Wrecking Ball

The latest Springsteen CD is out!  Maybe I've been waiting for something new to listen to for a while, but I like it!  It's not Born to Run or anything like that.  This is a CD with the perspective of a mature person going through tough times. There are 11 songs on the CD.  The title track "Wrecking Ball" and "Land of Hope and Dreams" have been performed on tour.  Do there are 9 new songs.  Of these I really want to hear 5 of them.  A quick run down of the songs and my thoughts:
1 We Take Care of Our Own
This kicks off the CD and should be thought of in context as it doesn't really stand on its own.  But that being said its a strong song to kick things off.
2 Easy Money
I like this song as its an interesting view point about a couple that tries to have a regular life, but his job is robbing people with his wife.  It seems the only way he can make living.
3 Shackled and Drawn
My favorite song on the disc.  I think one of the most interesting parts if the way the lyrics are laid out.  A lyric finishes a line, and that phrase starts the next line.  I also like the beat and flow of the music.
4 Jack of All Trades
This song reminds me og the handyman I have hired a lot, Gary.  Gary has told of how he use to have plans that he would start his company, but by this time would have just been running it.  Instead he has to do most of the jobs, because he is a Jack of All Trades.
5 Death to My Hometown
Great Irish folk song! And Becca likes it a lot too.  This is about what happens when companies suck the life out of your town and then leaves it with nothing.
6 This Depression
The character in this song is depressed.  He is in a position in life where he can't find a way out, but knows that he has to keep struggling on.
7 Wrecking Ball
Originally done to close out Giants Stadium, its now a message of vigilance against the hard times.  People will be strong, dust off and come out fighting.
8 You've Got It
The romantic song on the disc.  After all the depressing songs, this is about the woman who gives you the strength to through all of this and want to come out on the other side.
9 Rocky Ground
Gospel and a touch of hip-hop. I like that Bruce is taking us in a different direction.  I kind of think this song is directed to the President and all of the people that had hope when he came into office who have lost confidence.
10 Land of Hope and Dreams
Done over 250 times in concert, it kind of takes a similar position on the CD.  It lifts us up before we leave.
11 We Are Alive
An interesting song about how we stand together even after we die.  And we meaning the ones who go through hard times and pay the ultimate sacrifice.

There are plenty of detailed reviews out there and I've seen reviews anywhere from 2/5 to 5/5.  I would give this CD a 4/5.  Thinking about Bruce's work in the past 10 years, I have to say I'm proud to be a fan after all this time.

Finally an update...vacation

So I haven't posted on here in over a month, sorry. I'll bring you up to speed on some of the various things that I had discussed before and new stuff.

So last we left our adventure...
I was getting ready for a road trip with the family in Myrtle Beach.
I should start this with the cast of characters:

Me - Your host





Teri - Wife of host





Rebecca (Becca, Bec) - Daughter and The cutest little girl in the world!





Cindy - Sister, wife of Kurt Jr, mother of Candice, Kurt III, and JR





Candice - Niece, mother of Tabitha





Kurt Jr. - Brother-in-Law, father of Kurt III





Kurt III - Nephew





Tabitha (Tabby) - Great Niece





C&C is the whole group with Cindy and Candice.

Chris - Friend

Thursday evening: On the way home from the train station I stopped by Cindy's house to get some of her luggage, golf clubs, and beer and potato chips for JR and Mary (my sister).

Teri, Becca, and I FINALLY got on the road after I harvested the garden. I was hoping to leave around 4:00, but we ended up leaving around 6:00. We head to Roanoke Rapids (RR) and spend the night.

Friday: C&C meet us in RR, kind of early actually. The plan was to take a quick visit of Teri's kin. But they blew us off. This really irked Teri (and me). But on the road to MB.

From 2008-08-18

Once in MB we got to the hotel, but couldn't check in until 3:00. So I went and got some pizza from Hungry Howies, one of the better pizza's I've had. Well, C&C didn't think much of it, but I didn't know this as I went and got drinks, but they eat a lot of it anyway. But then we were hanging around, and LK was playing with Bec. He was raising her up over his head, and hit her into the ceiling fan. And I yelled at him! Cindy didn't like me yelling at him. But ya hurt my kid, and I'm gonna yell at ya (at least). I think this set a bad tone for the evening. Anyway I wanted to go to dinner at my favorite restaurant down there (Drunken Jacks). We went, but it was crowded, C&C couldn't take waiting 2 hours. I tried to explain that it wasn't that big of a deal, but no. So we went to the restaurant next door, which we had an hour wait. Kurt Jr was felling pretty sick. He could barely eat anything. Teri and I felt kind of bad for him. Other then Kurt feeling sick, it went fine, and back to the hotel.

