A few weeks back my wife got to hear me make my grand statement regarding Bruce and the E Street Band. I said he should end the E Street Band and record and tour with a stripped down band. Drums, Bass, Keyboard/Organ and Bruce. I still think he should do this. I based this opinion on what I had heard many other Bruce fans saying and what I had seen a little of in the rehearsal shows I saw in Asbury Park earlier this year and also by highlights I saw from some of his European shows: Steven seemed bored on stage, Max had other duties being the bandleader for the Tonight Show, Clarence could not play as well as he could a few years ago and his health was apparently not too good, the band had become to big and bloated with the addition of 2 back up singers and Soozie Tyrell(as great as they are). When a band has up to 5 people playing tambourines, it's 5 too many.
Then I saw Bruce and the band at Giants Stadium on October 3. I can admit when I am wrong. I will say what everyone has been saying. The band plays better now than I have ever heard. Some of the members can't move around like they use to, but that does not make a difference. Bruce has more energy that a 20 year old.
The E Street Band has always represented, in living form, what his songs are about. Community, friendship, family. Originally the band members were the characters in his songs. "Scooter and the Big Man". But as the band expanded, they became the community he sang about. There were always members of different races in the E Street Band, and other bands he has played in, but with the addition of members of the opposite sex, the band represents more of the community he writes about.
Each show in the 5 show run at Giant Stadium highlighted a different classic Bruce album. The first and fourth show were Born to Run. The second show was Darkness on the Edge of Town. Both great albums. Classics by any standards. Born to Run is my favorite Bruce album along with Tunnel of Love. To me they are his best, most consistent works.
The third and fifth show, the final show, featured Born in the U.S.A., a great dividing point among Bruce fans. Many feel, if you like this album you're not a real fan. Many long time Bruce fans felt he became too big and too commercial. I love this album and I think I am a real fan.
The first Bruce concert I ever saw was the Born in the U.S.A. tour at Giants Stadium on August 21, 1985. Iwas not really into Bruce, but we got free tickets the day before the show. 6 songs in it was my favorite concert and I loved Bruce.
A year later I listened to Born to Run endlessly and it became my favorite Bruce album.
Having said that, I think Born in the U.S.A. is a great album. Take away the endless airplay and the dated synth pop "sound" of Dancing in the Dark, and I think a lot of the naysayers might feel differently about the album. It may not have had the point A to B structure of Born to Run or Tunnel of Love, but it does tell a story of people cheated, people trying connect and people finally finding what it all comes down to in an album which is serious, sad, moving, inspirational and fun. Not fun, but FUN. This is another reason I feel a lot of Bruce fans don't like the album. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out is fun, but Darlington County is a party. Darkness on the Edge of Town is desperate, but Glory Days is desperate with a wink. The album's tone is not as bleak as Nebraska, but is Downbound Train any less heartbreaking, or beautiful? In Thunder Road, probably one of the songs which has everything great about a Bruce song in it, Bruce said "It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win". It's a short distance to No Surrender and its "wide open country in my eyes and these romantic dreams in my head".
Whereas the music may be more party rock at times and made for a stadium, songs like Born in the U.S.A. are so desperate: "I'm 10 years burning down the road, I've got nowhere to run, I've got nowhere to go. I'm Going Down may be fun, and it may have one of the most unoriginal choruses, but what's fun about "I pull you close but when we kiss I can feel the doubt"? The need for connection in Dancing in the Dark: "You can't start a fire worryin' about your little world falling apart".
Where do these stories and these people wind up in the end? In the main street that exists in every ones lives. You can let life take you down, or you can spit in its face and say, "on my terms". The father in My Hometown recounts what has happened to his hometown, his life and decides they are the ones to decide the life they live and the legacy they will give their child. He and his son go for a drive and, as his father did with him, sits him behind the wheel and says "son take a good look around, this is your hometown". In personal terms, this is the connection from one generation to another and the community you live in and are a part of. You can be beaten down, or you can fight for what is important. This is a connection to Born to Run and Darkness and Tunnel of Love and Magic. To all of Bruce's greatest works.
So, for me, I found it totally fitting that Bruce's final night at Giants Stadium featured Born in the U.S.A., the album which allowed him to play the stadium 23 years earlier.
Then I saw Bruce and the band at Giants Stadium on October 3. I can admit when I am wrong. I will say what everyone has been saying. The band plays better now than I have ever heard. Some of the members can't move around like they use to, but that does not make a difference. Bruce has more energy that a 20 year old.
The E Street Band has always represented, in living form, what his songs are about. Community, friendship, family. Originally the band members were the characters in his songs. "Scooter and the Big Man". But as the band expanded, they became the community he sang about. There were always members of different races in the E Street Band, and other bands he has played in, but with the addition of members of the opposite sex, the band represents more of the community he writes about.
Each show in the 5 show run at Giant Stadium highlighted a different classic Bruce album. The first and fourth show were Born to Run. The second show was Darkness on the Edge of Town. Both great albums. Classics by any standards. Born to Run is my favorite Bruce album along with Tunnel of Love. To me they are his best, most consistent works.
