"Atlantic City" from Nebraska has one of the best opening lines of Bruce Springsteen's deep catalogue:
"Well they blew up the Chicken Man in Philly last night / and they blew up his house too."
Nothing was destroyed Wednesday night, August 7, in the City of Brotherly Love, during Zach Bryan's show at Lincoln Financial Field but for all of those who put their makeup on and fixed their hair up pretty, they got to hear the two artists sing "Atlantic City."
The 28-year-old country star and the 74-year-old rock legend (and recently verified billionaire), duetted on The Boss' dark 1982 tune about mob violence and blue collar despair.
The pair also sang together on "Sandpaper," which the gentleman previously recorded for Zach's current album, The Great American Bar Scene.
This isn't the first time to two have sung the song live, Springsteen flew across country to Brooklyn in March to share the stage with Bryan.
You'd think Bruce would have better things to do, like rest, since he's still touring himself. But maybe the Boss is just grateful that "Sandpaper" did so well it became the first time Springsteen made it on the Country charts, and the first time in 15 years he's seen his name on Billboard's Top 100.
Some say "Sandpaper" reminds them of "I'm On Fire," from Born in the USA, due to its driving, almost metronome beat. But when you hear Bryan cover the lustful tune, she slows it down for some reason and forces a more country vibe into it.
The tempo change turns it from a frenetic speed of a man either pacing his room or riding on a train obsessively thinking about sweetie he's trying to woo into a mournful song about unrequited love.
As Otoboke Beaver might ask, "Why? Why? Why? Why?"
So what do you do for an encore? How about getting Shane Gillis, The Lumineers, and The Boss out to do "Revival" near the back of the football field so the people in the cheap seats can see?
Great idea.
In Boston, Zach closed that show with "Revival" as well, but that time with Maggie Rogers and the King of New Jersey.
The 2020 hit from Elizabeth sure seems like a perfect staple to close out his set.
The Quittin Time Tour kicked off in Chicago with another special guest, Miss Kacey Musgraves who live debuted "I Remember Everything" with Zach.
The duo has recently won a Grammy for the song which had gone #1 the year before.
After Springsteen left the stage in Philly, Zach sang that hit.
While it would be nice to have Kacey there every night to sing it with him, the Philly crowd did a decent job stepping in.
Zach won't be having any quittin time any time soon. He's playing enormous stadiums throughout the US and Canada into December. Tickets available on his site.
Mr. Springsteen has about 15 dates left on his dance card through the middle of November. Tickets are scarce, and if you're lucky you can find them through Bruce's site.
