Happy Halloween

It came a day early in L.A. Here's a blurb about how last nights show started. Would like to see some photos of this one.

At the start of the show, six stagehands in black cloaks brought out a black
coffin as the band all dressed in black filed onstage as the crowd went
nuts. Steve Van Zandt stood over the coffin as if lamenting the death of a
friend and (Bruce's) arm came up out of the coffin and Steven handed a
guitar to him. Then the stagehands stood the coffin upfacing the audience,
and out stepped Bruce "dusting" himself off and the band crashed into "Radio
Nowhere." There were several lighted plastic pumpkins on the stage, and
Bruce gave one to a little girl later in the show in the front of the pit.

EDIT: Video up now on BS.net

Did y'all see who was at the 2nd L.A. show?

Kitty .. she's back! :)

Just watching the video of Tunnel of Love from Oakland. Seeing as I was pretty much absent from that tour (one show) I'm really looking forward to hearing that one for myself in Boston.

Asleep at the wheel!

Didn't even realize there was a show last night until EE pointed it out to me. Seems like once Thunder Road is out of the box there's no getting it back in! :)

On another note I dig this new photo!

Bruce Nominated To The Hall Of Fame!!!

The New Jersey Hall Of Fame, that is:

http://www.nj.com/southjersey/index.ssf/2007/10/the_boss_sinatra_among_first_n.html

Let's All Singalong!!!!

Happy Birthday To You!

Happy Birthday To You!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CRAZYJANEY!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great day, MB!

Hugs and kisses,

GypsyMikey

Magic Tour? Or Born To Run Re-dux?

As of right now, Bruce has played every song off of Born To Run at some point on this tour, except for one: 10th Avenue Freeze Out. I guess it's forthcoming.

Chicago, Chicago - Bruce's Kind Of Town.

Three tour premieres last night:

Tunnel Of Love
Spirit In The Night
.
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And...
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.
Get ready for it, Mick
.
.
.
.
Thunder Road

Business and The Boss

And interesting look at Bruce from another perspective. Sent to me by PeteCo12

HERE

Shoulda gone to Chi-Town

Seems Patti couldn't make it :)

Have you met Brotha-man?

Meet Paul Bernstein, friend of Pete's so therefore welcome here! He posted as 57 Channels a while back. He was at MSG last night and offered these ramblings:

Great show last night! Only my second after Hartford, so I noticed a definite change in how tight the band was (for example, on Girls in Their Summer Clothes - big difference). High energy show and you could tell Bruce and the band were having a lot of fun. Bruce did the "is there anybody alive out there!?" thing before kicking off Radio, which was cool! Out of the gate running from that point on. Pete and I really enjoyed watching Max pounding his drums during Reason To Believe (man, that song never gets old!). Go Max!! Candy's Room/She's the One was a real treat for me. Haven't seen Candy's Room since Providence Rising Show, and I thought they nailed it. Again...Max!! Also, Bruce's guitar work was smoking. Livin' In The Future - sorry, but just not doing it for me in the live version (love the album though). Classic moment during this song with the combo of Paul's bathroom break (along with a TON of other people w/ the same idea) and Pete's THUNDEROUS "Booo!... just play the song, Bruce!!" hollering! LOL! ;-) On to Promised Land and a lump-in-the-throat, "damn, it's amazing to see these guys still doing it so well" moment for me, which all fell apart when Clarence hit the sax (hanky time...). On to Tougher, which looking at the setlist was an audible (in place of Heartbreak - yeeha!). Outstanding. Very heartfelt, full band version, Bruce and Patti really feeling it. Very nice moment. Only very minor complaint is I wish Bruce played harmonica at the end like he does on the album, but he made up for it with some really nice guitar work. Nice moment. Meeting Across The River....oh man! Total audible and a dedication to Peter Boyle (nice tough, Bruce). One of the highlights of the show (we just could feel what was coming next...though it surely didn't stop us from relishing the song, which was beautiful - they nailed it). Professor on the keys, Gary on the standup bass, and a lone spotlight on Bruce at the mic. Goosebump moment. Transition into Jungleland (turn up Soozie's violin next time!). Place ERUPTED. Holy sh*t!! Thought it might be coming tonight, but still, was an amazing moment. I'll never forget the feeling of watching C in the sax solo, standing next to my Brotherman, and watching it all unfold....the look of pure pride, wonder, and love on Bruce's face as he watched Clarence's solo will forever be seared into my memory. Clarence finishes and Bruce walks over and gives him an affectionate pat on the back before coming to the mic for the final salvo lyric. The final lines, the "whoa-oh-oooooh" verses were amazing. Bruce leaning into the mic, back arched, up on the balls of his feet, eyes closed, head cocked back, pouring every ounce of his soul into singing those roars...Max wailing on the cymbals with his padded hammers...wow. Truly an amazing moment, after which I think I said to Pete, "ok, I'm done. I can go home now..." Launch into You Can Look. Yeowza!! Play time for Bruce and Steve! Great great fun. Pete leans over to me and points out that you can feel the Garden shaking and bouncing (literally) under our feet. Holy cow. Place was alive! Lots of clowning around at the mic with Bruce and Steve - old school all the way....until the buzz kill of coming down too soon with Devil's Arcade. Love the song, but the pacing just was a killer. Oh well. I think Pete went to get a beer at this point, can't remember... Here's where my slight criticism comes in: very predictable part of the show now, with the following songs. Understandable as it's part of the theme of the night, but we all seem to agree that something needs to be done to keep this a little more fresh. Time to shake it up, in my opinion. Great songs here, but just too predictable. Long Walk Home and Badlands were still fantastic, though.

