As long as you haven’t been under a rock for the last week, you’ve likely heard that Bruce Springsteen had some words to say about our president at a concert overseas.

In my home, the America I love, the America I’ve written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration.

Bruce Springsteen In Concert
Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
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You would think Trump has much bigger things to worry about than one New Jersey artist exercising their freedom of speech.

Yet he took to Truth Social to lash out, calling Springsteen overrated, pushy, an obnoxious jerk (jerk in all caps, of course, he likes his caps), dried out prune, skin atrophied, etc..

“Obnoxious jerk,” huh? Takes one to know one, I guess.

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Following The Boss’ words, a Jersey shore restaurant has cancelled a scheduled performance from a Bruce tribute band.

Toms River bar cancels Springsteen cover band

nosurrendernj via Instagram
nosurrendernj via Instagram
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But here’s the thing: the band did nothing other than cover songs by Springsteen.

No Surrender, a NJ-based rock band, was all set to perform at Riv’s Toms River Hub at the end of May, but the bar owner canceled on them. The performance was “too risky at the moment,” according to a text from the restaurant owner.

Too risky?

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Gee, and here I thought the MAGA crowd was so offended by cancel culture, completely disregarding that they pull the same bull-you-know-what.

Riv’s Toms River Hub

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Google Maps
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It’s not like the bookers didn't know Springsteen is a liberal at the time of scheduling. The concert had been planned for months, Bruce has been vocal about his political leaning for decades.

Frankly, it's insulting to the customers. As comedian John Poveromo put it:

Sure, maybe his clientele can’t tell the difference between real Italian food and his peddlers Ragu, but it doesn’t mean they can’t tell the difference between Bruce Springsteen and a cover band looking to have a good time and make some money on Memorial Day Weekend.

No Surrender

For the better part of two decades, No Surrender has been covering Bruce Springsteen songs, and suddenly that’s reason for a cancellation.

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Appropriately, one of Springsteen’s criticisms was that the Trump administration is “taking sadistic pleasure in the pain they inflict on loyal American workers.”

Is that not what Riv’s is essentially doing by punishing the working man for comments that they didn’t even make?

This is not political for us at all,” said the bandleader, Brad Hobicorn. “We’re just a cover band that’s trying to make some money and people rely on it financially. We’re the ones really getting hurt.

Bruce Springsteen performs at Stand Up For Heroes in New York on Nov. 1, 2016.
NJ bar owner cancelled Springsteen cover band due to the Boss's comments about Trump.
(AP Photo/Riv's Toms River Hub via Facebook)
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In summation, congratulations, Riv’s. You got your name in the news. People, myself included, are talking about you.

Sure, you’ll get business of the people in your “red” area of the state who are now considering you to be proud patriots for this decision.

But do you feel good about it?

Canva / TSM Illustration
Canva / TSM Illustration
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All you did was screw over a local band who was looking forward to entertaining your patrons.

I wish I could say that you’re making Toms River Great Again, but you’re just making it petty and cowardly.

Here, I thought that 'down the shore everything’s alright.' Guess not.

You can check out No Surrender on their website.

Celebrities who vowed to leave the United States after the election

Rumors are flying that Bruce Springsteen has vowed to leave the country if Donald Trump wins the 2024 election. He didn’t say it.

But false promises of leaving the country if a celebrity didn’t get their way has been a real thing and not always said in jest.

Here’s a list of famous people who promised to leave the country if Trump were elected. I hope you didn't bet money on them leaving since none did.

Gallery Credit: Jeff Deminski

Donald Trump goes to Wawa

Gallery Credit: Joe Votruba

How N.J. voted in the 2024 presidential election

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris won New Jersey's 14 Electoral College votes but her performance against Republican former President Donald Trump trailed President Biden's victory in 2020. Below is a county-by-county breakdown.

Gallery Credit: New Jersey 101.5

9 Springsteen lyrics that won him the Woody Guthrie Prize

The award is given to artists from any medium who carry on the legacy of its namesake by speaking “for the voiceless with an understanding of how a platform can be used to shine a light on our world, showing us what needs to be fixed and how to fix it.” 

Gallery Credit: Jeff Deminski

The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5's Kylie Moore. Any opinions expressed are Kylie's own. You can follow Kylie on Instagram.
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