Bruce Springsteen with Alejandro Escovedo (Houston) 2008

[prctceprctceprcte]

go watch his interview on Q TV and listen to the very cool story about this performance...amazing! He got to ride the E street bus for a night

[giantjackisajedi]

il est vraiment exceptionnel ce bruce qui peux faire mieux

[bgs8888]

I "discovered" AE when I saw him on an Austin City Limits show around 1.5 years ago and have been listening to his music ever since. His last 2 CD's are great-Real Animal and The Boxing Mirror. They are worth checking out. Although he has been around a long time, he is my favorite "new " artist.

[john9944]

This guy is the percusionist Shiela E of Prince fame's brother and is a legend in Texas. Believe me he ain't Mexicanish he is a Mexican. I hope he is okay the last I heard he wasn't well.

[poodlebone]

He's Sheila E's uncle, not her brother.

[kmakattack]

This is awesome! in an interview w/ Q radio (that interviewer from the billy bob blow up), Al said that he was called up for this performance that very day and that they all practiced this two or three times in the dressing room. That makes this performance all the more impressive.

[daviz39]

awesome performance! Bruce essence! Pure ROCK!

[exile103]

Yeah, he's turly incredible. This performance doesn't do either of them justice. They've both obviously been in better voice. AE had played a show earlier, so his voice was weak. No Depression named him Artist of the Decade for the 90's. Check out all his albums, esp. Gravity, More Miles Than Money and With These Hands.

[mintgirl45]

totally agree

[WriterRoss]

Love this!

[radionowhere2008]

do u think he can sing....Alejandro??good song tho

[parhambass]

after a couple of views ive changed my mind!....its not great...ITS SUPERB!!

[parhambass]

an american who looks likes asians and has a mexican-ish name.

and he is really good!...great song.

[GDBACA]

That's not a Mexicanish name. Alejandro Escovedo is more Mexican than tequila.

[WNRNradio]

Alejandro visited us this week and did an awesome version of this. Check out the video at my page.

[lmcgowan28]

I too found Alejandro via his live performance on XM Satellite Radio's "Loft." I was blown away. Sorry I didn't know about him in the 1980s! He is best live for sure. Great guitar, great passion, great lyrics.

[weakkneeswillie]

Great song.

[62drumr]

simply love this!

Also loved Alejandro earlier this year with the talents of Trixie Whitley, Daniel Whitley, Vernon Reid, and guests at the Chris Whitley Memorial Tribute, it was awesome!!!!

[BruceSpringsteenFan2]

I Was So Lucky To Actualy Be At This Concert At The Toyota Center In Houston, Texas. I Am Like The BIGGEST Bruce Fan EVER.

Bruce's Vocals Made This A Great, Great Song.

[StillH2O]

No, Alejandro's songwriting made it a great, great song. Bruce's vocals are a nice touch, though. ;)

[mintgirl45]

WORD. LOVE him! They played in Austin Saturday night...sounded so good! His whole band and Al & his family are just great!

[DavidH1]

To clarify for the guy earlier, Springsteen had Dave Bielanko from Marah as his guest on stage twice during the tour. During the 2nd Giants Stadium show, Dave and Jesse Malin joined the band for "Twist and Shout." A few weeks later in Nashville, Dave was in town recording for a new Marah cd, and he joined Bruce and co. on "Rosalita." This guest spot by Alejandro was the best of the tour though.

[pat976]

simply awesome !

[mdoggydog3]

he's not from houston

[jogschneider]

Ahoy, Pirates, A.Escovedo is opening for Los Lonely Boys this week and plugging his masterpiece Real Animal,telling of his life and career, from punk-ster rockkid in N.Y.Thurs. HouseOfBlues.

[ivax2544]

Superb !!!!!!!!

