3 weeks Ago
In 2006 Bruce Springsteen embarked on a tour without his usual E Street Band. The musical collective he assembled featured a banjo player, fiddles and even a Tuba - the Seeger Sessions Band was born The music they play was inspired by legendary folk figure Pete Seeger with Springsteen also adapting some of his own songs to fit his touring outfit’s roots style. Shows in Dublin were recorded and formed the basis for a DVD and live album which was released the following year.
Seeger Sessions Band at the Button Factory in Dublin (Picture: Cian Copeland) Irish musician Chris Speer admits that at the time he was more interested in Guns and Roses and Metallica. “But when Live in Dublin came out, that was it for me,” he said. “It was just the sound of it, it was unbelievable.
I’ve loved that album ever since and I always wanted to do something in that line.” Now, 18 years on from live album, he’s realised his dream and Chris is the driving force behind The Seeger Sessions Revival - a 13-strong juggernaut of top Irish musicians who are playing a series of dates starting in Settle next Friday and then Manchester the following day. “It finally started to come together during Covid when the world stopped,” said Chris, who plays banjo in the revival band.
“I’d talked about it with a few people and as everyone was at a loose end I kind of put together a dream team list of people I’d played with in different bands over the years or worked with during recording sessions. “Everyone I got in touch with said they’d love to give it a try - that’s how it all came about.” Chris is quick to point out that he hasn’t created a Springsteen tribute band.
“I hate the term tribute band to be honest,” he said, “but I suppose that’s what we are in a way - but it’s a tribute to the album and the songs. We’ve tried to avoid going down the road of dressing like the original band and acting like them and no-one’s doing a Springsteen impression. It’s all about the music.
” So what is it about these particular songs that makes the Seeger Sessions Revival so special? The Seeger Sessions Band at Celtic Connections “The music is just joyous, that’s the only word you can use to describe it,” said Chris. “It just gets inside you and makes you dance from the inside out.” The setlist features arrangements of traditional songs such as Pay Me My Money Down and Oh Mary Don’t You Weep featuring alongside songs written by Pete Seeger such as Jacob’s Ladder and the protest anthem We Shall Overcome.
In addition there are some Springsteen songs which the Boss reworked for his roots ensemble. “There’s songs like Atlantic City and Blinded By the Light which we’ve recently introduced into the set,” said Chris. “They bear no relation to the E Street Band versions.
“There are elements of folk, blues and especially gospel which just gets to people instantly. “We do try and keep the show nice and loose. It’s not like we’re Pink Floyd where everything has t be so precise and there are lighting displays and special effects which are timed to go with the music.
“It’s all about the feel. In a song like My Oklahoma Home which is an eight-and-a-half minute version there are five or six solos and if someone does something different one night we’ll just all go with it. It’s improvised music.
” Audiences have been loving the Seeger Sessions Revival. Shows in Ireland have sold out almost as quickly as Springsteen shows do and a mini-tour of the UK earlier in the years was a great success. “We played St Luke’s Church in London where Springsteen recorded a set for the BBC which was amazing and we were invited to play at Celtic Connections in Glasgow,” said Chris.
Storms meant that one of the band’s two gigs in Glasgow - at Oran Mor - had to be cancelled but they played the Ovo Hydro supporting Peat and Diesel. The Seeger Sessions Band “That was amazing,” said Chris. “I’m sure 95 per cent of the audience didn’t have a clue who we were or know anything about the music and yet within minutes we had 10,000 people up out of their seats and dancing.
” There is clearly a demand for the shows but the logistics involved in taking 13 musicians on the road along with all their instruments is complicated. “Somehow that’s come down to me to sort,” laughed Chris. “That’ll teach me to see if anyone wanted to be involved.
“It can be stressful getting everything together. We’ll have a van go over on the ferry with all the gear and then we’ll fly over and hopefully it all works. “The musicians are all based in the North West of Ireland around Donegal and Derry although the sax player is in Australia.
I’ve told him to get a few dates booked and we’ll work on getting the van over there! “But for all the stress in the background, the moment you get on stage it’s all worth it. I guess that’s why I do it. “It’s a total celebration of the music and we want the audience to be part of that celebration from the start.
” The Seeger Sessions Revival is at Settle Victoria Hall on Friday, April 25, details from www.settlevictoriahall.org.
uk and Manchester’s Stoller Hall on Saturday, April 26, details from www.stollerhall.com.
