Post by jptheprofessor on Jul 9, 2008 18:15:17 GMT -5
Altoona’s Railroaders Memorial Museum is again presenting the Alive @ Five Summer Concert Series this year. On the bill this night was a New Jersey-based Bruce Springsteen tribute band, The B Street Band, with opening guests Sal Paradise.
I arrived late during Sal Paradise’s performance. An acoustic duo, Matt and Nick finished their set with four songs with a modern flavor, including their acoustic spin on Violent Femmes’ “Blister in the Sun.”
Opening the show, Sal Paradise.
With the night blessed with nice summertime weather, a good-sized crowd was already gathering for this show in the early stages. Obviously there were some Springsteen fans in this town!
The B Street Band soon took the stage for their first of three sets. Billed as the longest-running tribute act, this group forned in Asbury Park, New Jersey in 1980, and used to perform under the name Backstreets. The current cast features “Springsteen” himself, Glenn Stuart on lead vocals and guitar; along with keyboardist/singer Willie Forte (the only band member from Pennsylvania), lead guitarist Steve Baranian, bassist Steve Lopresto, Rich Taskowitz on sax and Joey Vitello on drums.
As expected, the B Street Band played plentiful Boss favorites over the course of their three sets, and tapped material from throughout Springsteen’s career, from early tunes to numbers from Bruce’s Magic album from last year. The hits and clear crowd favorites included “Hungry Heart,” “My Hometown” (which singer Glenn dedicated to “your hometown, Altoona”), “Dancing in the Dark,” “Born in the U.S.A.,” “Prove It All Night,” “Fire,” “Glory Days,” “I’m on Fire,” “Brilliant Disguise” and more. B Street also did Springsteen classics such as “Jungleland” (featuring an excellent sax solo from Rich), “Badlands,” “Out in the Street,” a request for “Jersey Girl,” “She’s the One,” “Spirit in the Night” and “Bobby Jean.” They broke out more recent fare as well, including “Radio Nowhere” (which kicked off their first set) and “Livin’ in the Future” off Magic. Glenn (“The Boss”) handled most of the singing duties; but occasionally deferred to guitarist Steve to sing lead on a few non-Springsteen numbers, including Roy Orbison’s “You Got It” and Tom Petty’s “American Girl.” Although the crowd had thinned some by the group’s third set, a contingent of Springsteen fans had congregated in front of the stage to cheer and dance along as the B Street Band reached their homestretch, finishing up this Boss party with “Bobby Jean,” “Rosalita” and – what else? – “Born to Run!” When the crowd erupted to demand an encore, the group quickly returned to do one more Springsteen standard, “Thunder Road,” to end the night.
I thought the B Street Band did a very good job in capturing the sound and style of The Boss and the E Street Band. Although Glenn depicted Springsteen, his voice stood out on its own merits, and he came across as a genuine singer and not a Springsteen mimic. He and the rest of the B Street Band were very strong instrumentally as well; and again, these guys didn’t try to out-dazzle their corresponding E-Street performers, their performances were reverent tributes to the original. Rich showed he could wail on sax quite well himself without aping Clarence Clemons’ style and flair, and keyboardist Willie and lead guitarist Steve demonstrated some good-sounding solo work along the way.
The B Street Band treated the show as a celebration of Bruce Springsteen’s body of work, as well as a celebration of people coming together to have a good time and enjoy music. This was an enjoyable concert, and the strong attendance indicates that Altoona has embraced the Alive @ Five Summer Concert Series as another special opportunity to enjoy food, drink, friends and music.
The B Street Band kicks off their first of three sets.
Again, the B Street Band.
Glenn Stuart, Steve Baranian and Rich Taskowitz of the B Street Band.
Sounding “Boss” this night, Glenn Stuart of the B Street Band.
Again, Glenn and Steve of the B Street Band.
Once again, the B Street Band.
Again, Glenn Stuart of the B Street Band.
Again, Rich Taskowitz of the B Street Band.
Yet again, the B Street Band.
Once again, Rich of the B Street Band.
Again, Glenn Stuart of the B Street Band.
Willie Forte of the B Street Band.
Once again, Glenn Stuart of the B Street Band.
Again, Glenn, Rich and Steve of the B Street Band.
More from the B Street Band.
Yet again, the B Street Band.
Again, Willie Forte of the B Street Band.
