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With Jeremy Allen White starring in the new biopic, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (now in theaters), there's never been a better time to be a fan of Bruce Springsteen. And while the movie takes fans deep into the making of his most defining record, Nebraska, those who want to walk in his footsteps know there's another state they have to visit: New Jersey. His home state still hums with his legend, after all, from seaside bars to the quiet suburban homes that helped shape his sound.
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The team at American Holidays compiled a list of eight must-see spots that will help explain and elaborate on The Boss' legacy. Start your pilgrimage in Freehold, New Jersey, at 39 1/2 Institute Street, the modest white house where Springsteen grew up in the late 1950s, and where his first glimpses of small-town Americana began to take shape.
A short drive away, E Street in Belmar inspired the name of his longtime backing group, the E Street Band. And at 7 1/2 West End Court in Long Branch, you’ll find the famous Born to Run house, where Springsteen wrote anthems like “Thunder Road” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.”
Down in Asbury Park, you’ll find Convention Hall, a historic venue where Springsteen regularly performed and rehearsed alongside legends like Led Zeppelin and James Brown. A few blocks away sits The Stone Pony, the gritty club where he cut his teeth and still occasionally drops in for surprise sets. You can even stop by Madam Marie’s, the boardwalk fortune teller who famously predicted Springsteen's rise to fame.
In Hoboken, stop in at Maxwell’s Tavern, the neighborhood bar where he filmed part of his “Glory Days” video. And for one final photo op, head back to 10th Avenue in Belmar, where a giant 8-foot guitar monument honors “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” and Born to Run.
Music pilgrimages like this are only growing in popularity. According to a recent survey from American Holidays, nearly a quarter of adults have a “music pilgrimage” on their bucket list.
“We’re starting to see a real shift in travel priorities, with customers choosing experiences that connect deeply with their passions and interests," Dee Burdock, head of product at American Holidays, said in an official statement. "Increasingly, customers are coming to us wanting to discover and experience the cities and landscapes that inspired the music they love.” We don't blame them.