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    Music Matters

    Bruce Springstreen drops an F-Bomb, honors Clarence & recognizes Arcade Fire inepic SXSW jam

    Tom Thornton
    Mar 17, 2012 | 3:37 pm
    • Bruce Springsteen at SXSW
      Photo by Jon Shapley
    • Photo by Jon Shapley

    Bruce Springsteen has seen it all. As a man who has weathered everything from early 1970s “Next Dylan” hype to divorce to superstardom with notable grace and dignity, you can’t expect him to flinch easily. Thursday night at ACL Live, he stared out at the star-struck crowd with a raised brow, offering an observation: “It’s fucking crazy here in Austin right now, right? It’s some kind of teenage music junkie’s wet dream.”

    The audience roared, and the communal experience of the energy of South By Southwest (SXSW) made for a fitting beginning to a set epic in both length and reverence.

    A few minutes prior, Springsteen had hit the stage with a simple “Happy birthday, Woody!” before leading off with a stomping cover of Mr. Guthrie’s “I Ain’t Got No Home.” Both the stage and the supporting band were enormous, with the 2012 version of E Street boasting 17 pieces, including stalwarts like Max Weinberg, Little Steven and Nils Lofgren alongside a large horn section and newcomer Jake Clemons, the nephew of late E Streeter Clarence Clemons.

    For those wondering how the loss of both Clemons and Danny Federici might be addressed, The Boss acknowledged the pair by having the band dress in black and with a simple statement: “Are we missing a few? Yeah, we’re missing a few. But if you’re here and we’re here — then they’re here.”

    The nearly three-hour set gave a lot of run to new album Wrecking Ball, with (we believe) eight selections played over the course of the evening. While new single “We Take Care Of Our Own” sounds a bit cliché on the radio, the live version was an entirely different story. As befits a man who once released a hit 5-LP (!) live boxed set, the performance quelled any unease the audience might have had have about new material, with the horns, stagecraft and warm presence of the band carrying the day and winning smiles and nods from the audience.

    Some audience members even went as far as to raise their arms and sing out loud like Bruce was at the pulpit rather than the microphone. Despite Mr. Springsteen’s repeated referrals to the show as a “test run,” the band were obviously well-rehearsed and ready to head out on their lengthy world tour.

    Between Wrecking Ball numbers, Springsteen laid in gems like “Badlands” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” both of which predictably brought the house down. The crew wisely brought the house lights up early and often, letting Bruce’s crowd interaction take center stage to powerful effect.

    Forty years after signing his first record deal, The Boss still has energy and fire to burn, and the audience at ACL/Moody was all the better for it.

    While “Bruce Springsteen in a theatre” would have made for ample bragging rights for every lucky attendee in the crowd of 1,800, what one suspects will be remembered most is how Springsteen incorporated the themes of his keynote address (reverence, power, passion and musical influence) into his set with a litany of guest appearances. First among them was Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello, who was less of a surprise than the others given that he guests on the new LP.

    Morello played his parts on the Wrecking Ball numbers as you’d suspect, but returned to the stage for a semi-duet with Bruce on “The Ghost Of Tom Joad,” a song Rage liked so much the band once recorded a cover of it. And then the guest star parade began. One by one, Jimmy Cliff, Eric Burdon (of The Animals), Joe Ely, Alejandro Escovedo and even three members of Arcade Fire all dropped in to sing a song, a verse, or (in the case of The Woodland's own Win Butler) a few harmony vocals before jumping back into the crowd to watch from the audience.

    Eric Burdon was the surprise of the bunch — after Springsteen’s keynote speech repeatedly referenced The Animals’ huge influence on his work, SXSW attendees pointed out to Springsteen’s people that Burdon was in fact in town for the conference — and a guest run through the ‘60s hit “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place” was arranged at the 11th hour.

    In total, Springsteen delivered a 24-song set that will likely be referred to for years to come as one of the biggest things to ever happen during the festival. It should be noted that the South By Southwest staff managed a difficult situation (can you imagine the demand?) with incredible tact and skill, devising a lottery system that gave all badgeholders and wristband wearers an equal shot at attending and discouraging scalping by only distributing tickets six hours before the show.

