Asbury faves The Weeklings have dropped a power-popping rockabilly-flavored cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire,” the Makin Waves Song of the Week. PHOTO COURTESY OF JEM RECORDS
The Beatles-centric Asbury Park all-star band The Weeklings switch gears with their latest single to pay homage to New Jersey icon Bruce Springsteen.
Their ambitious new cover of the “Born in the USA”-era hit is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “I’m on Fire” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on June 16 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin or MixCloud.
The Weeklings — vocalist-bassist Glen Burtnik, aka “Lefty”; vocalist-guitarist Bob Burger, aka “Zeek”; lead guitar-vocalist John Merjave, aka “Rocky”; and drummer-vocalist Joe Bellia, aka “Smokestack” — cut an explosive, rockabilly-style version of the classic Bruce Juice. Their version features a ripping “nod-to-James Burton" guitar solo and vocal pops inspired by Elvis backing vocalists The Jordanaires.
In 1985, Springsteen's stark song of forbidden lust, the fourth single released from his massively successful album “Born In The USA,”shot up to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
The Weeklings envision "I'm On Fire" in a different way, belying the sinister lyric with a bright, cheerful uptempo groove. This marks the first time The Weeklings recorded a song from Springsteen's catalog.
They are best known as America's most unique celebration of the music and muse of The Beatles. Live performances include explosive renditions of Beatles classics, re-imagined versions of Beatles fan faves, ’60s garage and power-pop remakes, and Beatles-inspired power-pop originals.
However, Glen is certainly no stranger to Bruce. They frequently performed together when The Boss would sit in at the Stone Pony with Cats on a Smooth Surface, which happened nearly every Sunday in the Summer of ’ 82.
The Weeklings’ collective resume is astounding. Individually, members have played with Styx, Beatlemania on Broadway, Dave Mason, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, ELO Part 2, Liverpool and more. Three of the them are in another band that has some E Street magic, Springsteen drummer Max Weinberg’s Jukebox.
You can hear The Weeklings nationally on SiriusXM’s Little Steven’s Underground Garage, The Beatles Channel, The Loft, E Street Radio and on independent terrestrial and internet stations around the world. And you can see them live July 14, Somers Point Beach Concert Series; July 20, Alexrod Performing Arts Center, Deal; Aug. 24, Hamilton House Concerts, Staten Island, N.Y.; Oct. 4, Hall of Records, Freehold; Oct. 13, South Orange Performing Arts Center; Nov. 3, Lizzie Rose Music Room, Tuckerton, and Nov. 24, New Hope Winery.
For more, visit http://www.weeklings.com.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].
