Hank azaria channels bruce springsteen for concert tour | members only

He’s a well-known actor who has appeared in such feature films as _The Birdcage_ and _Quiz Show_ and starred in the IFC TV series _Brockmire_. And he’s perhaps most revered for voicing Moe

the Bartender, Police Chief Wiggum and other iconic characters on _The Simpsons_. But now Hank Azaria is using his vocal talents to sing the songs of Bruce Springsteen with his group, the

lovingly named EZ Street Band. This project started as a lark at Azaria’s 60th birthday party in April 2024. “I couldn’t figure out what to do because I’m not really a party guy,” Azaria

says. “I got this nutty notion that I could sing a few songs as Bruce. It would be fun to try to do that. I put together a band and did like a reverse surprise party, where I’d tell people

there’s going to be a Springsteen tribute band there, but not tell them I’m the frontman.” It went so well that he decided to keep the tribute going, playing live shows, including at Bruce’s

old haunt, the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey. A tour is planned for this year, starting Feb. 6 in Orlando. (See the schedule at ezstreetnyc.com.) Ticket proceeds go to Azaria’s Four

Through Nine Foundation for education, social justice and mental wellness. Azaria had sung in character before — on _The Simpsons_ and in episodes of _Ray Donovan_ and _The Marvelous

Mrs. Maisel — _but he’s never been in a band before this. “It’s the hardest I’ve ever worked on any vocal,” he says. As Azaria sets off on this new performing challenge, we asked him to

tell us about some of his favorite Springsteen songs. “THUNDER ROAD” (1975) “I discovered Bruce when I was a teenager, and that song more than any other captured that teenage longing — just

to get out of the physical, emotional and psychological circumstances one found themselves in and run to a happier future, hopefully with a lovely girl by your side.” “SHE’S THE ONE” (1975)

“It’s the most muscular, mushy romantic song ever created. But it was the most difficult to sing. I had to unlock it line by line. It took months. It was like a Rosetta Stone of my

Springsteen impression. That sort of unlocked the whole canon for me.” “BACKSTREETS” (1975) “We’ve all had teenage heartbreak, but the difference between us mortals and Bruce is that he goes

through heartache and writes an operatic opus. I think I ate a lot of ice cream and cried to my mom.” “GROWIN’ UP” (1973) “It’s the song I love to sing most in concert. Our version is

based on his live version where he tells a story about his childhood. I tell a story about my son Hal and how much I admire him. He’s 15 years old and he’s the opposite of me in such good

ways. He’s kind of my hero.” “DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN” (1978) “One time I sang it for my wife, and I looked up and she was crying. I said, ‘Sweetie, what’s the matter?’ She’s like, ‘You

sound good.’ I was like, ‘Are you surprised?’ She said, ‘Yeah, because you have not sounded very good for months. I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you. I don’t think you can do

this, and you’re going to make a fool of yourself if you try.’ And that was a little breakthrough. She was not going to have to let me down easy and she could let me do this.”