Saturday: My birthday! BFD. Baby gets up by 6:30 no matter what. We know this. So we got up and went to breakfast. I wasn't keen about the hotel's breakfast, so we went out. On the way back, we stopped for golf. But when we went out on the course, no babies allowed due to bad golfers. We went back to the hotel. On the way we picked up breakfast for Cindy. Teri offered to make soup for Kurt Jr. Cindy told us he and III went to the Go-Kart track. He wasn't real sick, he took cold pills and drank 3 beers on an empty stomach. Cindy said she would watch Bec while we golfed.
Back to golf. We started at the driving range. I made sure we stretched out before playing. But I threw my back out while on the driving range. I didn't think it was too bad, so we went ahead and played 9 holes of Par 3. Wrong! It was a mess! I rested up the rest of the day until we went to Charleston for the Springsteen concert (remember, that's the whole point of this trip). The show was really good! And the venue was nice.

Back to MB. C&C had taken Bec to the Dixie Stampede, and both really had a good time! Rebecca really enjoyed all the stuff that was going on!

Sunday: Back wasn't any better, Teri got the phone book and called Chiropractors until she found one that would see us. And we found one. It helped a good bit. JR (Sam Jr) arrived and got his beer and your crap. We did get out to the beach, but Bec didn't think much of it, or the pool.

From 2008-08-18

We did have dinner at Drunken Jacks, but Cindy was in a mood where nothing was good, tough shit, it's some of the best food around! Back to the hotel to pack.

From 2008-08-18

Monday: Ride back. The decided that they wanted to have breakfast at IHOP. It took us north, and they kept going north. This was a stupid way to go, but we finally got to 40, then 95. We gave passed the kid off in Petersburgh, VA. We had the Tom-Tom and meet a friend of mine, Chris, at the Richmond train station. We stopped off for dinner.
When we left the TomTom told us to make a turn. The first turn was for 95 south, I knew we didn't want to go in that direction, so I took the north exit. This is where Teri had a mini-meltdown. "Why don't you listen to it! You are so stupid! Why do we even have it if you aren't going to listen to it!!" Well when it showed that we were going the right direction, she apologized. I got a kick out of her meltdown.
When we got to the train station, Chris had met some dude on the train going to the show. The guy had flown in from California and needed a ride from the train station to the arena. We gave him a ride.

From 2008-08-18

The show in Richmond was phenomenal! One of the best of the tour to that time! In hind sight, I should have taken the whole week off and followed the tour to the end in KC. These were just AWESOME shows. We got home late early Tuesday morning without incident.

Tuesday: I went to my normal chiropractor. He worked on me and I'm feeling fine now. Teri did bail out of going to the Hershey show and I ended up selling her ticket. The show in Hershey was also excellent, but not quite as good as the other two. But it's splitting hairs with the difference too.

Wednesday: Dropped the van off to have some work done, and went back to work myself. End of vacation.

Happenings this month...

Not much...

It's been a little while since I've posted, but there really isn't a heck of a lot to blog about. I'll break it out a little.

Garden

The garden is coming along fine. I've been meaning to take some pictures, but it basically looks like last year. I have had some kind of bug infestation that is really wiping out my squash this year. I have tried pesticide, but no luck. Cucumbers have been coming on pretty well (as usual) and I've been bringing them in for the folks at work. They seem to enjoy them!

Work

Speaking of work, all is going well here. It seems to be a pretty tight knit bunch and that's a good thing. The only problem is that it's God awful boring. I can pretty much come and go as I please, but while I am here, there really is NOTHING to do. So here I am blogging.

On June 30, Teri and I did bring Rebecca in to see all the folks. That was a big hit. This kind of set me up in a situation where I can stay here a long time. The 3 of us also came down on Sunday 7/13. I needed to do some work, and Teri and the baby went to the Portrait Museum. It was right around the corner from Legal Seafood (where we had dinner). All in all, it's going as swimmingly as it possibly can.

Friends (relationships)

It seems like I am the Rock when it comes to my friends. A couple of them are having problems, but they lean on me to keep them going. I don't know how I ended up in this position, but I try to lend as much support as possible. I don't really want to go into a lot of detail and break their trust, but I do try to remain supportive and give the best advice I can.

Concerts and up coming stuff

Well July is a boring month, just like I thought it would be. That's okay, because August looks like a total blow out! I'm now going to do 3 Springsteen shows, and work a vacation into the works too.

