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!