio stations are not supposed to play it until next Monday. Read more