On the evening of August 14, Teri, Rebecca, Sister Cindy, Niece Candice, Great Niece Tabitha, and maybe Nephew Kurt, are traveling to Roanoke Rapids, NC to stay with Teri's kin. Then on August 15, we continue down the highway to Myrtle Beach, SC. The night of August 15, Cindy and I are going out on the gambling boat for a poker tournament. The next day, August 16, my birthday, Teri and I go to Charleston, SC for the Springsteen concert.
We have a 'free day' on the 17th, then it's time to head north on Monday, 8/18. When we will see Bruce again in Richmond, VA. Cindy will take Rebecca for the remainder of the trip back to MD, and watch her the next day when we see Bruce the final time in Hershey.
Not 100% sure if all of this will happen, but at least that's the plan at this point.

So that's the news here. I will try to update a little more often, or as near as I can make it.

Bruce in C-ville

On April 30, I went to the Springsteen show in CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. I met Marty (good friend of Chris, and general over all nice guy) at my house, and we drove down. We actually took some back roads and the scenery was a lot nicer then looking a highway traffic.

Once we arrive is C-ville, we go straight to the arena, where we meet up with Chris. Also part of the plan was to meet up with my friend Mary (and her friend). Basically it was a fine group outing.

We hung out a while and he got the E-Street Lounge. This is the'backstage' area. But, it sure ain't the 'backstage' of the '70's. Basically it's a bunch of middle-aged people standing around, hoping that band members will come out and say hi. This did happen with Garry Tallent (bass player) and Steven Van Zandt (guitar player) . Garry was sort of hanging around, but Steven was only meeting people who were in a fan-club. Mary did get a picture with Garry, and it made her night. It was kind of lame, and I got a quick picture of Steven on the way out.

As for the show, well it was kind of lame too. The shows the past week or so have been REALLY good, some of the best that had taken place on the tour. Well it can't last forever. This show was one of the lame shows of the tour. As Backstreets magazine put it, "... after more than a week of channeling so much into the performance, an emotional drain has understandably taken its toll."

Then it was time for the long walk, I mean drive, home. It really didn't seem to be that bad of a drive back. I was in bed by 2:00am.

This was the view from my seat.

Summer’s Here and the time is right…

Well it’s not here yet, but a few bands have announced tours and I got tickets. It seems June is filling in. Tom Petty on Sunday, 6/8 at the Nissan Pavilion in Virginia, then the following Saturday, 6/14, Rush in Philly, followed by Pearl Jam in DC on 6/22. I’ll probably take in the Springsteen show in Charlottesville, VA on 4/30. I think the Donk got us some tickets to see the Black Crows in August; the Virgin Fest will take place again in August. Maybe a Bruce show or two. Got to take in an O’s game or two, and probably want to get down the Nats at their new ballpark. The summer is filling up!

Bruce in DC

I already posted about the baby being born, this happened in the early morning of November 10. Well, as things would have it, I had tickets to see Springsteen on November 11 and 12, in DC. Since Teri was in the hospital and being well taken care of, I didn't see any reason not to go to the shows. I went with her blessing, although I don't think her parents were too keen about it (add it to the list). In my defense, I did go back to the hospital each night to be with her after the shows. Now about the shows:

Sunday, November 11 - Veterans Day
I meet up with Chris and off we went. Once I got down there I realized I had left my building badge at home (DUH!). We circled the block a couple of times and found a spot that someone was leaving. We went to the Irish Channel Pub and hung out with some fellow fans. There was a couple that was there and I think it was his second or third Bruce show, and her first. I was kind of reminissing about some of the various concerts that I had been to. It was kind of funny to think that I am the old guy that the kids listen to. I remember when I would listen to the old guy spinning a yarn.
Everyone thought Bruce would do a couple of the songs that mention soldiers and wars. He did mention sending songs out to some folks at the VA hospitals, but that's about it. The show was pretty decent. A couple of tour premiers, and generally a good show. I didn't like the fact that before Reason to Believe got underway, and just as the crowd was starting to get into it, Bruce shhh'ed the crowd. BAD FORM! This song was a huge highlight at the shows in Philly. But now it sort of dies on the vine. Here are a few pix from the show:

November 12 Show

The second show of the set. This night was a little different group. I went to the show with my brother CJ, David Wayne (of the David Wayne Band), and Heather. This time I remembered my badge and parked in the GAO building as planned. I hoped to meet up with Chris again at the Irish Channel, but he went to the Green Turtle instead.

