TOMS RIVER, N.J. — A Bruce Springsteen tribute band lost a scheduled gig at a popular Toms River bar after the singer’s recent political comments during his European tour prompted concerns from the venue’s owner.
They say there’s two sides to every story, and this is the other side of the story that has not yet been told.
Tony Rivoli, owner of Riv’s Silverton Hub, said he canceled a planned performance by the tribute band No Surrender due to backlash surrounding Springsteen’s repeated criticism of former President Donald Trump and the United States during his shows abroad.
When you step into his reastaurant, you can instantly recognize that Rivoli is fan of 1980s rock and Springsteen’s music in particular, but said the decision was strictly business.
Rivoli’s appreciation for Springsteen goes back decades. When he opened his newest restaurant in Toms River, he celebrated by blasting the Springsteen classic “My Hometown” outside the venue.
Springsteen tracks still feature prominently on the bar’s house sound system, playing daily from early bird specials through closing. Despite being politically at odds with the New Jersey rocker, Rivoli said he had no problem booking No Surrender and had looked forward to hosting the tribute event.
That was until Springsteen ramped up his political attacks against President Trump and the rocker’s perceived view of America.
Rivoli noted that his venue, located in the conservative heart of Ocean County, doesn’t charge a cover fee, and a $2,500 band with potentially low turnout posed a financial risk, a risk he was ready and willing to take before Springsteen started his tour with politically charged diatribes.
He said the escalating backlash from Springsteen’s comments made him concerned that patrons would either stay home or tensions could rise inside the bar. While he trusted his security team to handle any issues, the concern over a poor turnout ultimately drove the cancellation.
The band said they would perform a generic “bar band” style cover set, but Rivoli said the price was too much for typical bar band doing generic covers.
He was paying for a quality Springsteen cover band.
“Unfortunately, it’s just too much money,” he said “I wanted to do the Springsteen tribute for that money, and my social media team would have promoted it. But now because Bruce can’t keep his mouth shut, we’re screwed.”
Cost and controversy outweigh music
Rivoli told the band directly that while he supported the idea of the performance initially, Springsteen’s politicized remarks had made the event unviable.
After Springsteen’s opening-night comments went viral, Rivoli said he was still willing to move forward. But when the musician continued speaking out at subsequent shows, it became too much.
“He couldn’t keep his mouth shut,” Rivoli said, noting that the continued political commentary began to reflect poorly on the bar’s planned event.
He couldn’t justify paying the $2,500 for a generic coverband either.
“You are not an $800 band,” he told the tribute group, emphasizing that he needed a guaranteed draw to justify the cost. “If you can guarantee me 75 people, that would change my decision.”
There was no guarantee, as Rivoli’s Hub is free entry and the owner relies on drinks and food to have a profitable night. A $2,500 cover band playing in an empty restaurant isn’t good for business.
He added that the clientele at his venue stand silently during the nightly playing of the national anthem and he believed many would not support a tribute act so closely tied to Springsteen at this time.
That’s the type of clients he attracts, blue collar, hardworking, patriotic Americans, in one of New Jersey’s most Trump-leaning towns.
“Toms River is red and won’t stand for his bullshit,” he said.
The band reportedly offered to modify their setlist to address Rivoli’s concerns, but the owner declined. “I was paying $2,500 for a Springsteen tribute band, not a generic bar band,” he said.
No Surrender refused a counter-offer for a lower rate performance. “You’re absolutely right, we are definitely not an $800 bar band,” the band replied.
Fallout after cancellation
After the deal collapsed, the band took to social media and accused the venue of canceling the show solely because they performed Springsteen songs, which Rivoli says misrepresents the situation.
The band’s claims attracted left-leaning media outlets like flies, none of whom contacted him for comment, he told us.
Rivoli maintains the decision had nothing to do with the tribute band itself and everything to do with the current environment surrounding Springsteen’s political image and the potential business impact.
“I’m not happy,” Rivoli said. “Unfortunately, it’s business.”
