Concert Review: Bruce Springsteen And The E-Street Band - August 30, 2016

Two words sum up the experience of my 20^th Bruce Springsteen concert---holy shit! It is nights like this one that remind me why I became a fan of Bruce Springsteen in the first place. With all of the speculation and second guessing about what was going to happen, no one was prepared for what actually transpired. And it wasn’t just the song selection, which was absolutely incredible.It was also the power and the energy produced that made this an unforgettable evening. The interaction with the audience. The boundless excitement that Bruce showed to the crowd and that the crowd showed right back. Every single moment seemed memorable, magical, and mesmerizing. It was pure concert bliss for over 4 hours.

Before The Night Began

Yes, I did get to witness the longest show ever performed in the United States and the second longest of Springsteen’s career. That single fact alone would rank this as one of the best concerts I ever attended, but as we’ve discussed before, length isn’t everything. The power of the performance bears a lot of weight as well. And the performance at MetLife Stadium on that warm August evening was one for the ages.

The event began with a very special opening number. Even though I knew it was coming, starting the concert with “New York City Serenade” was a rare treat for me. I had only seen this song performed live once beforeway back in 1999. I have wanted to see it again ever since. Finally, 17 years later, I would get the chance. My patience was rewarded with a stunning rendition of this beautiful lost classic from The Wild, The Innocent, and the E-Street Shuffle. The song worked perfectly as an opener and it slowly pulled the crowd in for what would be an extended night of entertainment. Roy on the piano set “New York City Serenade” and Bruce’s short, quick, acoustic guitar notes sang out into the stadium. We were off and running. Serenade lasted almost fifteen minutes and the roar of approval at the end showed just how beloved this song, and this band, is.

After “New York City Serenade” Bruce welcomed the crowd with a grand “Good evening, New Jersey!” He then told us that they were going to try and play the songs that they didn’t get to the first two nights. I didn’t realize that would mean almost every track that people would want to hear from his first two albums. 5 songs off of Greetings From Asbury Park, N.j. kicked the night into high gear and left several jaws wide open (mine included). It was at that moment I knew this was going to be a concert like none I had ever experienced. Perhaps every third Springsteen performance that I see, I’ll get a track or two from one of the first two albums. Usually “Spirit In the Night” or “Growing Up.” Almost never would I experience more than two and never would they be 9 out of the first 10 songs played. We were well over an hour into the show before Bruce played an original that wasn’t from his first two albums.

“Summertime Blues,” played by sign request, served as the perfect segue from Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. to The Wild, The Innocent, and the E-Street Shuffle. I’ve always loved the E-Street version of “Summertime Blues” and it was even more fun on that night in the Meadowlands. After ending the song, Bruce stepped to the microphone and announced “We haven’t played this one in quite a while.” The band then ripped into “4^th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy),” and all of us were sitting on the Jersey Shore with Bruce, experiencing the boardwalk life, and feeling the thrill of the rides and the smell of the surf.

A blistering “Kitty’s Back” would follow and then the moment of the night for me occurred. I was able to witness a live performance of “Incident On 57^th Street” for only the second time in my Springsteen concert attending career and it was brilliant! Goosebumps broke out all over my skin as the song played on. And when we got to the end of the number, Roy’s piano continued, just like it does on the album. Roy wasn’t stopping and most of the fans in attendance knew what that meant. Springsteen paused with guitar in hand and gave us all a sly look as if to ask “should I do it?” More than a few of us screamed “Do it!’ And with that, the opening notes of “Rosalita” hit the air and every single person in MetLife Stadium was on their feet. The rare album sequence performance of “Incident on 57^th Street” into “Rosalita” was absolutely awesome and one of the best gifts I ever received at a Springsteen concert.

And the night was only getting started!I got to witness Springsteen’s cover of “Pretty Flamingo” for the first time ever and it did not disappoint. A brilliant performance of “Atlantic City” came next and served as another segue, this time into the pack of Born In The USA songs that would follow. “I’m Goin’ Down,” “Darlington County,” “Working On The Highway,” and “Downbound Train” left my throat raw from screaming and singing at the top of my lungs. A gorgeous version of “I’m On Fire” followed to wrap up the Born In The USA package. I was stunned and speechless by that point, but Springsteen was nowhere near done.

The album that was the purpose of the entire tour finally had a couple of songs performed. “Hungry Heart,” and “Out In The Street” would be the only representatives from The River that night, and that was okay with everyone in the crowd. By that point, Bruce could do no wrong. A fantastic rendition of “Living Proof” was next, but sadly, most people sat through it. Showing once again that the 1992 Springsteen songs just don’t get any love, which is a shame. I was extremely happy that Bruce pulled out “Living Proof” and it only added to the unique spirit of the night for me.

Five fan favorites wrapped up the main portion of the evening. By the time the crowd was chanting the Badlands chorus, over three hours had passed since the opening notes of “New York City Serenade.” And we still had an encore to go. The encore provided another first for me at a Springsteen concert. Seeing a performance of “Secret Garden.” I forgot how grand that song is! I would later learn, thanks to the wonderful fan site Backstreets (www.backstreets.com), that it was only the 4^thtime ever this song had been performed live. No wonder I forgot about it!

MetLife Stadium Going Crazy For Bruce!

 Even though I’ve seen “Jungleland” performed quite a few times, I have never witnessed a version like this. Perhaps it was the intensity that the night demanded, the song selection that led up to it, or just the setting that we were in, but this was one of the best “Jungleland” I’ve seen. Springsteen sang with an intensity that we haven’t felt on this song for a while, and Jake Clemons absolutely nailed the solo made famous by his uncle. After the solo, Jake stood on the stage, motionless and Bruce walked over and embraced him. It was a very touching moment in an emotionally charged night.

“Dancing In The Dark” found Bruce playing dance leader and pulling people from the pit onto the stage to dance. One wise gentleman held a sign that read “I’d go a bit woozy if I could dance with sister Soozie” (referring to none other than violinist Soozie Tyrell, of course). He got brought on stage. Another witty fella held a sign that read “My wife gave me permission to dance with Patty”. He got hoisted onstage, although it took a little extra effort to get him up. He was a big man and apparently it’s not as easy to climb onto the stage as people think. A girl with a sign that said “Last dance before school” got raised up. And a random girl got to dance with Bruce. All of these people were in their glory. All of these people lived a moment in their lives that they will never forget. He even let them all join on the microphone and sing the chorus with him. Who does that? And that is what makes Springsteen such a master. I am sure the security detail absolutely hates that he brings people on stage like that, but Bruce isn’t hearing it. He wants everyone in the building to have the night of their lives every time they perform.

The night ended with the same song that ended the previous two MetLife Stadium shows, “Jersey Girl.” By this point it was well after midnight, but no one had left for the parking lot. The New Jersey crowd sang along with “Jersey Girl” to finish the night and a lot of guys held their ladies, swaying and swooning to the Tom Waits classic that Bruce has made his own.