While at the Irish Channel I did run into a guy I knew, Magnus, and we haddn't seen each other in a few years. The story with Magnus, we drove to New York in 2000 to take in a couple of the shows at MSG. On the way there, just north of Balitmore on I-95, a jail break was happening! It was wild! People and cars were running all over the place. I never heard if anyone got away, but it was an interesting story that we talk about when we meet up.

We went in the show earlier then I usually go, but I had David and CJ with me, who didn't really know the routine. As we were sitting there, Heather and I started chatting with a guy sitting next to us. As it turned out, he works at GAO. I gave him a copy of the show, and he was happy to get it. Over all the show was good. CJ, David and Heather really enjoied theirselves and it was all good.

As I was leaving home for the evening, I noticed my headlight blew out. Everyone told me about it. After I came home, and everyone went their own way, I went back to the hospital. Sure enough a cop pulled me over for having it out (and speeding). I got a warning for the speeding, and an inspection ticket for the headlight. And wouldn't you know it, I lost the ticket for the inspection. I would think they would send me something in the mail, but nothing to this point.

So many shows...

I've been asked a few times, how many Springsteen shows have you been too? Why have you seen so many, and why do you keep going?
As for the number of show, it looks like 60 to this point. And is you are wondering where, here is a link to show.

As to why, well the people are always great. I'm now starting to be one of the old guys with stories going back, so I get to spin my yarn to the youngsters!
But the biggest reason: I've never seen the same show twice. Even the shows I complain about, they are still top notch!

Gypsy Biker and Shut Out the Light Lyrics

Some of you maybe unfamiliar with the lyrics to Gypsy Biker and Shut Out the Lights. Here they are:

Gypsy Biker
The speculators made their money
On the blood you shed
Your Mama's pulled the sheets up off your bed
The profiteers on Jane Street
Sold your shoes and clothes
Ain't nobody talking 'cause everybody knows
We pulled your cycle out of the garage
And polished up the chrome
Our Gypsy biker's comin' home

Sister Mary sits with your colors
Brother John is drunk and gone
This whole town's been rousted
Which side are you on
The favored march up over the hill
In some fools parade
Shoutin' victory for the righteous
But there ain't much here but graves
Ain't nobody talkin'
We're just waitin' on the phone
Our Gypsy biker is comin' home

We rode her into the foothills
Bobby brought the gasoline
We stood 'round her in a circle
As she lit up the ravine
The spring high desert wind
Rushed down on us all the way back home

To the dead it don't matter much
'Bout who's wrong or right
You asked me that question I didn't get it right
You slipped into your darkness
Now all that remains
Is my love for you brother
Lying still and unchanged
To them that threw you away
You ain't nothin' but gone
Our Gypsy biker is comin' home

Now I'm out countin' white lines
Countin' white lines and getting stoned
My Gypsy biker is coming home.

Shut Out the Light
The runway rushed up at him as he felt the wheels touch down
He stood out on the blacktop and took a taxi into town
He got out down on Main Street and went into a local bar
He bought a drink and found a seat in a corner off the dark
Well she called up her mama to make sure the kids were out of the house
She checked herself out in the dining room mirror
And undid an extra button on her blouse
He felt her lying next to him, the clock said 4:00 am
He was staring at the ceiling
He couldn't move his hands

CHORUS
Oh mama mama mama come quick
I've got the shakes and I'm gonna be sick
Throw your arms around me in the cold dark night
Hey now mama don't shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light

Well on his porch they stretched a banner that said "Johnny Welcome Home"
Bobby pulled his Ford out of the garage and they polished up the chrome
His mama said "Johnny oh Johnny, I'm so glad to have you back with me"
His pa said he was sure they'd give him his job back down at the factory

CHORUS

Well deep in a dark forest, a forest filled with rain
Beyond a stretch of Maryland pines there's a river without a name
In the cold black water Johnson Lineir stands
He stares across the lights of the city and dreams of where he's been

CHORUS

Gypsy Biker/Shut Out the Light comparison

I found this comparision of two of my favorite Springsteen songs, Gypsy Biker and Shut Out the Light. I liked the article, so... SWIPE!

