Songs Played in L.A. on The River Tour

My uncle John asked me about the setlist over the three nights of Springsteen at the Los Angeles Sports Arena last week, specifically, “What songs were played?” That’s a loaded question because the answer is, “A lot of them.” By my count, it was 45 different songs to be precise! I understand how obsessive this comes off to the non-fan, or even casual-fan, but here’s what was played. As mentioned in my previous post, 22 songs were a given: all 20 tracks on The River album as well as the opener, Meet Me In The City, and the encore, extended version with band intros of The Isley Bros’ Shout! That leaves 23 other tunes. Among those, there were 6 other songs that were staples, and also played all three nights. Those were:

Badlands

Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)

Dancing in the Dark

Thunder Road

Born To Run

And, no, despite the popularity of those 6 songs, none of those have been played at every single Bruce concert I’ve seen, but for this tour they are standards.

There were only 3 songs that were played two nights in L.A.:

Wrecking Ball (not played on night 2)

Because The Night (not played on night 2)

The Rising (not played on night 3, the first time it has been dropped on this tour)

This brings us down to the “special songs” that I’m sure my uncle really wanted to know about. These are the ones that really changed things up from night to night. There were 14 of this variety as follows:

Night 1 (Tues.)

Lonesome Day

Human Touch

She’s The One

No Surrender

Night 2 (Thurs.)

Death To My Hometown (tour premiere)

The Promised Land

Backstreets

Brilliant Disguise

American Land (tour premiere)

[both premieres presumably for St. Patrick’s Day]

Night 3 (Sat.)

Prove It All Night

My Love Will Not Let You Down

Tougher Than The Rest

Jungleland

Bobby Jean (added as show closer for only the second time this tour)

Some other notable stats: Both night 1 and night 3 got 35 songs whereas night 2 got 34 songs. However, on night 2, it seemed like Bruce extended Shout longer than either of the other two nights, to the point where he and the audience were ready to drop, in fact, by where I was on the floor, several did. Time-wise though, night 3 was the longest show, 3 hours, 45 minutes, clocking in at the longest Springsteen show I have ever seen, and one of his longest ever!

Well, there you have it. Those are the song statistics for the historic 3-night run at The Dump That Jumps, the last shows at the Los Angeles Sports Arena ever. This was the first place I ever saw Springsteen. Notably, my uncle John Lynd, the guy I’m posting this for, took me to that show!

Personal Premieres at the Springsteen L.A. Shows

Coming into the three shows at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, there were 9 songs off The River album that I had NEVER seen performed live in person. These songs were: Sherry Darling, Jackson Cage, Crush On You, I Wanna Marry You, Fade Away, Stolen Car, The Price You Pay, Drive All Night, & Wreck On The Highway. If you throw in The River outtake, Meet Me In The City, as well as the cover of The Isley Brothers’ Shout!, then those are 11 songs I had never ever heard Bruce sing live before. It turns out that over the 3-night stand, that those 11 songs would be the “only” new songs for me. Obviously, I say that a bit tongue-in-cheek, because, for any Springsteen fan, having never-before-heard-live-TO-YOU-songs, is a huge feather in your Bruce cap. And, having 11 personal premieres is nothing to sneeze at! That my friends, is the beauty of this current tour, Bruce promised to play the entire The River album each and every night. Thus, to my uncle who asked to hear a bit more about the setlists from last week, I want to start with this post, letting you know that, for each of the three nights, the first 21 songs were exactly the same. He opened with Meet Me In The City and then played all four sides (20 songs) of The River album straight through. This part of the show took-up the first 2+ hours of each evening. He also closed his encores with Shout, except for night 3 when he added a bonus closer. That was only the second night on the current tour that he didn’t close with Shout, but more on that in the next post.

Point Blank in Los Angeles

Point Blank intro., shot of monitor, photo cred.: Josh Kitchen

Last week, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band took their The River Tour '16, the 35 anniversary of 1980's The River album, to the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Affectionately dubbed The Dump That Jumps, by Springsteen, his three shows there last week would be the final three concerts at the venue, ever! I was fortunate enough to catch all three shows there as follows: Tuesday, 3/15/16; Thursday, 3/17/16; and, Saturday, 3/19/16.

In a Facebook comment, my Uncle John left a plea for more information about the shows, some comments about the setlists, and a review. Since my first Facebook status update following the request turned into a rather long piece, I decided to post them here on my blog.