The third and fifth show, the final show, featured Born in the U.S.A., a great dividing point among Bruce fans. Many feel, if you like this album you're not a real fan. Many long time Bruce fans felt he became too big and too commercial. I love this album and I think I am a real fan.
The first Bruce concert I ever saw was the Born in the U.S.A. tour at Giants Stadium on August 21, 1985. Iwas not really into Bruce, but we got free tickets the day before the show. 6 songs in it was my favorite concert and I loved Bruce.
A year later I listened to Born to Run endlessly and it became my favorite Bruce album.
Having said that, I think Born in the U.S.A. is a great album. Take away the endless airplay and the dated synth pop "sound" of Dancing in the Dark, and I think a lot of the naysayers might feel differently about the album. It may not have had the point A to B structure of Born to Run or Tunnel of Love, but it does tell a story of people cheated, people trying connect and people finally finding what it all comes down to in an album which is serious, sad, moving, inspirational and fun. Not fun, but FUN. This is another reason I feel a lot of Bruce fans don't like the album. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out is fun, but Darlington County is a party. Darkness on the Edge of Town is desperate, but Glory Days is desperate with a wink. The album's tone is not as bleak as Nebraska, but is Downbound Train any less heartbreaking, or beautiful? In Thunder Road, probably one of the songs which has everything great about a Bruce song in it, Bruce said "It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win". It's a short distance to No Surrender and its "wide open country in my eyes and these romantic dreams in my head".
Whereas the music may be more party rock at times and made for a stadium, songs like Born in the U.S.A. are so desperate: "I'm 10 years burning down the road, I've got nowhere to run, I've got nowhere to go. I'm Going Down may be fun, and it may have one of the most unoriginal choruses, but what's fun about "I pull you close but when we kiss I can feel the doubt"? The need for connection in Dancing in the Dark: "You can't start a fire worryin' about your little world falling apart".
Where do these stories and these people wind up in the end? In the main street that exists in every ones lives. You can let life take you down, or you can spit in its face and say, "on my terms". The father in My Hometown recounts what has happened to his hometown, his life and decides they are the ones to decide the life they live and the legacy they will give their child. He and his son go for a drive and, as his father did with him, sits him behind the wheel and says "son take a good look around, this is your hometown". In personal terms, this is the connection from one generation to another and the community you live in and are a part of. You can be beaten down, or you can fight for what is important. This is a connection to Born to Run and Darkness and Tunnel of Love and Magic. To all of Bruce's greatest works.
So, for me, I found it totally fitting that Bruce's final night at Giants Stadium featured Born in the U.S.A., the album which allowed him to play the stadium 23 years earlier.
Sadly, there were many similarities in the setlist between the two shows, outside of the Born in the U.S.A. portion. Both very good setlists, but not much variation. A cover of the Rolling Stones The Last Time was a highlight in the final night encores, and Kitty's Back was a highlight at both shows.
Of course I wondered, what would the final song of the night be? What song would "wreck" the place? Rosalita? Twist & Shout? Detroit Medley? Bruce opted for Jersey Girl. A song he rarely plays, although he did perform on the October 3 show also. With a slight lyric change " Take that one last ride, cross the river to the Jersey side", he said goodbye to a place with a slow dance. Maybe a sweet farewell to a place which had given him a few good nights, and several thousands of fans a few special nights we'll never forget.
Wrecking Ball w/Curt Ramm -Trumpet
Badlands
Spirit in the Night
Outlaw Pete
Hungry Heart
Working on a Dream
Born in the U.S.A.
Cover Me
Darlington County
Working on the Highway
Downbound Train
I'm on Fire
No Surrender
Bobby Jean
I'm Goin' Down
Glory Days
Dancing in the Dark
My Hometown
Tougher Than the Rest w/Curt Ramm
The Promised Land
Last to Die w/Curt Ramm
Long Walk Home
The Rising
Born to Run w/Jay Weinberg-Drums
Raise Your Hand
The Last Time
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
Seven Nights to Rock
Kitty's Back w/Curt Ramm
American Land w/Curt Ramm
Jersey Girl
Of course I wondered, what would the final song of the night be? What song would "wreck" the place? Rosalita? Twist & Shout? Detroit Medley? Bruce opted for Jersey Girl. A song he rarely plays, although he did perform on the October 3 show also. With a slight lyric change " Take that one last ride, cross the river to the Jersey side", he said goodbye to a place with a slow dance. Maybe a sweet farewell to a place which had given him a few good nights, and several thousands of fans a few special nights we'll never forget.
Wrecking Ball w/Curt Ramm -Trumpet
Badlands
Spirit in the Night
Outlaw Pete
Hungry Heart
Working on a Dream
Born in the U.S.A.
Cover Me
Darlington County
Working on the Highway
Downbound Train
I'm on Fire
No Surrender
Bobby Jean
I'm Goin' Down
Glory Days
Dancing in the Dark
My Hometown
Tougher Than the Rest w/Curt Ramm
The Promised Land
Last to Die w/Curt Ramm
Long Walk Home
The Rising
Born to Run w/Jay Weinberg-Drums
Raise Your Hand
The Last Time
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
Seven Nights to Rock
Kitty's Back w/Curt Ramm
American Land w/Curt Ramm
Jersey Girl
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