For nearly 35 years Bruce Springsteen has been singing about the American working class, in his anthems of hope and redemption. Throughout his long and successful career, he has become not only one of popular music's most celebrated figures, but an American icon. As a songwriter, Springsteen is among Rock music's finest, a master storyteller whose songs often carry a political message that is not always obvious at first listen, but over time tends to seep in to the listener's conscience. Springsteen's latest release, 2007's Magic continues in this tradition, most notably with the sepia toned rocker Gypsy Biker, a song that in many ways can be viewed as an alternate take on the story Springsteen tells in his 1983 ballad Shut Out The Light. Though written nearly 25 years apart from one another, the two songs tell a chillingly similar story based around the same theme, though their structures and production are hardly alike. By the early 1980s, America had watched the aftermath of the Vietnam war bleed into their culture. The reality of the day began to take shape; after Vietnam, the U.S. would never again be the land of redemption for all of its people. As an artist who had made his name on the hopes and dreams of his country, this affected Springsteen not only on a personal level, but an artistic one as well. But like any great artist would, Springsteen took this harsh reality in stride and integrated it into his songs, where it would become an integral part of the work he would release in the following years. Shut Out The Light deals with the story of "a Vietnam veteran struggling to adjust to post-war life" (Graff, 46) through Johnson Leneir, a soldier returning home from war, and feeling completely adrift from reality. Fast forward twenty-four years, and Springsteen is still at it, with the War in Iraq nearly five years old, and most of the world still unsure as to why it began in the first place, Springsteen has found himself revisiting many of the themes he explored in the early 1980's. On the surface, Gypsy Biker appears to be a celebratory song, a welcome home to a relative who has been away. Upon closer examination, we find that it is actually a song of mourning, telling the story of a modern day soldier coming home from war, only this time lifeless, and in a casket. Above all, what Gypsy Biker shares with its 1980s' predecessor, is the subject matter that it is drawn from, the fact that the war America is fighting today often seems no different than the one that stole America's innocence in the 1960's. While the wars that these stories are drawn from may be the most obvious similarities between the two songs, the message they convey through their characters remains remarkably similar as well. Though the story of Gypsy Biker deals with a town's reaction to the death of one of its young men at war, the frustration felt by its characters is somewhat reminiscent of the sense of loss and confusion embodied within Johnson Lineir upon his return to his home town in Shut Out The Light. What makes Shut Out The Light so effective is the sense of aloneness Lineir seems trapped in throughout the song. The narrator's account of him entering a local bar where he "bought a drink and found a seat in the corner in the dark", accentuates to the listener that what may have originally appeared as solitude, is actually a feeling of extreme isolation. Similarly, in Gypsy Biker the fallen soldier's brother narrates a story that projects his grief and mourning. Though the song contains many characters, the lyric "Ain't nobody talkin', 'cause everybody knows, our gypsy biker's comin' home" confirms that though the characters may not be physically alone, their reaction to tragedy is much like that of Lineir's in Shut Out The Light. Just as Lineir had to struggle to get the courage to return home and no longer be alone in the physical sense, Gypsy Biker illustrates a family's struggle to find connection between one another in a time of pain. While the songs’ characters hold many similarities, there is an element far more obvious that makes for a unique link between these two tracks. That link is the repetition in Gypsy Biker of a line used in Shut Out The Light. In celebration of Johnson Lineir’s return, Springsteen sings “Bobby pulled your Ford out of the garage and polished up the chrome”. In Shut Out The Light, this line indicates what should be a happy moment for the pain stricken veteran, the sight of his beloved car being a symbol of the life his loved ones had been waiting for him to return to. However, when Springsteen sings “We pulled your cycle out of the garage and polished up the chrome” in Gypsy Biker, the line takes on a whole new meaning. What represented an act of celebration and kindness in Shut Out The Light is turned into a sad memorial for a fallen loved one. While Lineir’s Ford represented the life of freedoms he was expected to return to, the Gypsy Biker’s motorcycle stands as merely a piece of a man’s memory, being polished up in tribute to his life. These contrasting vantage points work as a haunting reminder of the harsh reality a country at war. Though the songs share many similarities thematically, their contrasting song structures are what set them apart from one another. While both songs are written in a narrative, folk influenced style, the major contrariety between the two songs' structures is the lack of a chorus in Gypsy Biker. To a first time listener, the haunting chorus of Shut Out The Light acts as a net to pull the audience further into the song. "Mama come quick, I've got the shakes and I'm gonna be sick" sings Springsteen, "Throw your arms around me in the cold dark night, Hey now Mama don't shut out the light". When this gripping chorus makes its first appearance at the one minute mark of the song, any listener who was unsure of whether or not the story was about to become a happy one, gets a wake up call. The painful ambience grows with every return to the chorus, becoming more and more powerful each time. In contrast, Gypsy Biker's lack of a hook as poignant as the one found in Shut Out The Light results in a tone less easily defined. Though the refrain "Our gypsy biker's comin' home" repeats at the end of each verse, it's repetition is much less insightful towards the song's theme than that of the chorus in Shut Out The Light. As a result, in combination with Springsteen's gritty, near mumbled vocal stylings, Gypsy Biker must be listened to far more carefully than Shut Out The Light in order to understand the full picture being created by the artist. Nevertheless, song structure is not the only major difference between the two songs; their contrasting styles of production push them towards two different genres of music all together. The dark lyrics of Shut Out The Light are accompanied by a stark arrangement "built on simple chord changes" (Sawyers, 212) played on acoustic guitars that transcribe the dark aura of the song's story into musical form. With this approach, Springsteen successfully recreates the sombre tone he mastered on 1982's critically acclaimed Nebraska, where his minimalistic approach to production complimented the message of his songs. The lack of major production on Shut Out The Light not only helps to create a mood that compliments the rest of the song, but it allows the listener to easily hear every word the singer sings, pulling the listener in with every syllable. On the contrary, Gypsy Biker takes the exact opposite approach. While Shut Out The Light recalls Folk music of the 1930's, Gypsy Biker is hard driving Rock and Roll sung by an artist on a mission. Backed by the mighty E Street Band, the song explodes into a guitar driven fury after the first verse, with Max Weinberg's drums plowing like a steam engine behind a lyric that fills the listener with a yearning for revenge. The intensity of lines like "To the dead it don't matter much, 'bout who's wrong or right" are matched by dueling guitar solos from Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt that are just as gripping as the hushed acoustics in Shut Out The Light. Though they may be polar opposites in the Springsteen canon as far as production goes, these two songs create their own unique intensity by using two completely different approaches. In conclusion, Shut Out The Light and Gypsy Biker are both similar and contrary at once. Though their story lines and characters share much in common, their production and structure are hardly related. As equally chilling tales of loss, anger and frustration, what makes these songs so remarkable is the artist. It has become rather rare in today's music scene to find an artist 35 years in to his career as a singer-songwriter that can still write lyrics as moving as he did 25 years earlier, while managing to taking a new approach to performance and production. Then again, if you look closely, Bruce Springsteen has been evolving artistically since the inception of his career, it should be no surprise that he is continuing to do so today.

