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An Open Letter to Bruce Springsteen

Young BruceDear Mr Springsteen,

I hope this finds you well and you are having fun on your current world tour. Firstly, congratulations on another fine, rocking album. I especially enjoyed your most awesome and intensely musical use of a shotgun. Brilliant. I’ve been an avid follower of your work since I first pulled out your finely toned bottom from my dads record collection when I was child. I remember thinking “what an odd album cover” which is ironic as I was looking for Michael Jacksons “Bad” at the time. Oh, how opinions change with age.

I live in the UK, in a city called Leeds and like most people in Leeds, I’m in a band. We’re called Hope and Social. You may remember us from when we played Glastonbury the same year you were there. We’re all big fans of yours and we were lucky enough to catch your show that weekend. It was the first time I’ve seen you live and it remains the finest example of rock and roll I’ve ever seen. Naturally, we were ecstatic when it was announced that you would be playing our hometown on July 24th in the newly built Leeds Arena. Like the devoted fans we are, we all got up early and huddled round our computers the morning the tickets were released. It was very cold that day so we couldn’t queue up outside. Imagine our amazement when all 13500 seats went in under a minute! We were very impressed. We once sold 100 tickets in half an hour. Despairingly we were not amongst the lucky few.

Now you might think this is where our story ends, however, we had a thought. We know how tricky it can be to gig in a new town, it can be hard to get the crowd on your side at first. We’ve found that it’s a good idea to put on a local support act before hand to get folk warmed up. We were wondering if you’d like us to be your support act in Leeds, that way you can hit the ground running when you get on. Let us know what you think of the idea.

As an example, here’s a video of our Christmas gig where we tamed a crowd using 200 hand bells, an Irishman dressed as a smurf, a laser pen and a complex excel spreadsheet projected on a wall.

We’ve tried getting in touch with you via the people at Leeds Arena but they don’t seem to be getting back to us. I think they are very busy with trying to finish building the place for when you get here.

Anyway, that’s all for now I think, I hope you are having a lovely time on tour and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

All the best,

James

Hope and Social

 

P.S.

If you are free the day after we are currently doing an ongoing project called Crypt Covers where we invite another band down to our studio for the day to record and video a cover. It’s loads of fun and I’m sure you’d enjoy it. Here’s one we and our good friend Sam Airey did of Tom Pettys “I won’t back down”. I understand you know him?

28 Comments

Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.

Marie
April 18, 2013 at 8:21 am

Brilliant ! Wouldn’t it be just lovely if he said yes to both :)

Tim Heymerdinger
April 18, 2013 at 8:27 am

Well I think that’s an absolutely top idea; Mr Springsteen, please take note. And how generous of the Leeds lads to offer to host you at their outstanding Crypt studio. (Also if you need to get a tune down quick – their rates are very reasonable).

Besides being one this country’s finest bands, I can vouch for their general cleanliness, good behaviour and nice manners.

They can also trot out a decent tune here and there.

I wasn’t going to be able to make the July date, but if Hope & Social are playing, as well as Mr Loose Windscreen, I will change my plans.

Lots of love
Drummy Tim
Ps – my honeymoon was spent at Leed’s Roundhay Park watching a Bruce marathon gig…a VERY long time ago. :)

Rich Huxley
April 18, 2013 at 8:28 am

PPS – Please note, this blog post is best read out-loud in a James Hamilton N.Irish accent.
;)
xR

Rich Huxley
April 18, 2013 at 8:29 am

Aw thanks Tim. ;)

JCC
April 18, 2013 at 8:49 am

Genius – – if he says no I think you should just do a pre-show gig in the nearest suitable pub, I’d come to that, but I couldn’t afford a Bruce Ticket

Barnaby Aldrick
April 18, 2013 at 9:22 am

Go on boys! My fingers and toes are so crossed I’m gonna be walking a bit special & writing like Rich for the foreseeable future.

