The news e-mail from the wonderful Backstreets was my first word the long-rumored E Street tour has been announced. St. Paul is Friday, Nov. 2. Based on what I considered fairly reliable info a week or so ago, I already have reservations at the Holiday Inn across the street from the Xcel that night. After all, I figure there’s going to be fewer nearby motel rooms than tickets. Word is the main floor will be general admission with the rest reserved seating.
There are 18 US dates (including two nights each in East Rutherford and NYC) before the band sets off for Europe. Bruce discounts this being a farewell tour, telling Backstreets in an exclusive interview, “There ain’t gonna be any farewell tour.” I took that to mean there won’t be a formally announced farewell tour because, Bruce says, “you’re only gonna know that when you don’t see me no more.”
And, for what it’s worth, over the weekend I heard “Radio Nowhere,” the cut that’s circulating from the new album due October 2 (and which will be released on vinyl a week earlier for Grammy reasons). It’s not quintessential E Street material but album producer Brendan O’Brien nailed it on the head when he called it “a pretty straight-ahead rocker.” The CD/LP cover now graces the Springsteen official site and “Radio Nowhere” is available for free download, although I have no idea how long the link will be good, and also for free at iTunes for a week.
This is Radio Nowhere
Is there anybody alive out there?
“Radio Nowhere,” Bruce Springsteen, Magic