Encores: Girls sounded much-improved from Hartford. Much tighter. The encores were pretty much the standard salvo at this point (though I did spot Ramrod though my binoculars, on the video screen by Bruce's feet before he decided to stick with T-crack). Would have been cool to see them shake it up w/ Ramrod, but T-crack was still fantastic as always. BTR just NEVER gets old, I'm sorry. Bruce had the place in the palm of his hand. Amazing. Just amazing. Dancing was a lot of fun, too (thanks for sticking it out and pretending to like it, Steve!). I bolted for the train during American Land (something I almost never do, but was determined to make my train out of Grand Central.

Overall, a fantastic night. Great fun hanging with Pete and T-mal before the show, loved the pub (Stout's) we hung at. Very cool to see the show from behind the stage. Totally different perspective. 2 minor criticisms (obvious ones...): time to shake up the encores, and Bruce REALLY needs to start working the catwalk behind the stage, for crying out loud! C'mon, Bruce! :-) But it was an AWESOME show. On to Albany!

It's kind of relieving...

...knowing that I didn't have to spend any part of my day today looking for a Ticketmaster drop. :-)

MSG#2

A fabulous show. Tight! I thought the band was firing on all cylinders. Despite all of the gripes I've read on the various message boards about how the band was aging to the point of effecting the performances. I sure didn't see that last night. They may play a bit shorter show, but the energy level was there, Bruce's voice was spot on, and the collective troupe was playing hard.



We kind of suspected that we might get Jungleland, but it was a treat to have Meeting precede it and to get that right in the middle of the set! And of course, that was followed by a smokin' "You Can Look".



I have to honestly say that the whole show was one long highlight for me. There wasn't a single tune that I didn't enjoy - ok Candy's Room is not one of my faves, but I even enjoyed that. Tougher Than The Rest was sublime. Great guitar work from Bruce.



I was surprised how much guittar work was handed to Stevie. He was out front a bunch, and seemed to relegate Nils to guitar fills and slide. Fun shift in band dynamics.



The day in NYC was a trip! Papaya King - we'll I'll agree with Mikey, just Ok. We wandered around the village. Much has changed since the last time I was there, but much is exactly the same. We wandered into the Blind Tiger Ale House for some delicious hand pumped ales. Great stuff. Then back out into the streets for some more wandering - through Washington Square nd around NYU and onto McSorley's where we met an old friend from our days growing up in Winfield. Unfortunately that delayed our meet up with Pete. We got into a cab and got caught up in traffic for a good 30 mins or so. Finally we bailed on the cab and hoofed it to Stoudt's. It was packed, but Pete was out front waiting for us, and managed to escort us past the line waiting to get into and to his table. It was loud in there with the DVD blaring! We got to hang with Pete and his crew for a brew and then off the to the adventure.



