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Oh happy day! Bruce Springsteen has just announced an new album entitled Magic. Due on October 2nd, the new disc reunites The Boss with the E Street Band. If you pre-order “Magic” on iTunes, the first track (Radio Nowhere), is free. The tune feels like the best of Born to Run and The Rising come together. So, this teaser has me really excited for the new album. Here is the complete track listing.

01. Radio Nowhere (iTunes)
02. You’ll Be Comin’ Down
03. Livin’ in the Future
04. Your Own Worst Enemy
05. Gypsy Biker
06. Girls in Their Summer Clothes
07. I’ll Work for Your Love
08. Magic
09. Last to Die
10. Long Walk Home
11. Devil’s Arcade

I’ve really enjoyed We Shall Overcome and Live in Dublin, Springsteen’s recent departures with the Seeger Sessions band. However, Bruce always sounds best with Clarence, Little Steven, Max, Patti and the rest of E Street backing him up.

Finally, word has it that the entire band will kick off a world tour in October … complete with festival seating as with tour for The Rising. I sat three rows from the stage at the Cincinnati stop on that tour. Barely a year after 9/11, that show was the single most moving live music event I’ve ever attended. It was full of emotional moments running the gamut from bittersweet sadness to sheer, unabashed joy and celebration. So, I am looking forward to the new tour as much or more than the new album.

Rock on Bruce and E Street!

One of the best things about living in Las Vegas is the music. Unlike most towns that get primarily the major headliners, Vegas has so many venues that just about everyone still making a living playing music passes through here at some point during the year. In three years in Sin City, I’ve seen Tantric, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Taylor Dayne, Burning Spear, Luis Miguel and Liz Phair (three times). Work and travel forced me to pass on opportunities to see Sting, Rush, Willie Nelson, Gretchen Wilson, Juanes, Henry Rollins and many, many others.

Last night, my Dad and I made the long trek across town to Sunset Station to see FOREIGNER. I expected to enjoy myself listening to some old favorites. I’d heard Lou Graham was no longer the front man, so I expected to enjoy Mick Jones’ guitars and tolerate whoever had been plugged in to replace Graham. Man, was I in for a surprise.

Though the set was short (only 14 songs), the show simply rocked. We had great seats so the music was never muddy and you could see how much passion these guys had playing. The only truly original member of the band is Jones, and it quickly became clear that he IS Foriegner. Jones’ blistering, creative, intricate guitar work and arrangements defines the band’s sound.

The rest of the band is immensely talented as well, particularly Kelly Hansen. Hansen replaces Lou Graham as the band’s frontman. He hits every note Graham did and brings kinetic energy as a showman. As a result, the show was the best concert I’ve seen since Springsteen and E-Street on The Rising Tour in 2002.

The Eagles and other Foreigner contemporaries have gotten richer touring to cash in on a wave of 70s nostalgia. Most reports say that these reunion tours are tepid and lackluster … at best. In contrast, Jones has injected Foreigner with a mix of young, raw talent and proven bandmates. The result is electric.

In short, see these guys if you can.

Bruce Springsteen :: Devils & Dust

Not since The Rising have I so looked forward to a new CD release by any artist. I already have the “Devils and Dust” single and it is a great cut. Devils & Dust is rumored to be reminiscent of the dark, thoughtful Nebraska, which many consider Springsteen’s finest work. I loved that album and look forward to more social commentary from our modern day Woody Guthrie.

The early buzz from Drew is that this is a fine release from my favorite hometown heroes, Over the Rhine. If “Born” is any indication, Drew is dead-on … as usual. Drunkard’s Prayer is already out, but not on the shelves in Vegas. Thank God for Amazon!