Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Bruce Springsteen: He's still alive out there

   Thirty-one years ago in the Greensboro Coliseum, I saw Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play live for the first time, which put me slightly -- but not terribly -- behind the coolness curve. He had me, as the cliche goes, at "Hello, Greensboro."

   Thirty-one years later -- Monday night -- I saw Bruce and the band again in the Greensboro Coliseum and, to borrow a Springsteen-like sentiment, my faith has again been rewarded. I didn't want it to end.

   If it had to end, having him close the show with 'Thunder Road,' 'Land of Hope and Dreams' (a new Springsteen anthem), 'Born To Run,' 'Dancing In The Dark,' 'Rosalita' and 'Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out' was the way to send us out the door after nearly two hours and 45 minutes of new music, old favorites and a coming to grips with the reality that Clarence Clemons isn't coming back but the magic of the E Street Band isn't going away.

  Springsteen is 62 years old but seems at least 20 years younger. He doesn't play the marathon shows he did in his youth and he only slid across the front of the stage one time Monday night, splashing water on his jeans to make sure he made it last. But the magic of Bruce and the band is in the feeling as much as the music and that remains.

   He's touring in support of a new CD, 'Wrecking Ball,' a collection of songs about the recession-induced problems that have wobbled our country. The new songs are strong and angry and pointed, an odd mixture of rock, folk, Irish and gospel sounds that somehow works together. Played live, the new music -- particularly 'Jack Of All Trades' and 'Rocky Ground' -- soars in spots.

 The thing about a Springsteen show is the joy it brings, not just to the audience but to Bruce and the band. The Coliseum was full and most of the audience was like me, well into mid-life with mortgages, soft bellies and gray creeping in. A Springsteen show is a gathering, one where I saw friends was Washington, Charlotte and Columbia before the lights went down.

Springsteen's concert joy is contagious. He said in an interview a few years ago that he'd come to realize that being on stage with his band is what he's meant to do. When you think he can't give you more, he always does. It's why I have friends who've seen him more than 100 times and why, having seen him close to 15 times myself, I'm hoping he'll add a Charlotte show this fall when he and the band return from a summer in Europe. 

This tour is different because the Big Man is gone, his role on the sax replaced brilliantly by his nephew Jake Clemons, the band's new star. During 'My City of Ruins,' Springsteen alluded to the loss of Clemson and Danny Federici a few years earlier. "If you're here...and we're here...they're here," Springsteen said as chill bumps filled the big arena. I know there were chill bumps on my arms, anyway.

When he closed the show with 'Tenth Avenue,' his song about meeting Clarence, the band went quiet when Springsteen said, "This is the important part" and sang the line about a change being made uptown when the Big Man joined the band.

For more than a minute, the music stopped as Springsteen held the microphone in the air and listened to the cheers. They were for Clarence but they were also for another night like Monday night.

Photo: Bruce Springsteen performs with the E Street Band during the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas on Thursday, March 15, 2012.(AP Photo/Jack Plunkett) 

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Best show of the 6 or 7 I've seen
over the years

Anonymous said...

best show of the 7 I've seen over the years.

Diane Chamberlain said...

Thanks for the review, which put a tear in my eye just as the concert last night did. It was an extraordinary experience made all the better by sharing it with thousands of like-minded souls.

Anonymous said...

Great show and a very well written review - "you get it".

Anonymous said...

This guy needs to hang it up. I saw him a few years ago and he played every garbage song he ever made that no one knew unless you were some hardcore groupie. Which is great if you are, but for $100+ a ticket if you aren't I would advise staying away and spending your hard earned money on something worthwhile.

Anonymous said...

This was an amazing performance. I too hope that he comes back to Charlotte in the fall. The greatest thing about a Bruce show is the multi-generations that are there taking part in the "Baptism". I love the stuff off of the new CD. The horn section was amazing and you sure can see Clarence in his nephew, but more importantly, the sax solos were spot on. Such energy!

Anonymous said...

I saw the show in Atlanta Sunday night. Great show! Disappointed he didn't play Rosalita at that show.

Anonymous said...

Nice for a multi-millionaire fat cat who has never worked a different job than that of a musician to preach to us about the recession. Seriously, the "I'm with you, blue collar worker" schtick is old, tired, and borderline offensive. Would be better if his music actually sounded decent. But, I bought the new album, and, unfortunately, it's terrible. Worst album he's ever done.

Anonymous said...

Springsteen in G boro, reminding us how far the American Reality is from the American dream..
Our generations authentic storteller.
Amazing performance last night!

Anonymous said...

I am sure he or any one else really cares what YOU think ..

Phil Melton said...

