Gut Reactions (post-gig memories and other trips): May 2023

Today, I came to realise the problem wasn't him, it was me. Everyone says Bruce Springsteen live is an unforgettable experience. I wasn't getting it.

(This reaction needs context)

I've never been much of a fan of his music. I enjoyed the big hits from the eighties but the rest of his back catalogue held no space in my heart. I don't know the lyrics or tunes well enough to sing along. When I watched the Netflix special, "Springsteen on Broadway" I was so bored I couldn't finish it.

So why did I go?

Curiosity. Could he win me over live? Everyone raves how good he is so I took up the offer of a ticket from a friend after one of his party dropped out (he then got me another one for my wife when someone else couldn't go).

(more context)

I get easily irritated at gigs. I like to get there early to grab a great view. I don't like that view obscured and I like my space. I don't like being jostled, especially by punters who've pushed in either in front or behind me. And I don't like drunks who act like assholes.

Suffice to say, I got plenty irritated even before we got into the Rear Standing Area (for various reasons, which I won't go into, except to say the organisation inside Murrayfield is atrocious). Inside, I couldn't get even get a good view as we were so far back with lots of people already in front of us. I kept getting bumped by the bloke behind me, the smell of his pint turning my stomach. The sun was blinding me for the first hour or so, after which it got cold. And the middle brother of a family of three exhibited many of the symptoms of being the wrong side of drunk (having downed two pints of Tennants and two glasses of wine - that's Edinburgh sophistication for you), dancing wildly and teasing his sober, younger brother to get into the party mood, then hugging and kissing him on the head and cheek to apologise for annoying him. Yuk!

Springsteen came on at 7pm and played for a solid three hours. The tiered staging was simple, with basic lighting and video screens both behind the band and on either side of the stage. I couldn't see Springsteen most of the time because of the punters in front, even the short ones who held their hand in the air right across where he was standing. Whenever he came down to the lowest level of the stage to perform in front of the fans, I had no chance of seeing him and could only watch what was happening on the big screen. (Later, my wife scoffed, saying, Welcome to my world).

At one point, one of our party asked me if I was enjoying it. I shook my head. A girl nearby laughed. I think she thought I was joking. Everyone around me was having a great time, singing along, cheering, waving their arms, clapping. I just wanted to leave but I knew I couldn't. My wife was there and was out of earshot, having pushed forward three layers to get a better view.

So I stuck it out and I was glad I did.

After two hours, the crowd had thinned sufficiently as some left to make the long journey to the toilets or to get more alcohol. Many didn't return. I had space to breath. A man had scolded the drunk brother for nearly headbutting his wife with his dancing so the drunk had moved his brothers away. I wasn't as cold now and my view of the stage had improved.

And Springsteen started playing songs I knew: The Rising, Thunder Road, Badlands. When he belted out Born in the USA, the crowd atmosphere lifted another notch as everyone sang along, including me. I was part of this event, finally.

Springsteen was fantastic. His voice was incredible: controlled, pitch perfect and capable of screaming out the rage when requested. The band had been tight all night but now I could appreciate how good they were. The magic had happened.

So, as I said, it wasn't him, it was me. I am no longer blinded by the light. Bruce is definitely the Boss.

(addendum - thanks to roadworks on the M8, it took two and a half hours to journey home again after the gig - just as well it finished at 10 pm).

Setlist

No Surrender

Ghosts

Prove It All Night

Death to My Hometown

Letter to You

The Promised Land

Out in the Street

Candy's Room

Darkness on the Edge of Town

Kitty's Back

Nightshift (Commodores cover)

Mary's Place

The E Street Shuffle

Johnny 99

Last Man Standing (acoustic, with Barry Danielian on trumpet)

Backstreets

Because the Night (Patti Smith Group cover)

She's the One

Wrecking Ball

The Rising

Badlands

Thunder Road

Encore:

Born in the U.S.A.

Born to Run

Bobby Jean

Glory Days

Dancing in the Dark (followed by band introductions)

Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out (pictures of Danny Federici and Clarence Clemons were shown during the song)

I'll See You in My Dreams (solo acoustic)

Ticket Price £101

Tour blurb:

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will mark their return to the road in early February 2023 with a string of to-be-announced US arena dates, followed by European stadium shows kicking off on April 28th in Barcelona and a second North American tour leg starting in August.

These 2023 dates will mark the first live shows for Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band since the conclusion of their 14-month, worldwide The River Tour in Australia in February 2017. The River Tour was named 2016’s top global tour by both Billboard and Pollstar.

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band last reconnected to perform on Saturday Night Live in December 2020, where they launched live versions of two songs from their most recent studio album ‘Letter To You’ (Columbia Records), which reached #1 in eleven countries and marked the band’s first time recording live together in decades. Last year, Springsteen unveiled his never-before-released “The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts” film, collaborated with President Barack Obama on the book ‘Renegades: Born In The USA’ and reprised his record-setting show ‘Springsteen On Broadway’ to help reopen New York City theaters last summer.

The E Street Band’s members are: Roy Bittan – piano, synthesizer; Nils Lofgren – guitar, vocals; Patti Scialfa – guitar, vocals; Garry Tallent – bass guitar; Stevie Van Zandt – guitar, vocals; and Max Weinberg – drums; with Soozie Tyrell – violin, guitar, vocals; Jake Clemons – saxophone; and Charlie Giordano – keyboards."

Photos