[andrew728]

Do you know of Alejandro Escovedo? This was filmed in Houston his home town. Springsteen had a lot of special guests this last tour, Arcade Fire, Tom Morello from Rage, my friends Marah or at least one of the brother and others. Anyway this is probably the biggest crowd Escoveda has played in front of. He was in the True Believers, Buick McKane and is on many peoples top pick for #1 song writer. Springsteen turned 59 on Monday the same age my father was when he died.

ac

[andrew728]

This was suppose to be a private message so disregard.

[surlyshirley999]

this video gives me goosebumps! like @Garcia42, i've been following alejandro for what seems like forever. so awesome to see him finally getting his due!

[Garcia42]

I have enjoyed Alejandro since my art school days when he was with The Nuns in North Beach and then thru Rank and File and The True Believers..and all his solo work.I met him in San Francisco in the early 90s at Bimbos where he was playing and he signed a cd I had of his "Where have the good times gone",,,,well with him they never stop. So cool he is getting more attention long long ago deserved. The Boxing Mirror is fantastic. And his new lp too. A great great "real animal" he be.

[sleestack]

I love that line "nobody gets hurt" ,.,..so clever.

[sleestack]

I fucking love this song.

[gmajorspresents]

I get goosebumbs listening to this it's so positive,comes from a really good place.

He has a new lease on life. Nothin but the best for this guy. He is a lot of fun to watch. 5*****

[bgs8888]

I cannot believe that I just "discovered" Alejandro Escovedo around 6 months ago when I saw him on Austin City Limits. I then heard him on WFUV in NYC which is public service radio. I made the connection between the two and have been listening to him ever since. His music is great.

[eheaven3]

Thank you, Bruce, for giving Al the world stage he deserves. The song is a great one and Al (a lovely guy who I've known for 38 years now) is a mighty great talent. Super-stardom is just around the corner.

[macarthurp]

Alejandro is my boyfriend's uncle (his mom's half-brother) He's only 2 years older than my boyfriend though so it's funny to think of him as being his uncle! We saw him last year in concert, he's a very talented musician and a genuinely nice guy.

[beachcraver17]

alejandro really isn't a good singer...he looks like he's confused and is trying to follow Bruce's lead. It's all about Springsteen and singers like Alejandro seem to get in his way, in a sense.

[sunwillset]

dumb comment. if anything, alejandro is just respecting bruce since it's his crowd and after all, he's bruce springsteen. bruce doesn't seem to quite know the vocal well enough to make it a duet and escovedo isn't going to show him up. alejandro is a great singer.

[sircabron]

nicely put!

[Jimdc821]

this video cuts out the intro part in which Bruce pays homage to the great songwriter, Alejandro Escovedo; who "has been making great music for a long, long time" (Alejandro went to the concert not expecting to be pulled on stage) This song fits nicely with the Springsteen sound, and I think the duet, while not perfect, beathes great life into it.

[YadenSamsara]

Knew he was going play with him on stage but they had no time to rehearse. He missed sound check but Bruce played with him quick in their trailer.

[showtime5700]

I am guessing anyone who is not a mega superstar and gets on stage with the Boss might get alittle nervous, I would. What a great song

[Stsfan7]

Holy crap this singer( not Bruce Alejandro)

is great!!!

[taoistcowboy123]

Power Pop

[jacksonhatesonions]

Springstein is my hero and Alejandro is my heart. Seeing two of them together on stage together is truly a dream come true.

[corky246]

The show was awesome--one of the best I've seen in years. Alejandro and his band were on fire. He played about an hour and a half, so the show was a great mix of the new record and older stuff.  He literally torched the house on "Castanets." Then he graciously signed records and CDs for almost an hour afterwards. What a guy!!

[bandreu67]

Caught his show at Gruene Hall. Man awesome just didn't describe it. I had a big dumb grin on my face the whole night, and yes afterwards he signed my t-shirt and cd for my son. A true Texas gentleman and rocker.

[corky246]

Watched this vid for the 50th time to warm up for Alejandro's sold out record release show in Austin--see ya there!!

[sircabron]

lucky dog!

[sircabron]

how was the show?

[bobandrayfan1]

I met Alejandro in Boston about a year and a half ago when his health was just beginning to rebound.. He stopped by the radio station where I worked, gave a half hour concert with interview, man what a gracious, gentleman!