Ron, your first Greensboro show would have been 31 years ago in Greensboro, not 32. That 1981 River tour show was my first Springsteen show as well, and remains one of my most vivid concert memories. After 24 shows over the years, my experience remains much the same of yours. Thanks for sharing some of what we long time fans continue to receive from Bruce and his music.

Anonymous said...

An amazing experience last night. Thanks for a great write-up about the joy we all shared. My vote is for Bruce Springsteen for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know who the kid was? I am curious what the story is there...

Anonymous said...

I just heard "Jack of all trades" today, and its a pretty song, but several things struck me:

1) A quick check of ticket prices to his concerts found no seat lower than $76. At Madison Square Gardens, the most expensive tickets were over $8,000.00. No, really - more than $8,000 for a single ticket.

2) Isn't he demeaning manual work? I am so grateful for all the great folks I've found who take care of my gutters, rescue me when my plumbing fails, fix my roof, paint my house. These are respectable careers that require multiple skills, often done by people who want to work for themselves - they do their own bids and accounting, as well as have the knowledge to do the work and the pride to do it well. What's so bad about that?

3. Its hard to see the last line as anything but an incitement to violence.

4. Not every or even many rich people got there because they cheated. Not every working person lost their job or house because they were cheated. Some made bad decisions or just had bad luck.

Anonymous said...

I just don't like his voice. Sounds like he's singing while taking a poo.

Anonymous said...

Bruce Springsteen and this entire generation confuse me. If someone that had this grunting, mumbling, rocks in your mouth style of singing tried to come out in the music scene today they would be laughed back to the karaoke bar they originated in. Standards and expectations for quality music 30 years ago must have been in the toilet.

Anonymous said...

He is a tax dodging hypocrite just like Bono and Buffet, google it genius's.

Anonymous said...

Show was incredible! We were lucky enough to be in the pit. The sound was full but clear. Everyone hit their cues... hard to believe it was just the 2nd stop in the tour. Bruce is the master showman... there will never be another like him! Best ticket value I've had in a LONG time!

Joseph Chairvolotti said...

i've been a big bob seger fan for ever,saw him three times,1986,in syracuse ny,2007&2011 in nc.This was my very first bruce springsteen show and it was INCREDIBLE,AND HE IS A GREAT ENTRTAINER!!!My favorite song is "THUNDER ROAD" and i almost missed it as i was just coming back from the restroom.If and when he comes to charlotte i will for sure go and see him!!

James H. said...

suredteThose 8 thousand dollar tickets are from scalper websites, not Springsteen's. In Atlanta, the "real" ticket prices were $35 -$95, about one -third of the price to Paul McCartney or the Rolling Stones. Considering that there were 17 musicians on the stage, and he played for nearly 3 hours, it was well worth the price.

Anonymous said...

The people who left so many negative comments obviously don't get it. Bruce's songs are about real life, hard working people and the struggles they experience while making ends meet. Sure, they choose to work for themselves but many have experienced hard times doing it. Working for yourself is a form of the "American Dream" and no one, especially Bruce, is demeaning it. And, for the people who say that those who got ahead don't cheat or steal to do it - you are correct in many cases. However, may I remind you about the ponzy schemes, the real estate "scams", etc. that have taken place the last few years that have left people in dire financial condition? The show was simply amazing. For the message, for his longevity as a rocker and entertainer, for his references to his lost friends and for simply being able to lose yourself in the music of one of the most entertaining, energetic and passionate musicians of all time. Great job Bruce!! I sincerely hope I get a chance to see you again soon! And....for those of you who didn't like it, feel free to stay home next time.

Phil Melton said...

"He is a tax dodging hypocrite just like Bono and Buffet, google it genius's."

Yeah, I know when I listen to music, the first thing I want to know about is the artist's tax payment history.

By the way, Poindexter, the next time you want to call out people for their intelligence, you might try spelling "geniuses" correctly.

Anonymous said...

3:34pm:

Madison Square Garden is singular.

$8,000 is the scalper price. Tickets top out at roughly $100, depending on the arena.

Since 1978 at MSG said...

I can see the critics' points so clearly. In the last 12 years, all he has done is put out six albums, be the only performer to write and sing full albums about 9/11 and/or the Economy, make the Hall of Fame, do the Super Bowl halftime show, open the Grammys, get a Kennedy Center Award, have an episode of Jimmy Fallon devoted entirely to him and the band, play the Sirius-XM 10th Anniversary concert at the Apollo, and play longer concerts than anyone else, even now at the age of 62, some that recreate entire albums song-by-song. Yep... it's easy to criticize a guy like that.