One of my highlights from last week's Springsteen shows was hearing the song Point Blank all three nights. I had heard it twice before, once at my first show in 1984 and once in 2000. However, these 2016 performances were better. The intro by Roy was otherworldly, goose-bump-inducing. Also, the backing vocals by Stevie were remarkable, even better than on the record, and obviously, Little Steven's critical contributions were missing in 1984. Most importantly, I had one of those experiences where, even though I'd heard the song hundreds of times on the album, and loved it, it was like I heard it for the first time last week! In particular, at the end Bruce sings "Did you forget how to love, girl, did you forget how to fight?" At least once he dropped the "girl" and asked, in a much more pronounced way: "Did you forget how to love? Did you forget how to fight?" It gave chills. That lyric was so understated on the studio version, even though The River was the first album I remember being captured by (at age 11), I'm ashamed to say I never heard those words! I had to go back and search for them, and they are there in a hushed tone. Live, they were particularly impactful to me because I'm going through a book, John Eldredge's Fathered by God, with my son, Wes, right now. In my favorite chapter, Warrior, the author talks about the importance of fighting, not quarreling or rabble-rousing, but contending, the idea that there are things in life worth fighting for, that a man must protect his heart for noble things. In this holy moment at the L.A. Sports Arena, it all came together, like the huge reveal at the end of Fight Club or Citizen Kane, and I was profoundly moved by the Great Warrior himself (no, not Bruce). I heard the Spirit tell me that I would never become passive, that I would fight! Indeed, I was born for the good fight! In particular, I knew as the song said, I would never become just another stranger in the shadows like some of the weak men I knew, my birth father among them. Most of all, I would, for the rest of my days be my wife, Chrisy's, Romeo, and, in that moment as Bruce sang and the E Street Band came to its heavenly zenith, I knew there were things I would ALWAYS put myself on the line for, my marriage, my family, the junior highers I lead at my church, the troubled youth in my classroom, all among them. I left those shows with, to quote Eldredge, "a great reservoir of passionate strength and holy desire." Unlike the protagonist in Point Blank, no matter what the state of my physical body, I would never ever wake up and be dying, oh, no, not this warrior!

Last Night's Springsteen Show

I really wanted to post something about the two Bruce shows I saw last night and the night before. I could spend a lot of time writing about both, but I need to get some much needed sleep.  Suffice it to say, I had two incredible nights, really, really good shows. I left night #1 wondering if it could be topped. I mean there were magical moments such as "Spirit in the Night" and a "Racing in the Streets" that gave me chills. Seriously, I was sitting there next to my wife and two sons listening to "Racing in the Streets" thinking, "I'll never forget this moment as long as I live." However, I have to say that last night's second show was really the more amazing of the two. I was on the floor with my sons and it was totally joyful, intense, and fun! It was truly one of the better Springsteen concerts I have ever seen and that is saying a lot. I honestly could write so much here, but I am tired. Anyway, there really isn't much I could add to the review from "Backstreets" which I truly hope you read.  Writer Erik Flannigan really captured the magic quality that took place. Photographer Joseph Quever posted some fantastic pictures too, one of which I borrowed and posted above! You can find the review here under April 16 / Los Angeles / L.A. Sports Arena.

Long Live Happiness

Tony and me outside the Xcel Center, March 16, 2008, St. Paul, Minnesota

This is a post about the last time I saw Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band live in concert. Okay, not the last time, but the most recent time. It was just over a year ago: Sunday, March 16, 2008. I’m thinking a lot about that concert today probably because I am heading out to see Springsteen and the band for my 27th time tonight!

The title for this post comes from the last words Springsteen said as he excited the stage after that concert on 3/16/2008: “Long live happiness!” It is fitting because his concerts have been such a source of joy in my life. That show last March was no exception. Indeed, it was one of the most fantastic nights of my life, one of those nights that will flash before your eyes and bring a smile to your face when you’re on your deathbed.

It was a cold spring night in St. Paul, Minnesota, and I was seeing Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band with my spiritual brother, Tony Cloyd. There were many things that made this night special. First, it would be the first time Tony ever saw Springsteen live! There’s nothing like the excitement of taking someone to their first E Street Band show. Will they “get it”? Keyboardist Danny Federici wasn’t playing with the band since November, 2007 due to illness. Would his replacement Charlie Giordano make this not as good? Second, I was able to fly out to Minnesota by myself to spend time with my friend. Tony and I have bookend birthdays: his is March 1 and mine is March 31. This trip was right in the middle. Third, it was my 26th Bruce show, but my first time seeing him outside of California. That was a novelty. Would there be a different vibe in this part of the country? I was excited.

