Monday, June 27, 2011

The Underground Garage Tribute to Clarence Clemons

I'm very grateful to Little Steven for devoting this week's entire episode to Clarence, playing some of his career-defining work with the E Street Band, and his work with other artists like Jackson Browne, the Red Band Rockers, Southside Johnny, Aretha Franklin and Gary U.S. Bonds. He also covers a bit of Clarence's life and his importance to the band, in relation to musical and racial diversity. If you want to honor the memory of a remarkable man, then listen to this show. It opens with the slowed-down version of Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out from '75 at Philadelphia's Tower Theatre (which I recall listening on bootleg six years ago and being awe-struck). It's more heartbreaking now to hear Bruce sing that "when the change was made uptown" line. Steve's introduction is a touching and poetic-like eulogy for Big Man, basically encapsulating for us what has been on our minds and what we've been discussing with our fellow fans for the past week. He also mentioned that the E Street Band would carry on making music together. Though now's not the time to think about that, it's a good sign nonetheless. Danny and Clarence would've wanted the band to continue on.

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