7 brand new albums in one day from The Boss. Where do we start? It's impossible for us to review these in depth in a single episode so with the help of Jeff, Dan and a special guest Ken Lesnik, one of our friends from New Jersey - we take a shallow dive across the box set. We also choose our stand-out track on each album. Rosalita is on duty today to ensure everything runs very smoothly on the hottest day of the year!
Jul 01, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 4Ep. 14
Join Jeff and Dan in the cafe to get their perspectives on the epic four days in Liverpool. With contributions from absent Geezers Mike and Jim, we talk about the two nights at Anfield, the guest appearance from Macca, and the Max Weinberg Pension Top Up events too! Rosalita has the day off, but Sloppy Sue serves up a couple of poorly presented dollops of Chirmside Chicken.
Jun 15, 2025•45 min•Season 4Ep. 12
There is so much to say about the Bruce Springsteen shows in Liverpool, so we have decided to do two separate podcasts to discuss what happened. In this episode we talk to three musicians to get their own perspective on the epic concerts at Anfield. Make yourself a drink, sit comfortably and hear what Robert Vincent, Ian Prowse and Hywel (rhymes with towel) Roberts thought of their own experiences.
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Our three amigos sit down in the cafe to review all three Manchester shows from the last week. Make yourself a drink and hear what Jeff, Mike and Dan thought of Bruce's only indoor European gigs this year at the wonderful Co-op Arena.
May 21, 2025•45 min
John Garrett Andrews saw The Castiles in 1967 when he was just 13 years old. Fast forward to April 1974 and John gets the honour of interviewing Bruce after the late show at Brown University. Bruce was not happy with his Record Company at the time and his comments to John got back to the Head of Columbia Records at the time. Listen to John's fascinating story here.
May 16, 2025•59 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Our own Dan French has gone and released a book! Grab Your Ticket And Your Suitcase documents every Springsteen concert Dan has been to since 1981 and documents his own personal Bruce Springsteen concert journey over this time. Lots of great memories are crammed into this book including how Dan met Bruce in the Stone Pony, the infamous Slane 1985 trip and many many more highlights. Copies of the book can be ordered via www.badlands.co.uk or through Amazon....
May 02, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 4Ep. 9
To celebrate our 50th episode, we have the enormous pleasure of welcoming our good friend Bobby Chirmside back to the podcast. Bobby was Bruce's Road Manager from 1976 to 1981 and lived with Bruce at the famous Telegraph Hill mansion. Buckle up, pour yourself a drink and enjoy this wonderful trip back down Memory Lane.
Dec 13, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Grab a beverage and sit back to listen to two eyewitness reports from two of the recent Canadian arena shows in Montreal and Winnipeg. Firstly, Martin from the UK joins us to tell us his story about how he managed to persuade Bruce to play The Angel in London in 1996, and why he decided to go to Montreal on Halloween night. Next we connect with a 'blast from the past' - Stu Reid -a fellow fanzine editor from the 1980s. We do eventually get around to talking about the recent Winnipeg gig, but not...
Nov 21, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Jeff, Dan and Mike gather in the cafe to chat about the new film - 'Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band'. Rosalita serves up a Canadian themed menu to celebrate the Boss's leg of the tour into the far reaches of North America.
Nov 14, 2024•55 min
Jeff was recently asked to host a Nebraska evening recently at his beloved CAT Club - that is an acronym for Classic Album Thursdays, by the way! Join us for a 'deep dive' into a discussion about all things Bruce and Nebraska. Furthermore, our good friend Robert Vincent, joins the evening to play his own special version of the title track. Jeff is joined on stage by Jason Barnard from the Strange Brew Podcast and takes us on a walk through the build up, the making of and the release of this lege...
Oct 11, 2024•1 hr 2 min
It's the day of the Boss's 75th birthday (well it was when we recorded this!), and to celebrate, we have birthday cake and a bit of a quiz. What will happen when Mikipedia takes on our very own Dan French? The stakes are high. Reputations can be won and lost instantly. Who will be 'pulling out of here to win'? Play along with us and see how you do!
Sep 27, 2024•52 min
The River Tour in Europe in 1981 was legendary. Our good friend Jim Page drops into the cafe for a face to face coffee chat with Jeff to recall the shenanigans which led to them meeting Bruce and the band.
Sep 23, 2024•42 min
Join us in the cafe for an end of tour review from the European leg. Rosie has ensured that we have the latest ice cream delights in stock as Jeff, Dan and Mike chat through their own personal insights into the Nordic and London shows. We also read out a few of the listener comments too. Enjoy...
Aug 04, 2024•52 min
Robert has co-written a song with Garry Tallent at a songwriters retreat. He has been described as 'the Scouse Springsteen' by Q Magazine. The legendary Bob Harris is a big fan of this award-winning singer-songwriter from Liverpool. AND ..... his new album Barriers is riding high in the charts alongside Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Luke Combs. We record this episode live in the cafe with the help of Rosalita's home made chocolate cookies. For more information, check out https://robertvincentmusic.c...
Jul 10, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Who'll stop the rain? Not even Bruce had the super powers to stop the wet weather in Sunderland. North of England in May will more than likely need a poncho in your rucksack. Jeff, Dan and Jim brave the challenging conditions to witness a 3 hour set from Bruce and the E Street Band. We manage to get some 'in the pit' conversations from a few people as well. We also name-drop a few of our listeners too as we read out your views of the Stadium of Light gig. Once we had dried out, we meet up the mo...
May 24, 2024•40 min
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!
May 13, 2024•48 min
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 visi...
May 03, 2024•1 hr 23 min
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 Rosal...
Apr 17, 2024•1 hr 9 min
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.
Apr 05, 2024•1 hr 7 min
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 Jon wi...
Mar 22, 2024•1 hr 14 min
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.
Mar 08, 2024•1 hr 3 min
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 header!...
Feb 23, 2024•57 min
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 and e...
Feb 16, 2024•1 hr 2 min
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 go. Wh...
Feb 09, 2024•1 hr 8 min
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.
Jan 12, 2024•1 hr 5 min
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 - please ...
Jan 01, 2024•56 min
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 www.badlan...
Dec 01, 2023•59 min
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.
Nov 24, 2023•54 min
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 enjoy the ...
Oct 28, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Season 3Ep. 2
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.
Oct 20, 2023•54 min•Season 3Ep. 1