When it was all over, Bruce had performed for over 4 hours (1 minute over to be exact) and I was exhausted. I was euphoric, but I was still exhausted. After 20 Springsteen concerts, I had never witnessed one quite like that and it immediately went to the top of my list as best Springsteen concert ever. In a few months, we will see if it still remains there, but I don’t see any way that this could be knocked off the top of the perch. It may even be the best concert I’ve ever attended. The night was full of magic and memories that are going to stay with me for a lifetime.

Setlist

New York City Serenade

Blinded By The Light

Does This Bus Stop At 82^nd Street?

It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City

Spirit In The Night

Summertime Blues

4^th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)

Kitty’s Back

Incident On 57^th Street

Rosalita (come Out Tonight)

Pretty Flamingo

Atlantic City

I’m Goin’ Down

Darlington County

Working On The Highway

Downbound Train

I’m On Fire

Hungry Heart

Out In The Street

Living Proof

Candy’s Room

She’s The One

Because The Night

The Rising

Badlands

Encore

Secret Garden

Jungleland

Born To Run

Dancing In The Dark

Tenth Avenue Freeze-out

Twist And Shout

Glory Days

Shout

Jersey Girl

Rest In Peace Clarence "Big Man" Clemons

Bruce Introducing The Big Man



It was with great sadness that I learned Clarence Clemons passed away on Saturday night. As a teenager, I idolized the man. He was a hero to me, an inspiration, and the main reason that I decided to learn the saxophone when I was in high school. From the first time that I heard Born To Run, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band captivated my soul. A large part of that was due to the Big Man behind the horn.

Growing up as an anxiety filled teen complete with all of the melodrama that teenage years bring, Springsteen’s music became an escape. On albums like Born To Run and Darkness On The Edge Of Town, I could see myself in the characters that Bruce had created. I felt the pain while listening to “Backstreets.” I felt the pure emotion when Clarence would wail his saxophone solo on “Jungleland.”

Throughout my young adult life, Bruce and Clarence become a detailed part of many of my greatest music memories. One of the biggest thrills in my life was when I got to meet Clarence Clemons in person. I will never forget how wonderful and gracious he was. I will never forget how he sat and listened to my silly “sprained ankle” story with a grin on his face. Clarence actually listened with interest and that is something I’ve held close to my heart ever since.

I could write thousands of words expressing the sorrow that I feel in his passing. I could fill posts and posts with tributes and eulogies of how sad it is to see the Big Man go. However, I think it’s best to utilize the words of Clemons’ best friend Bruce Springsteen as he eloquently put it on “Jungleland”: “And the poets down here don’t write nothing at all --- they just stand back and let it all be.”

Rest in peace, Big Man, you will be missed, but you will also be remembered.

You’re A Friend Of Mine



Jungleland Solo

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Stupid Vancouver Fans Edition

On Wednesday night, the city of Boston celebrated while the Bruins hoisted the Stanley Cup as the 2010/2011 champions. They played an excellent series. Boston's goaltender, Tim Thomas, was outstanding in all seven games and the Bruins deserved to win the cup. What did they do in the city of Vancouver to mourn their loss? They rioted. How STUPID can fans be? Apparently very stupid. Here's a link to some pictures that were captured during the riot:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/gallery/vancouver-canucks-fans-riot-after-stanley-cup-finals-game-7-061511/?gt1=39002#photo-title=Frustration%20boils%20over&photo=29901680

Seriously? This is how a respected city with respected citizens mourns the loss of a sporting event? Personally, I think they should consider kicking Vancouver out of the league. Their stupid, deranged, drunken, disorderly fans have not only disgraced the beautiful city of Vancouver, but they've also disgraced the National Hockey League. Judging by these photos, they seem to be proud of it. How dumb can you be? This is a disgusting display of poor sportsmanship. Unfortunately, the fans that aren't like this are going to be lumped in with the dummies that did the rioting. And they say heavy metal fans are psychotic. I don't see any fans of heavy metal burning down cities.

Here's what rocked this week:

Clarence Clemons Hospitalized
There is sad news from the Bruce Springsteen camp. Saxophonist extraordinaire, Clarence Clemons was hospitalized due to a stroke. The latest reports show that his health is improving, but he still has a battle ahead of him. My thoughts and prayers go out to the big man and his family during this rough time. I hope that his recovery is a speedy one.

Gene Simmons And Shannon Tweed - Is It Over, Or Is It Just A Hoax?
Gene Simmons' Family Jewels season 6 premiered this week. And while promoting the premiere on both The Joy Behar show and the Today show, it appeared that the couple was splitting up. Shannon Tweed apparently became upset over a photo she saw of Gene with some female fans but wouldn't elaborate further. And now Gene is tweeting that he is willing to go to counseling. Hmmmmm, smells like a ratings ploy to me. I guess only time will tell, but my gut tells me that they are far from finished.

The Lead Singer Of The Coasters Dies At 83
On an even sadder note, Carl Gardner, the lead singer of The Coasters has passed away after being in hospice care. The Coaster's big hit "Yakety Yak" was one of my favorite songs growing up. As a child, my mother and I would listen to The Coasters and The Platters a lot. It's always sad when we lose another great member of the music family. The Guru's thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Carl Gardner.

Adele Is A Bonafide Smash Success
Adele's latest album, 21, has hit number one on the Billboard 200 again. This is the tenth (non consecutive) week that Adele has held the top honor. And record executives still insist that no one pays for music anymore? Apparently they pay for Adele.

Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 122
Albums Remaining: 1931

For more news, reviews, rants, raves, and Every Album Challenge updates, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band - August 31, 2003

Show 6 of 6

It was the final night of the band’s historic ten-night, sold out run at Giants Stadium in support of The Rising. For their last New Jersey show, Springsteen and the band pulled out all the stops. They played rarities, classics, unexpected crowd pleasers and more. This was one of Bruce’s finest moments in New Jersey and I was a proud member of the audience.

On the final night of the Giants Stadium leg of The Rising tour, Cathy and I spent time tailgating in the parking lot with her co-worker and her co-worker’s husband, drinking and talking Bruce Springsteen. The husband, ironically named Bruce, had attended close to 50 shows at that point. I was impressed as it would only be my 12th Springsteen concert. Bruce had travelled all over to see Springsteen in concert and was a huge fan.

Cathy laughed as it was only her 2nd time seeing Bruce (both of them with me). With excitement surrounding everyone, we finished our drinks, said our goodbyes to Cathy’s friends, and made our way to the seats. We were pretty high up for this concert, but I was just happy to be there. Bring on the band!

