BoomerGirl Diary

I just got back from a trip to Nashville where I went for a family event. While I was there, I went to a Bruce Springsteen concert, since I was going to have to miss him at home. I do a lot of observing of people when I’m at a concert, it’s very interesting to watch the crowd and see who is actually coming to shows these days. Now Bruce is almost 60, like a lot of us, so of course he mostly attracts a crowd of that same age group. And many oldsters brought their kids or grandkids to turn them on to their favorite music hero. But there were plenty of young people there, too, who have become hard-core Springsteen fans.

A few weeks ago, I talked about the women of rock and how they rock hard while coping with the changes older women go through. Men must go through their changes as well, but you would never know it by watching Bruce. This man has always been known for putting on a long, action-packed show, and I worked a couple of his shows in my career and witnessed it for myself. But I must say he is more amazing than ever. Age has not slowed him down, only made him more impressive.

He played for almost 3 hours non-stop and the older crowd that had to stand on the floor (no reserved seats down there) were rocking non-stop right along with him. I, personally, have a knee condition, so I always head for a seat. But a rock and roll show is just about the only thing that will get me to stand for long periods of time and endure a little pain.

Bruce can display an almost evangelical persona when he’s deep in the throws of his show and one can even feel the passion of attending a revival meeting. At one point, he ran and slid across the stage on his knees; a feat that most men his age wouldn’t even attempt. I’m sure Clarence Clemons at 67 on sax can’t imagine doing it; he has very fragile knees and sits for most of the show in a big comfy chair in the corner of the stage.

Bruce certainly isn’t afraid of his crowd. He goes to the edge of the stage during the show and leans into the mass of admirers, shaking hands and conversing with them, letting them reach up and stroke his arm or play his guitar with him. Traditionally, at the end of each show, he chooses a woman or young girl out of the audience to come up on stage and dance with him while he and the band crank out “Dancing in the Dark.”

In Nashville, he chose an older BoomerGirl in a t-shirt and jeans with a short graying haircut. After their dance, The Boss lifted her up easily in his arms, swinging and swaying, whispering in her ear, and then kissed her gently on the lips, before he effortlessly lowered her into the arms of someone below. What a story she got to take home with her that night.

Usually, Bruce’s wife Patti is part of the E Street Band, playing guitar and singing back up, but seems to have disappeared part way through the tour. I’m not sure why, but possibly because she’s promoting her own album.

Anyway, it was a great show and I’m sure Bruce will be back around in another few years. I can’t see him retiring any time soon.

I have included a You Tube moment from the show and I particularly like it, because the guy shooting it spent some time capturing the reaction of the audience. Enjoy!

Until next time, rock on and be excellent to each other… Penny

Set List in Nashville: "Out In the Street" "Radio Nowhere" "No Surrender" "Lonesome Day" "Spirit In The Night" "Good Rockin’ Tonight" "Growin’ Up" "I’m Goin’ Down" "Held Up Without A Gun" "Loose Ends" "Youngstown" "Murder Incorporated" Short version of Bo Diddley's "Mona" segues into "She's The One" "The Promised Land" "Mary’s Place" "I Walk The Line" (abbreviated version, accompanied by Nils Lofgren) "I’m On Fire" "The Rising" "Last To Die" "Long Walk Home" "Badlands" ENCORE "Girls In Their Summer Clothes" "Thunder Road" "Born To Run" "I Fought The Law" "Rosalita," accompanied by the E Street Band and Dave Bielanko of Marah "American Land" "Dancing In The Dark"