I’m just going to c/p what I posted to RMAS earlier today:
Really interesting reading the various reviews of last night’s show. Here’s
mine:
Opening 5 songs definitely got everyone up and excited. I had heard Code of
Silence and Roulette, but not enough to really know them, but it made no
difference to me or the others obviously enjoying the music without singing
along. Then NIGHT (personal fave!)
I Wish I Were Blind- another one I wasn’t too familier with (ok, the 90’s I
was busy with babies and not paying close enough attention. One thing that
I’ve been doing this tour is listening more to all those albums again,
getting more familier with LT, HT, and Tracks, thanks to the songs Bruce has
been pulling out to play!)
Going from there into Empty Sky and You’re Missing may have been a bit too
much, crowd energy definitely died down (except for the 10 year old girl in
front of me who even boogied through Empty Sky, she was a delight to watch
all night!)
Waiting brought the crowd back and Johnny 99 was so much fun, great version!
Another Thin Line- had heard this on the Reunion tour and surprised myself
by remembering much of it!
TUNNEL OF LOVE!!! OMG!!! This is one of my personal top ten and I was so
sure I’d never see it live, was afraid to hope too much when he started
playing it this tour- When he started that intro I jumped up and screamed
and got lots of looks from those around, but they all forgave me when they
realized what song it was! Because the Night, another personal fave!
Band intros- quick individually but long cheers and some ESB chants from the
crowd. Long BRUUUUUCE and he stood on the stage definitely looking emotional
there.
Back in Your Arms- wonderful intro, beautiful song, (I really need to listen
to Tracks more often.) I can see why so many wanted to hear it.
Light of Day was fun, shades of the Reunion tour.
DYLAN! Ok, I’m not a big fan, but it was very cool to see him come out.
Major technical problems, but great song choice (Hwy 61.)
During My City of Ruins Bruce walked around and shook hands with each band
member (a kiss for Patti of course.)
LOHAD- Thrilled to hear this because it’s another of those personal faves,
and I’ve never been a big fan of full band BITUSA and that was the other
option! Nice speech about Dylan’s influence beforehand, could very well have
been speaking about himself though, very clear parallels there.
Rosie, Dancin, amazin’ as usual.
Quarter to Three- personal symmetry here- saw Gary U.S. Bonds at my first
show 7/2/81, where they played this song- so it was a cool moment for my
husband and me (who were just kids dating back in ‘81!) Twist and Shout had
great audience participation, and that was a very crowded stage!
Was hoping for Incident to close the show but really didn’t think it would
fit there- Blood Brothers definitely was performed for the band as well as
the crowd, lots of emotion everywhere (where’s my tissue??)
Notes- sat in A7, great crowd around us (except for a few ladies who had a
few too many beers- why do people do that?? - and a few “grown men” who for
some reason thought it was their right to stand on the chairs. 10 year old
girls on chairs- cool. 45 year old men on chairs- stupid.) Wish I was
taller, but they did a good job with the video (not as good as 8/30 at GS,
though.)
Political content toned down to almost nothing. I think he just wanted this
show to be about the band and the fans.
About 5 minutes after the show we got held up by security in the lot just in
time to see the parade of limos and SUVs. Many were hidden behind the tinted
windows but we saw Stevie, Soozie, the Bondses, and finally Bruce himself
with the windows down waving, very cool. The set up at Shea means they
really had to get out fast or they’d have been stuck behind the rest of us
leaving. I’m sure they had some amazing after-tour party to get to!
This was my 4th show this tour (3 at GS) and 6th altogether, so I don’t hold
a candle to most of you, but here’s what this tour did for me- Hearing the
songs live made The Rising into a much more personal album for me. And
hearing so many songs I really didn’t know (or reading about them on
setlists) introduced me to music I probably never would have pulled out, and
made me appreciate Springsteen so much more. I’ve had a blast lurking here,
too (sorry I haven’t posted too much), loved being a part of the the DVD
tree, even benefitted from the kindness of strangers and got my first boots!
What a summer (now what????)
Amazin’, amazin’ amazin’ night (for the fellow Met fans out there…)
annie
