Roll down the windows and let the wind blow back your hair as Jeff, Mike and the cafe staff entertain you with insights into the first two European shows. Mike tries to outfox Rosie with a left field order, but he ends up being outwitted himself by a not so nimble Weak Knees Willie! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jeff-matthews4/message

Our listeners may be more familiar with Wesley Stace as John Wesley Harding. That guy who has been responsible for several great Bruce covers and some guest appearances with The Boss. Wesley can be often seen curating his own live show with a mixture of performing artists. One day - he hopes he can persuade Bruce to make another surprise appearance. Tune in and listen to some brilliant tales about him and Bruce hanging out whilst we share some of his great music. For more information please...

Frankfurt 1981 - the River Tour. 43 years ago this week. Our own Dan French gets an invite he can't refuse. 'Meet me in Frankfurt - I have a ticket for you' says a fellow fan. What happens next? Let's just say you couldn't make it up. No more spoilers, but let's just say that this story is legendary in E Street fan circles and we have finally persuaded Dan to recount those amazing few days. Jeff and Dan also conduct an E Street Shuffle for each other in between the refreshments provided by...

Jeff, Dan and Mike get together in the cafe to have a good old chinwag about the first 3 live gigs of 2024 in Phoenix, Las Vegas and San Diego. Also in this episode, we each choose our Top 3 Bruce albums of all time and our favourite track from each of those albums. Rosie cooks up a couple of specials to keep the boys well fed. What do you think of our choices? What would your Top 3 be? Let us know and we'll give you a shout-out. --- Send in a voice message:...

May 9 1974 - Bruce Springsteen performed a show that is considered to be a watershed moment in his career. A local photographer, Barry Schneier, had seen Bruce perform a few months earlier and suggested to the promoter that Bruce should open for Bonnie Raitt that night at The Harvard Square Theatre, Cambridge, MA. The promoter agreed and Bruce was booked in to perform at short notice. Also in the audience that night was Jon Landau, a music critic for Rolling Stone and The Real Paper. What...

When Dutch superfan Jeff Molenaar heard 'Sherry Darling' playing on Ally McBeal many years ago, it began a lifelong obsession with following Bruce on tour. Jeff tells the story of how pure persistence meant that 'Annie and her guy' not only got a mention at the iconic Leeds Arena gig - but they got a very special and rare song played for them by Bruce. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jeff-matthews4/message

In part 2 of our chat with Vini 'Mad Dog' Lopez, we cover the recording of the second Bruce Springsteen album, the break up from the band, golf, Steel Mill Retro and the various reunions with Bruce and the band over the last decade or so. Entertaining and engaging as ever - Vini regales stories from his lifelong career in Rock and Roll and we make sure he partakes in our very own E Street Shuffle challenge. Enjoy and don't forget to leave us a nice review if you liked this double...

The founding member of the E Street Band. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. Do I have to say his name? It's only Vini 'Mad Dog' Lopez in the Cafe to join Jeff for a chat about the early years up to and including the recording of the first album. As you can expect, this episode is crammed full of epic Jersey Shore tales from the 60s up to 1973. Part 2 is in production and covers the recording of The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle and the 'ups and downs' thereafter. Strap yourself in...

Mike 'Mikipedia' Saunders and co-host Dan French compete in a winner-takes-all quiz in the E Street Cafe. Suitably refreshed for the event - the two adversaries go head to head on their specialist subjects. Who will win the BIG prize - a fresh cinnamon bun freshly served by Rosalita. If you're in the car - wind down your windows and let the wind blow back your hair as you join in and shout the answers out. If you're in the comfort of your own home, grab yourself a pen and paper and have a...

Meet Jean Mikle, possibly the hardest working lady on the New Jersey shore. Not only does Jean have a day job as a reporter with the Asbury Park Press, but sh is busy on the board with The Light of Day foundation and the Asbury Angels. Oh and she also runs guided tours of famous Springsteen sites in New Jersey with her good friend Stan Goldstein. In this episode, Jean recounts her memories back to 1978 and her first Bruce concert, and we also talk about her 2024 tour hopes. --- Send in a...

Warning - 3 podcast hosts on 1 episode. This could get messy! Seriously, Jesse Jackson, podcaster extraordinaire, joins us in the cafe for a good old natter about some of his favourite podcast moments from Set Lusting Bruce, and his early musical memories. And if Jesse ever invites you to a night out at the casino - don't turn him down. Check out Set Lusting Bruce wherever you pick up your podcasts. --- Send in a voice message:...

After the exertions of the staff Christmas party, we manage to escape the frivolity of the E Street Cafe and 'hit the road' to record the podcast's first roving report, on the Light of Day gig in Leicester. Jeff chats backstage to Carol Messenger, Jersey Budd, Sally Barker, Joe D'Urso, James Maddock, Williams Honor, Rob Dye and Tom Brooksby to find out what brings them to rural Leicestershire on a cold December night! For more information about the great work of Light of Day Foundation -...

