Tea Leaf Green Tribute Clarence Clemons At The Stone Pony

Springsteen and Clemons met at the Asbury Park bar in 1971, a story both men have told onstage for the past 40 years. Clemons, 69, the "Big Man" in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, died Saturday night.

Fans who came to pay respects were given free admission to evening headliners Tea Leaf Green who showed love and admiration for Clemons. "It was an honor to pay tribute to 'The Big Man' at our last show on this leg of the tour," said guitarist/vocalist Josh Clark. "We saw firsthand how much Asbury Park and the Stone Pony loved him. We listened to him play all day in the van on our way down there."

Fellow band member Trevor Garrod added, "When we found out Clarence had died we where still a few hours from Asbury Park. It was a beautiful day; the sun was setting into a riot of crimson clouds; flowers and chalk drawings lined the sidewalk outside of the club. The Atlantic Ocean's waves rolled calmly in across the street. Though we where only coming through coincidentally, we nonetheless felt honored to be part of the celebration of this great musician's life. We couldn't help but feel that somehow the universe was encouraging us to keep up this tradition of rock 'n roll. After we played our set, I jumped into the moonlit sea with some kids who had come to watch the show. I couldn't help but wonder if, back in the day, Clarence had ever done the same. He will be missed."

San Francisco Bay Area troubadours Tea Leaf Green are newfangled Lost Boys, a traveling gang dedicated to seeking wisdom and experience in places both glorious and seedy. The band's summer tour kicks off on July 2 in Colorado on the heels of its seventh studio album, Radio Tragedy!, freshly released through Thirty Tigers.

In many ways, this quintet is the essence of rock's adventurous, playfully outlaw spirit, all of which ultimately fuels songs that resonate with classic vibrations, open-ended possibilities and radio-ready charm. With Radio Tragedy!, Tea Leaf Green have made a record that's both timely and timeless - a strange, beautiful space that they inhabit naturally and gracefully.

TEA LEAF GREEN Summer tour dates 2011