BOSSING OUT: Dean Shaw belts out a Springsteen classic with guitarist Ben Brunskill. Picture supplied
Elvis is the King but for the musicians behind The Boss: Bruce Springsteen Tribute Tour, there’s only one man who’s the Boss.
The nine-piece outfit play the Gisborne War Memorial Theatre this Saturday and the band point out they are a tribute act to Bruce and the E Street Band, not impersonators. They are fans first and foremost.
Singer Dean Shaw first got hooked on the Boss when he heard the song “I’m Goin’ Down”.
“I love the storytelling and the simplicity of it but it has great dynamics and feel,” he told The Herald.
For drummer and Bruce aficionado Mark Hazlewood, it was “Tunnel of Love” that ignited his love of all things Springsteen.
“I’ve always felt that Bruce Springsteen is a great storyteller. The way he used music to express his disappointment at his failed first marriage to actress Julianne Phillips rang true for me at that moment in my life.”
Guitarist Ben Brunskill’s first taster was “The River”.
“It’s a real-life story. It could be about someone I know — hardship and love and struggle all mixed together with a great melody.”
The band members put The Boss’ longevity down to a combination of factors.
“His lyrics are relateable. The music is simple but complex at the same time, so musicians and listeners alike can appreciate it,” Shaw said.
“There’s no denying that the Born in the USA album defined his career but his live performances have really solidified his position as a rock ‘n’ roll legend.”
Hard work and pure energy was the key, Brunskill said.
“If you’re still putting on three-plus hour shows at 70 years old, you deserve your success,”
Hazlewood said honesty and his loyalty to his band along with his courage to confront personal and cultural issues was also a main factor.
Brunskill agreed.
“I would say that the best of Bruce comes from large political statements. Born in the USA, My Hometown, Ghost of Tom Joad, Philadelphia, 41 Shots are all big statements with the potential to cause people to look inwards and ask themselves big questions about social justice, war, police violence and racism.”
And what is it that makes Bruce “The Boss”?
“His presence on stage as a commander of the band is Boss-worthy,” Shaw said.
“Twenty albums, 340 songs, 150 million records sold, 50 years touring as a professional musician,” Brunskill said.
“His unwavering determination to give his fans the best that he can every night,” Hazlewood said.
Performing Springsteen’s music is a challenge that the band put everything into.
“Selling the music and communicating the passion and feeling in each song is what I strive for and find the most challenging,” Shaw said.
Brunskill said the show, which features more than 30 songs, had been six years in the making.
“One of the biggest challenges was putting together a massive band to pay tribute to the E Street Band and then for all nine of us to learn how to play together in such a large group.
“Gisborne can expect a full three hours of high energy rock ‘n’ roll delivered with passion. We’ll play the entire Born in the USA album, cover to cover, as well as a smorgasbord of iconic songs taken from Bruce’s career.”
Shaw said while Springsteen has a massive US fanbase, his music also resonates with Kiwis.
“Like all great music it touches all sorts of people and, depending on where you are in life, where you were when you heard particular tracks, what state of mind, what you were doing at the time you flicked the radio on or dropped the needle, or even hit that play button on Spotify and heard that first Springsteen track that resonated with you, his music appeals far and wide and we will bring that to the Gizzy crowd this weekend.”