Anytime that Bruce Springsteen opens a show with a rare treat like Cynthia, well, you just know that it is going to be a grand night. Such was the case at the end of the summer in 2003.From the opening notes of the opening song, the entire audience knew that this show was going to be special. Cynthia filled the stadium, and as this was the first time I ever heard the song live, I loved every moment of it. It was one of the greatest ways to kick off the night, and shattered my expectations for what type of show we were in for.



The next two songs were standard, and that was to be expected. Two more rare treats were next – Night, which was nice to hear, followed by Lucky Town, which was totally unexpected. I am one of the minority fans that loves the 90s solo Bruce albums. Lucky Town and Human Touch are two strong albums, in my opinion, and anytime Bruce performs them in concert with the E-Street band makes me very happy. 5 songs in and Bruce had already thrown us 2 rarities. We were going to have fun on that night!



A couple more “standards” were played then a rousing rendition of Spirit In The Night, followed by a blistering Because The Night, graced our ears. Springsteen’s guitar was on fire for the performance of that song, and Max was mighty on the drums, keeping perfect time and slapping the skins with a mission. The band was tight, together, and on tempo, performing with ferocity.

After another hard rocking performance of Mary’s Place, which found Bruce Springsteen once again preaching to the crowd about a house of love built by members of the E-Street band (including their individual introductions), things got really heated. Lost In The Flood was trotted out, and the insane live version left jaws hanging open. Just when the crowd thought that Springsteen might think about coasting to the end of the show, he pulled out a rarity from the first album. A song that doesn’t get many live performances, Lost In The Flood was much appreciated, and the crowd roar emphasized that fact.

Oh, but the fun (and the rarities) didn’t end there. The first encore found the E-Street Band delving into their second album with a ten-plus-minute performance of Kitty’s Back. Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, and Nils Lofgren, all took turns with the solos and Roy Bittan and Danny Federici dueled on the piano and organ respectively. By the time Bruce took the microphone for the chanting of “Kitties back in town!!!” the entire crowd was singing and grooving along. The whole stadium was swinging and jiving.

As with most (if not all) Springsteen concerts, the energy didn’t end there. Glory Days and a show stopping Born To Run were up next and the crowd found a new surge of energy to sing, clap, and dance along. Bruce practically demanded that everyone be standing and jumping in the aisles. The New Jersey fans were more than happy to oblige.

The biggest and best treat, however, came on the very last song of the evening. If Cynthia was an unexpected opener, and Lost In The Flood and Kitty’s Back were deep cut rarities that we never expected to hear, then what did that make the show closer? Bruce pulled out his always fine version of Jersey Girl for the last song at Giants Stadium that year. Hands immediately went up in the air and all the guys grabbed their girls (me included) to sway in time and sing about how we were in love with a Jersey girl. It didn’t even matter that my wife was raised in New York. On that night, she, along with every other female in the audience, was definitely a Jersey girl – stamped with Bruce Springsteen’s approval.



For the final night of an excellent New Jersey Run, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street band gave a brilliant performance. No one walked away disappointed. It would have been impossible to.

Setlist
Cynthia
The Rising
Lonesome Day
Night
Lucky Town
Empty Sky
Waitin’ On A Sunny Day
Spirit In The Night
Because The Night
Badlands
Two Hearts
No Surrender
Mary’s Place
Lost In The Flood
Into The Fire
The Promised Land
First Encore
Kitty’s Back
Glory Days
Born To Run
Second Encore
My City Of Ruins
Land Of Hope And Dreams
Rosalita
Dancing In The Dark
Jersey Girl

Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band - July 26, 2003

Show 5 of 6

Night five of my six night run with Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band at Giants Stadium found some set changes, unexpected gifts, and a pretty solid setlist overall. While this was one of the shortest performances I witnessed during this run, it made up for the lack of quantity with plenty of quality. It never ceases to amaze me how brilliant a performer Bruce Springsteen can be.

My friend Kerry was returning to New Jersey after many years of living out west. When I found out that she was coming home around the same time Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band were performing at Giants Stadium, well, I had to get us tickets. Kerry and I attended one of the best Springsteen concerts I ever saw back in 1993, and I knew what a huge fan she was. What would be a better way to say “welcome back” to a dear old friend other than to get tickets for one of the shows?

Our concert fell on a Saturday, which meant no work that day. We got to the parking lot early and settled in. A little grilling, a little drinking, and a whole lot of fun was what we were looking for. It’s also what we had. We reminisced about the 93 concert, shocked by the fact that 10 years had gone by since then (and now you can add another 7). Where does the time go?

The band walked on stage to the usual Summer Wind backdrop and the humongous roar of the New Jersey crowd. It was Saturday night, it was summertime, and it was Bruce Springsteen, the future of rock and roll! The band lit into an opening number of Adam Raised A Cain and Kerry’s face lit up. I had mixed emotions. It’s not that I dislike Adam Raised A Cain, because I don’t. I think it’s a fantastic song; it’s just not one of my favorites. I was hoping for more of a rarity to open the show, but that would have to wait until August.

Standards came next in The Rising and Lonesome Day. A blistering The Ties That Bind followed by a very smooth Atlantic City had the night off and running. Good evening New Jersey! Saturday night in The Garden State! Bruce appeared to be happy about Saturday night, but something about his performance suggested otherwise. He was less playful that evening, more focused. It almost seemed that he came on that night to do his job as an entertainer, instead of allowing himself to have fun. The performance was still stellar, but the seriousness was a different approach that I had not witnessed so far during that tour.

Rarities included Darlington County, Two Hearts, and My Hometown. The latter of those songs holds a very special place in my heart, so to hear it live was an enormous treat. When I was 18 and living next door to my dad in Florida, he used to sometimes blast that song all night. Over and over and over again Dad would play My Hometown and think about New Jersey. He had left the state many years prior and was not planning to return. However, he missed his hometown and Bruce’s song would transport him back there, albeit for a few minutes at a time.

The first encore opened with an amazing version of Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out that had the whole stadium on their feet and screaming as loud as they could. Forever a classic, Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out was so much fun to dance along to. The rest of the encore was pretty standard for that summer run and left me slightly befuddled. I wouldn’t say that it was a bad performance, but it was definitely not a strong Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band performance. As previously mentioned, the Boss had a certain tone to him that evening. He was serious. He had work to do and he wanted to do it and move on. With that being said, even serious Bruce is a darned good concert. Out of the 6 nights that I saw the band that summer, this was by far the weakest of the nights. That doesn’t make it a bad show, just below expectations. And since Bruce always sets the bar sky high, expectations are way above average to begin with. I wouldn’t see the band perform for another month, but when I did, they would make up for this performance in more ways than I could imagine and take future expectations to an even higher level of greatness.

