5 Guys NOT Bruce

5 GUYS NOT BRUCE

IMV 25th October 2025

Saturday night at The International Music Venue was a very special one... the return of Five Guys NOT Bruce III: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen... so it was welcome back to TOM BROOKSBY, Kev Jamieson, RICO RICHARDSON, DARREN DRIVER, JERRY BRENNAN... 5 of the very best Springsteen tributes all playing acoustic both solo and combined... and I don't have the words to describe the joy, camaraderie and good vibes of this event... the first two years shows were superb, this, the third, even better!!

There was a warmth and good vibe as we walked into the room and found a seat... and when the band came on one by one unannounced the crowd instantly fixed totally on them

The show works simply... each man sings a song then passes the baton to the next man... in this way they go around the group one by one and all perform five numbers... the set covered classics and deep cuts... and to my joy concentrated on the Nebraska album (my favourite album!)...

I can only give a few highlights of the repertoire... but Tom opened things up with a simply beautiful version of "Blood Brothers" and ended his 5 with a wonderful "Highway Patrolman"... after Tom came Kev who among others delivered a stunning version of "Atlantic City" then to his left Rico took up the baton and among others delivered a simply breathtaking "Mary Queen of Arkansas" as well as a favourite of mine, the "Ghost of Tom Joad".

Across the stage Darren included "The Ties that Bind" and a storming versIon of "Johnny 99" and Jerry included a supreme version of "Thunder Road" in his set...

All five musicians were in scintillating form singing and playing with supreme love, conviction and quality... joining in with each others songs vocally, on guitar or harp as required... Five superb musicians who showed a deep respect and love for each other and the music they played...there was minimal blather between songs but lots of banter between the musicians and you only had to look at them to see they were all having a ball playing together and loving each others contributions... and the audience were enraptured from the start, singing out whether invited to or not at every familiar chorus and verse... especially perhaps on "Atlantic City", "Thunder Road" and "Highway Patrolman"... it really was a party atmosphere throughout, both on stage and in the audience... at the end they came back to encore with a group version of "Born to Run"... which was, as ever, for the encore as shambolic as it was uplifting... and finally closing with a beautiful song (which i confess to not being able to name) and ended with a standing ovation and so much love between musicians, between musicians and audience and back to the musicians...

Five superb musicians combining on stage to deliver 5 superb performances each and deliver one of the best and most joyful uplifting shows you are likely to see... Tom said they will be back to do it again next year if the audience want them to.. .the verdict was unanimous... see you next year guys!!

Absolutely magnificent night five superb musicians delivering five sublime performances each... can't get much better than this!!

This was a wonderful and totally uplifting joyful night

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