Rallying the audience to clap along, the B Street Band.
Audience members in front of the stage and having fun with the B Street Band.
One more time, the B Street Band and a happy crowd.
I arrived late during Sal Paradise’s performance. An acoustic duo, Matt and Nick finished their set with four songs with a modern flavor, including their acoustic spin on Violent Femmes’ “Blister in the Sun.”
Opening the show, Sal Paradise.
With the night blessed with nice summertime weather, a good-sized crowd was already gathering for this show in the early stages. Obviously there were some Springsteen fans in this town!
The B Street Band soon took the stage for their first of three sets. Billed as the longest-running tribute act, this group forned in Asbury Park, New Jersey in 1980, and used to perform under the name Backstreets. The current cast features “Springsteen” himself, Glenn Stuart on lead vocals and guitar; along with keyboardist/singer Willie Forte (the only band member from Pennsylvania), lead guitarist Steve Baranian, bassist Steve Lopresto, Rich Taskowitz on sax and Joey Vitello on drums.
As expected, the B Street Band played plentiful Boss favorites over the course of their three sets, and tapped material from throughout Springsteen’s career, from early tunes to numbers from Bruce’s Magic album from last year. The hits and clear crowd favorites included “Hungry Heart,” “My Hometown” (which singer Glenn dedicated to “your hometown, Altoona”), “Dancing in the Dark,” “Born in the U.S.A.,” “Prove It All Night,” “Fire,” “Glory Days,” “I’m on Fire,” “Brilliant Disguise” and more. B Street also did Springsteen classics such as “Jungleland” (featuring an excellent sax solo from Rich), “Badlands,” “Out in the Street,” a request for “Jersey Girl,” “She’s the One,” “Spirit in the Night” and “Bobby Jean.” They broke out more recent fare as well, including “Radio Nowhere” (which kicked off their first set) and “Livin’ in the Future” off Magic. Glenn (“The Boss”) handled most of the singing duties; but occasionally deferred to guitarist Steve to sing lead on a few non-Springsteen numbers, including Roy Orbison’s “You Got It” and Tom Petty’s “American Girl.” Although the crowd had thinned some by the group’s third set, a contingent of Springsteen fans had congregated in front of the stage to cheer and dance along as the B Street Band reached their homestretch, finishing up this Boss party with “Bobby Jean,” “Rosalita” and – what else? – “Born to Run!” When the crowd erupted to demand an encore, the group quickly returned to do one more Springsteen standard, “Thunder Road,” to end the night.
I thought the B Street Band did a very good job in capturing the sound and style of The Boss and the E Street Band. Although Glenn depicted Springsteen, his voice stood out on its own merits, and he came across as a genuine singer and not a Springsteen mimic. He and the rest of the B Street Band were very strong instrumentally as well; and again, these guys didn’t try to out-dazzle their corresponding E-Street performers, their performances were reverent tributes to the original. Rich showed he could wail on sax quite well himself without aping Clarence Clemons’ style and flair, and keyboardist Willie and lead guitarist Steve demonstrated some good-sounding solo work along the way.
The B Street Band treated the show as a celebration of Bruce Springsteen’s body of work, as well as a celebration of people coming together to have a good time and enjoy music. This was an enjoyable concert, and the strong attendance indicates that Altoona has embraced the Alive @ Five Summer Concert Series as another special opportunity to enjoy food, drink, friends and music.
The B Street Band kicks off their first of three sets.
Again, the B Street Band.
Glenn Stuart, Steve Baranian and Rich Taskowitz of the B Street Band.
Sounding “Boss” this night, Glenn Stuart of the B Street Band.
Again, Glenn and Steve of the B Street Band.
Once again, the B Street Band.
Again, Glenn Stuart of the B Street Band.
Again, Rich Taskowitz of the B Street Band.
Yet again, the B Street Band.
Once again, Rich of the B Street Band.
Again, Glenn Stuart of the B Street Band.
Willie Forte of the B Street Band.
Once again, Glenn Stuart of the B Street Band.
Again, Glenn, Rich and Steve of the B Street Band.
More from the B Street Band.
Yet again, the B Street Band.
Again, Willie Forte of the B Street Band.
Rallying the audience to clap along, the B Street Band.
Audience members in front of the stage and having fun with the B Street Band.
One more time, the B Street Band and a happy crowd.