So… How have you guys been the last few weeks? Busy as hell rockin’ out, I hope?
Here’s what I did:
Yeah. I saw Bruce Springsteen at the Richmond Coliseum last week. It was my fifth Springsteen show, and in all honesty, the best one yet.
My first memory, no shit, my FIRST memory ever was of me begging my parents to take me to a Bruce concert. This must’ve been 1987 or ‘88 on the Tunnel of Love tour, and I remember pleading and pleading for them to take me along. They said no, telling me that “it would be too loud.” My little two-year-old heart was broken, but I’d have another chance to see him in 1999 in DC.
At that point in time, I was a bratty little thirteen-year-old who didn’t really care about the crap my parents listened to, and I’d heard some stuff of his on VH1 every now and then, but I didn’t care THAT much about going or not. But oh, my mom didn’t want to hear that. “He’s reuniting with the E Street Band!” she said. “This is a historic occasion! You’re coming with us!”
Well, I did, and within twenty minutes of the lights going down and the show starting, I was on my feet screaming “Bruuuuuuuuuuuce” with everyone else in the arena. I didn’t know all the words, but you bet your ass I tried to sing along anyway. It was unlike anything I’d experienced before – I was so caught up in the energy of the band and the crowd and the music that all rational thought was cast out of my mind and I only had room for the music. Springsteen’s music has always had an aspect of “rock ‘n’ roll as salvation,” and that night (and at every show since) I’ve felt truly saved by the music – filling me, exalting me, transcending every worldly concern and simply just losing myself in the show.
Or whatever. It’s hard to talk rationally about this.
But this show last Monday was simply the best out of all of them. The three-hour-plus set list, the sheer fun that the band was having, the energy of the crowd all around me, surpassed the other four shows I’d seen. I’m amazed that someone who’s been making music this long can still be this valid and important and still have something useful to say.
The first selection I’ll give you today is “Backstreets,” from his 1975 “Born to Run” album. This album is the one that catapulted him into national stardom, and this has always been one of my favorite Bruce songs (and continues to be my father’s favorite).
Second is a 1978 performance of “It’s Hard to be a Saint in the City,” which is one of my many anthems for my years in Richmond. I’ve spent dozens of late summer nights where the whole town echoes with the energy and joy in this song.
Third is the title song from his 2005 acoustic album “Devils and Dust.” This is much more subdued than his other stuff, but it’s just as chilling and amazing. I saw him play an utterly transcendent version of it at the Grammys a few years ago, and when I heard that Bruce will be playing a solo set at the Democratic Convention, right after Obama’s acceptance speech, I started hoping that he’ll play this.
I’ll finish up with two videos for ya: This is a 2002 performance of “Prove It All Night,” which was my favorite song from the Richmond show. The last minute or so I think my brain actually had an orgasm – it was beyond fantastic.
Lastly is a quick clip from the end of the Richmond show; they were playing “Badlands,” which is one of the best songs in their live set (check out the 1999 New York performance). Ignore the crappy handheld quality. I’m including it just to make you all look at the crowd, look at the energy, look at the happiness, and know that I WAS THERE. I WAS THERE. I WAS THERE.
Bruce Springsteen – Backstreets
Bruce Springsteen – It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City (Live)
