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Arts & Entertainment

Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band Performs at Yorktown Gazebo

Musical group Tramps Like Us performed the extensive repertoire of accomplished artist Bruce Springsteen. Crowd demanded they played more songs.

Crowds amassed the field surrounding Yorktown Gazebo this past Sunday evening to enjoy the musical stylings of Tramps Like Us, a well-known Bruce Springsteen tribute band. With blankets and coolers in tow, listeners were awed by the uncanny emulation of the legendary "Boss." The event kicked off the summer concert series, sponsored by the Yorktown Lions Club.  

With a master set list of over 90 songs, the band did more than just re-create the artist's well known hits such as "Thunder Road" and "Born to Run." Lesser known tunes, such as "Trapped" and "Sunny Day" (off album The Rising) were also played and appreciated by the longtime Springsteen fans in the audience that night.

Toward the end of the show, the band announced onstage that they usually play for four hours or more without a break, despite the fact that this particular venue at the Gazebo had scheduled them to play only from 6 to 8 p.m. Once the clock passed their allotted time, the group asked if the audience would mind if they played a bit longer. 

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"Yes!" the audience enthusiastically greeted their question.

For the band, formed in 1990, a noteworthy aspect of their practice is that they don't attempt to imitate the original act through clothing or gestures, which are tactics popular for many other tribute bands. Instead, they focus solely on the music.

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Tramps are led by singer and front-man Mark Salore, and were recently joined by Jon Sanborn on bass. During the saxophone solos, fans would have thought they were listening to the crooning of E Street Band musician, Clarence Clemons. Instead, it was saxophonist "Bo" of Tramps performing the impressive renditions of the classic tunes.

They have also achieved the critical acclaim of many important figures in the music business. One of the most crucial judges is former Springsteen producer and manager Mike Appel who has dubbed the group "the greatest Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band in the land."

In another recognition, Tramps were also asked to perform the Bruce tune "The Rising" for the victims of September 11th at the dedication of the memorial at the Kensico Dam Plaza of Valhalla in 2006.

By watching the five-piece group enthusiastically run across the stage, it was easy to determine they truly enjoy what they do.

The fact that Springsteen is so loved in this country was part of the reason the band was formed, saxophonist member nicknamed "Bo" said. The band performs for many die-hard fans who know most of Springsteen's original repertoire.

"We don't have to worry about someone saying 'I don't like this song,'" Bo said. "It's about whether they like our interpretation of it."

Accompanying the musical side of the concert, refreshments such as ice cream, hot dogs, and pizza were available for the audience from local businesses such as Nonna's Pizzeria and Restaurant in Yorktown. Visitors were also encouraged to try their luck in a raffle drawing during the band's intermission.

Interactive elements to the 3-hour long performance included good-natured joking around between songs and the band inviting patrons of all ages to come up onstage to help sing the chorus to some of the songs including "The Rising."

For a look ahead, Tramps like Us will be taking their next step into Westchester on July 1 for the City of White Plains July 4th Celebration at White Plains High School beginning at 6 p.m.

The next act for the annual summer concert series at the Gazebo will feature TJ Tomlin Tribute to the Big Band Era on July 11 at 6 p.m.

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