Hank Azaria forms Bruce Springsteen tribute band
Comedic actor Hank Azaria, best known for voicing various roles in The Simpsons, has outlined plans for an unlikely new career in a tribute band for Bruce Springsteen.
While Azaria has been in various Broadway musicals throughout his lengthy career, he’s never recorded material or been in bands previously. Nevertheless, this summer, that’s all set to change when he steps onto the stage in New York to deliver a tribute to one of his musical heroes, Bruce Springsteen, for a charitable cause.
As a talented voice actor, who is capable of impersonating celebrities with ease, stepping up to mimic Springsteen should be a simple enough task for the performer. However, nothing will be known for certain until Hank Azaria and The EZ Street Band provide their debut live show on August 1st at the Le Poisson Rouge in New York City.
According to press materials, the show is set to deliver a “setlist packed with Springsteen classics and deep cuts, delivered with Azaria’s unique flair and the band’s top-notch musicianship.”
Meanwhile, Azaria said in a statement: “I’ve never worked harder preparing for any role than I did in perfecting a singing vocal impression of Bruce.”
He continued: “I can’t think of a better way to spend my time and use my passion for voices than playing these songs for a crowd that loves them and lovingly tribute Bruce, while raising money for folks who need it.”
The show will be in aid of Four Through Nine Foundation, a charitable cause dedicated to fighting social justice, education and recovery. At this stage, it hasn’t been revealed whether it’ll be a one-off performance or The EZ Street Band will be playing more shows going forward.
Azaria is a well-known music lover, and he considers Elvis Costello to be one of his favourite artists. During an interview with EW about his favourite music in 2013, he named ‘Radio Radio’ by Costello, and stated of the English singer: ”When he first hit with My Aim Is True, I was probably 16, and he captured that angry-young-man angst, combined with a poetic kind of Catcher in the Rye outlook. It was a total revelation. It got me through my teenage years.”
Meanwhile, The Simpsons co-showrunner Al Jean recently predicted when the legendary animated programme will come to an end. In the show, Azaria voices characters including Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, Jonathan Frink, and Snake Jailbird.
Jean shared, “I think the show is in fantastic shape. I’m biassed, but I think that the current episodes are, whether I work on one, a lot or not, are great,” adding, “And I think that the future is bright, it’s gonna go to 800, and I hope 1000”.
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