eBruce

I took some of the family to see Springsteen at Wembley at the weekend. I should have ignored Mrs and middle child when they said they weren't fans and taken them anyway, all five of us. For me it's as close to a religious experience as exists, and mere words cannot do justice to being in the presence of greatness. The E Street Band are quite extraordinary, but Bruce Springsteen is imperious. Nearly a week on I am still in awe. He has it must be said been doing it for a long time, and has had over 50 years honing his craft, but still... it is just a different level. 

I saw the light only quite late, and I've only seen him once before in 2013. I was mesmerised., and I am not sure how I have not been to other concerts since. He was 63 then, and I was slightly concerned that now, at 74, he might be in decline. I am an idiot. In decline? Hah! If anything he has stepped it up. The power and the energy are just quite quite incredible, and it's not just The Boss. Steve Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren, Roy Bittan, Max Weinberg, Garry Tallent and Patti Scialfa are all roughly the same age as Bruce, Soozie Tyrell is only a few years younger, yet all are absolutely at the top of their game. And still doing 3+ hour gigs. His relationship with and command of a crowd of 90,000 is mind-bending. I wasn't one of the ones right at the front as last time, but I wished I had been. As a reminder, here's my view from last time vs my view this time.

2013

2024

I don't think he took a single request so in that sense his approach has changed. But the setlist was remarkably different to 2013, with 19 songs he hadn't played then - and these are not obscure tracks either, they're classics that have stood the test of time. I was particularly pleased to hear Youngstown. One of the local birders, Richard, was there too, his ninth concert. He was able to tell me how many times he'd heard various songs, almost as if he had a recreational spreadsheet...  I immediately hit on the idea of launching an App for concert-going fans to be able to record the set-lists and get some stats going - see their "blockers" and that sort of thing. I rarely have good ideas like this and was very pleased with myself. eBruce was going to make me millions. I hadn't quite enrolled on a Java coding course when I discovered that inevitably someone else had already done it. Late again.... Oh well, here's the set list from Saturday.

Lonesome Day - Candy's Room - Adam Raised a Cain - Death to My Hometown - The Promised Land - Hungry Heart - Darlington County - Tougher Than the Rest - Darkness on the Edge of Town - Youngstown - Long Walk Home - The E Street Shuffle - Nightshift (cover) -- Mary's Place - The River - Last Man Standing - Backstreets - Because the Night - She's the One - Wrecking Ball - The Rising - Badlands - Thunder Road

Encore:

Born in the U.S.A. - Born to Run - Bobby Jean - Dancing in the Dark - Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out - Twist and Shout (cover) - I'll See You in My Dreams (solo accoustic)

As you can see, the final third was just sensational. From about Wrecking Ball they just stepped it up a gear and kept on going up, roaring to the traditional Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out finish. It was exhausting and exhilarating. And I want to go again. "We'll be seeing ya" were his departing words. I sincerely hope that is true, and that it is soon.