The directions to get into the GA were poor, first we got all the way to the regular gates before someone told us to go back to 8th Ave. Then, we went through the gate and no one told us that we had to have a wrist band just to be in the GA. So we get all the way to the floor were told to go back and get a wrist band. So I head for the tunnel off the the floor and walk right through the black curtain and I'm suddenly walking right into the hall where the backstage area is. How did I know this? Because I walked right past Danny Federici and his 14 year old Malyasian girlfriend. Oh she's 19? His wife? His daughter? Who knows? I knew I was in the wrong spot, so I went back out onto the floor where the guy manning let me in without the wrist band. Meanwhile the rest of our contingent made it back to the spot to get their bands and get on the floor in time for the show.



I was actually not too bad in GA. We were towards the back on Clarence's side. We had room to breathe and it wasn't too hot.



Thundercrack! My first time ever hearing it live and it was worth the wait. American Land featured a full compliment of 6 or so folks from the Sessions band and it rocked. A great day and wonderful show.

MSG #1

It might have been a function of the shape of the old place, with that low ceiling, but the sound was pretty damn good last night. Highlights for me were the songs I hadn't heard on this go around yet, Backstreets and The Ties That Bind. The place was packed to the rafters and the crowd was more than happy to be there. A word to the folks going tonight, the bag check process entering the building was a total clusterf*ck. The crowds were back up to the top of the stairs by Penn Station. You may need to forego that last beer if you want to be in your seat on time.

MSG Night 1 Review

Well, it was a fun night at MSG on October 17. No new tour premieres, but we did get "Backstreets," "The Ties That Bind," and another "Adam Raised A Cain." Bruce seemed much more animated tonight than he was on any of the other shows I've been to thus far, much more talkative than usual. His intro to "Livin' In The Future" harkened back to the Garden shows on the reunion tour, as his speech regarding what we love about America echoed the "New Jersey vs. New York" sentiments he used to rant about during "Light Of Day."

Bruce: "Hot Dogs! The Jersey Shore! The Bill of Rights! The Constitution! The Statue of Liberty! Which technically is in New Jersey. The Jets and Giants! Who technically play in New Jersey. The song 'New York, New York!' Technically sung by a guy from New Jersey."

He also gave a cool intro to "Thundercrack," noting it was a song that they used to encore with at Max's Kansas City. Lastly, prior to "Girls In Their Summer Clothes," Bruce's inner-Brian Wilson came out, saying "I wish they all could be New York City Girls!" Nice touch.

He used the back of the stage more too, with what I remember to be three seperate trips for those in the rear stage. He even brought Nils up there during "Darlington County." Good show, not great, but very enjoyable, as all Bruce shows are.

Couple notes for those going tonight:
1. It took us about a half hour to get in the building last night. There's a security check and the line/mob was enormous. It was a pretty warm evening last night too, and that didn't help matters any. I was sweating profusely before I even got to my seat.

2. Stout, the bar on 32nd(33rd?) Street where I met J9 before the show, was mobbed. However, they did show the '75 Hammersmith Odeon on their TV's.

3. If you have GA's, get there early. Both areas were PACKED! Didn't look like there was much breathing room down there. If I were to miraculously find a GA during a drop today, I'd probably throw it back.

That's all. Can't wait for next summer when the audience knows the new songs more. Looking forward to what "Long Walk Home" and "Girls In Their Summer Clothes" will be like when the audience knows the lyrics.

Enjoy the show tonight!

GypsyMikey

Setlist:
Radio Nowhere
The Ties That Bind
Lonesome Day
Gypsy Biker
Magic
Reason to Believe
Adam Raised a Cain
She's the One
Livin' in the Future
The Promised Land
Brilliant Disguise
Backstreets
Darlington County
Devil's Arcade
The Rising
Last to Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands

Encore:
Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Thundercrack
Born to Run
Dancing in the Dark
American Land

"...On The Cover Of The Roll-ing Stoooone!"

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/16941890/bruce_springsteen_the_rolling_stone_interview

MSG, Night 1

So are J9 and I the only one's going tonight? Also, feel free to let us know if any extras pop up for #2, or know of any drops taking place.

Also, here's my new email address at work:

michael.x.dunn@jpmchase.com

Yes, they gave me an X. I am the unknown. Mikey Power.

Aussie interview

If you are interested in an interview from down under you can hear it
HERE

Interesting in that they talk about each track on the album.

