Poll: Which 12-12-12 Performer Are You Most Looking Forward to Watching?

Some of the biggest names in music will come together to perform during Wednesday's Sandy Relief show. Which musician is your favorite?

On Wednesday, some of the most influential musicians of our time will take the stage at Madison Square Garden to perform in a sold-out show that will benefit the victims of Superstorm Sandy. Performing in the 12-12-12 Concert For Sandy Relief will be acts ranging from native New Jersey rockers Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi to pop stars Alicia Keys and legendary artists such as The Rolling Stones.  In this Patch Poll, we're asking which of the headlining artists will have you planted firmly in front of your television. 

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Clark Write-In Votes: Springsteen, Colbert, Optimus Prime

Dream big, voters, dream big.

When it comes to off-the-ballot candidates Clark residents wrote in during Tuesday's election, there were plenty of off-the-wall names. Someone who wasn't satisfied with either Romney or Obama for prez, cast his or her vote for Optimus Prime. The Marvel comics Transformer would undoubtedly make a strong commander-in-chief - Wikipedia even describes him as "a compassionate leader who puts his talent to use improving the universe around him...with a strong sense of justice and righteousness." Gov. Chris Christie got a vote for president, too – that choice may be a mere four years premature. How about Bruce Springsteen for Senator? Baby, he was born to run. And I'm sure Superintendent Ken Knops would love to hear Stephen Colbert's ideas for …

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Week In Review: Voters Defeat Referendum; Diner Transforms; Bruce's Birthday And Other News

Here's a roundup of some of the top stories throughout Union County during the week of Sept. 23-29.

Berkeley Heights Patch Poll: The Berkeley Aquatic Club Proposal It's no secret that the Berkeley Aquatic Club's proposed 51,000 square foot facility is still causing a stir among local residents on both sides of the aisle. Here, Patch recaps this controversial issue and asks residents to vote in our polls. Two Emerson Lane residents, Karen R. Freudenberger and Denise Foy, submitted letters to the editor, stating reasons why the facility should not be built on Emerson Lane, a quiet residential neighborhood on the border of Warren Township. Residents Gather For VFW's First Pig Roast Members of Berkeley Heights VFW Post 6259 and local residents hit the VFW's first annual Pig Roast on Saturday, Sept. 22. Locust Avenue, where the VFW hall is …

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Bovella's Bakes Bruce Springsteen's Birthday Cake

New take on 'Cake Boss': Westfield bakery sweetens up The Boss's 63rd birthday.

Celebrating a birthday like a rock star just got a little bit easier for Westfielders. Saturday night, legendary musician Bruce Springsteen received a birthday cake specially prepared by Bovella's Pastry Shoppe, located on the corner of East Broad and Prospect streets in downtown Westfield. The 63-year-old "Boss" enjoyed not only a "Happy Birthday" sing-along during his concert at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, but also a cake fashioned into a life-size replica of his guitar. Bovella's owner Ralph Bencivenga, who attended Westfield High School, said he received a call midday Saturday from a former classmate who works with celebrities. She told the baker she needed a cake for the New Jersey-born rocker's birthday later that evening. …

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Audience Was 'Dancing In The Dark' As B Street Band Rocked Oak Ridge Park

The popular group paid tribute to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band on Wednesday night as part of Union County's summer concert series.

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Springsteen's Military Secret: His Confidential Practice Site

The Boss and his E Street band rehearsed under wraps at Fort Monmouth as they prepped for the 'Wrecking Ball' world tour.

Music fans in New Jersey know that when Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are between albums, attending a show in Asbury Park — no matter who is is headlining — could involve a Bruce sighting. And while he's popped in at the Light of Day shows at the Paramount Theatre and The Press Room, a new bar and live-music space in Asbury Park, what fans probably don't know is that this winter Springsteen and his crew spent their days practicing at the Expo Theater inside Fort Monmouth in a quiet section of Oceanport. Springsteen and the band are preparing for the world tour in support of their new album, Wrecking Ball, which is available tomorrow in record stores and on iTunes tomorrow. He and the E Street Band will be playing about 20 indoor-…

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Thomas Hessemer

4:34 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012

The stage has moved to Trenton but not the band.   more ›

'Big Man' Nephew to join Springsteen, E Street Band Tour

A year after the death of Clarence Clemons, Springsteen signs up Jake Clemons for sax duty with expanded horn section for Wrecking Ball tour.

Then they made the change uptown/ And the Big Man Joined the Band/ From the coastline to the city/All the little pretties raised their hands... When Clarence Clemons died in June, 2011, the "Big Man" credited in Bruce Springsteen's "Tenth Avenue Freezeout" as the final piece that propelled the E Street Band into the spotlight, it was a death in the family for Springsteen, band members and fans around the world. As Springsteen finished "Wrecking Ball", the band's 17th album, to be released March 6, knew he can't replace Clemons, but he and the E Street band will keep it in the family when they take to the stage for the tour this year.  Springsteen will fill the sonic and emotional void left by the man who occupied the corner of the stage to…

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Tom Ucko

11:43 am on Sunday, March 25, 2012

There were seven songs that had their tour premiere in Tampa but only one of them was not on Springsteen's planned set list for the show - "Talk To Me." Based on the recording I'm listening to this morning, "Talk To Me" was requested by fans in the crowd with a sign. Regarding the album, Clarence Clemons sax playing is also featured on the song "Wrecking Ball," though it is much less prominent …   more ›