Only three days after its world premiere in Atlanta, "American Skin", as most sources call it, is causing quite a media stir in both US and other countries. Its controversial lyrics have been mentioned in several newspapers and TV stations spanning from the New York Daily News to Danish TV2. And Patrick Lynch of US police organization PBA encourages the members to boycott Bruce's Madison Square Garden shows, both as attendees and security personal. Quite a reaction to a song only those present at the Atlanta show ever heard. Greasy Lake's name has also been drawn into it when a conservative commentator at Slate quote one of our eyewitness accounts in his column. We can only recommend that people actually read the lyrics before casting their judgement. Because even though it addresses a specific incident where New York policemen killed an unarmed person with 41 shots, it must be read in a much wider context. Read more

   

Bruce couldn't wait till New York. The two new songs that have been rehearsed at past soundchecks were both premiered last night. "Further On Up the Road" opened the show and the song which yesterday we called "American Skin", but whose correct title is "41 Shots", took the spot before "Youngstown". Other noteworthy songs included "Loose Ends" and "This Hard Land". See this amazing setlist. Read more

   

Earlier today we wrote that one of the new songs that were debuted last night was called "41 Shots" and not "American Skin". However, people who saw the show report that Bruce introduced it as "American Skin". To our defense, the handwritten setlist said "41 Shots". Seems like not even Bruce knows for sure. Read more

   

Bruce did not debut any new songs for the first of the Atlanta shows, but that doesn't mean there were no rarities. "Be True" was pulled out again as an audible and "Dead Man Walkin'" made one of its rare appearances. Perhaps more interesting than the setlist itself was the soundcheck. In the last week two new songs have been rehearsed extensively. One is "Further Up On the Road", which was also soundchecked a couple of months ago and is indeed a new Springsteen original, and the other one is probably called "American Skin" and has some biting lyrics about violence in America. Seems like Bruce may be planning to make a few world premieres in New York. Read more

   

In a fax to the owner of the newly reopened Stone Pony Bruce expresses his good wishes for the club on behalf of himself and the E Street Band. The fax can be seen on the Stone Pony website. Speaking of the Stone Pony, a wild rumor has it that Bruce and the band will add a concert there on July 4. This is so far-fetched that there's probably nothing to it. Please do not bug the club with enquiries on this matter. We're only saying it so you can judge for yourself. Our judgement, for what it's worth, is that it's absolutely and totally untrue. Read more

   

What could have been a standard show once again proved Bruce's willingness to shake things up and try new things. "It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City" was played for the first time with the E Street Band since 1981. Also, "Candy's Room" made a rare appearance. Check out the setlist. Read more

   

It was in a way predictable and yet incredible. Bruce pulled out every song in his catalogue with just a remote reference to gambling: "Viva Las Vegas" (played both as the opener and the closer), "Atlantic City", "Roll of the Dice" and "Lucky Town". He also included a reference to Elvis with a tour premiere of "Can't Help Falling in Love". Altogether last night constituted one of the oddest and most extraordinary setlists of the tour so far. The first performance of "Be True" since the Philly stand, seems rather insignicant compared to all that. Bruce is apparantly trying to inflict heart attacts on his fans. If any of you were there and survived, please send us your eyewitness accounts! Read more

   

Max Weinberg is a busy man. The day after playing drums for Bruce in Anaheim, he was back on the East Coast making a cameo appearance at Ringo Starr's show at the Beacon Theater in New York. Max played drums on the final encore, "With a Little Help From My Friends". Tomorrow night he is in Las Vegas, but not to gamble. Read more

   

If you haven't already been there, the Big Man's official website is definitely worth a visit. Here you will find info on his live activity, with or without Bruce, and be able to read about his career. But before you go, make sure you have a shockwave plugin. Read more

   

An interesting rumor was picked up by one of our readers at one of the Anaheim shows: Jon Landau allegedly made arrangements to have the 10 shows at Madison Square Garden filmed. And the purpose? A good old concert movie with the best of the 10 nights. Not as a quick home video release, but a real movie for the cinemas. Ah, if dreams came true... Read more