Bruce Springsteen and E Street at Sea Hear Now in Asbury Park: 5 songs we want to hear

Greetings from Asbury Park, E Street fans.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will headline the Sunday, Sept. 15, Sea Hear Now show on the North Beach in Asbury Park.

“Hurt Somebody” singer-songwriter Noah Kahan headlines the Saturday, Sept. 14, show. Gaslight Anthem, the Trey Anastasio Band, the Black Crowes, Norah Jones, 311, the Revivalists, Kool & The Gang, the Hives and more will play over the two days on the fest’s three stages on the North Beach and in Bradley Park.

There’s also artwork, some by the performers, and surfing at the fest.

One-day and two-day ticket presales begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 7. Prices start at $160 for one-day general admission and offerings include GA+, VIP, platinum and ultimate experience tickets via the festival website at www.seahearnowfestival.com.

Bruce Springsteen photographed Joel Bernstein in 1980 next to Wesley Lake in Asbury Park with the former Palace Amusements in the background.
Bruce Springsteen photographed Joel Bernstein in 1980 next to Wesley Lake in Asbury Park with the former Palace Amusements in the background.

Springsteen appeared unannounced at the inaugural Sea Hear Now in 2018 with Social Distortion, but performances with the E Street Band in Asbury Park have been rare. The last one was in 2010 at the Carousel House on boardwalk to record the “Songs from the Promise” video and “Live from the Carousel” EP.

The performance was the last time Clarence Clemons appeared with the band before his passing.

The Springsteen and E Street Band Sea Hear Now appearance is looking like it’s going to be a very special night. Several of Springsteen’s classic songs are set on the Asbury Park beachfront. Here’s five that might lead to some very magical moments in Little Eden.

‘Spirit in the Night’

All aboard, and that includes Crazy Janey and Hazy Davy. The warmer the better on the nighttime beach for this lightly swinging jazzy classic from “Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.” The song depicts wanderlust at the Jersey Shore and dancing under the moonlight. That should set the scene perfectly on the North Beach.

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Bruce Springsteen, right, and Mike Ness of Social Distortion at the Sea.Hear.Now fest in Asbury Park, Sept. 30, 2018.
Bruce Springsteen, right, and Mike Ness of Social Distortion at the Sea.Hear.Now fest in Asbury Park, Sept. 30, 2018.

‘Seaside Bar Song’

Springsteen has said this jump-rock nugget was written after a trip to the Osprey in Manasquan, but certainly Asbury Park has a few seaside bars. The Stone Pony and Wonder Bar are on Ocean Avenue and the Break, Low Dive, the Watermark and Tim McLoone’s Supper Club are on the city’s boardwalk.

‘Thunder Road’

This classic from the “Born to Run” album doesn’t directly reference Asbury Park, but it would be quite a moment to have the 30,000 or so singing along to it on the beach.

Tillie as he looked on the old Palace Amusements building in Asbury Park in 1989.
Tillie as he looked on the old Palace Amusements building in Asbury Park in 1989.

‘Born to Run’

The hemi-powered drones screaming down the boulevard in Asbury Park have been replaced by Ubers, and the Palace Amusements is no more. But you, me and Springsteen and the E Street Band are still here and there’s no place left to hide.

‘4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)’

Fireworks won’t be hailin’ over Little Eden in Sept. 15. It’s the music of Springsteen and the E Street Band that’ll be lighting up the night. Fifty years after its release on “The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle,” this ode to leaving the “boardwalk life” of Asbury Park will resound with new spirit if performed. Will it be played? Only Springsteen and Madam Marie know for sure.

Country at the Stone Pony

We’ve got the dirt on an upcoming Stone Pony Summer Stage show.

The Randy Houser and Justin Moore co-headlining “Country Round Here Tonight Tour” is including Asbury Park as one of its 12 shows on Sept. 27.

The tour also hits the Met in Philadelphia on Sept. 28. Moore’s latest song is “This Is My Dirt,” a stirring ballad about a farmer refusing to sell his land to a housing developer.

Moore, an Arkansas native, has an interesting connection to the Jersey Shore. His manager, Pete Hartung, grew up in the area and played in several bands here, including Windfield, the Remakes and the Pete Hartung Band.

He’s even shared a stage with Springsteen at Tim McLoone’s Rum Runner in Sea Bright in 1989.

Tickets for Moore and Houser, starting at $50, are on sale via www.stoneponyonline.com.

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Bruce Springsteen at Sea Hear Now: 5 classics we need to hear