    It could have been a disaster, but the festival made it look easy. As did Springsteen. Forty years after signing his first record deal, The Boss still has energy and fire to burn, and the audience at ACL/Moody was all the better for it.

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    Here are the 15 best things to do in Houston this weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Jun 18, 2025 | 6:30 pm
    Morgan Wallen
    Photo courtesy of Morgan Wallen
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    Juneteenth is on Thursday, June 19, which means those who want to celebrate will find plenty of events happening across Houston this weekend. We’re talking about such gatherings as the Children’s Museum Houston’s Juneteenth celebration, the Juneteenth 160 Fest, and Club Sienna’s Juneteenth Jubilee, just to name a few.

    But we also have the all-star return of Comicpalooza, live performances from a country bad-boy and a neo-soul legend, a YouTube show getting an early jump on celebrating DJ Screw Day, and the 20th anniversary of a movie that we wish we knew how to quit.

    Thursday, June 19

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership presents Underground Sounds: Sarah Grace Graves - “Three Names”
    All this weekend, the Underground Sounds series in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern returns, featuring Sarah Grace Graves performing her composition "Three Names," which is inspired by the vast, unique architecture of the Cistern and arranged especially for its natural acoustics. Graves is a composer and vocal performer working at the intersection between ritual and recital. She pulls inspiration from a variety of media, including classical literature and archival music recordings, to weave together stories through a blend of compositions and improvisation. 6 pm.

    Plot Swap Theater presents Pheromones
    Best friends Lucy and Vic slide into a downtown lounge, where Lucy unveils a slim vial she swears will make its wearer irresistible, putting their handsome waiter Danny in the crosshairs. Whether the pheromones ignite romance, trigger disaster, or expose deeper rifts between the friends is decided live by the audience. Pheromones is an intimately hilarious choose‑your‑adventure story, performed for only 10 guests per night. Through Thursday, July 24. 7 pm.

    The River Oaks Theatre presents When Houston Had the Blues
    When Houston Had the Blues focuses on the city’s rich (but sadly unheralded) history of great Black music. No other city can claim giants such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Big Mama Thornton, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Bobby Blue Bland, Albert King, and Albert Collins, plus Black-owned labels like Duke and Peacock. The doc features new interviews with Billy Gibbons, CJ Chenier, Grady Gaines, and others. Producer Drew Barnett-Hamilton and Houston blues artists Trudy Lynn and Steve Krase will be around for a post-screening Q&A. 7:15 pm.

    Friday, June 20

    Comicpalooza
    The three-day pop culture con Comicpalooza is back, featuring vendors from all over the galaxy, programming covering a multitude of fandoms, special attractions intriguing the curious minds, panels featuring this year’s guests, and other geeky entertainment. Celebrity guests will include Hayden Christensen, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, Anthony Michael Hall, Patton Oswalt, Ming-Na Wen, WWE wrestlers, the cast of Resident Alien (including Alice Wetterlund, who will be at Punch Line Houston this weekend), and more. 1 pm (9 am Saturday and Sunday).

    Asia Society Texas Center presents AsiaFest
    AsiaFest celebrates the rich diversity of Houston’s Asian and Asian American communities through performances, art-making activities, food, live demonstrations, and more. The event will feature Asia's different regions' traditions, cultures, and food. Guests will get to interact with a dragon boat display on their front lawn, tour Asia Society Texas' exhibition "Hung Hsien: Between Worlds," and more. 5 pm.

    Morgan Wallen in concert
    Country star Morgan Wallen may not have dug hanging around at Saturday Night Live a few months back (he quickly bounced during the goodnights and later posted “Get me to God’s country” on his Instagram page), but he’ll be sticking around in Houston this weekend. He’ll be performing not one, but two shows at NRG Stadium, in support of his new album, I'm The Problem. Well, at least the man knows he’s got issues. 5:30 pm. (Saturday, 5:30 pm).

    Maxwell in concert
    The last time ‘90s neo-soul pioneer Maxwell performed here was in October, as his tour (which celebrated the 15th anniversary of his 2009 comeback album BLACKsummers’night) made a stop at the Toyota Center. Now, he’s returning to H-Town territory, preparing to rock the house over at Sugar Land’s Smart Financial Centre. So, if you conceived children while listening to his baby-making jams (or if you were conceived during a Maxwell song and you just wanna see what the hype is all about), Maxwell will be here to give you a little sumthin’ sumthin’. 8 pm.

