Under the Radar Magazine

Last night, ending the first American leg of his worldwide tour, Bruce Springsteen encored an epic, three-hour, 26-song performance at the Prudential Center in Newark by paying tribute to the recently passed Levon Helm, playing The Band’s most recognizable song “The Weight” for the sold-out crowd. (via Watch: Bruce Springsteen Covers The Band’s “The Weight” | Under The Radar)

On the heels of last fall’s Occupy Wall Street protests arrives Bruce Springsteen’s Wrecking Ball, his most vibrant studio album of original material since 1984’s Born in the U.S.A. Like his 2007 album, Magic, which cast a critical eye on the social and political climate of the Bush years, Wrecking Ball voices what Springsteen sees as crumbling values in America (signified by the wrecking ball of the title song), but this time the characters in the songs direct their ire toward fat-cat bankers and “robber barons…whose crimes have gone unpunished.” In the folky, strings-laden sing-along, “Easy Money,” a guy heads out on the town with his girl, bringing along a Smith & Wesson to take matters into his own hands. The narrator of the dirge “Jack of All Trades” initially appears to be more pragmatic and optimistic, repeatedly assuring his girl that they’ll be all right, before unexpectedly confessing, “If I had me a gun, I’d find the bastards and shoot ‘em on sight. (via Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball (Columbia) | Under The Radar)

After making his keynote speech yesterday at SXSW Bruce Springsteen took to the stage later that night with the E Street Band to perform a special concert. (via Watch: Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire, Tom Morello, Perform “This Land Is Your Land” | Under The Radar)

The week of the Bruce Springsteen continues on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. The Boss himself has already been in the house, bringing with him a few new songs. Now Elvis Costello has stepped up to the challenge of covering “Brilliant Disguise” and “Fire.” (via Watch: Elvis Costello And The Roots Cover Springsteen | Under The Radar)

Yesterday Late Night with Jimmy Fallon commenced its weeklong residency of all things Bruce Springsteen with a two song performance by The Boss and the E Street Band. (via Watch: Bruce Springsteen Starts His Week-Long Visit to “Fallon” | Under The Radar)

Already scheduled as the event’s Keynote Speaker, Bruce Springsteen has revealed that he will now also take part in a special musical performance with the E Street Band at this year’s SXSW Festival. Scheduled to take place at an as-of-yet undisclosed “intimate” venue on March 15 (according to the SXSW website), entrance to the gig will be determined by ticket lottery open to badge and wristband holders only. (via Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band to Play SXSW | Under The Radar)

Another track from Bruce Springsteen’s upcoming album Wrecking Ball is now online to stream. This time you can click over to Paste to hear “Death to My Hometown,” (via Listen: Bruce Springsteen - “Death to My Hometown” | Under The Radar)

Another day, another track from The Boss. (via Listen: Bruce Springsteen - “Jack of All Trades” | Under The Radar)

As promised, Bruce Springsteen has released another stream of a Wrecking Ball composition. Today is track number three, “Shackled and Drawn,” which you can listen to over at Rolling Stone. (via Listen: Bruce Springsteen - “Shackled and Drawn” | Under The Radar)

Leading up to the release of his new album Wrecking Ball, Bruce Springsteen has decided to release a stream of a particular track from the record through various Boss-related websites every day until the week of the LP’s release on March 6. (via Listen: Bruce Springsteen - “Easy Money” | Under The Radar)