He even gave us the story behind his song "The Ladder" so that we could mix the interview and song together..a story behind the song kinda thing. Wow!

[skiddywo]

Alejandro is on a roll! This is great...Springsteen looks like he's the one on cloud 9, this is such a great song.

[sircabron]

I agree. Springsteen is totally digging this!

[soko63]

alejandro doesn't have to take a back seat to anyone including the big bossman. he's far deeper lyrically than bruce has been in recent years.

[corky246]

Bruce is digging it, man! Maybe he should let Alejandro open a couple shows.

[lyablonski]

corky246: Yes!! Everyone was digging it, big time. The whole band, the audience. There was a Very palpable feeling of witnessing something incredibly special that night. March 14th, 2008 was the 1 year anniversary of Terry Magovern's death, Danny Federici died later that week and Alejandro looked healthier than I have seen him in years and Joe Ely just added icing to the cake. Though there was a definite feeling of sadness in the air, We were all blessed with something unforgettable. Peace :)

[Jethro719]

Being a long time Springsteen fan, I find it interesting that 3 artists who I have only just recently got into-- Alejandro Escovedo, Joe Ely, and Lucinda Williams-- Bruce has a mutual respect thing going with all 3. Great stuff.

[lyablonski]

Jethro719: Brilliant observation and comment. I am also a longtime Bruce fan and in the song "Terry's Song" that he wrote after his friend of many years passed away, one of the lines was "they broke the mold" in referring to Terry. I feel that about Bruce. He is open and accommodating to Everyone. I wish there were more people like him out in the everyday world. Peace :)

[Jethro719]

Thanks. Just call 'em like I see 'em. Can't believe I was so worried back in the late 80's, start of the 90's that maybe Bruce was hanging it up. Since then, the 2nd half of his career so far has produced more than anyone could hope for in an entire career with no letting up in sight. Good news for "tramps like us".....

[lyablonski]

Jethro719: Great observation and comment! I would be willing to bet that Bruce Springsteen is SO comfortable in His own skin, comfortable with his incredible musical talents and comfortable with everything that he does, that he would welcome anyone to His stage to play.

I doubt that Bruce has ever met a stranger and that He would give you the shirt off his back at any time. We are lucky to have lived with and by Bruce's music. I know His music and words are like life rafts for me sometimes.

[eiguren4]

Amazing!  Love both of them - Living in Austin Alejandro has a special place for me and he is amazing...

[augusthour]

Having watched Al for years, the real beauty is seeing him have a good time again. It's also so amazing seeing how much Bruce Springsteen likes the song. This made my day.

[lyablonski]

augusthour: I was in Houston that night. This was one of the best received songs by the crowd and yes, Bruce was having a GREAT time as well as the rest of the band. It was good to see Alejandro doing so well. His health has been bad for a while. Bruce does not mind sharing the stage and this is proof for sure.

Bruce and Band had a helluva couple of weeks and I think they did a brilliant job considering the pain all of them were in. AND...Bruce said Alejandro's name right. :)

[corky246]

Gawd!! Who are the deadbeats knocking the harmonies? That was awesome. I live in Austin and have known of Alejandro's brilliance for years. Bruce and the band only learned the song THAT day. Obviously, they aren't going to be polished. If you want to hear it the way it should be, get AE's new record Real Animal. It's the first track and it rocks! The whole record is fab. It's a rock record in the purest sense with songs that rattle windows from Austin to Abilene.

[lyablonski]

corky246:*waving to you from the 'burbs of Austin!!!* That was a GREAT show, didn't you think? Alejandro was wonderful and Joe Ely just capped all off. Representing for Texas! LOL I CANNOT believe I just said that. I am too old to be talking like that, what the hell, blame it on a flashback. Seems to be a small world, when I saw your nick, I thought "Oh, I grew up with someone named Corky" You are safe..I am older. LOL --THANKS for pointing out the deadbeats.They are everywhere. Peace. :)

[LChasPro]

Awesome stuff. I had never heard of AE until I heard it on XM liked it right away and was lucky to find this. More people should hear him.

