Bruce Springsteen faced a cancellation on the Jersey Shore.
A tribute band dedicated to his music ended up scrapping a performance at a local bar after a disagreement with the owner concerning Springsteen’s anti-Trump remarks.
No Surrender, a nine-piece cover band from New Jersey that’s been around for two decades, had a gig lined up at Liv’s Toms River Hub on May 30th.
According to reports, band leader Brad Hobbycorn started receiving “concern texts” from bar owner Tony Rivoli shortly after word spread regarding Springsteen’s comments.
By Sunday, Rivoli is said to have canceled the show, which had been booked nine months earlier, stating it was “too risky” due to the restaurant’s conservative clientele.
“Unfortunately, it’s a lot of money at stake, and I wanted to honor Springsteen’s tribute, but…”
Hobbycorn offered to let the group perform just classic rock covers instead, but Rivoli chose to pay $2,500 for another classic rock cover band instead.
In a message to bassist Gei Fleming, Rivoli seemed to change his story—claiming he had never officially canceled the gig and had reconsidered. Yet, the band felt it was too late for the owner to change his mind.
“This isn’t political for us,” Hobbycorn shared, expressing disappointment to the outlet. “We’re a cover band trying to make ends meet, and people are counting on us. Honestly, we feel really hurt.”
Hobbycorn added that the entire situation had created a negative atmosphere and that there were certainly concerns for safety, although Rivoli maintained that the cover band might still have played regardless.
“As of Wednesday, they might not have surrendered,” Rivoli remarked, reflecting on the decision.
“I think many people in my crowd might not have shown up, but I could be mistaken. It’s hard to predict how people will react.”
Recently, Springsteen criticized the Trump administration, calling it “corrupted, incompetent and uncomfortable” during the European leg of his “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour in Manchester.
In response, Trump labeled the artist as “very overrated” and “as stupid as a rock,” expressing his dislike for both Springsteen’s music and his political views.
Instead of performing at Liv’s River Hub, the band will instead be at Headliner Oasis in Neptune Township on May 30th.
