Concert Review: 8/25/16, Metlife Stadium, East Rutherford

So the summer of 2016, I had really only cared about one concert...and for once it wasn't Bruce!  I had been so obsessed about the Guns N' Roses reunion that I kinda forgot that Bruce was coming back to Metlife Stadium this summer.  Shame on me.  Maybe it was because I had already been to the Prudential Center show, and the Barclays Center with Rory, but I just didn't have the same enthusiasm that I usually did in the weeks leading up to this show.  Which to say my excitement was at like an 8 or a 9 instead of the usual 10.  Like I said, shame on me.  And it's almost as if Bruce knew that he was kind of flying in under the radar and wanted to pull out all the stops to really show his fans why he was, is, and always will be the greatest live musician you can possibly see.

I went to this concert with my wonderful girlfriend, whom I had gotten the tickets for her birthday.  Alright, the tickets were more a gift for me, but she was a Bruce fan prior to us dating and had been to about half a dozen concerts before, but this would be our first concert together.  And my God, was it a memorable show.  Four hours!  We had General Admission tickets on the floor, and I was exhausted at the end from just standing there.  I know we at LoS marvel at Bruce's energy and showmanship all the time, but it's really getting ridiculous.  Bruce is older than my parents, and he's not just "not slowing down", he's raising his game and playing some of the longest shows of his life.  And as much credit as we give to Bruce, The E Street Band needs credit too.  They are all close to Bruce, if not older, in age and keep up with him every step of the way.  I noticed a few times Bruce's interaction with Max, Nils, Garry, and everyone else in the band.  Bruce had a look in his eyes like he was almost challenging them to keep up with him.  And they absolutely did, and made it look easy.

So the night started out a little bit rough, as after our tailgate, we went into the concert and were met by enormous lines to get into the stadium.  It was just as I was about to go through the metal detectors that I heard the worst sound I could possibly hear, "Good Evening, New Jersey".  I had never missed the beginning of a concert, especially a Bruce show.  And as I heard the opening chords to "New York City Serenade", I finally got through security and had my ticket scanned.  It'll be ok, I can still catch the end of the song, and see the whole concert.  Nope, we hit another enormous line for getting on to the floor of the General Admission section.  The good news is I can hear the concert, but I was starting to get cranky at the drunks on the line, and the jerks who tried to cut the line, but were caught by the security staff.  Bruce was finishing up "Prove It All Night", when we finally were allowed into the stadium.  But now we have to stop and get wrist bands to get on to the floor.  Alright, now it's getting ridiculous.  I hear the familiar drum intro to "Night" as I finally am walking on to the floor of Metlife Stadium.  It was really only two songs that I missed, and considering the amount of time Bruce played for, it's just a drop in the bucket, but man I couldn't helped but feel somewhat bummed.  The feeling lasted all of two minutes, and by the time Bruce played "No Surrender" I had totally forgotten about those security lines.  And it's nothing I can be mad at Metlife Stadium at.  They're doing their job and security is a real issue.  But if you're going to any of his other shows this summer, allow yourself plenty of time to get into the venue.  Especially if you have GA tickets.

Even though this is The River tour, there were only a handful of songs played from that album, not including concert staples for every tour like "Hungry Heart" and "Out In The Street".  And since he's not touring for a new album, that leaves the setlist wide open for songs from Bruce's entire career, which for a hardcore fan was really exciting.  Like Rory said about Tuesday's show, the setlist last night was kind of somber at times.  And I think the songs he chose to play definitely were speaking for Bruce, especially this close to the election, without him having to make political statements.  I don't think it's a coincidence that "Ghost of Tom Joad", "Jack of All Trades", "Youngstown", "Death To My Hometown", and "41 Shots" were all played.  And Tom Morello being there for guest spots on certain songs certainly added to the political message.  But it wasn't beaten over your head, and it wasn't in your face.  Bruce was simply doing what he does best and expressing his thoughts through his song catalog.  And trust me, there were plenty of rocking tunes that kept people dancing in East Rutherford til after midnight, when they finally called it a night and said good night to an exhausted but thoroughly satisfied crowd.