[TorquatoTheCat]

FABULOUS!!! How I wish I could see these two together . . . Thanks so much for posting. Sure I'll watch - and sing and dance to it - it over and over again.

[UnsilentE]

Amazing to see that Al is still rocking his heart out, feeling better, and look at the company he's keeping - wow!  To think I met him when he was working at a record store in Austin...!

[mybrucespringsteen]

more like this at mybrucespringsteen

[MST720]

I was there!

in the back but still a good view

[lyablonski]

MST720: I was there, also!!! Man, it was great I thought. Didn't you? I felt like I got my money's worth and more. I had given up getting tickets, but found some tickets on Craigslist that included a GRAND room at the OMNI close to the arena. Even though I was born in Houston, I don't like it much anymore. We headed east on 290 and for 2 days, I did not have a care in the world. It was great. I hope you had fun too. Peace. :)

[pimpcube1]

Alejandro is a great artist and from someone who works for

him ( this rock and roll not rocket science. )

[sotampacane]

this is an unbelievable video and performance, but some of the people posting here would criticize anything. Jeez, some of you ought to get a life. This is fantastic for Al and bruce is really enjoying himself. What a great gesture to a great artist.

[rooclassico]

i was there. Great performance!

[KYBLUE1]

That was incredible!

[DiamondMark]

Out of this world, can't wait for the Single (With Bruce on Background Vocals) that comes out Tuesday. Only way this could have been better is with the Miami Horns...

[thotrot]

I went that it ruled

[tomwilton]

This video represents the best work of neither man.  The Bruce fans who tuned into this but are unfamiliar with Alejandro's work need to check out his (better) work somewhere else. He's a great artist and been around almost as long as Bruce; he's just been plowing a different field.

[Ermengarde11]

I'm intrigued enough to check into Alejandro, and da boss is always da boss.

I like this, raw and unpolished, from the soul. That's how it oughta be more often! "Every once in awhile".

[Kingola7]

GREAT BUT WHERE THE HECK IS MATT FISH???!!!

THE CELLO GOD WOULD HAVE MADE THAT EVEN BETTER

WE WANT MATT WE WANT MATT

-Kingola 7

[Kingola7]

GREAT BUT WHERE THE HECK IS MATT FISH???!!!

THE CELLO GOD WOULD HAVE MADE THAT EVEN BETTER

WE WANT MATT WE WANT MATT

-Kingola 7

[asomm11]

It really isn't Bruce that's off tone. He's just trying to keep some kind of harmony with Alejandro... who seems to be really nervous or something.

[baldomero5304]

al just recovered from cancer(not sure what kind)glad to see he'sback.

[stephiemtx]

He recovered from Hep C recently. He is an amazing talent, so happy to see him in Houston and with THE BOSS! Very happy for him...

[frank1130]

yeah they both rock.....thx 4 the info

-frank, austin tx.

[oatbagg11]

I LOVE AL, WE GO BACK TO AUSTIN CIRCA '90's.

HE'S A FANTASTIC PERSON, PHENOMENAL WRITER AND I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE HIM HAVING A BLAST. WAY TO GO BRUCE. THE SMILES SAY IT ALL!!!!

ah oh uh oh uh oh

[hoop7us]

This show was the best of 4 Bruces concerts that I've been to. He is having so much fun and gives it all on every single song. Everyone should see him and the E Street band at least once!!!! Keep rockin Bruce!!!

[lauralane65401]

JeezUS, these guys are fucken tone deaf!

If I pay good money for concert tickets,

I wanna hear music, not crap like this.

[bugattibowler]

(sighs)

[frankorrall]

Alejandro!!!!!!!!!

[sjljhb]

Guys, these are two consumate pro's... They get up on stage and do this 5 or 6 nights a week... And a bunch of YouTube users are criticising the way they sing? Lord have mercy.