Setlist
Adam Raised A Cain
The Rising
Lonesome Day
The Ties That Bind
Atlantic City
Empty Sky
Waitin’ On A Sunny Day
Darlington County
Worlds Apart
Badlands
Two Hearts
No Surrender
Mary’s Place
My Hometown
Into The Fire
The Promised Land
First Encore
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Glory Days
Born To Run
Second Encore
My City Of Ruins
Land Of Hopes And Dreams
Rosalita
Dancing In The Dark

Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band - July 24, 2003

Show 4 of 6

My fourth show found Bruce and the band in top form. This concert would compete with July 18th for the best of the 6 that I attended. Packed with power, Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band gave a blistering, hot performance, on a cool, dry New Jersey Night.

A dry Thursday evening in July found me sitting in the stands of Giants Stadium for the 4th of 6 Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band performances that I would be attending. I went to my 4th Springsteen show of that Giants Stadium summer run with my ex-wife, Nancy. By the time that concert rolled around, I was pretty well versed in the Bruce Springsteen stadium concerts. I had a good idea of what to expect and what the bulk of the show would contain. That made the small surprises even grander.

Our seats were way up in nosebleed land, not quite as bad as night 2, but still high up and nowhere near as good as show 1 or 3. We waited in anticipation, speculating what song Bruce and the band would open with, what rarities we would hear that night, and what songs we looked forward to the most. We also reminisced about the 1999 arena shows.

The band walked onto the stage with the Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western theme from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly playing over the house PA. That was a fun way to kick off the event. Without saying a word, they took the stage, grabbed their instruments, and kicked into The Promised Land to launch the night. What a spectacular choice for an opener! Just like that, night 4 was off and running.

The setlist was exceptional for that Thursday evening, and the first few songs of the night proved it. The Promised Land gave way to The Rising, which fed into Lonesome Day. The first rarity of the evening came with a brilliant, jaw dropping performance of Streets of Fire. The band sounded amazing and Nils, Bruce, and Steven’s guitar work was exceptional! I was blown away and we were only 4 songs into the set. I knew this was going to be an amazing evening.

My favorite song from Tracks came next (My Love Will Not Let You Down) and we were off and running from there. The blistering setlist never stopped with hit after hit after hit. Empty Sky was the only slow and quiet moment out of the first 13 songs. Bruce and the band were executing at a blistering pace and having an incredible time while doing it. Perhaps it was the weather (the first dry night in 3 shows), or maybe it was the atmosphere, or maybe it’s because cousin Ryo was in the audience – whatever the case, this was a solid performance. I was coming off the stupendous marathon rain concert from July 18th that was going to be hard to top. However, The E-Street Band was up for the task and trying their hardest to give a better performance than that one.

When a very special Meeting Across The River was segued into Jungleland, I got goosebumps up and down my spine. This was a moment in live Springsteen history that I had been waiting years for. To finally see it unfold before my eyes left me speechless and tingly. The band didn’t stop there though. They continued into a stunning rendition of Into The Fire that left the audience slack jawed. How was Springsteen bringing so much energy on that night?

The main set closed out with a fine version of No Surrender, and the audience was left to catch their breath while the band walked offstage. We needed every moment of the break to do so. Springsteen had us sweaty, rocking, and enjoying the fine summer night.
The encores were where things really got intense. The first song of the first encore was none other than the classic 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy). How’s that for a show stopper? It rolled right into a boogie-woogie, piano driven, roadhouse rendition of Ramrod that found the band dancing all over the stage and even walking off to leave Professor Roy Bittain to do a little piano solo of his own. The E-Street Band then waltzed back onstage to finish with fire. But Bruce wasn’t done. Born To Run kicked off and while I thought it would be impossible, the crowd got louder. They had to hear us in New York City by that time.

The evening would finish off with the standard encore songs that were played during that Giants Stadium trip, which were fantastic, but not as powerful as the rare beauties that Springsteen had performed for us that evening. The fourth concert of my series was running a very close race with the third concert for best performance of the group. Springsteen and company brought their all and delivered another amazing performance. It only made me yearn for Saturday night when I would be back for my fifth show of the tour.

Setlist
The Promised Land
The Rising
Lonesome Day
Streets Of Fire
My Love Will Not Let You Down
Prove It All Night
Empty Sky
Waitin’ On A Sunny Day
Working On The Highway
Worlds Apart
Badlands
She’s The One
Mary’s Place
Meeting Across The River
Jungleland
Into The Fire
No Surrender
Encore 1
4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
Ramrod
Born To Run
My City of Ruins
Encore 2
Land Of Hopes And Dreams
Rosalita
Dancing In The Dark

Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band - July 18, 2003

Show 3 of 6

The third night of Bruce’s historic ten night run at Giants Stadium found me once again sitting in the audience, this time with my girlfriend (who became my wife), Cathy. It was her first ever Springsteen concert. She couldn’t have picked a better one. And on a rainy Friday night in Jersey, Cathy and I truly fell in love, Bruce and the band performed one of their most amazing concerts ever, and I made some new friends (even if it was just for one night).

Excellent seats. That’s the first thing that comes to mind whenever I think of the third night that I saw Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band on their 2003 Giants Stadium summer run. The seats that we had that night were simply amazing. No, they weren’t on the field, but they were 3rd row, dead center in the lower bowl. End Zone seats, if you will. And for the Bruce concert they were simply outstanding.

The second thing that comes to mind when reminiscing about that night is the weather. We got rained on pretty much all night long, and we really didn’t care. Once a certain level of wetness is achieved, all you can say is “bring it on!” The weather obliged, but Cathy and I survived.

The third thing that comes to mind regarding that night (and the first thing Cathy always mentions) is the gentleman who fell in love with me. A happy drunk concert attendee who sat next to Cathy and I professed his love for me on more than one occasion. At one point, we were even singing with our arms around each other like we’d been friends for years. It was one of the most surreal moments in my concert history, but pretty awesome none the less.

When we arrived at the stadium, the clouds were filling in and it was only a matter of time before the rain would start. To me, that was good and bad. Rain meant that The E-Street Band was most likely going to perform a cover of Who’ll Stop The Rain. That was terrific, because it was a song that I had never seen the band perform in concert. The downside of the rain was that, well, we were going to get seriously wet. Neither Cathy nor I had brought a raincoat or a poncho, and it was inevitable that we would just have to soak it up.

We settled into our seats and waited for the band to make their grand entrance. Cathy and I had only been dating for three months, so our relationship was still exciting and new. We could sit there and stare at each other, not having to say anything and the moment was perfect. We talked a little, but mostly we just enjoyed one another’s company.

The sounds of Frank Sinatra’s Summer Wind filled the stadium and we all knew what that meant. It was time for some Springsteen. The band casually strolled to the stage to the Summer Wind and took their positions. Bruce and Clarence came out together (last) and a colossal roar broke out from the crowd. Once Bruce and the Big Man were in position, the opening notes of none other than Who’ll Stop The Rain filled the air, and I knew that this was going to be a magical night.