Tony and I had made a day of this. We played around the Twin Cities all day. As Chrisy had been generous to give me this trip as a birthday present, Tony’s wife, Julie, was kind enough to let us play all weekend! We had general admission (GAs) tickets on the floor and decided to go down to the venue, The Xcel Energy Center, way early to try our luck with the wristband lottery to be among the lucky few hundred to get into the pit at the front of the stage. That was a long ordeal that involved lots of standing, lining up in sequential order, and waiting for a number to be called. Alas, we just missed the cut off and ended up not getting into the pit. However, we were let into the venue early and were able to get as close as possible without actually being in the pit: right up against the pit barrier. As witnessed by the below photo that Tony took with his iPhone, it was really close!

This is a picture Tony took with his phone.

The tickets listed a 7:30 show time, but by the time 7:30 rolled around we had actually been standing for something like five hours! I remember thinking, “Man, these sore feet just to get into the pit and we didn’t do it. I will never get GAs again.” Bruce took the stage at 8:33 p.m. and the second he broke into the first song, NIGHT, all that tiredness and soreness was gone! Totally gone! My thoughts immediately changed to “This is so worth it! I have dancing room! GAs are the only way to go!” (In fact, for tomorrow night’s show, night #2 in L.A. I have GAs and am trying the pit lottery again).

Let me back up. I know many of you will in no way relate to this, but one of my very favorite feelings in life is the feeling I get right when the house lights go out and the E Street Band takes the stage. There are few things like it in the world: the anticipation, the excitement, knowing what is to come! I love watching the silhouettes come out, two-by-two usually, maybe Garry and Roy, Max and Nils, Patti and Steve, and then the Big Man, and then the man himself, the Boss, Bruce Springsteen and he screams, “Is anybody alive out there?” There are few times in my life I feel so alive so I scream back with a resounding, “Yes!” Tonight they open with NIGHT from the 1975 classic album, “Born to Run.” The euphoria begins!

Here was the set list for Tony’s first E Street Band show:
1. NIGHT
2. RADIO NOWHERE
3. LONESOME DAY
4. DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN
5. GYPSY BIKER
6. MAGIC
7. REASON TO BELIEVE
8. PROVE IT ALL NIGHT
9. SHE’S THE ONE
10. LIVIN’ IN THE FUTURE
11. THE PROMISED LAND
12. WAITIN’ ON A SUNNY DAY
13. BACKSTREETS
14. DEVIL’S ARCADE
15. THE RISING
16. LAST TO DIE
17. LONG WALK HOME
18. BADLANDS
____________________
19. GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES
20. JUNGLELAND
21. BORN TO RUN
22. DANCING IN THE DARK
23. AMERICAN LAND

There was not a bad moment in the show, pure bliss from 8:33 to 10:52! However, there were moments so fantastic that they are etched in my memory the way they engrave words like “July 24, 1993 – Our Wedding Day” into the glass on a pair of Champaign glasses. Here are a few of them from the concert of 3/16/08:

The first and second songs rocked, really rocked, but true magic didn’t come until the third song, LONESOME DAY, it was like a beautiful symphony the way everybody came together and it gave me a great feeling of pure joy. It was the opening track of my favorite album, “The Rising,” and it never sounded better. As always, Bruce shined on guitar.

A professional shot of our concert in St. Paul that night.

There was a moment during the fifth song, GYPSY BIKER that summarizes why I love the E Street Band, they are more than a band; they are family. Steve and Bruce share a mike for a minute and do a duet on the part that says, “my love for you brother, lying still and unchanged” and I got goose bumps. I remember thinking about the history these to men share, what they’ve been through. “This is the guy Bruce wrote BOBBY JEAN about.” I started thinking about my friend next to me and how he’s my brother too. This is not to mention that Steven’s guitar solo during this song knocked my head off it was so good.

REASON TO BELIEVE, the seventh song of the night was a trip! Bruce did this song in an entirely different way this tour, using the bullet mic, a total bluesy version! Great stuff. Also, this was a song in which Nils shined on guitar.

Right after that came PROVE IT ALL NIGHT and all three main guitar players, Bruce, Steve, and Nils, shared this one. It was like a three-way solo if there is such a thing. This song was pure relationships working off each other in a way that I have literally never seen at any of the 250 or so concerts I have seen in my lifetime. When they got to the chorus and sang, “Prove it all night for your love” it seemed like a little bit of heaven.

