Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom
May 15, 1971
NEWARK STATE COLLEGE, UNION, NJ

(Linernotes on CD are incorrect with wrong date and venue, see Brucebase info below)

Set List:
Group Therapy
Pretty Little Woman
Look Towards The Land
Going Back To Georgia
Last Night In Texas
Will You Still Love Me Tomorro
Jambalaya
The Zoom Son
Lady Of Boston

Notes: Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom only played a handful of shows, but they sure made an impact.
Whether that impact be from their name or the size of the band, which included Danny Federici,
Vini Lopez, Steve Van Zandt, David Sancious, and Garry Tallent, is undetermined. One of the
features of Dr. Zoom was the ongoing Monopoly game on-stage.


Brucebase said :

1971-05-14 - SUNSHINE IN, ASBURY PARK, NJ

IT TAKES A LOT TO LAUGH, IT TAKES A TRAIN TO CRY / GOIN� BACK TO GEORGIA / SIX DAYS ON THE ROAD / JAMBALAYA (ROLL OVER) / CRY TO ME / FAST BLUES SHUFFLE / ZOOM THEME / SLOW BLUES / ONE MORE TRY / ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN � REELIN� AND ROCKIN�

One show, triple bill. This is the first of only two performances ever of Dr Zoom & The Sonic Boom (the other show was outdoors the following day). Undercard acts for this debut show were Sunny Jim and Godzilla (who were a late substitution for Cornerstone). In reality Dr Zoom was merely a progression of Springsteen�s March 1971 'Friendly Enemies' shows at The Sunshine In and his April 1971 'Jam Concerts' at The Upstage. Much of the long-standing confusion about how many Dr Zoom shows were performed stems from the fact that some people count the above-mentioned March-April gigs as Dr Zoom events, while others don�t count them. Technically speaking they weren�t Dr Zoom shows, but they did contain most of the musicians and the same party-like atmosphere.

The members of Dr Zoom & The Sonic Boom were Springsteen, Van Zandt, Dave Sancious, Garry Tallent, Vini Lopez, Southside Johnny plus: Bobby Williams (percussion), Albee 'Albany Al' Tellone (sax, vocals) and Bobby Feigenbaum (sax). There was also a seven-member backing vocal troupe nicknamed 'The Zoomettes' (Jeannie Clark, Robin Nash, Connie, Kevin Kavanaugh plus three others). The MC was Kevin Connair. Danny Gallagher handled the on-stage props. Danny Federici was not involved in the Dr Zoom shows.

The ten-song setlist noted above has been culled from a document (in Bruce�s handwriting) that is probably the song schedule for this debut Dr Zoom gig. The material is clearly identifiable by Bruce�s header of 'Sonic Tunes'. Whether or not Bruce made any late changes to this setlist for the actual performance is not known. Written on the setlist as "Dave Dudley", the third song is actually "Six Days On The Road", the 1963 hit made famous by country music singer Dave Dudley. The song is a celebration of the American trucker and was covered regularly on the Jersey-shore in the 1970s by many bands, including Albee Tellone's Hired Hands. Thanks to Albee for the information. "Fast Blues Shuffle" may be Bruce�s name for "Last Night In Texas" (as also performed at the following day�s Zoom gig). "Zoom Theme" is a rewrite of Irving Berlin's "Alexander's Ragtime Band". There is no audio of this Dr Zoom show. Collectors should note that the widely circulating boot CD 'The Bruce Springsteen Story, Vol 5' (E Street Records) mistakenly lists that audio as being from this Sunshine In gig. However the audio is actually from the following day�s outdoor Dr Zoom performance at Newark State College (see May 15 listing for details).

The text below is copyrighted to Jeannie Clark Fisher. Many thanks for her help.
Sunshine In, Asbury Park, NJ, 05-14-71; Newark State College, Newark, NJ, 05-15-71
"I was a �Zoomette� for two gigs with �Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom�, Bruce�s interim band. It was a fun and joyous, somewhat organized, free-for-all! My memory of the Sunshine Inn was a large, rectangular room with concrete floors and square support pillars and a free-standing stage to one side. There was standing room only and lots of people dancing. The next day we went out to Newark for an outside performance. I still have the short, butterfly, hippie dress I wore that day and I bring it out occasionally for Gross National Product, my high school band, reunion concerts."


1971-05-15 - NEWARK STATE COLLEGE, UNION, NJ

IT TAKES A LOT TO LAUGH, IT TAKES A TRAIN TO CRY (6.50) / SOUTHSIDE SHUFFLE (8.49) / LOOK TOWARDS THE LAND (5.54) / GOIN' BACK TO GEORGIA (8.07) / LAST NIGHT IN TEXAS (8.43) / WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW? (11.23) / JAMBALAYA (ROLL OVER) (8.23) / ZOOM THEME (2.29) / LADY OF BOSTON - ONE MORE TRY (12.35)

The second (and final) performance of the Dr Zoom & The Sonic Boom at the first annual 'Ernie the Chickin' Festival', an excuse for an all-day, outdoor party extravaganza featuring several local bands including Sunny Jim and Odin. A very good quality soundboard tape of most (possibly all) of the Dr Zoom set can be found on the CD boot 'The Bruce Springsteen Story, Vol 5: Dr Zoom & The Sonic Boom' (E Street Records). The liner notes of the bootleg incorrectly lists the audio as emanating from the previous night�s performance at The Sunshine In, however this audio is definitely from the outdoor (not indoor) Dr Zoom show. The opening Bob Dylan penned "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" however is incorrectly labelled "Group Therapy". Steve Van Zandt can be heard jokingly warning the campus ambulances (who were parked nearby) to get ready as Bruce opens the show with some screeching guitar! It was long thought that this statement was made by Kevin 'Bird' Connair but Albee Tellone has confirmed that Connair was not at this show. "Last Night In Texas" is a rewrite of Sonny Boy Williamson II's "One Way Out"; "Zoom Theme" is a rewrite of Irving Berlin's "Alexander's Ragtime Band". "Lady Of Boston" includes an interpolated section of The Rolling Stones' "One More Try".

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