Bossman Bruce Springsteen is turning 60 this year (September 23 — start planning now). Holy shit! 60?! I'm 23 and, according to Wednesday's performance, that man is in better shape than I will ever be. Our main man John Vettese alerted me to a project he's doing w with the good folks at WXPN — they're putting together a tribute to Springsteen to celebrate his six glorious decades on this earth.

John says:

I'm working with Helen Leicht at WXPN to put together a Springsteen Tribute in September for the guy's 60th b'day. We're trying to drum up Philly musicians who can cover The Boss, particularly stuff from Born to Run, since the centerpiece of of the tribute is going to be that album played front-to-back. Some of its songs have already been claimed, some assignments are in the works … but one we definitely need help on is "Jungleland." So far nobody has had the cajones to step up and take that on … and seriously, what the hell is Born to Run without "Jungleland?"

Come on, Philly musicians! Step up your game. Of course, "Jungleland" is a monster, but it's also the perfect closer to one of the most perfect albums ever created. Helen's got the skinny on how to submit:

We're looking for your Springsteen covers too! E-mail them to Philly Local at phillylocal@xpn.org to be a part of our Bruce Springsteen Tribute this September. We'll need your submissions by May 15.

John continutes:

To clarify — "submissions" equates to "decent quality demo recordings." And they don't have to just be from Born to Run, since she plans on playing tracks on air and plugging them on the blog in the month leading up to it. Some of the artists I've already talked to are working out renditions of stuff from "State Trooper" to that song from the Jerry McGuire soundtrack. [ed. note: "Secret Garden," fucking great song].

My fave Springsteen covers? Sleater-Kinney used to rock 'em onstage a lot and they were always phenomenal, and I've definitely been digging the Hold Steady's version "Atlantic City" from the War Child benefit comp Heroes (listen to it here). But you can show them up, can you Philly Springsteen-ites. Get crackin'!