If, just once, I could sound like or play like Bruce or Al on their WORST night, I would die happy.

[lyablonski]

sjijhb: GREAT COMMENT!! THANKS! I was at that concert. It was so good. It is amazing all of the professional music critics on here. You are absolutely correct about Bruce & Al being consummate professionals. The Band and crowd had a Blast during this song and when Joe Ely came on stage for a song. Bruce and Band have had many challenges and they never let on their hearts were broken. They were there for US and gave an excellent show. I, too would be happy for one of their worst nights. Peace :)

[PiscatawayMike]

It's not supposed to be pitch-perfect. IT'S ROCK 'N ROLL!!! Great performance by two great songwriters...

[elementsk8r27]

I was there last night!!!!! It was AWESOME =]

[LiamNJ]

Alejandro is a wonderful talent - great songwriter and, like Bruce, someone you have to see in person to really appreciate how great he is live. What an honor it must have been for him to have Bruce do one of his songs.

[lamatty00]

I sure it's just the mix...and all you want to be american Idol Judges with your "I think i can tell pitch" opinions...funny. Two great artist, same manager, pushing a single...it's all really good. If you haven't heard Alajandro's stuff check it out, in the same breath, if you haven't heard Bruce's stuff, check that out also.

[cesurf666]

I was in the concert last night 3rd line from the stage in the pit, and I have to say that the song is good, but the voice from Alejandro was pretty bad and it made it the worst of the concert. Although, the concert was amazing !!! .... and this one was the sixth for me and the second in two days.

Anybody has more videos from the Houston or Dallas concerts?? Thank you for the upload !!

[icandream9]

For RadioNowhere08 and MyNameisjoshua:

If you "listen" this is a question of pitch. Bruce's harmony is "flat", obviously, he didn't know the song. I know he is your God and does no wrong, but let's be fair. I'm a long time Alejandro Escovedo fan-you'll have to get used to him since almighty Bruce's management just signed him. Pretty racist, Joshua to say Alejandro's "diction is disgusting". I'm not surprised though, hearing remarks like these. Just a reflection of the world we live in.

[mynamesjoshua]

This guy has a terrible voice. Please no more blaming Bruce...this guy sounds awful. His diction is disgusting. Geeze...

[devilmaycry1302]

i was there lastnight!!!!!!! in the pit!!!!

he went a little longer than i thought but i was happy!!!=D

[efsb]

The "harmony" issue - I think it's a sound level/mix issue. It's just that the two voices don't mix too well at the start and the video mix has kept them both high - notice how Bruce backs off later in the song, as he seems to be aware of what's going on and lets AE take centre stage, vocally speaking. Alejandro's a great guy. Good to see him getting this kind of exposure.

[radionowhere08]

hold on!!!Alejandro Escovedo is the one that cant sing here not bruce, its not bruces harmony

[r3photo]

el jefe and the boss!

[shastasladybear]

They've got the beat!

THANKS! Great upload!

[downatthereservoir]

Ouch on the harmony.

[icandream9]

I am thrilled that Alejandro is finally getting the recognition he deserves. The band sounds fantastic. Unfortunatley, Bruce steps all over Al's vocals. Such a simple harmony and he blows it. I'm glad Alejandro is being exposed to the world. For all you Springsteen fans, if you listen to "The Rising" and begin (hopefully) to listen to Alejandro Escovedo's music, you will "hear" that Bruce obviously listens to Alejandro, to put it nicely. I, for one, noticed this immediately.

[MrFix3]

I can't wait for the new album from Alejandro. And yes, the harmony from Bruce did not mesh well with Al.

[NYLifer]

Awesome sound and video, release quality, thank you Bruce camp.

Viva Alejandro!

[TizzleVizzle]

Fantastic surprise!  How wonderful for Alejandro.

[stephiemtx]

This was such a cool surprise during the show last night! I love Alejandro and he told me Friday at the Continental Club that Bruce's manager was now managing him, but he didn't tell me about this surprise performance! Thanks, Bruce and Alejandro!!