Toronto....This One's "For You!"

Only one new tour premiere last night, but a good one at that. I think the bar has been raised for the NYC shows. Another 'incident' took place, and the 'crack is back!

Setlist:

Radio Nowhere
Night
Lonesome Day
Gypsy Biker
For You
Magic
Reason to Believe
Candy's Room
She's the One
Livin' in the Future
The Promised Land
Town Called Heartbreak
Incident on 57th Street
Darlington County
Devil's Arcade
The Rising
Last to Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands

Encore:

Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Thundercrack
Born to Run
Dancing in the Dark
American Land

Let's go to the video tape

OK I give up on that link. Check Backstreets, it's up there now. Good luck! :)

QOTD

question of the day.....What is the deal with Devil's Arcade?
A. What is the Devil's Arcade?
B. Who wants the wounded soldier to whisper the word "tomorrow" in their ear and why?

Discuss.......

OH, Canada!!!

Nice setlist from Ottawa last night, including a few really nice surprises/premieres, plus special guests THE ARCADE FIRE!!!

1. Radio Nowhere
2. Ties That Bind
3. Lonesome Day
4. Gypsy Biker
5. Magic
6. Reason to Believe Blues
7. Adam Raised a Cain
8. She's the One
9. Living in the Future
10 Promised Land
11. Tougher Than the Rest (Tour Premier)
12. Backstreets (Tour Premier)
13. Darlington County
14. Devils Arcade
15. The Rising
16. Last to Die
17. Long Walk Home
18. Badlands
Encore:
19. Girls in Their Summer Clothes
20. State Trooper (Tour Premier) with Special Guests...Arcade Fire
21. Keep The Car Running(Arcade Fire Song) with Special Guests Arcade Fire
22. Born to Run with Special Guests...Arcade Fire
23. Dancing in the Dark
24. American Land

STEPHEN COLBERT IS A DICKHEA?

I'll let you guess the last letter ---- enough said !!!

For those of you scoring at home.....

Wednesday's show was my 96th career show! Make sure you are there for #100. There will be cake, t shirts and door prizes! :)

This "boot" is made for BURNING...

...and that's exactly what I'll do.

Yes, I have Meadowlands Night #2 in hand. Quality is pretty darned good. Send me your addresses and I'll get them out as soon as possible.

We're off.....

To Detroit Rock City for the weekend. Back Monday.

The First Five

I know it's not the PIT review that RR wants but here are my thoughts about what I've seen, heard and experienced over the first 5 shows of this tour.

• Not sure I ever saw 5 consecutive shows on any tour before let alone the 5 that started the tour. It has been interesting to watch the band from show to show. Although I don't feel they have 100% hit their stride I'd say this thing has gotten off to a much hotter start than The Rising tour.
• Gypsy Biker is my favorite live song so far. The blistering guitars on this song are unreal. Steve starts it out with the acoustic all the while he has the electric slung over his back. He makes the transition seamlessly. I admit that I some times think Steve is loafing during the show but he makes his money on this one tune alone.
• My second favorite songs are tied - Devil's Arcade and Long Walk Home. The latter is one of the best songs he has written in a long time, just my opinion.

Here everybody has a neighbor
Everybody has a friend
Everybody has a reason to begin again

My father said "Son, we're lucky in this town
It's a beautiful place to be born
It just wraps its arms around you
Nobody crowds you, nobody goes it alone.
That you know flag flying over the courthouse
Means certain things are set in stone
Who we are, what we'll do and what we won't."

These are beautiful words about the country we call home. I love singing them out at the top of my lungs every single night. Likely to the dismay of my seat mates.