Who’ll Stop The Rain led into The Rising and was followed by Lonesome Day; The Ties That Bind; and My Love Will Not Let You Down. During those songs, the seats filled to capacity and the man who would become my best buddy for the night took his seat next to us. We sang along to the first 5 songs overjoyed. A Springsteen concert has the tendency to do that to people.

Bruce addressed the crowd for the first time after My Love Will Not Let You Down and joked about the rain. The band then broke into Something In The Night and I screamed my head off. Anytime that any song from Darkness On The Edge Of Town or Born To Run is performed, it’s just fantastic. To me, those have always been the two greatest Springsteen albums ever produced. Hearing Something In The Night live was a rare treat for me and I sang every word of the song.

Later in the concert, the band would perform Racing In The Street, to which I would once again go nuts and sing every lyric of the song. It was at that point that my new found friend, who had been casually talking to Cathy and I between songs, professed his love. “I ;ove this guy!” he exclaimed, putting his arm around me. “He knows every word to ever song! Now that’s a true fan!”

Cathy was laughing and found it quite amusing that this guy was almost hitting on me. I smiled and laughed too. It felt nice to be recognized for being the die-hard fan that I was (and still am). It made an impression on my new buddy, and that made an impression on my new girlfriend (Cathy and I had only been dating for a little over 3 months at that point). It was a fun way to spend a Friday night.

Special songs from that night were plenty. In addition to the two aforementioned Darkness songs, Cadillac Ranch showed up as the first song of the first encore. My new buddy was to my right and my girlfriend was to my left and I had my arms around both of them. We sang and danced to Cadillac Ranch as the rain continued to fall on us. We lifted our heads to the sky and let it rain right on our faces. We didn’t have a care in the world.

As usual, Bruce and the band continued to play, looking like they were never going to stop. Cathy could not believe how long the concert went on for and I enjoyed every second of it, hoping that the night would never end. But, like all grand concerts, this one too came to a close. Dancing In The Dark finished the night off and as the rain finally started to taper off, Cathy and I sat, waiting for the crowd to push out of the way before we made our exit. We sat in our seats holding each other and basked in the glory of what we had just witnessed and participated in. It was a magical night that we would remember forever.

For Cathy, it was her first Bruce concert and it made her a true, die-hard fan. From that moment on, she was a Springsteen fanatic and would attend every concert of his that I would go to in the future. For me, I fell in love with Cathy. She was so happy, so genuine, and so radiant with joy, that there was no way you couldn’t fall in love with her. The two of us strongly bonded that night, and it’s a memory that we will share forever.

Setlist
Who’ll Stop The Rain
The Rising
Lonesome Day
The Ties That Bind
My Love Will Not Let You Down
Something In The Night
Empty Sky
Waitin’ On A Sunny Day
You Can Look (But You’d Better Not Touch)
Worlds Apart
Badlands
She’s The One
Mary’s Place
Racing In The Street
Into The Fire
No Surrender
First Encore
Cadillac Ranch
96 Tears
Bobby Jean
Glory Days
Devil With The Blue Dress/Good Golly Miss Molly
Born To Run
Second Encore
My City Of Ruins
Land Of Hopes And Dreams
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
Dancing In The Dark

Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band - July 17, 2003

Show 2 of 6

A standard performance for night two left me slightly disappointed. While it was still a Bruce Springsteen concert, which meant it was great, it lacked the depth that all of the other shows carried. Out of the 6 nights I saw that summer, this one was by far the weakest.

Following the amazing performance given by the band on opening night, I came to Giants Stadium for night two with high expectations. This time around I was attending the show with quite a different crowd from opening night. My colleagues Stephanie and Robin, along with my ex-wife, Nancy attended this concert with me.

Our seats were quite different from opening night as well. While on the first night I was in the low section with a good view, for night two, I was about as high up as you could get. I was literally the second to last row from the top – all the way up, section 325, row 31. I could touch the moon.

Although the ticket listed the start time at 7:30, it wasn’t until almost 8:30 that the sounds of Frank Sinatra’s Summer Wind filled the stadium and the band slowly made their way on stage. I knew from attending the first show that this would probably be the case. I also knew that we were in for a long night of exceptional entertainment.

The band wasted no time and launched right into The Rising, forgoing the acoustic version of Born In The USA this time around. With the title track of the latest album hitting the airwaves, we were underway. Lonesome Day followed and the new album was two for two. The first rarity of the evening was performed next in the form of Night. It was an excellent version that put a smile on my face.

One of the drawbacks of sitting on the moon at a stadium concert is the acoustics. While the sound carried well from the stage throughout the stadium, it was a little hard to hear all the way at the top. It was near impossible to know what Bruce was saying when he spoke to the crowd, and the softer songs were very quiet all the way up there. Although we still enjoyed ourselves, I would be hesitant to sit that high up for another concert.

Classics were hard to come by that evening. While we did get the aforementioned Night, a stunning Candy’s Room, and the timeless Growin’ Up, the rest of the setlist was pretty standard for that Giants Stadium run. The expected songs from the new album were all performed, and the encore was standard fare, with the exception of Hungry Heart.

Don’t get me wrong, it was still an incredible evening, but it lacked the power that the other Bruce shows had during that run. The second night at Giants Stadium wasn’t anywhere near as grand as the opening night. However, I expected there to be some night two letdown. I just didn’t expect that the drop off would be so severe.

Not that there was much to complain about, it was still Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band after all. And the following night would be a stunning concert that would blow me and my girlfriend away – a concert that may end up in the top ten of all time. That Thursday night’s performance was unfortunately the sandwich show in between the killer opening night, and the soon-to-be-legendary night three.

Setlist
The Rising
Lonesome Day
Night
Candy’s Room
Prove It All Night
Empty Sky
You’re Missing
Waitin’ On A Sunny Day
Growin’ Up
Worlds Apart
Badlands
Out In The Streets
Mary’s Place
Jungleland
Into The Fire
No Surrender
First Encore
Thunder Road
Hungry Heart
Ramrod
Born To Run
My City Of Ruins
Second Encore
Land Of Hopes And Dreams
Rosalita
Dancing In The Dark

Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band - July 15, 2003

Show 1 of 6

This was opening night of the North American leg of The Rising Tour. I had amazing seats, attended the show with family, and would see one hell of a performance from Bruce and the band. Opening night set the bar very high for the remaining five concerts that I would attend.

My first Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band concert at Giants Stadium was also the first time I had seen the band live in over three years. In late 2002, Bruce and the band held a marathon city tour and only scheduled one night in New Jersey (two if you count the rehearsal night, but that was special invitation only). Needless to say that night sold out so fast the ticketing system crashed. There would be no Springsteen concert for me.