Concert Review: 8/23/16, Metlife Stadium, East Rutherford

After a summer abroad, Springsteen returned last night to his home state, and performed one of his more somber and challenging setlists that I have seen.  When I last saw Springsteen, he was at the end of the first leg of the new River tour.  Since then, he ditched playing the entirety of The River, performing varied sets throughout Europe.  I chose not to look at the setlists all summer in order to be surprised, and found last nights results fascinating.

Previously opening most of the tour with the new rocker "Meet Me In The City", Bruce kicked off the night with "New York City Serenade", setting the somber mood to come.  Throughout the section of the concert, special care was taken in emotive performances of "Independence Day", "Jack of All Trades" (with a small introduction by Bruce), and "American Skin" (surprisingly lacking an introduction).  The lighter songs were pocked with some more seriousness as well, as Bruce grumped at taking a selfie with a fan during "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town", and forewent the crowd-surf at the end of "Hungry  Heart".

However, the moodier songs in the first half gave Bruce's bouncier songs a stronger punch.  Going through the darkness made the light seem even brighter, as the crowd welcomed barroom rockers like "Working on the Highway" and "Darlington County". However, even after a flurry of crowd-pleasing boppers, Bruce still brought down the house with "Jungleland" to start the encore.  It was merely the start of a nearly hour long encore, which could have ended with "Shout", but, staying true to the core of the night, ended with slower, more thoughtful songs like "Bobby Jean" and "Jersey Girl".

Clocking in at almost four hours, it was one of the more complex Springsteen shows I've seen.  Maybe it was not so much what he said, but rather what he didn't say: there were no political rants, not many jokes, and very few "Bruce stories".  As he has done throughout his career, he let his music speak for him.

Song Spotlight - "Meeting Across the River"

Key Live Performance



Born to Run has a bleak narrative trajectory. It begins in a town full of losers and ends in Jungleland where the heroes wind up "wounded, not even dead."

“Meeting Across the River” – a song you will never hear requested at a bar – is the album's lynchpin. It is the subtle prelude that sets the scene for the 9 1/2 minute, operatic conclusion in “Jungleland”.

I chose the video above not just because I was at the MetLife leg of the Wrecking Ball tour but because it perfectly preserves that segue between the two final tracks of Born to Run.

Key Lyrics
“And the word's been passed this is our last chance”

At every turn, Bruce makes it crystal clear where this story ends.

Overall

Even while being the “smallest” song on the album, “Meeting Across the River” heightens everything around it, serving as the turning point where petty hijinks evolve to hard crime and youthful malaise evolves to Greek tragedy. The song is a masterful ballet of trumpet, piano, bass and vocals with each of the four instruments working together to create a vivid cityscape.

Happy Birthday Bruce!

Happy birthday Boss, from your favorite blog!  Hard to believe that at age 64, Bruce is not only still going strong, but rocking harder and setting the standard for musicians half his age.

Below is a video I found on YouTube from last year's concert at Metlife Stadium on Bruce's birthday.  The Legends of Springsteen crew was proud to be there, and are proud to wish him the very best today.

OB's Top 5 Songs of the Wrecking Ball Tour

Unfortunately the Wrecking Ball Tour is winding down, and there won't be anymore concerts that I am going to in 2012.  At least I don't think so, but I am considering possibly going to the Rochester or State College shows next month. But I have nothing to complain about.  This was a fantastic tour, that I was lucky enough to be at 5 of the shows.  Each show was stellar, different from the others, and I walked away a happy customer each time.  So without any further ado, below were the top 5 songs I saw performed live this past year.  None of the videos were filmed by me or anyone to do with Legends of Springsteen.

5.  "Lion's Den" (Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY.  April 06, 2012)

I am always happy to hear a song live for first time.  This song is rarely played live, and I believe this is the only time this was played on this tour.  I've always enjoyed this song from Tracks and was definitely rocking in the aisles of MSG when Bruce was playing this.  It's far from Bruce's best song, but it's definitely a fun quick song and was a very welcome addition to the setlist.

