"If you've ever doubted the power of rock (or music for that matter), you can renew your faith by reading Born to Run… And Write"*

Posts tagged “Clarence Clemons

“Evolution”

Posted on May 12, 2013

A frontman in his own right, Nils has been happy to play sideman — and secret weapon — for several rock ‘n roll greats. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ Most interactions that occur between fan and Rock star last maybe 1, or 2 minutes. Occasionally, some fans get lucky enough to have a longer period talking with an artist whom they love, with maybe even enough time for a photo or two, too. In those moments, the fortunate fan is elated to a level similar to, or even greater than, the actual experience which makes them a fan to begin with… In either case, meeting an idol, an inspiration, or personal rock ‘n roll role-model is an unusual and rare joy. I got lucky once, when I was…

We Are Alive

Posted on April 9, 2013

He asked, “What makes a writer?” “Well,” I said, “it’s simple. You either get it down on paper, or jump off a bridge. – Charles Bukowski A few weeks ago, I stood beneath a dark blue and black sky. The wind was strong, and cold, and the river which lay before me was raging. I stood alone on the grassy embankment, with the bright lights of the city across the water, twinkling, and a tear in my eye. I was shaking. It was cold, much too cold, but that was only half the reason my knees trembled. The moon above me was bright, and the clouds illuminated below its pale white face looked like ghosts, out to remind the world that, hey - we are…

Tomorrow There’ll Be Sunshine, and All This Darkness Past

Posted on December 31, 2012

On the 21st of September this year, an old friend of mine said to me -You’re the luckiest guy I know, Connor! As I sit here now – on a train to Edinburgh to experience the world famous Hogmanay celebrations which, every year, put Scotland at the top of the list of places to travel – I think about 2012; my travels & adventures, my loves & losses, the sights and sounds I have experienced across the world, the 20,000 miles I have travelled, and the words of my old friend, and how – undeniably – 2012 has been the most exciting of my life so far. More recently, another old school friend said to me that I had an awesome life. Just like…

Hola Barcelona! Hola Catalonia! (Night 1)

Posted on June 18, 2012

“FAITH will be REWARDED” – Bruce Springsteen   As life progresses I find that increasingly the main source of faith invested in me comes from the same people who support my writing and anticipate my new posts. This blog has always provided a great diversity in terms of content and message. I write about music, and I write about life… Most fundamentally I try to find that moment at which life and music intersect, in such a way which defines their dependence upon one another. That is, our dependence upon music in life, and music’s dependence upon life to be meaningful. It is in music we that find the definition of beauty, it is in music that we seek shelter in our moments of…

Ain’t That Young Anymore

Posted on March 17, 2012

“So you’re scared and you’re thinking That maybe we ain’t that young anymore” – Bruce Springsteen, Thunder Road, 1975 This is the last post which I will ever write as a “child”. In less than 1 hour I will be 18 years old. 00:00, March 18th 2012 marks the moment at which my childhood will officially end, being replaced by the void which is my future as an adult. I stare the rest of my life in the face, and reflect upon what has been – almost – 18 years of life. When I think about everything which I have experienced, both individually, and as part of my family, and society, I am staggered that, as opposed to coming to the end of adulthood,…

Wrecking Ball

Posted on February 21, 2012

If ever I questioned the existence of God, I look at Bruce Springsteen and realise that the notion of the Lord working in “mysterious ways” is nothing short of truth. In a world ravaged by global warming, famine, and war, where western society is characterised by greed, a lust for money, and a fervent desire for power, more often than not it is easy to become disillusioned with the dreams which so fuelled our transition from childhood into adulthood. The idea of the great “American Dream” – a dream which at one point symbolised all that was good about the western world and its ability to offer equal opportunities to all men – is becoming something which is nearly as unattainable as the wealth…

Wherever This Flag’s Flown

Posted on February 12, 2012

As the E Street Nation sits with eager anticipation for Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band’s opening performance of 2012′s Grammy Awards tonight, I reflect upon what has been an extraordinary few months for the E Street Nation. We have had everything, from the announcement of the new album and World Tour, to the surprise single released nearly a month ago. Ed Manion and Jake Clemons have just been announced as touring with the E Street Band this year, and shows have sold out across the world. These are seriously exciting times, with many things happening to instil in us even more exhilaration at the prospect of 2012 with regards to Bruce and the Band. However, singularly the most exiting moment of recent…

We Take Care Of Our Own

Posted on January 18, 2012

  2012, the year of BRUCE, has officially begun.  Whilst Saturday night’s Light of Day concert in Asbury Park, New Jersey proved to fans the world over that Bruce is now truly ready to rock once more, the moment which monumentally defined the beginning of 2012 being the year of Springsteen, the E Street Band, and the E Street Nation, has just occurred. For a little over 3 hours ago I read that The Boss is set to release his first single from the new album… Tomorrow. To say that we, the fans of Springsteen, are excited, is truly an understatement. Since news broke in November that Bruce and the band would not only release a new album but also tour the world, the…

Show A Little Faith

Posted on January 16, 2012

The last couple of weeks have seen me in a pretty dark place, reflected by some of the words I shared in my last few posts. Whilst things did look, for some time at least, to be completely dark and without the presence of hope, I sit here this evening feeling better now than I have done in quite some time. It will come as no surprise to most that the spiritual healing which I have experienced over the past short while has been driven by the music of Bruce Springsteen. Yesterday evening something beautiful happened, as The Boss himself joined the Light of Day Concert in Asbury Park, New Jersey. For a good few hours he played with musicians from far and wide,…

My Only Faith

Posted on January 9, 2012

When I feel as low as I do right now, one of the songs which really resonates with my feelings is “The Wrestler”, a song which The Boss penned in 2008 for the film of the same name. It has featured in a few of my blogposts over the past year now, but I include it again today to help explain something. “These things that have comforted me I drive away (anything more) This place that is my home I cannot stay (anything more) My only faith is in the broken bones and bruises I display“ It is a very dangerous thing to hold the pain which has crippled us as also the thing which drives us, however many of us find ourselves in…

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