Luckily, The Rising tour was one that would last a long time. In the summer of 2003, Bruce made it up to his Jersey fans by performing an unprecedented 10 shows at Giants Stadium. All of these concerts would sell out, but due to the abundance of tickets, no shows were sold out to me. I attended opening night with my Uncle Steve, Aunt Lorna, my cousin Jane, her husband Greg, and my mother. Mom was my date for that concert, and to this day, I am so glad that I took her to see Bruce at Giants Stadium.

We got to the stadium, found our seats, and settled in. I couldn’t believe how good the seats were and how great the stage looked from where we were sitting. Our tickets were for the lower tier, section 118, with a clear line of vision to the stage. These wouldn’t be the best seats I sat in for the run (those would come on Friday night), but they were pretty close. 4 of the 6 nights found me upstairs in the nosebleeds, but for opening night, I was sitting in style.

We waited and waited, wondering exactly when the band was going to take the stage. The tickets listed 7:30, and while we knew the concert wasn’t going to start at that time, I thought that 8:10 was a safe guess. I was wrong. At 8:25, Bruce sauntered onto the stage with an acoustic guitar and performed a stripped down solo rendition of Born in The USA. It was an interesting way to open the night.

From there, the band came onstage and the rock and roll kicked in. New songs The Rising and Lonesome Day were performed prior to the band ripping into a hard rocking version of The Promised Land. This was followed by an incredible My Love Will Not Let You Down from Tracks, and the crowd pleasing Darkness On The Edge Of Town. All of these songs were played before Bruce even addressed the audience.

With a rousing “Good evening New Jersey!” Bruce finally did address the crowd. He talked about how the band had been around the world and now it was good to be back home. Even though he no longer makes his home in New Jersey (having moved to California in the 90s) the crowd ate it up. A couple of slow songs from the new album were next, and then the E-Street Band really cut loose with a true classic.

Sherry Darling was pulled out and this was the only time I’ve ever seen this song performed live. I was so glad to be there on opening night for it. Sherry Darling is one of those timeless Springsteen songs that you just can’t help but tap your feet to. It’s a feel good song for sure and it felt good to hear it.

Other highlights of the night included an extra long, band introducing version of Mary’s Place, a beautiful The River, and a show stopping Into The Fire. As this was the first time I was hearing The Rising songs performed live, I paid special attention to them, and Into The Fire was without a doubt my favorite new song of the night. A haunting, dark, poetic song, Bruce and the band did it justice in the live setting.

A cover song showed up in the encore, but in typical Springsteen fashion, it was a cool cover song. It was also a song that I had never heard before anywhere. Seven Nights To Rock was a cover of a very stylish, bar band song that the E-Street Band strengthened up and delivered with passion. Everyone in the stadium was in awe and fanatics were frantically scratching their heads to figure out what song Bruce was performing. How could he have pulled out one that they did not know, or know about? This rockabilly bar song was a real crowd pleaser and I enjoyed every second of it.

The big hits were yet to come. After My City Of Ruins and Land of Hopes And Dreams kicked off the second encore, Bruce pulled out his biggest gun of the night. The opening chords to Rosalita were picked on the guitar and Giants Stadium erupted with a roar so loud it hurt. The epic, rags to riches, get your girl, Springsteen story in a song is beloved by Springsteen fans worldwide, but none more than in the Garden State. It was a moment of pure enjoyment for us all.

After Rosalita, I was sure that Springsteen was done. What did he have left to pull out? They played Rosalita, they played two encores, it was a wrap. I was wrong. Bruce and the band decided that we needed to hear one more. They pulled out Dancing In The Dark and did a fine rocking version of it. I was very impressed.

That ended the night, and seeing as how it was near midnight on a work evening, I was glad to be heading home. I would hurt the next day, and I would hurt for days to come (due to the number of concerts I attended), but it was worth it. To this day, I couldn’t tell you what the hell I did at work that week (I don’t even work for that company anymore) but I can still tell you what the stadium smelled like moments before Bruce took the stage. That is the power of music. That is the power of concerts. That is why I attend and will continue to attend. That is why I love concerts.

Setlist
Born In The USA (Acoustic)
The Rising
Lonesome Day
The Promised Land
My Love Will Not Let You Down
Darkness On The Edge Of Town
Empty Sky
You’re Missing
Waitin’ On A Sunny Day
Sherry Darling
Worlds Apart
Badlands
Out In The Street
Mary’s Place
The River
Into The Fire
No Surrender
Encore
Bobby Jean
Ramrod
Born To Run
Seven Nights To Rock
2nd Encore
My City Of Ruins
Land Of Hopes And Dreams
Rosalita
Dancing In The Dark

Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band - Summer 2003

In 2003, Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band went on an extensive stadium tour, their first in several years. The 1999 Reunion tour was arenas only, so this was their first time the band would perform at stadiums in quite a number of years. During the New Jersey leg of the run, Springsteen and the band scheduled (and sold out) an unprecedented 10 shows at Giants Stadium. These shows were split into two portions, with 7 happening in mid-July, and the final three occurring at the end of August.

Your cousin Ryo was fortunate enough to secure tickets for 6 of these 10 shows. With a little bit of effort, I probably could have attended all 10, but at $85/ticket plus parking and other amenities, it was a little hard to justify the cost. I settled on 6 shows and was joyous with that.

Each show I attended was its own unique experience. Every show was attended with different friends (although Cathy did see 2 out of the 6 with me), Bruce and the band performed a different concert every night, and each evening was a special event of its own. That’s the beauty of a Springsteen concert, every single show is different. If you see him perform 12 nights in a row, you will see 12 different concerts. That’s part of his magic and part of the reason why the man is such an amazing entertainer.

The 2003 Giants Stadium shows hold a very special place in my heart and in my concert history. I will never be able to recapture the experience I had that summer, no matter how many concerts I attend. The summer of 2003 was a special one for me personally and spiritually. I had just turned 30, I had just started dating an amazing woman who would eventually become my wife, and I had just started to understand the bigger picture that life had to offer. The 6 nights at Giants Stadium with Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band helped me explore myself and feel alive in a way that is near indescribable. They were special nights. They were magical nights. They were E-Street nights.

This week at The Rock And Roll Guru, I am going to be posting a review for each of the 6 concerts I attended that summer. If you are a fan of Springsteen, you’re going to love this week. If you’re a Springsteen hater, I invite you to return next week, when The Guru will be back its regularly scheduled programming. In the meantime, strap in, relax, and prepare to time travel with cousin Ryo. We’re going back 7 years to the summer of 2003. Memory lane with Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, here we come.

Tomorrow: July 15, 2003: the first of 6 Springsteen shows.

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - New Season of Hell's Kitchen Edition

I didn’t think it was possible. After getting a spring season of Hell’s Kitchen, followed by a summer season of Master Chef, I thought that Fox was done with Gordon Ramsay for a while. Perhaps there would be a new Kitchen Nightmares, but other than that, I figured there would be nothing until 2011.

