Watching Bruce Through Kate’s Eyes

Posted by Bob Greenberger on April 25, 2009

I’ve been seeing Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform since December 1975 and each time I go, I am utterly amazed. First of all, it’s pure rock and roll with plenty of showmanship. But you get your money’s worth. The shows last between two and three hours without an intermission. The band rocks out from beginning to end and clearly seem to be enjoying themselves.

Kate recalled how, at 13, she begged me to take her to see him the first time I attended a performance in Hartford. She really wasn’t into his music but liked my passion and certainly liked the idea of a rock concert. I asked her to name the saxophonist and damn if she didn’t name Clarence Clemons.  But, she really wasn’t into his music, it was a school night, and the parents agreed, it just wasn’t the right time.

Last night was the right time. We decided that for her birthday we’d make it an event rather than a gift. The second tickets went on sale, I scored three seats in a reasonable location and then informed her to much rejoicing.

We braved Friday night rush hour and arrived at the XL Center around 6:30. With our dinners in the back, we sort of tailgated, and played lots of cuts from live recordings to enhance the mood. As it turned out, a coworker was also up from Maryland and had gotten a pretty good number to access to the General Admission floor and was close to center stage, texting status reports.

Knowing he never starts on time; we meandered over to the center, lingered over a choice of t-shirt as a memento and then took our seats, which turned out to be pretty good. Kate and Sarah waved to one another and then we settled in.

That is to say, for the next 2:45 or so, we were mainly on our feet, swaying to the music, clapping, cheering and singing along. As has become custom on the tour, he took signs with song titles from the fans and played two as part of the “stump the band” portion of our evening. For the first time, according to Bruce, the band played “Wild Thing”. These days, you hear it and think of Charlie Sheen in Major League. Seeing the band play it, you’re reminded it’s a rock and roll song first and foremost.

Kate was hoping for Radio Nowhere, I was hoping for Cadillac Ranch and neither of us was disappointed. Sarah tried in vein to get him to take her suggestion of “The Fever” which he hasn’t performed on tour in ages. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »