December 31, 2024
Just as we did last year, and now hope to continue doing as an annual year-end tradition, Letters To You editor/publisher Shawn Poole, contributing writers Caroline Madden and Joyce Millman, and Set Lusting Bruce: The Bruce Springsteen Podcast host Jesse Jackson recently got together to review and discuss how the year 2024 shaped up for Springsteen fans. We spoke for almost three hours, and Jesse had the unenviable job of editing our yakking down to a more manageable and listenable two-hour podcast. (If, however, you're a Patreon supporter/subscriber of Set Lusting Bruce or wisely sign up to become one, you can click here to hear our full, unedited conversation.)
Click on the image below to hear the edited two-hours version of our conversation, which was recorded on December 19, 2024 and is now available to everyone for free listening:
Also, for your easy reference here's a handy-dandy time-marker listing of various selected highlights in the conversation:
01:10 Countdown to the New Year
02:16 Meet the Hosts and Panel
04:21 Springsteen Tour Highlights
06:01 Reflecting on Set Lists and Performances
10:49 Adele Springsteen's Passing
15:26 Greatest Night in Pop Documentary
22:32 Bruce on Curb Your Enthusiasm
25:24 Collaborations and Guest Appearances
46:47 Springsteen's Return to Touring
64:19 Reflecting on Bruce Springsteen's Decisions
65:12 Theories on Born in the USA, Live Performances
66:21 Stevie Van Zandt: A Fascinating Career
72:06 Bruce Springsteen's Future and Health Concerns
77:40 Tribute to Charles R. Cross and Backstreets Magazine
82:07 Jesse Mallon's Tribute Album and Road Diary
90:02 Bruce and the E Street Band's special Sept. 16, 2024 Asbury Park show
95:16 Bruce@75
97:03 Bruce Springsteen's Political Involvement
104:02 Howard Stern Interview and Stand Up for Heroes
111:49 The Return of the King Elvis doc, the Santa-hats Surprise, and Final Thoughts
While you're at the Set Lusting Bruce site, be sure to also check out its many other interesting new and archived conversations (currently 1300 of 'em!,) all hosted by Jesse Jackson. Jesse is apparently inexhaustible, regularly discussing all things Springsteen-related with a variety of interesting folks holding many different perspectives and opinions. One of his more recent and most impressive undertakings was his "30 Days of Springsteen" series, recording at least one Bruce-related podcast discussion per day during last November for National Podcast Month 2024.
Happy listening and Happy New Year to all! And here's to whatever lies ahead for all of us fans on E Street in 2025. We'll be seein' ya there, fellow fans; lookin' forward to it!