Max Weinberg — the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band — recently took his touring show to The Barns at Wolf Trap! Steve Satzberg was there to photograph the show.
The following article is adapted from a press release.
Max Weinberg’s Jukebox is an unforgettable, truly interactive experience like no other. Longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band and bandleader for Conan O’Brien, Weinberg invites the audience to create a setlist in real time. That’s right, the crowd yells out their song choices — from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to Bruce Springsteen’s biggest hits — and Weinberg’s stellar four-piece band plays them!
On April 1 at The Barns at Wolf Trap, the 27-song setlist ranged from The Beatles to The Rolling Stones to The Band to the Ramones and of course, to Bruce Springsteen.
Watch Max Weinberg give a rundown of his touring kit for Modern Drummer on YouTube:
In 1974, Max Weinberg was playing in pit bands for theatrical productions when he answered the Village Voice advertisement that requested a drummer capable of playing R&B and jazz (“no Jr. Ginger Bakers”) for an immediate audition.
Weinberg had never seen the E Street Band and was unfamiliar with their material, but the skill, acumen, and attentiveness he displayed on a run through Fats Domino’s “Let the Four Winds Blow” won him the job. His ability to take cues from Springsteen — specifically, playing a rim shot when Bruce held up his hand to stop the band and then starting back into the song — had made a strong impression.
Max joined the E Street Band at the same time as new pianist Roy Bittan. Dubbed “The Mighty Max,” his crisp, powerful drumming is a highlight of hits such as “Born in the USA,” as well as deeper album tracks such as “Candy’s Room.”
Following the band’s hiatus in 1989, Max worked on several different projects. Beginning in 1993, he went on to great success as the musical director and band leader for “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” assembling a top flight set of musicians to form the Max Weinberg 7.
Max was featured on “Late Night” not only as bandleader but also as a comic foil to O’Brien, particularly in the show’s sketches. When the E Street Band reunited and proceeded to tour regularly in the 2000s, NBC allowed a special dispensation, permitting Max to take leaves of absence from the show in order to go on tour.
Max’s time in late night television was also notable for sharpening his drumming. Having to play regularly for more than 150 programs a year, accompanying icons from Tony Bennett to Isaac Hayes, meant that Max’s chops were as strong as they had ever been. When the E Street Band reunited, his strengths were displayed each night.
In 2014, Max was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band. In 2017, shortly upon conclusion of The River Tour, he launched Max Weinberg’s Jukebox, an interactive live music show (“it’s a party, not a concert”) where the program changes nightly based on audience requests chosen from an ever-changing song list. When he’s not on the road with the E Street Band, Max Weinberg’s Jukebox plays 50+ shows annually. Max was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2022.
Here are some photos of Max Weinberg’s Jukebox performing at The Barns at Wolf Trap on April 1, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Steve Satzberg.