On SHE’S THE ONE it was Professor Roy who shined on his keyboards! Amazing work! The song DEVIL’S ARCADE was all musically perfect, the entire big band blended into musical perfection. It is hard to explain, but it was simply because of the instrumentation work that at this moment during the 14th song I hit the pure euphoric stage of the show.

Then, a few songs later it really got emotional for me. For some reason during the new song LONG WALK HOME, I began to tear up. It was the first verse when Bruce sang, “I could smell the same deep green of summer, above me the night sky was glowing, in the distance I could see the town where I was born.” Honestly, I think it might have been something about being in the heartland there in Minnesota, but the belonging of this song laid me flat. Consider these lyrics that echoed out over the Xcel center:

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.
You know that flag flying over the courthouse
Means certain things are set in stone
Who we are, what we’ll do and what we won’t.”

It was weird, I thought of Tony moving to Minnesota and his longing for that state and it actually made sense to me. I thought of “nobody goes it alone” and how Tony hasn’t let me go it alone for so long. Maybe it was the lovely backing vocals by Nils, I don’t know, but it all felt more than comforting, more than perfect. And, I may be crazy, but it did have a different feel than a California show.

The main set ended one song later at 10:15 with a great version of BADLANDS. They came out for an encore that lasted almost 40 minutes!

Another professional shot from that evening: Mighty Max, The Big Man, and The Boss.

Without a doubt the most amazing moment of the encore was the classic story JUNGLELAND from the “Born to Run” album. I know most of you will think this next statement is hyperbole, but it is not to me: I honestly don’t think you have truly lived until you have seen this song live. You have to experience the masterful sax solo by the Big Man Clarence Clemons at least once in your life. The sax solo is as long as it is hauntingly lovely. The song is the story of a dreamer named Magic Rat. In the end after the sax solo has pulled your heart out Bruce closes the song with an amazing final verse that includes perhaps my favorite lyrics in the history of rock ‘n’ roll. This line reiterates my belief that art matters, this line explains why Rat get shot, Bruce delivers it in a concerned tone, a whisper of desperation if you will . . . .

“. . . And the poets down here don’t write nothing at all,
they just stand back and let it all be . . .”

Heartbreaking. I’m done. That line alone was worth the price of admission.

But, it’s not over, full house lights come on for the final three: BORN TO RUN, DANCING IN THE DARK, and AMERICAN LAND. The entire place is jumping, literally. There is much dancing. Even Tony and I lock elbows and swing as if doing some Irish gig. It is all the very definition of fun!

After the long line of band members, arms locked, take their bow, and before exiting the stage Bruce walks over to the mic one last time and tells us all: “Long live happiness!” It’s a line I have tried to hold on to between the 11 months that have passed between that last Springsteen show in St. Paul and the one I will see tonight with my wife and two boys.

It’s over and then it’s the moment of truth. Did Tony like it? Before I could ask, our new friends, all those folks around us that we got to know through hours of standing together want to know also. A lady from California asks first: “So did you like your first show?” Tony beams and replies: “I am a true believer. I have been converted!” That’s not enough for me so I ask: “What did you really think?” I will never forget Tony’s response: “I wish someone could find a way to harness that man’s energy. You could plug him in and have enough energy to power the Twin Cities!”

Tony indeed “gets it.”

Tony and I outside of Mickey's Diner after the show.

Afterwards, we walked through the chilly streets of St. Paul to the famous diner called Mickey's and had a very memorial meal of homemade stew. We sat and talked and let Sunday night turn into Monday morning. It was an evening I will never forget.

Long live happiness indeed!

Okay, fine, I'll say it . . .

Best halftime show ever!

Yep, I rewatched it again. Here is my official ranking of all halftime shows in history from greatest to worst:

1. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
2. U2
3. whatever . . . .

My Halftime Show Post

So that image is how it all started last night at during the Super Bowl halftime show. The black and white image of the man himself, Bruce Springsteen, and the Big Man, Clarence Clemons, which played homage to the classic "Born to Run" album cover from 1975. I love the image. I loved last night's show!

Believe it or not, I wasn't sure if I was gonna post about the halftime show, mostly because people were expecting me to and I actually started to have thoughts like, "There are more important things to post. This is just fun, not really important." But, that's just it, it's FUN! That's what I saw up there for 13 minutes, pure fun!

Here's how it broke down:

Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out - 4 minutes

Born to Run - 3 minutes, 40 seconds

Working on a Dream - 1 minute, 40 seconds

Glory Days - 3 minutes, 20 seconds

I was pleased, very pleased. If you were not familiar with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band before the halftime show you probably are thinking one of two choices:  (1) That was a great performance and I can see why Doah would like to experience that for a couple hours; (2) I don't get it.

