My name is Dylan ... Jakob Dylan
WALLFLOWERS
plays Tradewinds
March 8th 1997 - Sea Bright, New Jersey
Encores with Bruce: God Don't Make Lonely Girls / My Girl / Brand New Cadillac / Bring It On Home to Me / Not Fade Away
Soundcheck with Bruce: People Get Ready / Tears of a Clown
Photo courtesy of Cheryl Wilson
Was at the Tradewinds, one of my favorite places to see a show, Saturday night watching the Wallflowers, a great band by the way. They do a 12 song set and leave, encores to ensue. Lead singer Jakob Dylan walks back onstage followed by the one and only Mister Bruce Springsteen. Crowd goes berzerk. I'll get to tell my kids that I saw a surprise Jersey shore club Springsteen appearance after all. Bruce first played with the band on one of the Wallflowers' cuts from their latest album, a song called "God Don't Make Lonely Girls." Then, as crowd frenzy increases, they break out a little song called "My Girl" that, needless to see, most of us have heard of, this one's a real treat, happy smiles all around the club. Then a third song which I must say I didn't know but it was very bluesy.
Then, it gets better. Guest number two appears-Jovi; yes, as in Jon Bon Jovi. He does a folksy ballad, this was basically his song, as he fronted with acoustic guitar, again, I should prob'ly know the title but I just don't.
Then, the finale. Everybody rocks out with a rousing version of "Not Fade Away" that has the whole joint jumpin'. My dream come true ends here, it was great, just absolutely exuberant. Yeah, I would've liked to have seen more, everybody there did. And yeah, I woulda liked to have heard some Bruce penned songs perhaps, but hey, this is something that I wasn't exactly counting on that just happened, and I am eternally grateful. I'm 20, Bruce is what 47 now? He's gettin' up there ya' know and he doesn't exactly make these surprise appearanes that often anymore, and they are after all, surprises, so...
by Sean Hooks
Photo courtesy of Cheryl Wilson
As you've heard by now, Bruce joined the Wallflowers Saturday night at the Tradewinds for their encores. Several of us DC-area folks made the trip based on some rumors and we weren't dissapointed. We got there in the early afternoon and nothing was going on, which had us wondering. By about 4pm, things started to pick up as several folks joined in on the wait. Then Terry showed up (good sign, huh?). A few minutes later a big, black pickup drove in and the Wallflowers got out and headed into the building. Then someone noticed that it was Bruce driving. He parked the truck, jumped out, waved to the crowd (maybe 12 of us) and walked inside. We could see through the door that Bruce was chatting (lots of smiles and hand gestures) inside with some of the Wallflowers. We could also hear the soundcheck, although security kept yelling at us to move away from the building. The soundcheck lasted about 35 minutes and included several takes of My Girl as well as People Get Ready, Tears of a Clown, Bring it On Back Home, etc. with Bruce singing many of the lead vocals.
When we got inside, a large contingent of Bruce fans set up at the edge of the stage right in front of the spot where he stood during the soundcheck. For the encores, he supported the band with some hot (electric!) guitar chops and traded vocals with Jakob D. and Bon Jovi on a few songs. I'll keep this short by saying that he looked great and sang well, although he had to rely on cheat sheets for some of the words - and people yelling out the words to him on Not Fade Away.
He seemed to want to support the band and keep a low profile (seemed slightly embarassed when the Broocing got pretty loud). A good time was had by all and some got handshakes as he left. We walked them to their cars. Bruce driving his truck with Patti (and others) and Sting driving Bruce's Beemer back home.
by David Bottimore
CD - Kritik
The Wallflowers
Bringing Down the Horse
Das erste Album erntete vor vier Jahren wohlwollende bis euphorische Kritiken - in Amerika zumindest. Hierzulande nahm man von den Wallflowers höchstens Notiz, weil ein gewisser Jakob Dylan, Sohn des grossen Bob, als Bandleader fungiert. Nun, wenn der Sohnemann weiterhin Platten im Stil dieses Albums fabriziert, wird sich der Herr Papa etwas einfallen lassen müssen, um nicht überrundet zu werden.
Photo : Mark Seliger
Die Wallflowers sind weder spektakulär noch innovativ oder gar trendy, doch pflegt das Quintett aus L.A. seinen leicht modernisierten Folksoulrootsrock mit einer selten gehörten Hingabe und Liebe fürs Detail. Wer die Counting Crows, die Jayhawks, Hootie & the Blowfish und Tom Petty liebt, wird erkennen, dass die Wallflowers alles andere als biedere Mauerblümchen sind. Ein grandioses Album.
by Rolf Wyss