    Saturday, June 21

    River Oaks District presents Motor Mornings with Post Oak Motor Cars
    River Oaks District invites car enthusiasts, collectors, and industry insiders to its Motor Mornings – presented by Post Oak Motor Cars – to see an extraordinary lineup of supercars and hypercars, including bespoke Bentleys, roaring Lamborghinis, and sleek Bugattis. Automotive aficionados can come together to enjoy a curated collection of some of the most coveted vehicles in the world to connect over shared passion and engineering perfection. This event is open to the public and will offer live music and complimentary coffee for attendees. 8 am.

    Kroger 70th Anniversary Celebration
    The nationwide grocery chain will mark 70 years of Houston operations with a party at its store in the Heights (1035 N. Shepherd). The first 70 customers through the door at 10 am will have the opportunity to buy seven items for just $0.70 each. Everyone else will enjoy wine tastings, gift card raffles, Winfield's Chocolate Bar giveaways, an appearance by the Texans cheerleaders, and activities for kids. To mark the occasion, Kroger will donate $35,000 to the Houston Food Bank. 10 am.

    Morgan Wallen
      
    Photo courtesy of Morgan Wallen

    Morgan Wallen is performing Friday and Saturday.

    Spin the Block at Screwed Up Records and Tapes
    Spin the Block, the new YouTube show where DJs and influencers take over a local Houston space and have a nice little kickback, will be at Screwed Up Records and Tapes this weekend, just in time for DJ Screw Day next weekend. Rock/hip-hop duo Blaze x Black will be performing as well as hosting, along with King Borris. DJ Pablo Barre will provide the beats, and food trucks and other vendors will be outside. Noon.

    Nate Jackson: Super Funny World Tour
    Stand-up comedian, actor, and viral sensation Nate Jackson is taking his signature high-energy comedy on the road with the Super Funny World Tour. His blend of sharp wit, relatable humor, and unmatched physical comedy has made him a favorite both on social media and in live performances, where he sells out comedy clubs and theaters across America. See him before his first Netflix special drops in July. 7 pm.

    Houston Symphony presents Disney and Pixar’s Up in Concert
    In Up, the quirky duo of Carl, a cantankerous 78-year-old balloon salesman, and Russell, an adventurous 8-year-old stowaway, embark on a laugh-out-loud and touching journey to a hidden world full of thrills and surprises. The 2009 Disney/Pixar tearjerker will be projected on a massive screen, accompanied by the Houston Symphony performing Michael Giacchino’s Academy Award-winning score live. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Sunday, June 22

    Laura Rathe Fine Art presents "A World Within" opening reception
    "A World Within," a group exhibition featuring Lucrecia Waggoner, Carly Allen Martin, Audra Weaser, and Sandrine Kern, is that quiet, internal space we all carry. A place shaped by memory, emotion, and the small moments that do not always have language. A world where past experiences and passing thoughts live side by side, building emotional landscapes that feel intimate and vast at the same time. Each artist offers a different entry point into this space, a glimpse into their inner world. Through Monday, August 4. Noon.

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents "From India to the World: Textiles from the Parpia Collection" opening day
    A celebration of artistic mastery and cultural exchange, "From India to the World: Textiles from the Parpia Collection" showcases the Museum’s recent acquisition of Indian textiles from the holdings of New York-based Banoo and Jeevak Parpia, who have assembled one of the most significant private collections of its kind outside India. This exhibition offers a rich cross-section of India’s textile traditions, from intricate court silks to boldly patterned cottons, dazzling tie-dyes, and masterfully woven ikats. Through Sunday, September 14. 12:30 pm.

    Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra presents Brokeback Mountain: 20th Anniversary
    Winner of three Academy Awards including Best Director, Brokeback Mountain is a sweeping epic that explores the lives of two young men, a ranch hand and a rodeo cowboy, who meet in the summer of 1963 and unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection. The complications, joys, and heartbreak they experience provide a testament to the endurance and power of love. The late Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal deliver emotionally charged, remarkably moving performances. 6 pm (9:30 pm Sunday).

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