As far as the latter, I've heard a few people complain about Bruce's schlock, that it was high on the "cheese factor" so to speak.  Here's the thing, that "cheese factor" thing you saw is what I like. If indeed that is "hokey," then hokey is what I've always liked!

Bruce is a showman. He's always been aware that he has a job to do, he needs to take us away on a journey of pure fun! He actually works to have everybody come along. He's always worked the crowd with fun stuff like, "Put the chicken fingers down . . . is there anybody ALIVE out there?" I adore that. Anybody could go out and just play the guitar and sing, but the man works the crowd and if you'll go along with him, you'll have the time of your life. So when he yells, "Is there any body alive out there?" I yell back, "Yea! I am! Fully!" When he says, "We're going have a rock 'n' roll baptism tonight!" I'm the first one in the water! That knee-sliding, back bending, piano jumping, joke-making, "preacher man" with exhortations, showman is what I've always enjoyed.

What I think we got was what I had hoped for: that he could somehow get something that actually felt like a real Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band show and compress it into such a short time period. I think he did that. I think those of you who have not ever seen him live saw a really really mini version of an E Street Band show. Make no mistake about it either, those other guys up there with him matter. I do think you witnessed the power of the legendary E Street Band! Albeit, you'd never see fireworks or pyrotechnics at an E Street Band show, but you would see Mighty Max pounding those drums like his life depended on it! And, you would see Little Steven smiling and clowning around with his friend while they shared the mic.

So, what did I think of the halftime show? Two words: pure joy!

Is Once Enough?

Very recently, I was sitting around having a conversation with a group of adults and, of course, my so-called obsession with Springsteen and The E Street Band came up.  The question came up of why anyone would want to see Bruce more than once.  More than once in a lifetime? No. More than once in the same venue, same week, same tour? Yes. I've said this before, "It's like asking a heroin addict, 'Hey, didn't you just shoot up last night?'" That said, I was asked this question: "Isn't it the exact same show as the night before?" In answer to that question, I just found this quote from the E Street Band's great guitarist, Nils Lofgren, in an interview he did promoting tomorrow's half time show.  In it he answers the question perfectly:

"This last tour, Bruce kind of... I don't think it was pre-meditated, but the last two months of the tour became complete improv shows where he'd run out in the audience and get, like, 30 signs. Every time he did it I kept thinking, "Here's a college kid rummaging through a pile of clothes looking for a shirt that's clean enough to wear" -- Bruce is just throwing signs around, looking for something to play. By the last few months the setlist almost became useless. He never followed it. There have always been audibles, but there was a theme to it that you could kind of read (the set list) and guess at it pretty well, and that all went out the window. That's what I love about Bruce. He did an all-improv show, but not at the expense of building and having the same kind of emotional peak and energy we always do -- which is very challenging as a bandleader. He really rose to the occasion . . . Someone told me, "Yeah, you played over 160 songs." I don't even keep track. I'm so busy trying to keep my head above water day by day. And it was fun! It was challenging and you learn a lot of tracks, how to make that work in a 10-piece band like that because at some pint you just can't be prepared for audibles. When he calls a song you haven't done in 13 years and you're trying to... Forget how it goes, it's "What instrument do I play?" It makes for a very challenging night for us, in addition to the audience.

No Nomination for "The Wrestler"

Here is a small piece called How Bruce Springsteen got shut out of the Oscar nominations.  I still don't understand it, literally.  Help please!

Shot from Sunday's Concert

This just may be the coolest photo I've ever seen!

We Are One Concert

Bruce and U2!  I cannot wait for this tomorrow!

My Lucky Day indeed!

As many of you know, I wasn't too keen on the title track for the forthcoming Bruce Springsteen album, "Working On A Dream." However, this new song out today is amazing! I love it. Also, this video with the cool introduction/making of thing is so totally cool. I'm happy. Click on the link below:

Bruce Springsteen's MY LUCKY DAY

Super Bowl

Finally, the rumors are true! Suddenly, I care about a football game or at least half-time! How many days are there until February 1st? Tampa is gonna be rockin'!

