No Surrender – a Bruce Springsteen cover band who have been together for more than 20 years – were set to perform at Riv’s Toms River Hub in Toms River, NJ on May 30th, but the show has been called off after the bar’s owner reportedly told them it was “too risky at the moment” for them to play.
The band’s singer Brad Hobicorn told New Jersey Advance Media that owner Tony Rivoli texted him last Sunday (May 18th) that the show was off. Rivoli allegedly was afraid that the bar’s mostly conservative clientele would disapprove of the band due to the real Springsteen’s recent anti-Trump speeches.
Text messages obtained between Rivoli and Hobicorn show Rivoli saying that the show would have done well if it weren’t for Springsteen’s recent remarks, “but now because Bruce can’t keep his mouth shut we’re screwed.” He also texted the band’s bassist, saying: “Whenever the national anthem plays, my bar stands and is in total silence, that’s our clientele. Toms River is red and won’t stand for his b*llsh*t.”
No Surrender reportedly offered to instead play a set of other classic rock songs, but Rivoli didn’t want to pay the agreed upon $2,500 for non-Springsteen classic-rock covers. “Unfortunately it’s just too much money I wanted to do the Springsteen tribute for that money,” he wrote.
Speaking about the situation, Hobicorn told New Jersey Advance Media: “This is not political for us at all. We’re just a cover band that’s trying to make some money, and people rely on it financially. We’re the ones really getting hurt.”
There is some dispute as to whether Rivoli cancelled the gig, or if No Surrender decided to pull out of the show because of “negative vibes” and “a safety concern.”
Bruce Springsteen recently made headlines when he publicly expressed his dislike for President Donald Trump and his administration during his shows in Manchester, UK. The New Jersey born musician said, in part, that America “is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration,” adding: “In America, they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent.”
Days later, Trump took to his Truth Social account to respond to Springsteen’s comments, calling him “not a talented guy,” “a pushy, obnoxious JERK,” and warning him to “KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country… Then we’ll all see how it goes for him!”
Trump then called for an investigation into Springsteen, Bono, Beyoncé, Oprah, and others who he claims were paid to endorse Kamala Harris during her 2024 Presidential campaign.
