Two years ago, The Gaslight Anthem were an up and coming New Jersey band combining the hero of their home state (Springsteen) with the late-nineties beard-punk (really!) of Hot Water Music and Against Me. My band played with them about a year-and-a-half ago to a 3/4 full Knitting Factory in Hollywood and they tore the roof off the place; it was clear they'd go far, and quickly.

One year later, they're at Glastonbury playing "The '59 Sound" with Springsteen as a guest. If anyone deserves to be passed the NJ rock and roll torch, it's these guys. Enjoy.

Every Monday night, C&L's Late Nite Music Club showcases an act from every state, alphabetically by state, as part of LNMC's 50 State Strategy. Know a band or artist that you think is the best in their state? Email suggestions to latenitemusicclub [at] gmail.com. Next week: New Mexico.

The second generation of great rockers is now officially in its golden years today, as Bruce Springsteen celebrates his 60th birthday. He's been an old soul since releasing his first album over 36 years ago, and is pretty much at the top of his game now, with the consistent sold out shows, command performance at the inauguration, worldwide respect and adulation and whatnot.

On a more personal note, at the young age of four I saw the video for "Born in the USA" on MTV and told my Dad I wanted to play guitar, which resulted in a half size nylon string acoustic guitar and some lessons from a patient teacher willing to deal with a precocious kindergartener, and all the trappings great and bad that follow on that path in the subsequent 25 years. I'm sure there are thousands of others with the same story, and on behalf of us all I say Happy Birthday, Boss. Don't ever stop playing.

It goes without saying, but he certainly deserves the honor:

President Barack Obama will be on hand to celebrate the career of Bruce Springsteen at this year’s Kennedy Center Honors Gala on December 6th. Springsteen will be joined by fellow honorees actor Robert DeNiro, director Mel Brooks, jazz great Dave Brubeck and opera singer Grace Bumbry at the ceremony, which will air December 29th on CBS. “With his gritty and honest songs that speak to the everyman, Bruce Springsteen has always had his finger on the pulse of America,” the Kennedy Center wrote today in a statement.

Whoever wrote the aforementioned condescending statement about Springsteen's ability to relate to Hoi and Polloi despite being the toast of le elite will not be receiving any awards other than continuing to work for the Kennedy center, however.

The Boss is adding more American dates to his tour, and NOT COMING TO CALIFORNIA!!??!

Damn you, Springsteen. Damn you.

08/18 - Hartford, CT @ Comcast Theater
08/22 - Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center
08/23 - Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center
08/25 - Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
09/10 - Nashville, tn @ Sommet Center
09/12 - Tampa FL @ Sommett Center
09/13 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Bank Atlantic Center
09/16 - Greenville, SC @ Bi-Lo Center
09/20 - Chicago, IL @ United Center
09/30 - E. Rutherford, NJ @ Giants Stadium
10/02 - E. Rutherford, NJ @ Giants Stadium
10/03 - E. Rutherford, NJ @ Giants Stadium
10/08 - E. Rutherford, NJ @ Giants Stadium
10/09 - E. Rutherford, NJ @ Giants Stadium
10/13 - Philadelphia, PA @ Spectrum
10/14 - Philadelphia, PA @ Spectrum
10/25 - St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
10/26 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
11/02 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
11/03 - Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena
11/07 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
11/08 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
11/10 - Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
11/13 - Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace at Auburn Hills
11/15 - Milwaukee, WI @ Bradley Center

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Bill O'Reilly has a plan for the Republican Party to get its mojo back: Go after Bruce Springsteen!

Seriously.

O'Reilly last night, in his Talking Points Memo segment, cites a remark Springsteen made at the Pete Seeger tribute concert the other night:

At 90, he [Seeger] remains a stealth dagger through the heart of our country's illusions about itself. ... He sings all the verses, all the time. Especially the ones that we'd like to leave out of our history as a people.

This incensed O'Reilly -- who nonetheless spotted an opportunity therein:

Now, Bruce Springsteen is not a PhD in political science, obviously. But his snide reference to America defines how the far left sees this country. And you know what? Most liberal and conservative Americans disagree with him.

So let me spell this out to that even the Republican leadership can understand it. Get solutions to problems. Explain your Culture War positions clearly and without spite. And most important, stick up for America! Because the Democrats are certainly not doing that. Use that strategy, GOP, and you'll get back in the game.

He repeats the point a little later with Karl Rove:

All right, but the Democratic Party has been very successful in demonizing the Republicans as a bunch of people who, uh, say no to everything, ah, are bigoted, you know, because of their social issues of gay marriage and illegal immigration. And they've been very, very successful in doing that. And I would say now that conservatives are on the defensive. And the Republican Party certainly is.

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Let's hear it for the cultural heroes who always speak the truth as they know it, no matter what the cost to themselves:

NEW YORK — Three months after Bruce Springsteen persuaded Pete Seeger to sing This Land Is Your Land with him at President Obama's inaugural concert, they'll be back together on stage Sunday — on Seeger's 90th birthday.

A sold-out benefit concert at Madison Square Garden will celebrate Seeger, the folk singer/songwriter who was banished from commercial TV for 17 years.

Seeger says a party for 15,000 isn't his idea of a birthday celebration, even with more than 40 musicians, including Dave Matthews, Eddie Vedder and Arlo Guthrie, whose dad, Woody, taught Seeger how to jump freight trains 60 years ago.

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It's gonna be a Merry Christmas, Baby. The Boss says so. Jus' sayin'.