Philly Road Trip!

It's a boys-weekend-out in Philadelphia! The Donk and I got tickets to the Springsteen shows in Philly for October 5 and 6. And it was a great time!
October 5 show

He was running a little late, so we didn't make it up to Philly quite as early as hoped, but nothing major. I was meeting someone who I had a pair of tickets for. As it turned out, we checked into the hotel and they met us on the way into the arena. No fuss, no muss.

And the show was a much better time then in Asbury. Probably for the simple fact that it was air conditioned and the set was a little tighter. Nothing major happened.

A little about the show. The revamped Reason to Believe is just incredible! The crowd really gets into it! In Asbury Bruce got a little chatty about politics and the war. I agree 100% with Bruce, but give me a break for 3 hours. I'm not one of those Republicans who will tell him to shut up and sing, but just let the music do the talkin'. In Philly he did tone it down a bit. This made the songs that reference these things that much better.

Here is the setlist and picture from the show:

Radio Nowhere
No Surrender
Lonesome Day
Gypsy Biker
Magic
Reason to Believe
Candy's Room
She's the One
Livin' in the Future
The Promised Land
Brilliant Disguise
My Hometown
Darlington County
Devil's Arcade
The Rising
Last to Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands
* * *
Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Thundercrack
Born to Run
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
American Land

October 6, Philly stuff
We got up a little later then expected, showered, checked out of the hotel and went to IHOP for breakfast about Noon. While at the IHOP, there were a bunch of Bruce fans. A group of women from Florida and some other points in the south, in town for a Girls Weekend. After breakfast, Donk and I went downtown. He wanted to pick up a couple cigars at a tobacco shop that we eventually found.

Then it was off to do the Philly steak thing. If you aren't familiar with this, Philly Cheese Steaks are the big thing in Philly. And two of the best are right down the block from each other. We parked and walked down the street. On the way we asked some locals which one, they recommended Geno's, and that's where we went. This place was very popular! You can see from the picture that folks line up for them. Donk got his steak, we walked down the street and I got pizza at a J&J Pizza and that was dinner/lunch.

October 6, The Show

We arrived a lot earlier then the previous night and checked out the tail-gating scene and all of the other goings on. Pretty typical of what we usually see at a Bruce show. One thing that is being pushed is E-Street Radio that is on Sirius satellite currently, and its a smart thing for Sirius to promote.

