An avowed pilgrim of all that is Bruce Springsteen, power chords, Monmouth County and red-headed women attended all three shows in the Boston area last week. He filed this report on condition of anonymity, but for those of you who may know him, the initials are BW:
They held Mass three times this week. And none of the services were on Sunday.
The leader preached to the choir, which responded in kind. And those who did not believe upon entry left converts.
This wasn’t a religious service. Though many who believe in the gospel of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band would tell you it is as congregational and spiritual as one.
In three nights – two at Fenway Park and one at Gillette Stadium – The Boss and his band of music makers played nearly 60 songs. That is not a total of 60 songs in three nights. That would be nearly five dozen different songs. And he threw in an interlude of Dream Baby Dream during Backstreets for those who want to even it out.
The list:
The Promised Land
Thunder Road (full band opening night and solo accompanied by Roy Bittan on piano on night 2)
My Love Will Not Let You Down
Night
Out in the Street
Hungry Heart
We Take Care of Our Own
Sherry Darling
Two Hearts
Summertime Blues
Wrecking Ball
Girls in their Summer Clothes
Death to My Hometown
My City of Ruins
Spirit in the Night
Knock on Wood
Does this Bus Stop at 82nd St/
The E Street Shuffle
Thundercrack
Frankie
Jack of All Trades
Prove It All Night – ’78
Atlantic City
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Open All Night
Growin’ Up
Lost in the Flood
Because the Night
Johnny 99
Darlington County
Working on the Highway
From the coastline to the city all the little pretties raise their hands
She’s the One
Shackled and Drawn
Waitin’ on a Sunny Day
Boom Boom
Drive All Night
Backstreets
Racing in the Street
The Rising
Radio Nowhere
Badlands
Land of Hope and Dreams
* * *
We Are Alive
Who’ll Stop the Rain
Rocky Ground
Jungleland
Born to Run
Detroit Medley
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
Bobby Jean
Glory Days
Dancing in the Dark
Quarter to Three
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out
Dirty Water
Drift Away
Twist and Shout
American Land
The performances throughout were indescribably delicious, much like the hot dog and cold beer that Springsteen ingested at the second Fenway show on Wednesday when the Pit Crew delivered them to him (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuL6caer2ZI). In perfect strum while leading into Working on The Highway, Springsteen devoured the Fenway Frank and chugged the brew as the rock n roll train rolled on and on and on …
He danced by himself, he danced with a teen, he danced with a Boston policewoman. Springsteen danced and played his way into everyone’s heart. He took time to tell you who was there and had people remember who wasn’t. In a brilliant touch, he worked Johnny Pesky into My City of Ruins. He put the spotlight on the Pesky Pole to pay tribute, as well as vintage photos of the Red Sox legend on the big screens during encores of Night One.
He played to the fans, he catered to the fans. He took signs and played requests. There were setlists but the only purpose they served were to be audibled from.
Highlights? Oh, there were 57 of them. But some of superlatives came in the form of Knock on Wood, Thunder Road opening Night 2, Prove It All Night with the searing 1978 intro, Open All Night, acoustic Who’ll Stop The Rain into Rocky Ground as the skies opened Wednesday, Dirty Water, Lost In The Flood, Twist and Shout … you get the idea.
Each Fenway show rivaled a typical Yankee-Red Sox game in length … pushing four hours. It was the joy in Fenway’s miserable summer.
Don’t miss this tour. If you have seen it before, this leg will astound you. And if you somehow haven’t seen a Springsteen show, don’t deprive yourself, your parents, grandparents or kids or grandkids.
It is a show for the ages, for all ages.