[Words and photos by Pamela Morgan]

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
Arco Arena, Sacramento
Friday, April 4th

April 4th was no ordinary Friday in Sacramento. If you were one of the fortunate in attendance at The Boss’ sold out Arco Arena show you know that nothing was held back. Springsteen has an emotional connection with his fans that is undeniable and his strong convictions and politics run thick through the heart of his timeless “all American Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

From start to finish the energy of the two-hour plus show was amazing, and seemingly endless. Springsteen himself felt this, exclaiming, “Stop me before I hurt myself!” The spirit of this night? Sacramento, you got rocked hard by the houserocking, pants dropping, brain-shocking, earthquaking, booty-shaking, Viagra-taking, lovemaking, sexifying, electrifying legendary E Street Band!

More photos by Pamela Morgan after the jump. (more…)

While I deeply miss everyone that is currently busy shredding up the music industry in Austin, some of us had to stay here in Chico to report about real news. Now, lets get to the hard core media coverage, shall we?

Karen Lee Cooper, a 49 year old Aussie chick, brutally stabbed her boyfriend during a fight about the Boss. Reports are showing that the controlling boyfriend was limiting her music choices, and apparently when she banned Springsteen, the jig was up. Cooper grabbed a knife out of the kitchen, went into the living room and repeatedly stabbed the man. In another wise decision, she then took a bunch of pills, called the cops and told them she’ll be dead before they get there. Sounds like a good Tuesday night in these parts. From CNN:

An Australian woman pleaded guilty Thursday to fatally stabbing her boyfriend because he objected to her listening to Bruce Springsteen’s music.

The national news agency, Australian Associated Press, reported that the Supreme Court in the city of Brisbane sentenced Karen Lee Cooper to eight years in prison.

Cooper told arresting officers she “just got tired” of her boyfriend, Kevin Watson, bossing her around during their two-year relationship.

“I couldn’t even play Bruce Springsteen on my stereo. Can you believe that? Can you believe that?” Cooper told police, according to the Courier Mail newspaper.

Later, in a formal police interview, she repeated her claims: “I mean, who doesn’t like Bruce Springsteen? I am 49 years old and I want to play my own music.”

The couple had been drinking at their rental home the night of the stabbing two years ago when they began arguing over Cooper’s choice of music, the Australian Associated Press said.

Cooper’s lawyer told the court she experienced a “brain snap.” She ran to the kitchen, grabbed a knife and stabbed Watson, 49, after he said he didn’t want her to listen to a Springsteen CD, the newspaper said.

Cooper took a handful of pills before calling police. She told officers she hoped the pills would kill her before they arrived.

According to the press reports, Cooper regretted the stabbing and did not think her boyfriend deserved to die.

I’m pushing for a new law that legalizes the brute killing of anyone that censors Bruce… who’s with me?

Keep locked in for more coverage of SxSw and Aussie stabbings over classic American songwriters.

Tis the season…well, almost. As usual, we can expect to be inundated with entertainment industry professionals looking to pretty up their tax forms with some end-of-the-year charity work, but at least it’s all for a good cause, right? Hard Rock is getting a jump on the impending holiday season with their Serve2 compilation, available for download on iTunes. The net proceeds of which will go to Artists Against Hunger and Poverty, an artist-directed special program of World Hunger Year.

Not only is it for a good cause, but the compilation is pretty solid (and at 25 tracks, pretty damn hefty), featuring previously unreleased and live cuts from old school heavyweights like Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, but also newer and more vital acts like The Hold Steady. Even New Found Glory and Andrew W.K. managed to sneak on there. You can sample a live rendition of “Baby It’s a Fact” by Hellogoodbye (available on Serve2) here mp3 (or download it at Synthesis.net). Full track listing after the jump.

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On this second eve of Rocktober, 2007, Governor of Connecticut Jodi Rell, officially proclaimed this day in history to be “Bruce Springsteen Day”. (Mom, this one’s for you.) The Boss will be ROCKing with his E Street Band at the Hartford Civic Center tonight to open their first tour in four years and to promote their new album Magic, which will return Springsteen officially to the ROCK genre. Just to make you feel old, Springsteen is 58.

And if this was Whocarestober, I’d tell you that the Spice Girls reunion concert in London sold out in 38 seconds. Over 1 mil people registered for the show, a computer chose 20,000.

But it’s Rocktober 2nd! Leon del Muerte of Murder Construct was born on this day in 1977. Happy 30th! As was James Root from Slipknot who is 36! And Bud Gaugh, the drummer from Sublime (now plays in a band called Del Mar), is 40 today.

Happy birthday, rock stars! To see a complete list of everything that has happened on October 2nd, click here.