4. "41 Shots" (Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ.  April 03, 2012)

When the murder of Trayvon Martin was making headlines, Bruce brought this song out for a number of shows.  What I liked most about Bruce playing this song was the subtlety.  At no point did Bruce mention Trayvon Martin, gun laws, or anything else.  He just played the song to create awareness that a young, unarmed man was murdered.  And despite what many NYPD members and supporters may say, that's what this song is about.  It's not condemning, judging, or partisan.  It's about awareness of a tragic event.  I'm glad Bruce played it for those few shows, but retired it before it became a regular in the setlist.  It keeps the songs more relevant and important when it's played so sparingly.  

3.  "Out In The Streets" (Metlife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ.  June 22, 2012)

After being delayed 2 hours due to severe weather, Bruce opened the show with this great track from The River.  The crowd was amped, Bruce and the band was amped, and the result was something magical.   When the chorus hit and the crowd sang along with the "woah oh oh oh oh" not a single person cared about weather delays, what time they'd get home, or anything else.  Bruce Springsteen was in town, and that was all that mattered.  We had waited all night to see him, and Bruce showed his appreciation for our patience by giving us his all, and we gave ours right back to him.  This is the symbiotic relationship Bruce has with his audience and I never felt it more than I did during that opening song, that night.

2.  "Atlantic City" featuring Eddie Veder (Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL.  September 07, 2012)

First of all, as huge baseball fan it was absolutely indescribable to be at the legendary Wrigley Field for the first time in my life.  Secondly, as a fan of Pearl Jam it was fantastic to be able to see Eddie Veder live for the first time in my life.  So factor those two items in with one of my all time favorite songs, and oh yeah, Mr. Bruce f'n Springsteen too, and you got one kick ass performance.  The Wrigley show was amazing, and as much as it kills me to say this as a native of New Jersey, Bruce showed the most energy I'd ever seen from him at this show.

1.  "The Weight"  (Prudential Center, Newark, NJ.  May 02, 2012)

Outside of the McCartney incident, I believe this performance got the most buzz.  And rightly so.  This amazing cover of the classic song by The Band was a very fitting tribute for the recently deceased Levon Helm.  I cannot put it into words, and fortunately I don't have to with this video.  However, as powerful as this video is, it's nothing compared to being there live.  And I believe I have 18,000 other people who were there that night who would agree.

So, there you have it.  Agree?  Disagree?  What were some of the highlights of the shows you attended?

Springsteen Video Of The Week: Jole Blon

Like Steve said, Saturday's show at MetLife Stadium was nothing short of stellar.  Truly a "something for everyone" type show.  Unfortunately at one point during the show I wasn't feeling too hot and went to the back to get a bottle of water and escape the madness of the floor.  Even more unfortunate was that I missed this great song.  I shouldn't say "missed", as I was able to hear the song perfectly, but couldn't see it.

Gary U.S. Bonds is someone that I am becoming a huge fan of the more I listen to him.  Especially his 80s material where he collaborates with Springsteen and you can really see how they mutually benefited from this relationship.  Bonds' hit "Quarter To Three" was a staple of the Born To Run Tour and is still a favorite when Bruce plays it now.  And Bonds was able to enjoy a resurgence in popularity when he started working with Bruce.

"Jole Blon" is an old traditional Cajun song that had been popular for decades when Bonds put it on his 1981 album Dedication.  Bruce also recorded his own version that was rumored to be put on The River but instead he decided not to release it and re-recorded it with Bonds for the aforementioned Dedication.  

Even though I didn't get to fully experience this song on the floor, I loved being able to hear it and this great video shows just how much the crowd was getting into it.  But perhaps the two people enjoying it the most are Bruce and Gary Bonds himself.  Two old friends, getting up on stage and singing a song they both love.  It doesn't matter if there are 55,000 or 5 people there.  They would've put the same amount of energy and soul into this.  Their fans know and love them for that very reason

Concert Review – MetLife, NJ September 22

David Remnick’s profile in the New Yorker writes about the “ultra-sincere interchange between Springsteen and his fans.” I’ve never witnessed a clearer illustration of that bond than last night’s concert which began with 55,000 dejected fans waiting more than 2 hours in shelter due to lightning warnings and ended with the entire stadium singing Happy Birthday to Bruce at nearly 2:00 in the morning while his family came on stage for a birthday cake celebration.