Barnaboo

Sarah F
April 18, 2013 at 9:28 am

How I would love it if he said yes to you…….but then I would have another problem – no ticket!

pinky, perky Sacha
April 18, 2013 at 11:29 am

what a jolly, lovely and polite invite you have extended the talented American. hope it works. yours (written like a proud mummy of you boys), Sacha

Damien O’Keeffe
April 18, 2013 at 11:47 am

What a brilliant idea! I hope he says yes!
Best wishes to all at H&S central.
D

Morag Place
April 18, 2013 at 1:13 pm

Class! It has got to happen… especially like the link to ‘Springsteen mighty fine ass pics’.
x

Claire
April 18, 2013 at 2:53 pm

This would be brilliant, but if not you could do an acoustic for those of us in the pit queue and then follow us in and keep us company for 3 hours while we wait in place clinging on to the front rail. X

chris
April 18, 2013 at 4:06 pm

He’s the man. There is every possibility guys. Let’s hope. (if you need an amp carrier on the day, may I be first on the list – thank you).

Ann & Derek
April 18, 2013 at 5:08 pm

Wouldn’t that be loverly, loverly, double bonus, we queued in the cold and have tickets, well I have Ann hasn’t but she did win the raffle for the acoustic session at Otley.

californiabrucefan
April 18, 2013 at 5:13 pm

While you’re at it please ask him to release the fall US tour dates. Inquiring minds need to know.

Good luck

Jonathan Saull
April 18, 2013 at 5:15 pm

has anybody checked Bruce’s website, just to make sure that he is not asking if he can open for H&S. Either way, holy crapper what a gig that would be.

If I bump into him at Much Hadham Londis I will ask him to give you a shout!

Ben Avison
April 18, 2013 at 6:08 pm

Bruce – do it! The good people of Leeds will love you all the more

may
April 18, 2013 at 6:53 pm

I am a musical ignoramus. Haven’t a clue about Bruce Springsteen though I’ve heard of him. I do know you guys, however, and he’d be mad to refuse!!

anne chitty
April 18, 2013 at 8:07 pm

My idea of Heaven – Hope and Social AND Bruce! :)

Paul Judge
April 18, 2013 at 8:17 pm

Come on Bruce!!

If you let H&S on the bill I promise to tell you all the stories of when we used to shave Gary’s body hair off at parties when he fell asleep! Promise boss! :D

Shaun
April 18, 2013 at 9:34 pm

Lovely cheeky little approach and I so hope it pays off. My son, Sam, made a similar cheeky little approach to you guys to play support for you at Joiners, Southampton, next Tuesday -and you said yes!! Karma should now kick in with Brucey boy. Thanks so much. Sam is a happy lad tonight. He won’t let you down, is clean, smells nice and rarely drops his drum sticks. I’ll be there as the token old git.

jackharrybill
April 19, 2013 at 8:42 am

Nailed on

Lydia Turner
April 19, 2013 at 10:58 am

Brilliant. There’s no question – it would be perfection…..tho i’d like to get in early that when you get your barrage of polite letters offering credentials in roady work – please bear in mind that I make the best flapjacks!

Robin
April 19, 2013 at 6:35 pm

I read that in James’ Voice!

I’m sure he’ll say yes! Best of luck, boys! :)

Ian
April 19, 2013 at 7:05 pm

Even being a lifelong bruce fan you got to be careful cos you guys could up-stage bruce!!!! Ha ha. you are the uk’s e street band and ye know it.

How to be a band on the internet | Andrew Dubber
April 24, 2013 at 10:00 pm

[…] – and they’re going to be playing support for Bruce Springsteen. If he’s got any […]

Davee57
April 25, 2013 at 6:30 am

Hint….
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes are over here soon. They play Burnley rock and blues festival on 4/5. Have a word with Johnny, he and Bruce go back a long way. Both from Jersey, I’m sure if you get a message to Johnny he will get it to Bruce.
See you guys in York on Sunday!

Amy
April 26, 2013 at 2:53 pm

Just to add, Mr. Springsteen, that although those two tracks are both quite slow, they’re mostly a lot rockier than that!

Living a Lie – http://music.hopeandsocial.com/track/living-a-lie

Pitching Far Too High – http://music.hopeandsocial.com/track/pitching-far-too-high

This one is my personal favourite,

Do What You Must – http://music.hopeandsocial.com/track/do-what-you-must

You can listen for free on those links. By the way I don’t know them, I’m just a fan. But I’ve seen them a few times and I always come out completely buzzing at the end.

Yours sincerely,

Amy

Olivet
June 27, 2013 at 9:39 pm

that would be so great! I will be at the Leeds show and hope to see you on stage!! your music and your videos are simply beautiful