Whilst Rosie, Weak Knees Willy, Sloppy Sue, Mary and the cafe staff are partying away - your trusty hosts Jeff, Dan and Mike - man the fort to bring you some of their favourite E Street related songs. We also hear from some of our past guests and we narrowly avoid being hit on the head by a falling bauble from the cafe Christmas tree. Get your sherry and mince pies out, pull up a seat and join us for some festive cheer. --- Send in a voice message:...

When Phil started selling records in Evesham market with his late brother Steven 38 years ago, little did he realise that he would still be happily running Badlands today. Not only do Badlands sell records, but they provide tickets and packaged tours to Springsteen shows in Europe and the US. In this episode, Phil joins Jeff and Dan in the cafe to reminisce over the last 38 years. Sloppy Sue messes up again - and almost wipes Peppie (the Cafe dog) out too. For more information - visit...

Maggie Powell first heard Born to Run in 1975 on BBC Radio 1's breakfast show. The impact on her musical interest and subsequent fandom was immense. Not just Bruce, but all things E Street related and beyond. Originally from Scotland, but now living in Germany, Maggie walks us through her musical journey and gives us an insight into the legendary Jukestock convention. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jeff-matthews4/message

Mark A Wright is a natural born performer. He is widely known to the Bruce community for his brilliant cover versions of Bruce's songs - and not all the obvious ones! He has performed at Bruce pre-show parties and Light of Day. Not only that, but he has an 'Elvis sings the Boss' act and many other guises. He is also a singer-songwriter. Mark is a wonderful guest and our staff really enjoyed Mark's musical performance live in the cafe. Pour yourself a ginger ale or some Bruce Juice and...

Slane Castle in Ireland in 1985 was a first for Bruce on many fronts. It was also a trip that will live with our intrepid podcast hosts (and 12 other fellow travellers) for the rest of our lives. The trip was filled with mishap, adventure, danger and a lot of fun. Well, it is Ireland - we wouldn't expect any less. Tune in for a bag full of stories from 38 years ago that will make you cringe and laugh at the same time. Glory Days indeed. Oh, and don't spill your Guinness. --- Send in a...

Lauren Onkey has probably one of the most respected CVs/ résumés in the music industry. Not only has she interviewed The Boss online a couple of years ago, but she was asked to write the introduction to Dave Marsh's new book 'Kick Out The Jams.' In fact if it wasn't for Dave's encouragement all those years ago - Lauren's career may not have taken the turn it did. In this episode, with the help of Rosalita and the new staff plying Lauren with ice-cold beers, she tells Jeff and Dan about how...

Ken Rosen is the author and creator of the Bruce Springsteen blog - EStreetShuffle.com In this episode Ken tells us that his wife was the inspiration for him starting the blog. Well, kind of! She was fed up of him recounting Bruce stories over dinner, so asked him 'Why don't you start a Bruce blog?'. Now that Mr and Mrs Rosen talk about normal things over dinner, he has fresh vigour and energy to put out daily postings that, for E Street fans, are absolutely riveting. Rosie gets the order...

In 2015, Jake Clemons played a very intimate and special gig in the tiny front room of Deirdre and Saoirse Houston's house on the west coast of Ireland. 37 very lucky people (and a cat) were there that night as Jake pulled up in his small red rental car and proceeded to unload his saxophone and guitar. That night will stay with those lucky 37 people forever - especially as they were required to collectively help out on one song! Tune in to find out the full story of that wonderful night in...

The E Street Cafe Podcast often asks our guests: 'If you could travel back in the Gig time machine and see any concert - what would it be?' Our three intrepid hosts often state that the 1976/1977 Chicken Scratch and Lawsuit Tours would be right up there. Not only has this week's guest been to those concerts, but he was also very lucky to be in the second row of the second Hammersmith show in 1975. Are we envious of John Hersov - you bet we are! However, we are very fortunate that John dropped...

Bruce's career is pretty well documented from 1975 onwards. In this intriguing chat, the author and researcher Craig Statham pops into the cafe to talk about his updated version of his book Springsteen: Saint in the City 1949 to 1974 - a superb and thoroughly researched book about his real formative years. On one of the hottest days of the year, Rosie keeps the guys going with iced water and other refreshments. Please contact Craig direct if you want to order a revised copy of this great...

In this episode, we give first hand accounts of some of the recent European gigs that our hosts attended. What was the first E Street Band gig in Edinburgh for 42 years like? A welcome tour debut in Birmingham. Geezers reunited in Gothenburg, and have we uncovered a better way to 'see' Bruce in Hyde Park? Mix all that up with a random mix of predictions for 2024 and this makes for a friendly chat in the cafe. --- Send in a voice message:...

Joe Francis unexpectedly met Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney backstage at Glastonbury in 2022. He was hungover a little, but styling it out in denim shorts and Crocs whilst nursing plenty of coffee from the magical barista backstage. But, this is the important part ..... Joe is also a very talented musician and songwriter himself. He is the front man and face of Winter Mountain. Joe brings his guitar into the cafe today and starts to serenade the staff - especially Rosalita!! For more...