Street Poet

Okay, sorry I've been absent. What have I got for you? Well, just another Bruce post. I cannot help it. A friend of mine recently pointed this out to me, and I quote:
"I swear, Bruce has got to be the king of 'street poetry,' he is AMAZING, his lyrics create an instant video in your head, once which the LISTENER casts and directs-it's that simple!"
Okay, read that quote again, because my buddy is dead on! Funny, but for decades he wasn't into Bruce. Even though he gave me an example from a different song, I want to share lyrics that have been doing that EXACT thing for me. If you own THE RISING album then play the song "The Fuse" right now and listen to it, see what video runs in your head as you listen to the poetry. If you don't own it, check out these lyrics below. What do they do for you? I know that I have a whole scenario in my mind when I hear them. I don't really want to give my interpretation just yet because I will influence you, but here are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs:

"The Fuse"
by Bruce Springsteen
from the album THE RISING (2002)

Down at the court house they're ringin' the flag down
Long black line of cars snakin' slow through town
Red sheets snappin' on the line
With this ring will you be mine
The fuse is burning
Shut out the lights
The fuse is burning
Come on let me do you right

Trees on fire with the first fall's frost
Long black line in front of Holy Cross
Blood moon risin' in a sky of black dust
Tell me Baby who do you trust?
The fuse is burning
Shut out the lights
The fuse is burning
Come on let me do you right

Tires on the highway hissin' that something's coming
You can feel the wires in the tree tops hummin'
Devil's on the horizon line
Your skin and I'm alive

Quiet afternoon in the empty house
On the edge of the bed you slip off your blouse
The room is burning with the noon sun
Your bittersweet taste on my tongue
The fuse is burning
Shut out the lights
The fuse is burning
Come on let me do you right

My City of Ruins, my 9/11 post

There is no better way for me to remember the events of seven years ago than to post the above clip from Bruce Springsteen. I remember the day this aired. I remember weeping. This particular performance still gives me goosebumps. It would be about a year later that Springsteen released his masterpiece album called THE RISING on which this song appears. THE RISING came out on July 30, 2002, and I have commemorated every September 11th by listening to the album. I honestly could write a ten-thousand word essay on the album and what it means to me, how it helped me process the single most horrific event of my generation. It always makes me feel more connected to the human race every time I meet somebody who actually gets, I mean really gets, that album, how beautifully crafted it is, how the themes of love, loss, hope, and still loving, run all through it, how the image of ascension is so masterfully woven through it. Honestly, there is no way to articulate what I feel in my soul listening to it.

This morning, over breakfast, Max asked me where I was that morning seven years ago. Much to my surprise I couldn't get through the story without crying again. I feel so sorry when I think of all the sons, daughters, friends, moms, dads, heroes, children of God who lost their lives that day. Thinking of the rescue workers who risked or lost their lives that day makes me want to live better. As I write this I am filled with gratitude. I am thankful for the freedoms and privileges that I have in this greatest country ever to grace planet Earth. As I hung my American flag today I thought of the brave men and women in our military and I am so thankful for them and all those who came before them.

"Come on rise up!" indeed.

Better than Hannah Montana!

I love this photo from Charlotte, North Carolina. Classic! Many fans hold up signs at Springsteen shows to request songs. This one was from a young girl. If you can't read the sign it says:

I LIKE YOU WAY BETTER THAN HANNAH MONTANA

When he read that sign Bruce said, "My aspirations have been realized. We can go home now!" On the back was her request, "Darlington County" and Bruce stuck it in as an audible. It's been over three months since I last saw Springsteen (March 16th in St. Paul, Minnesota, with Tony Cloyd) and I'm starting to get that twitchy feeling now.

Bruce Remembering Tim Russert

This is a real nice tribute.

Danny's Gone

E Street Band member, Danny Federici, died yesterday. There's nothing I could write here that so-called "normal" people--those who never experienced what I experienced at a BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND show--could understand. The E Street Band is not just a group, it's a brotherhood. We who attend are not concert-goers, we are a community, Danny wasn't just playing rock 'n' roll, he was part of a spiritual movement.

Thank God both of my sons were able to see the full E Street Band with Danny on keyboards last October. It's a night we will never forget. "Phantom Dan" was the man! It was just last November that I posted Godspeed Danny. I was in denial that he would be back in the band full-time. This sucks. My heart is heavy.

Chocolate Bruce

My family says I am a bit obsessed with Bruce, but I couldn't top this. A guy named Albert from Berga (Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain) made this chocolate Bruce Springsteen for Easter. He says it took him 2 months to make.

Bosscast March

Alex at The Soul Shack has posted his second Bosscast, a 14-song music podcast with a focus on Bruce Springsteen. Man, I really love this dude's tastes.  Give it a listen!