• I'm not sure about the transition from Last to Die to Long Walk Home. I'm no musical expert but something there seems awkward to me.
• Now I'm not Patti bashing, well I guess technically I am, but her backing vocals on MAGIC ruin the song for me. In Asbury it was really bad. And I must admit it has gotten better over the course of shows I have seen but still not working for me. I prefer the album cut on this one.
• Don't know if they have done this every night but first time I saw it was in NJ #2. During Town Called Heartbreak they turned off the video screens on the sides of the stage and instead used projection screens that are right over the middle of the stage. They put Bruce on one and Patti on the other in a split screen effect. It was pretty cool and effective while they were trading verses of this song. In Asbury they did this song as an acoustic duet and I thought it was really good. VERY strong vocals from Bruce. But it killed the show. So now it gets a full band treatment. Not as good at all and Bruce's vocal has gotten a little lost. Her shrill is still loud and clear though :) (Bashing again)
• Tail gates in October are an excellent thing. Weather has been great and there are plenty of good seasonal brews to choose from. Pumpkin....mmmmmmmmmmm
• I am no fashion expert BUT as long as I live I will never understand how women choose their concert going fashions! It's a concert NOT a nightclub. I DO NOT understand. Someone please explain.
• 5 tailgates in 8 days makes you not feel so great. I need vegetables. Not beer or subs or sugar or guacamole or beer or burgers or pasta salad or beer for that matter.
• Livin' in the Future was my bathroom break in NJ#2. Not working for me.
• In both NJ shows Bruce shushed the crowd at the start of Reason to Believe. People were merely clapping along. Add this to the "do not understand" column.
• Pete and Linda are getting new wood flooring in their kitchen.
• Bruce has forgotten that he built a ramp to the back of the stage for a reason. Presumably to get up there and get the back of the house involved. Right now he's using it for one song. Unacceptable.
• When Bruce yells to Steve "strap on that electric guitar" you are in for a fun time. Wednesday it was You Can Look.
• Nice of Bruce to call Steve over to join in on the vocals on Cynthia. Too bad Steve didn't know a SINGLE word.
• Hik doesn't require a lot of sleep. A nap in the car will do just fine.
• The encores still need work.
• During American Land the video screens are being used to display the words to the song. Complete with a bouncing red ball a la Mitch Miller.
• I was glad to hear Incident again so I could actually listen to the song instead of weeping! LOL The shock of hearing it the first time is just too much.
  
• Hearing Bruce call the NJ crowd his "Homies" was funny and equally unsettling!

It has been a great October for me despite the ugliness that is going on in the Bronx. Forget baseball season, that's long over, it is BOSS season now! I'm off tour now until Boston which will be the last two shows of this US leg. It should be very interesting to see where this all goes over the next few weeks! I turn the reigns over now to those attending the MSG shows next week! This blog thing has been fun. A good way to keep everyone involved whether they are just reading along or actively participating. Soon we turn it over to the Foreigners-I hope they are up for it :)

I still believe in the Ministry of Rock n Roll!!!!!!!!! Carry on my friends!

The calliope crashed to the ground

I'm sure you've seen or read about the calliope that opens the show. I first saw it from behind the stage in Hartford and had no clue what the heck was going on. But it's actually a fun little thing.
I had read that it was a gift to Bruce but recently just heard from someone what the back story is. This little ditty was found among Terry Macgovern's possessions after his passing. On it was a picture of the Tunnel of Love ticket booth and a black hat was hanging off of it. I recall the ticket booth from the TOL tour but I didn't know until after he died, that Terry was the ticket taker every night, donning that black hat. So the calliope is not only a novelty item but it appears it's Bruce nightly tribute to his friend. Pretty cool.

Take THAT Philly!

I have had just about enough of hearing how Philly always gets the Best shows blah blah. HA. Let's hear it for the SWAMPS OF JERSEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!! Perhaps the best show I ever saw in the Garden State.

A BIG shout out to EdE who was in the PIT tonight. I hope you heard me scream your name Ed, when they ripped in to Adam Raised a Cain! Was glad to bump in to you pre show and was SO thrilled for you to see the double wrist bands around your arm! Great for you.

We were GA tonight too but I kept to the way back of the house. Was in front of the boards for the opener but then that was it. Too many 6 foot whatever guys that had had WAY too much beer in the parking lot, for my tastes. I had told Charlie "if I disappear I'm in the back of the house!". Once NIGHT started I was outta there and Charlie wasn't too far behind me. We made our own brand of fun at the back of the floor.
GREAT time in the swamps!

Sleep now....more tomorrow.

UPdownUPdown

The boys and girls of the E St. Band can't seem to get in to a rhythm if you ask me. Again I didn't think sound was stellar but nothing like Friday night. Lots of miscues among the band last night. The Rising in particular was a train wreck. Patti and Steve were doing one thing at the end of the song and Bruce was totally on another page.

