They're gonna make a TV movie out of me...

The absence of Steven Van Zandt from the Australian tour was a major disappointment head of the tour to me and possibly other fans of The E Street Band who appreciate what he brings to the show.

His friendship with Springsteen always shines through and his sense of humour and stage presence always entertains.

So although stand-in Tom Morello was incredible and one of the highlights of the Wrecking Ball Tour down under, it was clear that Van Zandt would always be missed.

To counter this I decided to check out what it was that kept him from the tour by downloading series one of Lilyhammer onto my iPad in time for the two flights and two 12-hour train journeys I had during my 18-day adventure of following the band across Australia.

Already a fan of The Sopranos, I was glad to see Van Zandt had not strayed too far from his mobster character for this series.

In fact, he was almost exactly the same.

Which makes Springsteen’s joke in Brisbane 1 – “He’s basically playing himself!” – even more apt.

 

Over the 18 days I did manage to watch the entire series of the Norwegian show and at the end was glad to say that I’m looking forward to seeing the next season.

The New York mobster scenes are dealt with in the opening minutes so any immediate comparisons with his previous mob drama are quickly over and done with.

What follows is essentially a fish-out-of-water drama series as his character goes into hiding in the Norway town and tries to adjust with his new surroundings while finding it impossible to let go of his criminal past, which he clearly enjoyed.

As a show the writing is nothing like The Sopranos, and its Norwegian production spills through into every scene. 

It’s this cultural difference that makes it work and inreasingly watchable.

For me, Lilyhammer is to The Sopranos, what a show like Castle is to New York cop drama Without A Trace.

Meanwhile it has some great moments and the series quickly grows on you. 

Some scenes are hilariously funny, his nightclub manager trying to break someone is great, while Van Zandt’s unabashed mobster reaction to the problems of everyday life are also inspired.

And just when you’re at risk of forgetting that he’s a serious mobster he blurts out some New York phrase or violent action to remind you of his true nature.

Whether or not it was worth him missing 10 dates of the Australian tour will remain to be seen. 

(And fans including myself would probably rather he put E Street Band tours over acting jobs every time.)

But if you’re looking for a fun dose of Van Zandt while waiting for his return to the band, then Lilyhammer is well worth your time.

Seen it? How did you rate Lilyhammer? 

Share any thoughts in the comments below and let me know how you felt about 

Van Zandt's absence from the tour... 

(And don't forget to vote for this blog in the 

People's Choice Award of Best Australian Blogs 2013)

Because The Nightwatchman

I can't deny that the absence of Steve Van Zandt from the E Street Band during their tour of Australia in March is a huge disappointment.

Every time I've seen Bruce Springsteen and the band live his presence on stage has played a major part in bringing the crowd into the party and keeping them there.

Not that Springsteen ever needs any help in interacting with the tens of thousands of people he often plays to.

The man is the greatest front man I've seen and is renowned for making a concert of 80,000 people feel like a gig to 800 people with his approach to the fans and interaction with the band.

Van Zandt, centre, brings more than just his guitar to the E Street Band

He's often said himself that there live concerts are like one big party where they have a good time that they let their fans in on. And without question it works.

But with Van Zandt you don't just get an influential friendship that has shaped the band and Springsteen's music for decades, you also get this cheeky little brother who gets to work behind his Boss brother, keeping the audience going and flowing vital energy between Springsteen, the rest of the band and the people in the front rows and beyond.

He's a guy who seems constantly excited to be up there, and seeing that makes the rest of us just as excited to be there.

But although his unavailability for the Australian leg of the 2013 Wrecking Ball tour, due to Lilyhammer shooting commitments, Springsteen has brought a powerful replacement on board which really does make Van Zandt's absence bittersweet.

Tom Morello - The Nightwatchman - has an immense reputation and talent that leaves no one in any doubt he will be fantastic as a replacement guitarist for the nine concert dates in Australia.

Morello to the line-up is definitely putting more fuel on the fire.

And of course as he worked on the latest album it's fitting that he should be involved, as he was on many tour dates in 2012.

But as a full band member, albeit temporary cover for Van Zandt's Lilyhammer-nity leave, Morello brings a different edge to the anticipation of seeing the band live again.

Coming on as a special guest during the band's Hard Rock Calling concert in London's Hyde Park in July - the one where Springsteen and guest Sir Paul McCartney were unbelievably unplugged in the final song - Morello made his presence felt.

Blistering guitars and foot stomping in Wrecking Ball's  Death To My Home Town was an early treat in the set list but the anger and intensity he added, and brought out of Springsteen, during Ghost of Tom Joad was incredible. 

A highlight of the concert, I left with their rendition of that song in my head and it stayed there for weeks.

What Morello will bring to the band is more anger and power behind the themes that shape the Wrecking Ball album. 

They're not just keeping the E Street fire burning, they're throwing logs of dynamite on there.

Which means that a year after the album was first released, the frustration, heartache and fighting spirit that has been behind the music will not have waned.

Although I'm disappointed not to be seeing Van Zandt by Springsteen's side in March, the addition of Morello is both exciting and compelling. 

It's reminded me of the thing that I casually say to everyone who asks why I keep going to the Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band shows when I've already seen them - because they're never the same, you never quite know what to expect, but you do know you are going to be a part of something special.


Title track: Because The Night