Finally the show gets underway! We knew this was going to be special when Bruce opened with Night! This is a great opener, and for the first time on the tour, he opened with something other then Radio Nowhere. And the show just got better from there. When he did Reason to Believe, the crowd really got into it, the energy level really sky-rocketed at this point! Then came Pati's A Town Called Heartbreak. Better known as a Town called Piss-Break. We bolted to the bathroom, and a good timing. We got back just as Incident started! Cadillac Ranch was a total audible, and a good time had by all. At the break for the encore, a lot of people held their cell phones up. And it made for a neat view. This is in contrast with Asbury, where they were practially band from the arena. Bruce even noticed this when he came back out and said something like, "...that looks real nice..." We raced out during American Land and got a jump on traffic to wrap up a fun weekend!

Again, setlist and pictures from the show:

Night

Radio Nowhere

Prove It All Night

Gypsy Biker

Magic

Reason to Believe

The Ties That Bind

She's the One

Livin' in the Future

The Promised Land

Town Called Heartbreak

Incident on 57th Street

Cadillac Ranch

Devil's Arcade

The Rising

Last to Die

Long Walk Home

Badlands

* * *

Girls in Their Summer Clothes

Thundercrack

Born to Run

Dancing in the Dark

American Land

Bruce in Asbury Park!

The Fall Tour rolls on! This time a rehearsal show of Bruce and the E Street Band in Asbury Park, NJ!

On September 25, Teri and I are off to see Bruce on his home turf in Asbury Park. I wanted to take Teri as she won't be able to make any shows later this year with the baby either being so close or already here. The drive up went fine and I met the folks that I had planned to exchange my floor seats with regular seats. All in all it worked out fine. To this point.

Once inside we discovered that the tickets that they gave me were actually seats, not GA as I was told on the phone. We got these swapped after a little delay, and everything worked out fine. But then there was the heat! I knew from Donk, who went the night before, that it was hot, but it was MISERABLE! Luckily we had seats near an exit, and were able to take a couple breaks, but it was really bad for Teri. In the end, everything worked out okay.

The other thing that was really annoying was that the security guards were VERY over zealous in their attempt to keep people from using their cell phones... Get with the 21st century people! Documenting an experience with a cell phone is what people do! It became really distracting during the show with these guys running up and down the aisle being the cell phone cops.

As for the show itself, the setlist was a little rough, and the heat really put a damper on having as much fun as I like to have at a show. Here are a couple pictures.


And finally, the setlist from the evening.
Radio Nowhere
Prove It All Night
Lonesome Day
Gypsy Biker
Magic
Night
She's The One
Living In The Future
The Promised Land
Town Called heartbreak
Darlington County
Born in the USA
Devil's Arcade
The Rising
Last To Die
Long Walk Home
Balands

Girls in Summer Clothes
Thundercrack
Born To Run
American Land

Magic Review

Magic Review

When I hear a new song or album by Bruce Springsteen, I look beyond the song itself and start to imagine how it will be performed live in concert. IMHO, a new album is an excuse to tour. And with the tour I look at how other songs will be played with the new material. In this context I write the review of Magic to be released on October 2, 2007.

First, an overview of the album. Magic is basically a social commentary, a picture of society in 2007. This isn’t a Born in the USA type of rocker, with fist pumping songs to scream to. Bruce is at the stage of his career where he is more of the elder statesmen of rock and roll, not the junior congressman from New Jersey. But that doesn’t mean he has lost his ability to write about relevant feelings in these here United States of those that are down and out or cast off by society.

Now I’ll run through each song as I see it.

Radio Nowhere - The title sums it up. This song is about the lack of good music on the radio.

You'll Be Comin' Down – Good song. I can see this one being a ‘get your ass out of that seat’ kind of song during mid-set, maybe coming off of several slow songs.

Livin' in the Future – And the rockers keep on comin’! This will be the new ‘Sunny Day’ song for this tour, where the crowd is singing along and everyone is feeling good.

Your Own Worst Enemy – Well, they all can’t be rockers, or for that matter, winners. Not real sure what it is about, maybe a Big Brother kind of complex. I hope we don’t hear this one every night.

Gypsy Biker – The premise of this song is that a famous athlete dies, and his buddies pay homage to him in a ceremony where they take his motorcycle out and burn it. This may sound a little corny, but I can see where it would be important. This is a big picture type of song with stunning imagery. It also has a great set of instrument solos, harmony in the vocals, and end of song chanting for the crowd to get into it. In short, best song on the album.

