Bob Burger Rocks On After Health Scares
by Chris Jordan
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Rock ‘n’ roll is in the cards for Bob Burger.
Burger’s upcoming solo album, “The Domino Effect,” is framed by two songs that reference playing cards: “The Suicide King,” (the King of Hearts) and “The One-Eyed Jack” (the Jack of Spades). You play the hand you’re dealt in the game of life.
“It’s about when events occur, they set you up for the next event, and the next event you react in a way that’s based on what you experienced in the first event,” said Burger, 68, of the album’s concept. “So there’s a ripple effect, or a domino effect. You’re going to evaluate what’s going on based on what you know.”
“The Domino Effect” features 11 new gamboling rockers, mid-tempo movers and stirring ballads. “Only a Way” is a sweetly delivered lonely hearts club badge winner.
Burger, a member of the Beatles-inspired Weeklings, expertly crafts music tapping into the retro influences of the Fab Four, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Steely Dan and more — but it’s very much in the moment. “I didn’t pitch these songs to the Weeklings,” Burger said. “They don’t feel right for the Weeklings. The Weeklings is a different vibe.”
Burger’s tone is purposeful on “Domino,” as the musician delves into some pretty big concepts.
“The world is probabilistic,” he said. “It’s not deterministic to where things are defined as to what is going to happen, but there are probabilities.”
Yet, it’s not by chance that Burger, an Erie, Pa. native, who now lives in Eatontown, has had some pretty high profile gigs in his career. He played with Paul McCartney at a party in the Hamptons; Citi Field in New York City with Max Weinberg in the NHL Winter Classic; and across the country with Weinberg’s Jukebox. “Max is a generous and lovable guy to work with,” Burger said. “He takes really good care of us.”
Perhaps Burger’s most noteworthy Jukebox show was July 16, 2021, at the Suneagles Golf Club in Eatontown. It was his first after suffering a heart attack on stage at the Vogel theater at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank during an Elvis Costello tribute six weeks earlier. “Whatever they gave him it really worked because he’s singing and playing his (blank) off tonight,” said Weinberg of Burger, on the hot and humid evening. “Is he not ladies and gentlemen?!”
Since then, he’s had another health scare: Burger had spinal fusion surgery in March. “I’m feeling great — the surgery was very successful,” Burger said. “I’ll be starting up next month. I’m good for another 100,000 miles.”
The heart attack and surgery took place after Burger wrote most of “The Domino Effect,” which is dropping July 1 on the Bedminster-based Jem Records label. Yet, there does seem to be a foreshadowing of the songs on the album with the real-life challenges Burger has faced.
The fickle hand of fate can be countered by hard-won wisdom.
And some rock ‘n’ roll.
“I don’t know what would have happened to me if I wasn’t into music in a rock ‘n’ roll band,” Burger said. “It’s kind of saved my life and ruined my life at the same time, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”