Orel Family

Bruce Springsteen. June 5, 2026 Why, on all other Bruce shows, do we E Street Band or other bands, but on this night we have only Disciples of Soul?  Why, on all other Bruce shows, do we have mostly Bruce songs, but on this night we have a curated concert?  Why, on all other Bruce shows, does Bruce not even change his shirt once, but on this night he changes it twice? Why, on all other Bruce shows, do we either sit or stand, but on this night we listen standing to symbolize inspiration? ok, well... some  of us, on that last question, but for the answers, we must be delivered from the days of old. Last night was the second installment of "Music America: The Songs that Shaped Us" at OceanFirst Bank Center on the campus of Monmouth University. The first installment took American music from its origins up through around World War II, and last night's show picked things up from there. An obvious question is how, in the space of a pair of 3 hour shows, would it be possible to ...

Bruce Springsteen and Trombone Shorty. June 4, 2026. Photo: Matthew Orel Music America: The Songs That Shaped Us is a two-part concert event aligned to the grand opening of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music on the campus of Monmouth University. Tonight was the first show, featuring Valerie June, Shemekia Copeland, Dropkick Murphys, Keb'Mo', Rosanne Cash, Trombone Shorty, Tony Trischka, Kenny Chesney, Brian Fallon, and Bruce Springsteen. Bruce Springsteen and Ken Case in the Second Line. June 4, 2026. Photo: Matthew Orel The event was essentially a 3-hour music education event, a "curated concert," as Bob Santelli -- the show's primary mover called it -- and surely it helps to have first rate stars to help give the lessons. The focus tonight was essentially on what I'd describe as "roots" music, starting with indigenous music (a reprise of an event last night) and quickly moving on to gospel, folk, blues, country, jazz, bluegrass, and a ...