Word of Bruce’s marathon Wednesday show and stunning set list on Friday set anticipation for Saturday evening at a fever pitch. But the evening was mired early on by the impending weather storm that caused security to evacuate the floor and general seating areas. As lines snaked around the undercover of MetLife stadium and the clock ticked later and later, all sorts of scuttlebutt made its way up and down the lines regarding whether Bruce would play at all. And if he did, what kind of show would it be? It was hard times all around but I took comfort knowing that the person who was most upset about the delay was Bruce himself. Such is the bond that Remnick writes about.

When we were finally ushered out to the field and Bruce took the stage at approximately 10:30 p.m. with his trademark grin, gestures about the rain and his welcoming – “I think I just invited 55,000 people to my birthday party!” – we knew everything was going to be all right. And it was.

Bruce moved at a fevered clip, making up for lost time and delivering 33 songs in a 3½ hour show that rocked into the wee hours of the morning. It was almost an hour before he slowed down to introduce the band during the resident “My City of Ruins” call-outs. On this tour, this is usually the fifth or sixth track of the evening, but last night it was the tenth, coming after crowd favorites (“Out in the Street,” “Badlands), obscurities (“Cynthia”) and Wrecking Ball cuts (“We Take Care of Our Own,” “Death to My Hometown”).

A spirited cover of Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour” and the now familiar rendition of “Who Will Stop the Rain” gave playful comment on the situation. But I also noticed how many of the songs in his set list mentioned rain in the lyrics. It was hard to tell if this was coincidence or part of Bruce’s backstage selection process. Bruce also thanked the audience repeatedly for their patience throughout the course of the evening. Oh, Bruce. You know we’d drive all night to be with you.

I had general admission tickets to the floor and even though you have to put up with unruly fans, lack of readily available exits and the discomforts of standing in one place, I really feel that it’s the best way to see a Springsteen concert. Even with the big screens and video camera wizardry, you need to be up close to really appreciate the showmanship of the E Street Band. From Bruce’s cavalcade of expressions and theatrics to Nils Lofrgren’s exorcism-like guitar playing on “Because the Night” (much of which wasn’t on the big screen) to the entire band dancing in unison to “Shackled and Drawn” you have to be up close to get the full effect.

Additional highlights from the evening included Bruce calling on stage the 73-year-old Gary U.S. Bonds for two songs (“Jole Blon” and “This Little Girl”), more surprise appearances from Born in the U.S.A. (“Cover Me”, “Downbound Train”, “Working on the Highway”) and bizarre theatrics during the encore performances of “Glory Days” and “Seven Nights to Rock”. The latter of which included Bruce playing the piano with his forehead.

By the time the night concluded with Bruce bringing out his mother – Adele Springsteen – and additional family members to distribute birthday cake to lucky members of the audience and tear down the house with a beatific rendition of “Twist and Shout”, it was clear that we were witnessing something special. As Bruce readied his 87-year-old mother to sing back-up vocals, he noted almost as an afterthought, “It’s going to be loud as hell.” He then plugged his mother’s ears with a bit of torn off napkin and proceeded to rock. As fireworks went off above the stadium, it felt like the entire crowd was smiling in unison. Like so many other times in my life, when the world seemed to be ending (which it wasn’t), the music of Bruce Springteen turned things around. It wasn’t the best Springsteen concert I’ve ever been to, but it might be the one I never forget.

Happy Birthday Bruce!

Bruce Springsteen turned 63-years-young today, and your Legends of Springsteen editors were lucky enough to spend the first two hours of his birthday rocking with him.  While a detailed concert review from last night is coming up shortly, we took a brief moment to stroll the parking lot of Metlife Stadium to find the best birthday tributes to the Boss.

This simple-yet-effective birthday card drew the biggest attention.  Stationed close to the main entrance, numerous people stopped to take their picture with this poster (especially the ladies, who puckered up and kissed the sign).

Not too far away was this tribute to Bruce.  If you haven't been to a Springsteen concert, you can't throw a stone without hitting several American flags.  While Springsteen fans share many different political beliefs, they are all united by the underlying core value of working hard to make their country better.

While it didn't blow me away with style, I was impressed by the size of this banner.  When I went to the concert, I was still able to spot this enormous banner in the middle tier of the stadium.

Finally, while not a birthday greeting per se, a solid bumper sticker.  Although, getting into an accident with this car would put a new meaning on the phrasing "rear-ending".