Another Bruce thread

[stomachmonkey]

Watched the Springsteen A Letter To You thing the other night.

A few things stood out.

What great players The E Street Band are.

They always were but they have honed their craft to perfection which IMHO has led to them to become self derivative and the worlds best cover band of themselves.

The first four tracks could have all been one song. Formulaic.

Then they did a couple of tunes that Bruce had written 50 years ago but never recorded and they were awesome.

It was glaringly obvious that Bruce’s lyrics have a profound effect and are the primary influence on their style

His pre Born in The USA word salads painted rich vivid pictures and impart an energy that his later works lack in spades.

Still, talented bunch of guys and nice to see them still kicking it and that they have not lost the passion.

[KFC911]

I was a big Bruce fan back in college .... his arena shows were epic and he and the E-Streeters were a band to behold. I then sorta began drifting on to other music and "The River" was the beginning of the end (for me). The man and his band could rock back then tho .

Thanks!

[flatbutt]

Seeing them play at The Meadowlands was an experience. They play virtually non stop. I've also seen Bruce play on his own at the Stone Pony, that was unique. You set aside his BS and just accept the music and it's all good. Of course this was way back in the 70's.

[Joe Bob]

Ah the 70s.....seeing all the acts before they got famous. Van Halen, Jimi when he opened for the Monkees, Linda Ronstadt, The Ramones, Jethro Tull, Zepellin, The Stones, and many others.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Ah the 70s.....Jimi when he opened for the Monkees

Holy Crap! How were the Monkees ever able to take the stage after Hendrix? But I guess that the Monkees' crowd probably didn't appreciate Jimi anyway. Similar deal when I saw Herman's Hermits open for The Who in some college gymnasium back in the day.

Have seen Springsteen many times, both in smaller venues and stadiums too. One of the very best live shows I've ever seen was Bruce and the E St. Band at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, CA. back in 1975. Three solid hours of hard-drivin' R&R. Crowd on its feet the whole time...will never forget it.

[Joe Bob]

Irvine Meadows, saw Def Leppard open for Billy Squire. Guess who sucked? But that was the 80s....1983IIRC.

[Superman]

Yup. He is The Boss. Like Dylan, the lyrics for his songs run for pages while most pop music is a few paragraphs comprised of four short lines each. He paints a picture. An image. They evoke. And yet, my favorite video is this one in which an audience member makes a request. It is a song they would have never done before, or maybe a few of them did many years ago. It shows the musical chops of Mr. Springsteen and his bandmates:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-Ds-FXGGQg

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Ah the 70s.....seeing all the acts before they got famous. Van Halen, Jimi when he opened for the Monkees, Linda Ronstadt, The Ramones, Jethro Tull, Zepellin, The Stones, and many others.

Tull performing War Child at the Coliseum! What a show that was. Seeing Ian Andersen live was special. I still think he had more than one tongue.

[Superman]

Jethro Tull was one of the tightest bands I ever saw. I am a gigging (before Covid) musician and I can tell you that musicians admire tightness and we know it when we see it. Gogar would agree, I think. Also, Ian Anderson has 'that thing.' It is hard to take your eyes off him while he is on stage.

[billybek]

I was given his autobiography a while back and have been reading over the last few months. (I read stuff like this to fall asleep!)
Interesting but I am not a huge fan although I do I do enjoy some of his music.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Tull performing War Child at the Coliseum! What a show that was. Seeing Ian Andersen live was special. I still think he had more than one tongue.

Nassau Coliseum?

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Seeing them play at The Meadowlands was an experience. They play virtually non stop. I've also seen Bruce play on his own at the Stone Pony, that was unique. You set aside his BS and just accept the music and it's all good. Of course this was way back in the 70's.

And that is it for me. I go to see the show, hear the music and experience the E street band. I and my friends have seen him countless times. In the eighties one of my friends and I saw every show at the Spectrum.

He is entitled to his political point of view but I ma not paying to hear him stump and I resent that he disrespects his fans by doing at a concert.

[KFC911]

^^^^ I thought I saw you at one of those Spectrum shows... early 80s . I was "dragged" to a KISS/Ted Nugent show about 15 years ago.... Ted's political rants between songs were just as scripted as Bruce's stories are between his . That was the thing about Bruce's 4+ hr. shows back then... they seemed spontaneous, but they weren't, not at all... Bruce just knew how to put on a show... night after night, he delivered. I once saw him on consecutive nights .... (free ticket with a hottie the 2nd night)... it was like playing the BTR album tho .... the same show and totally scripted . Not a band I could go "on tour" with.... but still awesome shows imo.

The E Street band rocked ... and Bruce was the Boss

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Nassau Coliseum?

Yup. At that show someone tossed a beer bottle on stage and Anderson stopped the show and called out the numbskull that did it. Actually challenged them to meet "out back". Epic moment.

[LWJ]

I had a different reaction.

I enjoy (but am not a huge fan) of his recorded work. I grabbed some tickets last time he was in Portland and went with my guitar playing son.

We thought the show was cheesy and left. My buds who are Bruce freaks thought it was amazing.

Just goes to show that everyone has a different taste.

(sorry to offend. I really do like his music.)

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by LWJ

I had a different reaction.

I enjoy (but am not a huge fan) of his recorded work. I grabbed some tickets last time he was in Portland and went with my guitar playing son.

We thought the show was cheesy and left. My buds who are Bruce freaks thought it was amazing.

Just goes to show that everyone has a different taste.

(sorry to offend. I really do like his music.)

I'm a fan, and I agree about the recent shows. Occasionally one is epic, but he's mostly just preaching to the choir.
Now, the shows back in 75-78, those were a whole different element. Check out the film of Hammersmith Odeon in 75 for a taste.

[Crowbob]

In '75 or so I sat in the very last row at the top with my back to the wall to see The Boss. Horrible sound, of course, but the energy was thru the roof.

Jethro Tull (Thick As A Brick tour) was the very best concert I've ever been to.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

In '75 or so I sat in the very last row at the top with my back to the wall to see The Boss. Horrible sound, of course, but the energy was thru the roof.

Jethro Tull (Thick As A Brick tour) was the very best concert I've ever been to.

So many to choose from.
Pink Floyd "Animals"
Tull "War Child" Passion Play"
Led Zeppelin "I don't remember "
The Who " Don't remember this one either but I think I have a picture"
Procol Harem, The Byrds at the Felt Forum NYC

Then there was the 1972 outdoor concert at the Pocono Raceway during which it poured rain ala Woodstock with ELP, Rod Stewart , Edgar Winter and Humble Pie. It poured on us but we were barely cognizant.