First of all, given that the proceeds go to the Dropkick Murphys’ Claddagh Fund to help victims from the Boston Marathon bombings, this EP would be worth buying if it was  12 minutes of amp feedback. But it just so happens it’s worth your time and money based on its merits — the three songs included here stand on their own as stirring Irish punk shout-outs, in addition to being a rowdy, roiling F.U. to anyone who thinks Murphys’ beloved Boston could be cowed by anyone.

(…)

The EP is available on Itunes now!

Via Wiretap Images (x)

You can also see more pictures of the Gala at the official Kristen Ann Carr Fund facebook page (x)

Bruce Springsteen has already won the heart of Gov. Chris Christie and millions of other rock fans in his storied career.

Now, the frontman of New Jersey’s most famous rock group will join a new rank of talent as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences elects him as one of its members.

One of the nation’s most prestigious honorary societies, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences includes some of the world’s most accomplished scholars, scientists, artists, writers and (civic, corporate and philanthropic) leaders.

Deb stole my all-time favorite Springsteen cover in her recent roundup of covers, the first in our series. I’ve gone through phases of being so obsessed with Mary Chapin Carpenter’s “Dancing in the Dark” that I’ve almost forgotten what the original sounded like. She really makes the song her own and finds something in it that the listener may have missed in the original.

That’s generally my #1 criterion for a good cover, actually. I love it when an artist can take a song written by somebody else and, instead of just replicating the original, do something different with it and take the listener to a place they’ve never been with that song before. It can be jarring, especially if the original song is very familiar – but sometimes it’s good to be shaken up a bit, yes?

Some people seem a little bemused when I express my love for Bruce and the band, but I know that there are people out there who’ve been intrigued enough to do a quick You Tube search, or even better - buy a ticket. With this in mind I decided to put together a short guide for those people who will be seeing Bruce and the band in concert for the first time this year. After years of practice, I’ve just about got this process mastered, and I am here to share the wisdom.

Here’s another in the series of posts spotlighting favorite Springsteen covers chosen by the Blogness staff. Check back over the next week or so as each of our bloggers chooses five (or so) favorites — and let us know what we left out. This collection by Leann:

Happy Record Store Day!

Did anybody pick up some Bruce vinyls?

If you’re anything like us, we know exactly what you need right now: A distraction! With that in mind, we’re kicking off a series of posts spotlighting favorite Springsteen covers chosen by the Blogness staff. Check back over the next week or so as each of our bloggers chooses five (or so) favorites — and let us know what we left out. Up first, Deb captures the mood of the week with some more somber selections:

The Weight - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s tribute to Levon Helm  (05/02/12 Newark, NJ.)

Today is the first anniversary of his death.

Rita Wilson has a successful career as an actress and director, but is now turning her attention to nurturing a music career.