Well, during this week’s finale of Master Chef, Fox aired commercials for a brand new season of Hell’s Kitchen that starts next Wednesday night (September 22). Cousin Ryo is one very excited individual. Anyone who reads The Guru with any regularity knows my love for Gordon Ramsay and Hell’s Kitchen. Knowing that I get a fall season of it (the first one in the shows history) has me giddy. If you want to see some seriously enjoyable entertainment, tune in to Fox Wednesday night at 8:00 pm Eastern.

Here’s what rocked this week:

From Good Homes Playing December Shows
The reunion continues, at least on the band’s own terms. One year after their first official reunion show, From Good Homes is back at it. This December they will be performing two nights at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey. These shows will take place on Friday, December 17th and Saturday, December 18th and are guaranteed to be amazing. Tickets are dirt cheap (at $28) and go on sale this Friday (as in today) at high noon. Visit www.tickets.com to get yours.

The String Quartet to Pop and Rock Wedding Essentials
There’s a new tribute album out, but not in the typical fashion that we’ve grown accustomed to. This time around, it’s a tribute album to wedding essentials. With songs such as Elton John’s Your Song, Dave Matthews Band’s Crash Into Me, and Journey’s Open Arms given the string make over, it will be interesting to hear this album in its entirety. Visit www.itunes.com for more information or to purchase this album.

Vie’s Verses
Another edition of Vie’s Verses has published over at Hard Rock Hideout. This time around I was asking which metal package tour would you like to see next year. You can check out the column by clicking on the link above.

Bruce Springsteen Debuts The Promise Documentary
And finally, there’s this little gem: Bruce Springsteen debuted the documentary that will be included in the Darkness On The Edge Of Town boxed set that is due out in November (2 months and counting). The documentary will also air on HBO on October 7th. Looks like I’ll have to find a friend who has HBO.

For more news, reviews, quips, and good times, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Labor Day Weekend Edition

Another summer comes to its unofficial end. Where did the summer go? I could have sworn it was Memorial Day only last weekend. Weren’t we just discussing the Rolling Stones release of the remastered Exile On Main Street and watching a video for Plundered My Soul? My, how the time flies!

For summer’s last gasp, Cathy and I will be attending a dinner party, and a barbecue. In addition to that, I will be seeing RUSH at the PNC Bank Arts Center tonight. I am looking forward to hearing Moving Pictures in its entirety along with some choice RUSH classics. It should be a fun-filled evening!

Here’s what rocked this week:

Bruce Springsteen To Release The Promise
As you already know if you read The Guru with any regularity, Bruce Springsteen is releasing a 6 disc box set for Darkness On The Edge Of Town. I personally cannot wait for this and I even have the money sitting aside in an envelope marked November 16th. November 17th may be a sick day at work for me.

Arcade Fire – Making Videos Cool Again
Talk about wild – Arcade Fire has unleashed an interactive video experience. In the video, the viewer can actually view their childhood home and write a note to their younger selves. As creepy as that is for some, it’s an interesting concept for me. What exactly would I write 12 year old Ryo? I’d probably say something like “Hey buddy, freaking grow a pair and ask Kristine out already!”

Vie’s Verses – What Album Should Kiss Perform Live?
That’s the question I pose over at Hard Rock Hideout with my latest installment of Vie’s Verses. With a lot of bands performing albums in their entirety, perhaps it’s time for Kiss to throw their hat into the ring and play one as well.

For more new release news, innovative tech talk, and nonsensical ramblings, you should follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/ryovie

Clarence Clemons and the Red Bank Rockers - July 9, 1993

Did I ever tell you about the time I met Clarence Clemons? Oh, it’s quite an interesting, silly story. If you’ve got a few minutes, sit back, grab a beer, and lend me your ear.

After witnessing the marathon Springsteen charity concert where members of the E-Street Band made guest appearances and I sprained my ankle, my wife (at the time) surprised me with tickets to see Clarence Clemons and The Red Bank Rockers. Clarence was performing a concert at a local New Jersey Club known as Neil’s New Yorker. Nancy had also decided to pay a little extra for backstage passes for an after show dinner party with the Big Man himself. I was going to meet Clarence!

We went to the show not knowing what to expect. What could Clarence perform solo other than You’re A Friend Of Mine? I was curious to see how he would sound on his own. The club was small and since we were VIP, we sat right down in front at a table. I’ve never sat at a table for a concert before (or since), so this was a new area of concert experience for me.

A comedian opened the show (there’s no way I can remember his name) and he was entertaining. That was the first time I ever saw a comedian open a concert. It was a different, but unique and enjoyable time. After the comedian, there was a 20 minute break and then it was time for the star of the night.

The Big Man. Clarence Clemons came out on stage and started off the evening. I do not know what songs he performed (other than You’re A Friend Of Mine). I do know that he was dressed in a rather flashy outfit with a matching headband. I was a little worried that Clarence might have decided he wanted to start pitching for the other team. His outfit was quite loud and his signature fedora was nowhere to be found. What the hell was going on with Clarence?

He performed for close to two hours and gave us a great show. When he was finished, he received polite applause from the stuffy, dinner theater crowd. Once the crowd shuffled out, Nancy and I slowly made out way backstage. As we were heading in that direction, we bumped into an acquaintance that was helping to promote the show. He lead us right to the buffet and told us that Clarence would be available any minute.

Nancy and I sat and ate (I can’t recall if the food was any good or not) and waited. Sure enough, after a few minutes, strolling into the room was the Big Man himself. Clarence Clemmons. He just stood near the buffet line and talked to everyone. What an amazingly polite person.

Nancy went up to get his autograph right away. I was never like that with celebrities. I’m not one to ask for autographs or to bother people because they’ve been on TV or are in a band. It’s just not my style. Nancy came back a few minutes later all smiles. She told me that Clarence was one of the nicest guys she ever met and that I should go talk to him.

Talk to him? What the hell would I have to say to Clarence “Big Man” Clemons? “Gee, I’m a huge fan?” I think he would know that considering I came to his show. Nancy was persistent though and with her encouragement, I finally went up to get Clarence’s autograph for her.

I meekly approached him and waited while the small crowd around him had their time to talk and ask him to sign things. One thing I noticed he was signing a lot of was the Born To Run cover. The infamous picture of Clarence and Bruce, side by side. I cursed myself for not thinking to bring that with me. That would be an awesome collectible to have. Everyone kept saying to him “Sign the good side” and would hold up the side with his picture. Clarence would politely flip the cover over to the picture of Bruce and say “That’s the good side” and he would sign it there. Wow! Even after Bruce broke up the band, Clarence’s allegiance was strong. What an amazing man.

