Sha-La Music announced the release of the Hard Enough (Remix) single by US roots rocker DownTown Mystic on January 23, featuring the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame rhythm section from Bruce Springsteen's legendary E Street Band—drummer "Mighty" Max Weinberg and bassist Garry Tallent. This single represents the first release from the upcoming On E Street Remix project and will be distributed worldwide by The Orchard/Sony Music, with the single dropping at Non-Com/College Radio on January 20 through Brandon Day/Tinderbox Music handling radio promotion.
The importance of this release lies in its connection to a significant moment in rock history and its mission to revitalize rock'n'roll in contemporary music. The Hard Enough (Remix) single contains two tracks, including a previously unheard instrumental track (TV Mix), and serves as a showcase for DownTown's "vintage yet modern" motto, achieving an "old school" rock'n'roll vibe through the contributions of the two E Street Band members. This release is part of DownTown Mystic's broader mission to bring the art of rock'n'roll back to the contemporary music scene, with the remix featuring a classic Rolling Stones sound where Max Weinberg channels Charlie Watts on drums while Garry Tallent offers a bass line reminiscent of Springsteen's Ramrod.
The historical context adds substantial weight to this musical collaboration. DownTown Mystic writer/producer Robert Allen remixed the tracks with engineer Joe DeMaio at Shorefire Studios, where they were originally recorded, to present them in a new light to a new audience. These recording sessions have taken on historical significance because when they occurred, Max Weinberg and Garry Tallent were simultaneously recording what would become the biggest album of Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's career—Born In The USA. Robert Allen explained, "When we cut the track for Hard Enough, Max & Garry were still recording the album with Bruce. Having the chance to play and record my songs with them at that point in time was amazing." He added, "The rhythm section is the engine that drives a band. I think Max and Garry are one of the best RnR rhythm sections the USA has ever produced."
This release continues DownTown Mystic's momentum following a successful 2025 that began with the adventurous One More Chance single ahead of the highly successful album The Wish and ended with rock critics celebrating the RnR epic Mystic Highway EP. The Somebody's Always Doin' Something 2 Somebody single was a surprise hit released ahead of the EP. Throughout the year, the artist achieved significant sync-licensing success, landing three songs in two movies—Everything's Going to Be Great starring Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney and Sovereign with Dennis Quaid and Nick Offerman. The 2026 release schedule appears promising, starting with the On E Street Remix project.
Industry publications have recognized DownTown Mystic's significance, with Jamsphere Magazine stating, "This is the place to start for timeless rock'n'roll!" while Coyote Music observed, "You can close your eyes and find yourself immediately transported to the Stone Pony, wondering if Springsteen or Little Steven might walk through the door and jump onstage with the band." Earmilk noted that "DownTown Mystic fires up the spirit of modern rock with raw energy," and Analyze My Lyrics commented that "Allen's writing champions the idea that true RnR isn't simply music from a specific era; it is a way of responding to the world—with rebellion, awareness, resilience, love, and humor."
Listeners can access the music through various platforms including the Hard Enough (Remix) at https://tinyurl.com/mwxfep8w, the Hard Enough video at https://tinyurl.com/3sxxhut7, DownTown Mystic's official website at https://downtownmystic.net, Spotify at https://tinyurl.com/y7ntbt88, and the DownTown Mystic YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/DowntownMystic1. Sha-La Music, formed in 1987, operates as an independent publishing and production company that includes a record label with worldwide digital distribution from The Orchard/Sony Music, having scored sync success with top music licensing companies in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville and Chicago such as Jingle Punks, Anthem Entertainment, Music of The Sea, Chop Shop Music, Bunim/Murray, and Music Dealers at https://sha-lamusic.com/.
