Springsteen in Jersey last night...

[vi5]

Not sure who on here are fans. I'm a late to the game appreciator of his work. I'm 38 and growing up as a guitar playing metal head, his song oriented approach and reliance on other instruments to drive the songs (sax, piano, etc.), especially in a band with 3 guitarists, didn't really appeal to me. But over the past 5-7 years or so I've warmed up to him as a phenomenal songwriter and lyricist and appreciated his ability to keep putting out music that while if not instantly on the level of his classics, at least didn't completely tarnish his legacy like a lot of classic rock bands.

Anyway, so last night was a great show. For a guy pushing 60 (as are his band) the energy level was off the charts. He doesn't just trot out the hits for a nostalgia show but he also didn't shove the new songs down the crowd's throats. 3 hour plus show.....you've got no complaints. 10th Avenue Freeze Out, Jungleand, Born to Run, Rosalita, Badlands, Growing Up, Dancing In The Dark... I think 30 songs in all.

On a political note before one of the songs he made a statement about the past 8 years things like rendition, and illegal wiretapping, and gutting of civil liberties being the things that your parents told you happened in other places...scary places...and that we were better than that. It wasn't a momentum killing downer moment but the reaction to the crowd was pretty much non-existent. No boos, no major cheers. It was like any other piece of stage banter. Which I found oddly disturbing but also pretty much par for the course nowadays. Statements like that are just another in a long line of buzzing sounds that people hear and have no reaction to. It's sad, but kudos to him for not letting the moments pass without making some statement of a political nature. Although I think he and a lot of other entertainers are trying to lay lower this time around so as to not get the preferred candidate tagged with a "darling of the entertainment industry" mark.

Either way..figured I'd post this for whoever might be interested.

[LynneSin]

1. I'm seeing him Thursday - in Jersey too

It's like going to Bethelem for Christmas or doing the Hajj as a Muslim. If you're a fan of music, a fan of Bruce Springsteen, you have to see him at least once in your lifetime playing in New Jersey, preferably the Meadowlands.

[vi5]

2. Have fun....

If he puts on even half the show he did last night it will be a blast. I tend to prefer things played faster in a live setting and I thought a lot of what he played was a bit slow so I'm not sure if it was just a natural sluggishnes or what. It wasn't a lack of energy though.

The fact that a band that big in that gigantic a setting is actually taking requests from the audience, is pretty impressive. He gathers up as many signs stating requests as he can and then holds them up and the band launches into them. Great stuff.

[LostinVA]

3. Haruka wasn't able to get tickets to that

She saw him in Charlottesville, VA in April.

[Bennyboy]

4. Great .....that show had some killer tunes in the setlist.....

For me on this tour "The Rising" "Last To Die" "Long Walk Home" said more than any words could possibly do.

"Youngstown" last night. One of the truly great tunes......The guitar onslaught at the end is simply amazing.

Wish I couldda been there.....Seen Bruce everytime, with every band since 75 at the Roxy.

Here are some great streaming shows (I am listening to the 88 show "War" right now).http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com/arr/bruce-springsteen-and-the-e-street-band/15102.html
and the setlist:

July 27, 2008
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Giants Stadium

Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out { lyrics }
Radio Nowhere { lyrics }
Lonesome Day { lyrics }
Adam Raised A Cain { lyrics }
Spirit In The Night { lyrics }
Summertime Blues
Brilliant Disguise { lyrics }
Atlantic City { lyrics }
Growin' Up { lyrics }
Janey Don't You Lose Heart { lyrics }
I'll Work For Your Love { lyrics }
Youngstown { lyrics }
Murder Incorporated { lyrics }
The Promised Land { lyrics }
Livin' In The Future { lyrics }
Mary's Place { lyrics }
Working On The Highway { lyrics }
Tunnel Of Love { lyrics }
The Rising { lyrics }
Last To Die { lyrics }
Long Walk Home { lyrics }
Badlands { lyrics }

Girls In Their Summer Clothes { lyrics }
Jungleland { lyrics }
Born To Run { lyrics }
Bobby Jean { lyrics }
Dancing In The Dark { lyrics }
American Land { lyrics }
Rosalita { lyrics }

[vi5]

5. Looking at some of the message boards....

both NJ and otherwise, it's amazing how many right wing loons troll about on those things. People are just insane. It was one thing for people to just react with indifference but the venom on some of these boards just blows me away. How a consistentely populist artist, from and performing in one of the most over the top solid blue states has that many people criticizing his politics is beyond my comprehension.

[Bennyboy]

7. I don't get it either...

he is a liberal and always has been one. How do these people find anything in his songs that they agree with? I certainly can't get behind a conservative artist that wears his hear ton his sleeve like Bruce does, how can they and still enjoy it?

[vi5]

8. From what I gather from the ramblings....

When he was apolitical and singing songs about the plight of the working man in america it was o.k. But now that he's wealthy and actually sings about the ways to do something to actually help the working man, they're turned off. Thinking is hard, you know.

And honestly I think the fact that the message and irony of Born In The USA being lost on a large chunk of the population had an impact on his fan base as well.

[driver8]

6. Bruce puts on one of the greatest shows in rock n' roll!!

I've seen him four times, and every time has been amazing!!

I'm glad you discovered the Boss...sounds like you saw a great show.

[Reverend_Smitty]

9. I've seen him about 7 times in concert

all in the NYC/NJ/Philly area and not once did he disappoint. I saw him most recently at the Garden on the first leg of this tour and he made some political comments then but I remember the crowd reaction to be pretty positive towards it.

Still there is nothing quite like The Boss live