FREEHOLD – A Bruce Springsteen tribute band led by a Freehold Borough native will perform in Downtown Freehold’s Thursdays Rock! summer concert series on July 26.
Downtown Freehold is the organization that presents events in the borough’s downtown district.
The Springsteen Experience will perform from 7:30-9:30 p.m. July 26 at the Monmouth County Hall of Records plaza, Main Street. The concert is free and residents of all towns are welcome to attend.
The Springsteen Experience is led by Freehold Borough native Josh Schreiber, who graduated from Freehold High School in 1979; 12 years after Springsteen graduated from the same school.
Schreiber is a guitarist and vocalist who takes on the role of Springsteen. He has resided in California since 1984, where the band is based.
“We want people to see what Bruce was like in the 1970s,” Schreiber said. “And the band looks the part.”
The 1970s version of the E Street Band featured Springsteen on guitar and vocals, saxophonist Clarence Clemons, guitarist Steve Van Zandt, drummer Max Weinberg, pianist Roy Bittan, organist Danny Federici and bassist Garry Tallent.
In addition to Schreiber on guitar and vocals, the Springsteen Experience features saxophonist Henry Alexander, guitarist Anthony Terrezza, drummer Bryan Rosen, pianist John Harjo, organist Avery Burdette and bassist Blake Hunter.
Throughout his life, Schreiber has found himself involved with music.
“I’ve been performing my whole life,” he said. “In the 1960s, I would listen to Motown, pop and the Beatles, and it just clicked with me.”
While living in California, Schreiber found that he missed New Jersey, but listening to Springsteen would take him back to his home state.
“The music brought me back to New Jersey,” he said. “It filled a hole in my soul.”
He said that when he saw Springsteen perform in California, his fellow Freehold Borough native and Freehold High School graduate felt like a brother to him.
The Springsteen Experience has been performing for 10 years. Schreiber said the band began as a dare when he was told he looked and sounded like Springsteen before it became an obsession for him.
Schreiber, who was originally a drummer, had to learn how to play guitar and sing like Springsteen in order to assume Springsteen’s identity in the band. He said he found that task to be a significant challenge.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he said. “I had to make it work. I had to learn to play guitar, sing like Bruce, become like Bruce.”
Schreiber said he was determined to get the band together and become Springsteen. With a common background in Freehold Borough, he found that he had a greater understanding of Springsteen’s roots and heritage than other Springsteen tribute bands.
“I thought I could do this better,” Schreiber said. “Other people don’t know the character of Freehold Borough and the influence of Freehold Borough.”
The Springsteen Experience has toured the United States and internationally, including Japan. The band has performed in Freehold Borough before, but the July 26 show will be its first performance downtown during the popular summer concert series.
Schreiber, who hopes to return on an annual basis, finds that the upcoming show in Freehold Borough will be an emotional experience for him and he has extended an invitation to his fellow 1979 graduates to attend.
“The band is dedicated to the originality of music,” he said. “It’s as original as it possibly can be. This show in Freehold Borough is emotional and means a lot to me. It’s not just about me and me playing. It’s about the music. You can’t get away from Freehold. It’s really in the blood.”