Springsteen

Given the high degree of middle-agery on here I doubt I’m the only one who was stood in a puddle in Sunderland last night wondering how the septuagenarian got away with only playing two hours forty five of relentless, incredible music? The energy and the craft is just outstanding and to fill a thirty song setlist without Born in the USA shows the mark of this band! So pleased he recovered from Covid given to him by that prick Larry David!

it did feel a wee bit like a farewell, if it is they’ve earned their retirement.

Hope it’s not his last.  I’ve still failed to see him and his band live.

So many of the great bands are getting close to their last gigs, unfortunately, as all the musicians from the 60s and 70s reach grand ages.

A few gigs I had tickets for in the last 12 -18 months have been cancelled due to serious illness or the passing of key members, sadly.

Anyway… this year includes ZZ Top, Scorpions, and AC/DC. You really never know when you’ll not get to see these again.   It’s like reliving my gig list from  1984 for me ! And introducing my daughter to a couple of them (she’s desperate to see AC/DC, and is seeing the Foo Fighters *again* but without me this time – so I think I’ve done something right bringing her up 😎).

Seen him twice, once at the infamous Hyde Park gig where they switched him off (which saved us from having to listen to Macca though, so every cloud…), and once in Coventry. Absolutely fantastic gigs both times.

I saw him at Wembley in 1985 on the Born in the USA tour with my mate Graham Dietz (RIP). I think it was my first ever gig (we were 15) and I recall it being 4 hours long. Brilliant, and the tickets were something like £14.

Saw him last year at Villa Park where the setlist was mostly early stuff. Hearing The River live was a highlight (we also had Born in the USA as part of the “encore”).

Saw him a few weeks ago in Cardiff, and twice last year. I don’t understand how Springsteen and the band managed to generate so much energy at their age.

I leave each concert hoping to see them again, but expecting not to.

Still tickets for Wembley last time I looked!

The River tour in early 1980s at Earls Court was first time. Broadway shows last time, next time Madrid. Still got ‘it’ Bruce that is, not me.

Saw him in Cardiff for the first time, a 3 hour and a 30 song track list made it an excellent gig with a high energy encore with Bruce looking to be in top form considering his age. Ticket price was a little eye watering. Didn’t feel like it was his final good bye tour. I think we will see him in the UK again on another tour, his catalogue of songs being  so varied that he can have a slower paced set list and it would still be a great gig.

Saw him last night too – lots of people in ponchos and I was suprised that nobody appears to own a decent coat any more.

There were talks of traffic chaos but we had no issues getting in/out of the town

Seen him pretty regularly since Tunnel of Love at Sheffield and Villa in 88. Was at that Hyde Park gig, also at Trafford Cricket ground, Millennium, couple of Wembleys, NEC with the Seager Sessions.

Off to Wembley in July, can’t wait.

Saw him and the ESB at Hyde pk last year. Epic is all I can say really.. But.

I have seen the Stones there a couple of times and they are truly brilliant, Bruce was brilliant in a totally different way.

His in interaction and connection with the audience was great. It was emotional, exhausting and exhilarating.

His energy and enthusiasm was infectious and his fitness is insane.

It was pretty good musically too!

On a tour of the local high school (Stirling, Scotland):

Music block has a mosaic of famous musicians.

Teacher points to Bruce Springsteen and asks if any of the children knew who he was.

Child replies in awe, “did he go to this school?”.

I do wonder what The Boss would have written about if he’d grown up in Bridge of Allan.

’93 Milton Keynes Bowl, Springsteen comes on stage with a guitar and harmonica, does a solo 90 minutes knocks it out of the park. Then he says ‘let me introduce the E Street band’ steps it up a gear and does another two and a half hours. What a showman!

Yeah, I was there in Sunderland last night – in the ‘cheap’ seats tho, so mercifully kept nice and dry. First time I’ve seen him, had an outstanding night, the bangers kept on coming. I was moved during “The River” and didn’t miss “Born in the USA”. My thinking was very definitely he’s one to see before he stops touring.

I go to gigs all the time but very rarely in football stadiums – I prefer to be able to see folk without looking at the big screens. I was out in Sunderland on Saturday night to see the Lottery Winners, there must have been less than 200 there – still £30 a ticket for that so not dissimilar in terms of cost per minute.

Must be a great earner for him even with a 17 piece band and all the other costs of touring – 45,000 people there last night and I reckon my ticket at £100 was probably about the cheapest.

Yes, Tickets are a bit on the spendy side but VFM wise it’s good value. His work ethic and commitment are something lots of other entertainers could learn a bit from.

I had an option on a ticket to Wembley, a few friends are going, but it’s the cost of staying over and a night out that was hard to square away!

Saw him at Hyde Park last year. Not cheap, but worth every penny.

VFM: Exactly. I’ll not ever forget seeing him at Murrayfield last year.  A hair under 70,000 folk there and he was on stage two minutes early!  The atmosphere grew and grew throughout.

Mind you, I’m actually in no position to comment about the value for money, as I was paid to be there as part of the medical support team.  I’d have happily paid, even with having to be out and about on duty.  Only had one shout all night…