Bruce had to ride the lame NJ crowd by telling them it was louder in Philly! HA.
If you look at the official set list on BruceSpringsteen.net you can see the show that we were supposed to get last night. Some technical problems prevented it from happening exactly as planned. So...that can only mean we are in for a killer show tonight!
On with it!

We had RIBS!

Who'll stop the rain?

Well it hasn't started yet but it looks like it could at any moment. Will that dampen the spirits of the tailgaters? Only the wimpy ones - we plan to carry on!
Packing up the rain gear, just in case, and heading out!

More tomorrow from the IZOD Center! Somehow I think Bruce will have something to say about that. I wonder if he's "officially" the opening act of the 'Zod?

Forgot to mention

I normally don't pass on the rumors I hear unless I feel there is some basis to them and I hear them repeated times. This falls in to said category.
13 nights in Giants Stadium next August.
Also hearing rumblings of Shea but nothing more on that. Lincoln Field for 3-5 dates in June/July.

Chew on that for a while.

Next Stop the ZOD

OK people. The ribs are in the smoker. NJ tailgate prep is well underway. My anticipated arrival time at the ZOD is 5:15. Who's skipping work? What's your ETA? Are we rocking parking area 16?

Did you see me?

I could see myself in the BtoR clip from Hartford :)

From ringing in my ears to singing in the rears!

Mary Beth basically covered all the bases but I just wanted to say how much of a blast this weekend was. I had a great time at both shows but like she said, the sound Friday was all over the place. I swear my ears were still ringing when we were tailgaiting on Saturday. But I did like my first listen to the new material live and hearing Candy's Room with my sister JoAnn was a personal highlight we can talk about for years to come.

Friday was also great for me since it was an induction into the world of Bruce Live for my niece Justine and her husband Dan. And it I knew he had been converted when at Saturday morning breakfast he had a printed copy of the setlist from Backstreets and a millions questions about records, shows, the band etc.

Saturday night they had the sound down pat and to quote Charlie the Mission Man, "They got the memo." Wow. Two and half hours of singing in the rears was awesome. From end to end it is such a great place to watch a show from. Seeing the interaction, the 'Bruce' signals to other band members, and mostly the crowd makes it a great experience. And when he throws in something like Incident on 57th St. there is nothing more to say.

Thanks you guys for a great weekend, great fun and great memories.

NIGHT (#2)

Night to open can usually be taken as a sign of good things to come. Last night was no exception. The first three songs last night were stellar. They rock, they are familiar for the most part and they certainly have that WOW factor. Gypsy Biker is no less rocking but not as familiar so not everyone is totally locked in on that song. I am however. This is a stellar performance from both Bruce and Steve. The song is angry, it’s mournful, it’s loaded with guitar. It has been a real highlight of every show for me so far.

But the story last night came in one song. One note really. After Patti’s little number, Bruce came toward the back of the stage (where I was seated once again) and he changed guitars. The stage was dark but I could still see Bruce in the shadows when he pointed to Roy and the lone spot light on the stage shone down on his piano keys. I held my breath. I knew what was coming and time stood still for me for a moment. One note was all it took. It was far more emotion than I was ready to handle at that particular moment.

When I went grocery shopping today I smelled a pear and I was transported back to the house grew up in, back to my Catholic school days, back to cool, crisp autumns of my past. Last night that one note took me to the other side of the world and connected me to an old friend. It always has, it always will. Not sure any more if that’s a good or bad thing.

I don’t know what the deal was last night. If it was a “Philly Special” we were experiencing or if Bruce knew of the problems of the previous night and was trying to make up for it. Either way, in the end everybody wins!




Tailgate highlight-a call from Ireland


Already back in Florida by now

All I know

is that I might be getting too old for back to back nights! Woo I'm hurtin' today! And I'm thinking that today might be a good day to get some groceries in the house! All of a sudden "normal" life is falling apart around me. Oh well.. the tour is on, who needs food!
Thoughts on the Incident in Philly after I have some coffee.....

Philly #1

Good show last night, great tail gate. Like a sweltering summer day in South Philly.
Sound was pretty much horrible in the Wachovia Center last night. It really makes me wonder, is this a by product of the building or the equipment or what? I thought the sound in Hartford was good. Last night it was...how can I even describe it? Almost too loud. Is that possible? Don't know the reason behind it but the camp really needs to figure it out.
The encores need to be tightened up a bit. NO ONE is catching on to the Thundercrack thing. Not even in Philly. Wasn't the song practically invented there??? ;)


Reason to Believe


The Hipsters


Remember them?


