david g Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 I am interested in what folks think about Bruce Sprinsteen purely as a musician/guitarist. There is no doubt he is (or was) an important songwriter and a force in popular music, but I always assumed Steve Van Zandt and then Nils Lofgren did the "heavy lifting" for him on guitar - my friend strongly disagrees - what do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gato Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 I love his Telecaster. That´s all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicman Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 Springsteen (or whoever writes his stuff) is an awesome songwriter in my opinion. I'm not a huge fan but I always feel the emotion coming from his songs. Van Zandt was a cover story not too long ago in GP, maybe the article answers your question. "I believe that if it were left to artists to choose their own labels, most would choose none." - Ben Shahn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtrpir8 Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 I've seen him live once, and will see him again this Sunday in Chapel Hill, NC. Bruce is a capable guitarist that focuses on his singing (some argue that he doesn't sing, but thats another thread on another forum) and stage presence. He can and does play solos tha tfit nicely in the context of his songs; he doesn't get onstage and jam endlessly. I've not seen Miami Steve play, and I'm under the impression that his playing style is similar to Bruces. Nils Lofgrin is also a very capable guitarist that tends to play to the music instead of cutting loose all the time. The concert I saw, he and Bruce tended to split solos 50/50, with NIl handling most of the fills during verses and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyBlues Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 I've always heard he's great live but....his songs for the most part bore me to death. Born in the USA and Pink Cadillac have to be the most monotonous songs ever recorded. I know this OPINION will piss some folks off, but it's my OPINION and we all know music is subjective. Just my 2 cents worth. If I ever saw BS live I'd probably be a fan, that happened to me this year after seeing ZZ Top and Ted Nugent live... now there was a mellow evening!! Bruce (that's my name too!) I was born at night but I wasn't born last night... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudcat Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 I love a lot of his stuff prior to the Born in the USA album, especially Darkness on the Edge of Town. Having said that - I do believe the guitar riff (or is it a baritione riff? ) on "Born to Run" is classic. Mudcat's music on Soundclick "Work hard. Rock hard. Eat hard. Sleep hard. Grow big. Wear glasses if you need 'em."-The Webb Wilder Credo- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abnorm Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 Throughout his career, Bruce was a workmanlike guitarist, but he must have decided to start practicing his butt off, because on his most recent TV concert, he played excellent lead. And I think that Nils is outstanding. He uses a thumb pick and does not seem to go for cliches. He likes to keep it interesting. So a Bruce concert should be a good guitar show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanner Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 i have tapes of 'early bruce' in his 'steelmill' band days and he ripped! when he became the singer/songwriter after discovering he wasnt the fastest on his block he pulled back on the guitar flash... i've seen him live in the 70s w/ steve van zant and they shared the live stuff-almost impossible to tell them apart-guitar-wise... i think he is a great electric guitar player. ymmv stanitarium AMPSSOUNDBETTERLOUDER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george costanza Posted September 11, 2003 Share Posted September 11, 2003 I like some of his songs & must admit he's a charismatic performer but his compositions don't seem as musically oriented as, say, Tom Petty or Neil Young (who seem to me generally comparable stylists). What I mean is that Bruce's songs don't generally feature paricularly strong melodies or the sort of music gestures that draw attention to themselves. (Think about how the Beatles livened up even pedestrian tunes with hooks, striking timbres, etc.) That's not to detract from what he does (after all his focus, which is clearly on his lyrics/message. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fender Bender_dup1 Posted September 11, 2003 Share Posted September 11, 2003 made a great comeback after a creative lean period with 'the rising' Power to his elbow! Give me a break! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david g Posted September 11, 2003 Author Share Posted September 11, 2003 Wow - greatly appreciate the input for you folks. I enjoy reading all your postings but like I siad up front I am really looking for feedback on his guitar playing ability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profesrgeo Posted September 11, 2003 Share Posted September 11, 2003 stanner's got it spot on... Smoots told me he was quite the hot shot guitar player type early on (and still is) Like all the greats he learned fast when NOT to play. geo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMcGuitar Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 I think the word I would use for his playing is "solid". It's toneful, tuneful, spot-on rhythmically, and is always there to serve the song. People may not think of him as a "guitar hero", but I'll bet there's a lot of folks out there who would hire him to play (if he hadn't made it on his own). P.S. I can't possibly say enough good stuff about Nils. He's a tremendous musician, and a real gentleman. May all your thoughts be random! - Neil www.McFaddenArts.com www.MikesGarageRocks.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer Faust Posted September 26, 2003 Share Posted September 26, 2003 I read an interview with BS from the seventies about a year ago or so (found it online). He was asked about playing guitar, and specifically if he thought about becoming a "guitar hero". As I recall, he said that he decided that he would focus on songwriting rather than his guitar-playing technique. I would say it was a wise choice (not that it isn't fun to watch him play guitar....) "Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand" - Homer Simpson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougsthang Posted September 26, 2003 Share Posted September 26, 2003 The guy can play when he needs to and that comes with age. There is a very short list of songwriters who have amassed the catalog of songs like his. I'm not a huge fan but I have to give him all the respect after seeing him live several times, the guy puts it out there every night. When somebody can write a song lyrically like "Philadelphia" I don't care if he rips a solo in it. overheard street personality on Venice Beach "Man, that Bullshit is Bulllshhittt...." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted September 26, 2003 Share Posted September 26, 2003 Originally posted by Bruce Downs: I've always heard he's great live but....his songs for the most part bore me to death. Born in the USA and Pink Cadillac have to be the most monotonous songs ever recorded. Pink Cadillac was a dumb throwaway that got way too much airplay, because, like Seger's "Old Time Schlock and Roll" it was dumb, monotonous, and the masses found it catchy. As for his guitar playing...I like this analogy... Q-1): Who's the better guitar player, Yngwie or Bruce Springsteen? Q-2): Now, who's sold the most records? "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george costanza Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 Actually a song called "I'm Going Down" [i think it's on [b]Bored in the USA[/b]] is probably the most repetitive in Springsteen's (or maybe anyone's) catalog but that doesn't keep this little slice of teenage angst from being one of my few favorites among his work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antimatter Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 2 reasons I admire Bruce 1. I saw Bruce back in the 80s. Mind you, the tickets were free and I wouldn't have seen him otherwise. Most of the show bored the crap out of me. He did an acoustic Born to Run. I hate that song, but I loved his acoustic version. Very emotional, gave me chills. Theresa passion in dat boys playin! 2. Keith Richards did a Concert/Movie thing for Chuck Berry(Hail Hail Rock n Roll?). In the movie, Bruce recalls the first time he met and wound up playing with Chuck. It's a great story, and Bruce is a Great storyteller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revorhythm Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 he plays a song on mike ness's "cheating at solitaire" album called, misery loves company. I think it shows his guitar a vocal work alone since he didnt write the song. but i think its awesome i would love to here some of his other stuff if its similair. not a big fan of born in the usa though, maybe just cuz its to known hot girls, fast cars, and even louder guitars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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