What a remarkable thing we experienced.
Rochester NY, dead of winter, "the boss" packed the war memorial arena (now the "Blue Cross Center" or something) to the rafters. That part isn't so remarkable, since "Miley Cyrus" no-doubt could do that. What got me (and I mean GOT me - in my gut) was the way this man...and his band of 30-some years connected with a slice of America 20,000 or so strong. I've never seen anything like it. No politician, no musical artist, no sporting venue, no other cult of
personality or any kind - nothing else comes close in my experience.
The audience ranged in age from little kids tagging along with their parents (or in many cases - grandparents) to the parents of the parents of the parents, and - I don't want to get corny here - but it was clearly a slice of American pie. Most everyone in attendance knew all the words to all the songs (even the new ones) and weren't afraid to join in. At times the crowd sing-along was as loud as the E-Street Band, even when they were blasting full-tilt.
For those 2 1/2 hours everyone forgot about their aches and pains (literal and otherwise) and were somehow transformed back to a night in the '70s, maybe listening to "Rosalita" at a local show in Jersey... or "Born to Run" in when the Boss came to SUNY Binghamton.. or the '80s for "Born in the USA".... or the '90s (erase that '88-95 stretch with no E-Street Band from
memory).... or maybe even to hear the new tunes on 'Magic' performed live. Unlike so many "come back" albums (Springsteen never went anywhere to 'come back' from) it deserves a place at the table with the classics.
Anyway... In an era where other touring "classic rockers" are merely shells of their former selves...one original member (barely functional) surrounded by half a dozen clueless (but technically perfect) clean-scrubbed 20-somethings fresh out of music school (paid for by
mommy and daddy)... the E-Street Band is the real deal. The same folks who have toured and recorded and hung out with Springsteen from the beginning. Good players - you bet - but not virtuosos, not hot-shots. Just some guys (and gals, pardon my non-PC prose here) getting together and playing the songs. Some of the folks in the front row painted a "Rosalita PLEASE" sign...Bruce grabbed it, saying "Man, I don't know if we remember it but we'll give it a shot..." and they were off and running. Maybe it was on the set list all along, but no matter - they gave it their best and brought the house down.
You got the feeling that just like the other 20,000 of us in the audience, those guys had spent the past 30 yrs watching each others' kids (and grand-kids) grow up, shared quite a few 'through sickness and through health' ups and downs...and hung out together. Super-bowls and backyard BBQs.
And unlike acts like the Stones, or the Eagles, or U2, or even the much-hyped Led Zep reunion... The E-Street Band didn't act like they were doing us a big f'ing favor to come play for us. Instead, they thanked us for having the party - like they would have driven up to Rochester, NY in the dead of winter for the get-together with friends and family...concert or not.
