The book sent me back to records I hadn't listened to in a very long time, like Radio Ethiopia (1977) or The Patti Smith Group's debut single, "My Generation/Piss Factory," and helped me hear things I'd long missed in those records. She is a careful researcher, one who writes with passion and always pays close attention to detail, all while balancing fandom and critique. Of course, she's known to Backstreets readers for her reviews and reporting as a Contributing Writer, and for her book-length travelogue of the 2012 tour, Raise Your Hand: Adventures of an American Springsteen Fan in Europe. Rose is an engaging, knowledgeable, and compelling writer. Reading Why Patti Smith Matters is like listening to Smith's rich catalogue with a good friend as your guide. Patti Smith is lauded as a significant and groundbreaking artist, but recognition of her musical significance has receded a bit in light of her literary success.
These short, engaging books are characterized by great writing and compelling arguments that will inspire you to listen to your favorite artists in new ways and spark your interest in artists you missed.Ĭaryn Rose's Why Patti Smith Matters is the latest volume in the series, and it's a winner. The University of Texas Press Music Matters series, launched in 2018 and edited by music writers Evelyn McDonnell and Oliver Wang, has been a wonderful addition to music bookshelves. And for those with an eye on the future, Springsteen demonstrated once again that he's in fighting shape for his own stadium tour. Between the excitement in the crowd and on stage, MetLife might have been able to generate its own electricity (not that it was necessary - the power stayed on all night). This wasn't his first time (or even second or third), but you have to imagine that playing with a Beatle never gets old.
When the band's final bows came, Springsteen was still there, hands in the air and clasped with Sir Paul's - and beaming. "Bruce, one more!" McCartney called, adding a Broooce of his own before the next number: Springsteen taking Ringo's lead vocal on "I Wanna Be Your Man." Bruce played some mean lead guitar, too, and continued to appear thrilled to be sharing center stage with a Beatle, their mics tight together, even offering some "We're not worthy" bows at the end of his guest slot.īruce returned to the stage for the concert's finale, an extended jam on Abbey Road's "The End," and he acquitted himself well in a four-way guitar duel. Springsteen wished his host a happy birthday first thing - McCartney will turn 80 on Saturday - and introduced their first song together: "Here's to 80 more years of Glory Days!" Bruce sang lead on all the verses, while McCartney joined in for chorus harmonies and the woo-hoo! call-and-response toward the end. Introducing his guest as "a friend of mine… a local boy" ("I think you've guessed him!" he added, as the stadium resounded with calls for Broooce), McCartney brought Springsteen on stage to the audible thrill of the crowd. LOCAL BOY JOINS PAUL McCARTNEY IN NEW JERSEYįor the second time in two weeks, Bruce Springsteen turned in a surprise appearance in the swamps of Jersey last night, back at MetLife Stadium with a living legend this time: Sir Paul McCartney. Hope you get to hear the music today, too - happy birthday to you! #wonderland- Backstreets Magazine June 21, 2022 Hey, Guess which song popped up just now? Yep, this one, always a favorite. Custom bookplate signed by comes with each copy of her new book from the Backstreet Records shop: #PattiSmith #Springsteen /XESY2nkPkI- Backstreets Magazine June 22, 2022