Mr. and Mrs.

Cheesesteaks, Brotherly Love and Bruce

OK well I'm probably not having a cheese steak but I will be getting the brotherly love for sure! Lots of good folks meeting up in the parking lots over the next 2 nights. Pictures, reports, tail gate gossip, to follow :)

TickTickTickTickTickTick

Bruce on 60 Minutes this Sunday in case you haven't heard yet :)

Are there alligators in them there SWAMPS?

Izod win name rights for Meadowlands arena
by The Associated Press
Thursday October 04, 2007, 11:35 AM
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority today said it awarded naming rights to Continental Airlines Arena to the clothing maker Izod.

The building will be called the Izod Center.

Izod is a division of clothing and apparel maker Phillips-Van Heusen, and is already a sponsor of the New Jersey Nets basketball team, which plays there.

Two other clothing companies -- Rocawear and Southpole -- had also been bidding to have their name on the arena.

Continental opted to take its name off the 26-year-old building now that the New Jersey Devils are leaving for their new home in Newark.

Reason to Believe

From Hartford

If you want to take a listen. Not great sound but gives you an idea of how it's being played. Bring on "Electric Nebraska"

Hartford Pictures

Love this


Here are the rest

"and so it BEGINS!"

Said Bruce Springsteen last night after beginning the 2007 tour with Radio Nowhere and right before launching in to The Ties That Bind.
And where it will end up nobody knows just yet.

What a difference a week makes. Last night's show was far superior to what I saw in Asbury Park a week ago. Rehearsals are great fun but they are rehearsals and last week was a little rough around the edges. Last night, wipe the slate clean, the boys took the stage with their A game. The first 45 minutes of the show were so intense it was unreal. It was one after the other like a rapid fire assault. Right up until my bathroom break of Town Called Heartbreak :) If there is a little lull to the show it is right there but that all turns around again with Devil's Arcade straight on through to the end of the regular set.
The show is a lean, mean, fightin' machine.
After Badlands Bruce did a quick run through of the band intro's and then he added "the earth shaking - blah blah blah - Viagra taking, LEGENDARY" and then he let the crowd finish with E STREET BAND.

Clearly Bruce and the band were mighty proud of themselves on Opening Night and with good reason. I was sitting a few rows behind Max and I was over the tunnel area as the band came and went from the stage. After Bruce left the stage for the final time he stopped in the tunnel area and was waving at the crowd and he had HUGE grin on his face. Smiling from ear to ear, if you will.

Last night Pete asked me why I like going to opening night. That's an easy one for me. It's the real deal on opening night. Rehearsals may come before it but opening night with the band is the night they say to the world, here we are and this is what we have to say this time around. We hope you come along for the ride. Whenever possible I have to see that all unfold for myself and make sure that I'm still interested in taking the ride. Last night it Struck me kinda funny seemed kind of funny sir to me
How at the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe.

With all my heart, I believe.

Here are some photos from last night.




Do I have to say his name?


Nothing but trouble


What we've been waiting for


My View


BTR

I'm home

and boy do I need SLEEP!

Quick Synopsis.

Left NJ at 1:30pm
Arrived Hartford, navigated to a parking lot and pulled up to a bar stool 4pm.
Met up with CO & Co. 6pm
In my seat 7:37 pm
Lights out and my stomach flip flops at 8:26pm
Next time I recall is 11pm
Back in NJ at 2:15AM!!!!!!
Heading to my office today at 7:15am
Arrive office 9:43am

Total Opening Night Experience - PRICELESS

Need a nap! Stay tuned!

Pullin' outta here to win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just heard on the radio that Gov. Rell has declared today "Bruce Springsteen" day in Connecticut! Woo hoo..... I wonder if we get a special prize when we cross the state line!
Wish we were all going to be there for the home opener.

Baseball and Bruce to take us right in to the Holiday season.
It ain't a bad life!

Full report when I return to the home base late Wednesday afternoon.

XO

NY Daily News

As always, a good article by Hinkley HERE

And the Brits speak out too HERE