Suddenly, it was my turn. I would like to say that I wasn’t nervous at all, but that would be a big lie. I was excited and giddy. This was Clarence after all! The first thing that I noticed about him as I slowly approached was how freaking big he was. At 6’ 7” (or taller) and over 280 pounds, well, that’s a BIG MAN. As I reached him and said hello, he shook my hand with one of his huge paws. His hand engulfed mine. He was big!

I believe we exchanged the usual pleasantries regarding his concert. I told him that I liked his performance and I was a big fan, all the same stuff he’s heard a million times. What I didn’t know about Clarence at that time was what a great storyteller he is and how he loves to tell and hear stories. Perhaps that’s why when I told him that I saw him a week ago at the benefit concert and had a funny story regarding that his ears perked up and he smiled a big smile. “Tell me the story,”

Wow! I was going to tell a story to Clarence Clemons. I proceeded to tell him about how I sprained my ankle when they announced him coming onstage. I told him how I was jumping up and down with excitement, caught my ankle the step and turned it. He laughed and said “Now that’s a fan!” It was a moment in my life that I will never forget. I asked him for an autograph (which he graciously gave), shook his hand again, and thanked him for his time.

I went back to my table and told Nancy the story. She smiled and we sat there in silence for a while, watching everyone approach Clarence and seeing how he made time to speak to everyone.

And that is how Ryo Vie met Clarence Clemons. It was my first time meeting a music celebrity, and it was a night that I will never forget.

Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band - October 2, 2009

The last concert I ever attended at Giants Stadium was Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band. When Bruce and the band announced they were closing out Giants Stadium with an early fall run, I knew that I had to get to at least one of those shows. Finances prevented me from seeing more, as originally, attending all five was an option given careful consideration.

Unfortunately, a month earlier, the company I worked for closed their doors and I suddenly found myself unemployed along with all of my colleagues. Fortunately for me, I read great personal finance websites and was prepared with an emergency fund. I also knew unemployment would be assisting me, so I did not freak out too much.

However, spending another $100 on a concert, let alone $400 for four more shows, could not be justified. I even contemplated selling my tickets to the show I did attend. That would put an extra $200 back in my pocket. In the end, after talking with my wise wife, I decided to keep the tickets and enjoy myself. It was a sunk cost anyway, meaning the money was already spent.

Am I ever glad that I decided to see that show! Hands down, it was one of the best (if not the best) Springsteen concert ever attended. (And one day, after I’ve posted all of my reviews of the 15 times I’ve seen him in concert, they will be ranked). It was an amazing Friday night in New Jersey, and the best part was that for 3 hours, there were no worries. I was submerged in the power of rock and roll and enjoyed every second of the magic and the music of Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street band.

Cathy and I were galvanized as we entered the stadium. Prior to coming to Giants Stadium, Springsteen had announced that the band would be playing 3 albums in their entirety during this historic closing: Born To Run, Born In The USA, and Darkness On The Edge Of Town. We were getting Darkness which made me quiver with anticipation and glee. Cathy wanted Born In The USA, as she wasn’t as well acquainted with Darkness as I.

The show opened with a roaring crowd and a brand new song written (presumably) for this occasion. Wrecking Ball. What a great song! A typical Springsteen rocker with a catchy chorus and sing along charm, Wrecking Ball was an excellent opener and a hell of a new song.




By the second song of the night, I knew this was going to be one special concert. The band charged into Tenth Avenue Freeze Out and the crowd responded with thunderous applause. We were all happy to hear that one performed. The third song was special for Cathy and I as it has a very deep meaning for us and our relationship. No Surrender found us holding each other and smiling. It’s a promise that we did make to each other, cemented in the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen.

After three more great songs, including an excellent version of Hungry Heart (a song I had not seen performed in a long time), it was time for the main course of the show. Darkness On The Edge Of The Town in its entirety. I got chills when the band started the opening notes of Badlands. I knew by the time they had gotten through the entire album, I would have heard a song that I had never heard live before. I would get some beloved classics, and I would be witnessing Springsteen history.

Badlands was as excellent as ever. It is the only song that I have heard live at every Springsteen show I’ve attended (15 and counting). It never gets old. Adam Raised A Cain was nice. Something In The Night washed over me with a wave of euphoria. One of my favorites on Darkness, it had been a while since I heard it in concert and I was glad to hear it on that night.

Then it was time for one of my all time favorite Springsteen masterpieces, Candy’s Room. The crowd knew it was time too, because they went hysterical when Max started tapping the cymbal with the opening percussion. Powerful and seductive, Candy’s Room was brilliant. A gorgeous Racing In The Street followed and that ended side one.

Side two was up next and the band ripped right into The Promised Land which was as grand as always. What followed was a song that I had never seen live in concert before. While tailgating prior to this show, I had actually heard the band performing it during sound check, which I thought was pretty wild. Factory was performed for the first time in ages. The band was a little nervous, but in typical professional fashion, they nailed it and it sounded brilliant.




The incredible Streets of Fire was next and delivered with power and passion. I’ve always loved this song and The E-Street Band really gave it their all. Prove It All Night and the ever popular Darkness On The Edge Of Town closed out the album performance and the crowd showed their appreciation. History had been made. However, the night of surprises was only beginning.

Perhaps as a warm up for the next night’s show, Springsteen pulled out I’m Goin’ Down and I went nuts. This was another beloved song that I had never heard in concert before. I leapt up and sang every word as loud as I could.




And the surprises still kept coming. The rarely played Be True was played next, followed by an on demand, impromptu performance of Elvis’ Jailhouse Rock which the band did justice to. For a song they pulled out on the spot (thanks to the sign requests), the band was spot on. Springsteen joked about how the song had too many verses, which got a laugh from the crowd.

For the second night of their five night closing run, Springsteen and company were on fire. At the tail end of a long world tour in support of Working On A Dream, they still brought the energy and delivered for the fans. It was a Friday night of fun and celebration in New Jersey.

Filled with surprises, an entire album performance, a brand new song, and some unexpected, rarely played gems, this one of the final concerts ever at Giants Stadium was an amazing experience. And as the last Springsteen concert I’ve ever seen (for now), it was a hell of a way to close out a run.

Setlist
Wrecking Ball
Tenth Avenue Freeze Out
No Surrender
Outlaw Pete
Hungry Heart
Working On A Dream
Badlands
Adam Raised A Cain
Something In The Night
Candy’s Room
Racing In The Street
The Promised Land
Factory
Streets of Fire
Prove It All Night
Darkness On The Edge Of Town
Waitin’ On A Sunny Day
Raise Your Hand
I’m Goin Down
Be True
Jailhouse Rock
Thunder Road
Long Walk Home
The Rising
Born To Run
Encore
Cadillac Ranch
Bobby Jean
American Land
Dancing In The Dark
Rosalita