What feels like a million years ago, I got tickets for THREE of Bruce’s final shows at Giants Stadium. Originally I got tickets for the alleged ‘last show ever,’ and then Boss man went ahead and added more shows, so then I got tickets for the new ‘last show ever.’ Plus one more for good measure.

Today we find out that Bruce will be doing the new trendy thing and performing complete albums during those shows. I’m pretty sure that’s not the entire show, since that’s an hour-ish and Bruce is still good for 2 plus, even at the ripe old age of 60.

I was trying to get rid of my tickets for this Friday because the seats aren’t great, and I’m going again Saturday anyway, but a little bit of divine intervention stepped in. I could not get rid of those tickets, even for free, but it turns out that Friday will be the ONLY show to feature DARKNESS in all its glory. Thank the divine power of the universe that I didn’t give away those tickets -- I would have never forgiven myself.

And if the news is correct, looks like I’ll be seeing Born in the USA twice -- this Saturday and next Friday. I wish one of them was Born To Run instead, but I know I’ll love both shows just the same.

In celebration of Darkness, we feature Badlands, with lyrics, ’cause I love it so darn much (you gotta live it every day…).

Talk about a dream; try to make it real.
You wake up in the night with a fear so real.
You spend your life waiting for a moment that just dont come.
Well dont waste your time waiting

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFAr2AbvvF8

Lights out tonight, trouble in the heartland.
Got a head-on collision, smashin in my guts man.
Im caught in a crossfire that I dont understand.
But theres one thing I know for sure girl:
I dont give a damn for the same old played out scenes
I dont give a damn for just the in-betweens.
Honey I want the heart, I want the soul, I want control right now.
You better listen to me baby:
Talk about a dream; try to make it real.
You wake up in the night with a fear so real.
You spend your life waiting for a moment that just dont come.
Well dont waste your time waiting

Badlands you gotta live it every day
Let the broken hearts stand
As the price youve gotta pay
Well keep pushin till its understood
And these badlands start treating us good

Workin in the field till you get your back burned
Workin `neath the wheels till you get your facts learned.
Baby I got my facts learned real good right now.
You better get it straight darling:
Poor men wanna be rich, rich men wanna be kings,
And a king aint satisfied till he rules everything.
I wanna go out tonight, I wanna find out what I got.
Now I believe in the love that you gave me.
I believe in the faith that could save me.
I believe in the hope and I pray that some day it
Will raise me above these

Badlands…

For the ones who had a notion, a notion deep inside
That it aint no sin to be glad youre alive.
I wanna find one face that aint looking through me
I wanna find one place, I wanna spit in the face of these

Badlands…

This week we honor Nathan Lee for his 40 Day trek around the country to support his new release ‘Risk Everything.’

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpSsRKttE84

In his own words:

“In the spirit of risking everything… I am stepping in to a journey that even I myself, find to be crazy.

On September 1st, I will travel to 40 cities over 40 days, with my piano, a webcam, and a hope. to love and be loved,… with the broken and the joyful. I will play for whoever will listen.

Each day… I’ll wake up and search for an unknown location that will have me. Each day… I’ll post / twitter the address of where I’ll be playing… as soon as I find out.

Feel free to show up wherever & whenever. Every day will be different… your guess will be as good as mine.

From truckstops to taco stands,… to rehabs and pubs,… from churches to strip clubs,… to backyard parties and everything in between. I’ll have no idea what will happen, or how each day will play out until I get there.

So why am I doing this? well… I recorded a new album this year. The normal thing for an artist to do is go out and promote the new project… but promoting costs money… which I don’t have.

But the one thing I’ve never wanted to see,… is money getting in the way of loving people,… and making art.

So in the process of a million meetings I realized its not all about money. I’ll need money to make it through these 40 days… but should I not go… just because I don’t have money? If it’s truly about making art and loving people… and getting out of bed and doing something about it… Well then… the time has come.

I will be in search of one thing… What does it mean to risk everything… and what does it look like when you allow faith to do what faith does?

I hope to see you out on the road along the journey.

May we never give up! May we never stop risking everything!”

Follow Nathan’s journey on Twitter and YouTube.

Our tune today is in honor of the three foster kittens we took in yesterday.  With one dog and 2 cats, our menagerie has doubled overnight!  They are darn cute, and I will be posting pics as soon as we get them cleaned up.

Tom Jones -- “What’s New Pussycat”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBdSqk78nHw

This week’s Tunes On Tuesday started out to be a lazy post -- I’ve had a song stuck in my head for weeks, so I figured I’d post it this week and be done with it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1sf2CzEq0w

But wait -- no sound?  What the??  Go to the page on YouTube, which explains it all:  Golden Earring -- Twilight Zone.

The audio track has been disabled by Warner Music Group.  You have got to be kidding me.  This song is almost 30 years old, and we’re worrying about protecting copyrights on a streaming video?  I get that Warner is treating this as a blanket issue -- you can’t say yes to some and no to others without everyone coming out of the woodwork to argue their side.

But seriously folks, is this the best way to protect copyrights?  What have they achieved by disabling the audio?  They’ve frustrated me, probably you too, and made themselves look silly and petty in the process.  How does this benefit the music fan?  How does this benefit Golden Earring?  How does this benefit WMG?  I just don’t see how anyone wins here.

Today’s Tunes on Tuesday is another shameless promotion for Bridgette Tatum.  Today she ‘guest stars’ in the Nancy cartoon for her #1 hit single -- Jason Aldean’s “She’s Country.”  So here’s the comic strip and the video.  Sluggo auditions for Bridgette; Nancy is not feeling it.  Fun and super cute.

Bridgette Tatum - Nancy Cartoon

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mISrWMrPEY8

Today’s Tunes On Tuesday is a happy one for me.  We released Bridgette’s single to radio last week, and folks across the country are already getting Dirty!

Bridgette Tatum - (I Like My) Cowboys Dirty

If you are in the listening area of any of these stations, call and request!  And if your station isn’t playing it yet, call ‘em and ask why the heck not.

KMAV – Mayville, ND
WDEB – Jamestown, TN
WTYS – Marianna, FL
WJLE AM/FM – Smithville, TN
WANB AM/FM – Waynesburg, PA
WACB – Taylorsville, NC
KIHN – Hugo, OK
KVSA – Dermott, AR
WKMM – Kingwood, WV
KKBI – Broken Bow, OK
WKSK – West Jefferson, NC
WYTM – Fayetteville, TN
WEKR – Fayetteville, TN

This one goes out to Alcide Herveaux, who lost his dad in Charlaine Harris’s “Dead As A Doornail,” which I finished last nite.

Los Lobos — “Will The Wolf Survive”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2TGbCIfbFs

Because this makes me think of the 70′s and smile.

Rufus & Chaka Khan -- “Tell Me Something Good”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=auIoYypGibA

Wherein I showcase something I like, regardless of age or genre.  Could be old, new, bagpipes or theremin.  Today’s tune has no exotic instruments, but rocks nonetheless.  I bring you…  Billy Boy On Poison -- “On My Way.”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU2C4wYgDxA