Girls in Their Summer Clothes – Great title for a song, everyone can imagine this. Unfortunately, the upbeat ends with the title. This song is about a character (Bill) kind of down on his luck, maybe unemployed, and you experience his day as he goes about his business around town. Slow pacing, and kind of wordy. A little work on this song could have made it worthy of the title.

I'll Work for Your Love – At first I wasn’t sure of this song. But after a couple plays, I realized that it is a hymnal. In the tradition of many church hymnals, this song discusses sacrifice for the love of another and uses a lot of Christian imagery. In fact at one point, it sounds like a recorder (the flute like instrument) playing, which is often used in conjunction with church choir.

Magic – Statement on society as a whole. This song describes how you are lead to believe what someone else wants you to, not necessarily what is reality. The line, “Trust none of what you hear and only part of what you see”, sums up the song. The song conveys the feeling that the media show what they want you to see, not what is really happening.

Last to Die – This is in the vain of Seeds and some Devils and Dust. This is a commentary of our society of how those in power make decisions that the under-class must live with. But it doesn’t really go anywhere. The lyrics are kind of all over. Maybe some work with the band and it will work.

Long Walk Home – The first version I heard from the Sessions tour wasn’t much, but that’s the Magic of production. This song is kind of My Hometown that the character moved back to. Forget all the problems of 25 years ago, and realize where you are from. This song has grown on me and is one of my favorites of the CD.

Devil's Arcade – It seems like when Bruce refers to ‘the devil’ he is referencing George Bush (Devils and Dust was a testament to this). This song is no exception. I can see this piece being the final song of the main show (before encores). The marching type beat reminds me of Into the Fire from The Rising. Used in concert the same.

Terry’s Song – This is will be a ‘secret’ track on the released CD. Earlier this year, Bruce’s friend of over 35 years, Terry Magovern, died in his sleep. This song is a tribute to him. And like a lot of songs from one guy to another, it speaks from the heart without being overly sappy. I give it a thumbs up and I can see where a lot of men will dedicate it to their friends that pass.

In Summary: This is a very good CD. Possibly one the best work Bruce has done since Tunnel of Love. I think a lot of songs on this release will have legs for years to come and become instant fan favorites.

Since ratings are needed now a day; as it compares to other Springsteen CDs: B+

Compared to other music CDs: A-

Today's musical stuff...

Today was a preview of the 2007 Fall Tour. My day in chronologic order (mostly).

Van Halen in DC

I work about a block away from the arena in DC, the Verizon Center. So when I got work that Van Halen was playing here, I decided to go to the arena and try for tickets. i arrived about 9:40am, tickets go on sale at 10:00am. There weren't many people there and I got in line. The whole process was ver orderly and there were 3 ticket windows selling tickets. Very organized! But 5 minutes into tickets being on sale, the only seats comng up were 400 level seats. THESE SUCK!

I had Donkey on the cell phone. He had the same thing happening to him. He threw them back a few times. Finally, some 100 level seats. Donkey got them. I had similar seats at the window, but his were a little better. I go back to work.

At this point, I am wondering why the rotten tickets so shortly after going on sale? I went to the Ticket Master page. And I noticed that there is a new set of tabs (see image below).

BID ON AUCTION?! WTF?
If tickets weren't expensive enough, this put them over the top. Now they charge a SUPER premium for seats in an auction.

New Springsteen! Radio Nowhere

I got over the whole VH dibacole and now I get an MP3 file with the upcoming Springsteen release, Radio Nowhere. For your listening pleasure, click on the MP3 player over on the sidebar.

My thoughts; I like it! It's no Born to Run, but it's a lot better then the Ghost of Tom Joad! Give it a listen (click in the object on the bar on the right), and leave a comment with what you think.

Cover of Magic

This is the CD cover for Bruce's Magic release. It won't be long now!

Fall tour, 2007

The Fall Tour is starting to shape up. So far it looks like it will be a Van Halen show and some Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band shows! Somewhere in there, I will become a father, but in the mean time, I'll stick with the touring bands. And for reference, a picture of each act.



Bruce is touring with a new album, supposedly the last with the full E-Street band. VH is touring, well, because they need the dough! In the picture it is, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, and Eddie's son Wolfgang (Wolfie) Van Halen who will be playing bass on the tour. It should be fun!
As for one of the geekier things, scoll down the side of my blog and you can see the countdown clock to the new Springsteen CD, Magic.