SLY’S NEW JERSEY/SPRINGSTEEN EXPERIENCE

SLY’S NEW JERSEY/SPRINGSTEEN EXPERIENCE

Going to see Bruce Springsteen on his home turf of New Jersey is, for a Springsteen fan anyway, kinda like being Catholic and seeing the Pope at the Vatican. It's an experience that is hard to put into words for it to sound anything other than a fan “gushing” over their favourite singer. And while I am a huge fan and he is my favourite singer, I’ll try not to “gush” too much.

The third of three Giants Stadium shows on the “Magic” Tour was my first in New Jersey and only the 7th time I’ve seen Springsteen perform live since 1984. To say I was excited would be an understatement! Not only was it my first time seeing him perform live in New Jersey, but it was my friend Loren’s first time seeing Springsteen perform EVER. I told him it would be special but I don’t think he really understood just exactly what he was in for. Quite honestly, I probably didn’t get just how special it would be myself.

We decided to make a day of it (ok, so I decided and Loren kindly went along with my silliness) and headed to New Jersey early; Asbury Park was our destination and more specifically, The Stone Pony in Asbury Park. For Springsteen fans, it’s a must see - forget thinking that it’s just another dive bar. That it may be, but it’s a dive bar rich in history and certainly one that helped shape the music scene on the Jersey Shore.

When we finally arrived at the Stone Pony I honestly couldn’t believe that I was there. Kinda surreal to be at a place that you’ve heard so much about but wondered if you’d ever see in person. And I’m so glad I did. It’s not really much to speak of and it wasn’t even open for business yet other than the selling of Stone Pony merchandise (yes, of course, I bought a couple of things), but I was there and I was loving it. After a few photo ops, we went to the beach for a few minutes and then we were off to get to Giants Stadium early. Unfortunately, closer to the stadium, a tanker truck had crashed closing the main exit to the Meadowlands Sports Complex, which slowed traffic to a crawl. Luckily for us because we had planned to go to New Jersey early, we made it to the stadium in plenty of time. Not so lucky were thousands of others who I’m sure were in a small panic to get to the concert on time only to find that they needn’t have worried. Springsteen had delayed the start of the show so that almost everyone could get there in time, starting the show with a raucous “Summertime Blues” as he took the stage at 9:30 PM.

From there on out and until 12:45 AM, I experienced the absolute thrill of a lifetime seeing the heart-stopping, hard-rocking, booty-shaking, Viagra taking, earth-quaking, nerve-breaking, history-making, legendary… BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E-STREET BAND! And let me tell ya, they were well worth the wait!

SET LIST:

Summertime Blues - Great way to start out on a sweaty, humid summers day.
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out – Fabulously long, frenzy-inducing intro.
Radio Nowhere – One of my faves from the new album, seems to get better each time I hear it.
Prove It All Night – This song gets to me every time I hear it and led right into “C’mon Steve!” and Two Hearts (God what a fun song to see performed live).
The Promised Land – Springsteen personified.
Spirit In The Night – I can’t believe I finally saw this live!!!
Light Of Day – Even though it’s not one of my faves, it was amazing to hear this live, and a first for me. If I recall correctly, this was the time when he sought out song requests by gathering up homemade signs from the crowd. It was very funny to see him rifling through all the signs he had collected and deciding which songs to play. These spontaneous song requests have been a staple for the last leg of this tour (as well as the European leg) and I have to give him and the band props for changing things up as much as they do, even if we have to see him rehearsing a song in his head prior to performing it. ;-)
Brilliant Disguise – Beautifully done.
Pretty Flamingo [Tour Premiere] – All I can say is WOW!
Blinded By The Light – I saw this performed during the Devils & Dust tour but seeing it with the E-Street Band was just magical. (Click song title for my YouTube link.)
Cadillac Ranch – This rocked the joint like no other.
Candy's Room – Truly amazing.
Night – Absolutely wonderful.
Because The Night – Another blazing guitar solo from Nils Lofgren with a somersault (while *still* playing) thrown in for good measure.
She's The One – This one gets the crowd every time. I loved it!
Livin' In The Future – Not my fave from the Magic Album but still important to hear the message behind it.
Mary's Place – I know a lot of “veteran fans” have come to dislike this one, but I have yet to be disappointed by it and as Bruce yelled that this was a “Jersey Baptism” in response to the heat and humidity that night, he sponged folks off and then threw a container of water on those in the pit.
Incident On 57th Street – He played it for all the “old bald guys”. To see it live is to truly witness something extraordinary.
The Rising – This song gets to me every time I hear it; the power and passion behind the words and the memories it evokes – I will never get tired of hearing it.
Last To Die – I remember not really liking this or Long Walk Home when I saw him perform them in Vancouver back in March, but both struck a chord with me in New Jersey. Both were beautifully done.
Badlands – Rocked the joint like nobody’s business.

ENCORE:

Jungleland – I had only seen this song performed live once before tonight and had told Cathy, the girl next to me who I had met just that night and who was there by herself, and to whom I would scream and dance with much of the night, that I really hoped for this one and Murder Incorporated. I got at least one of my wishes, and it was good to learn later that Murder Inc was on the original handwritten set list. The “Big Man’s” solo was haunting and was as good as I’ve ever heard him. (Click song title for my YouTube link.)
Born To Run – I’ll never get tired of hearing this song done live.
Bobby Jean – From the album that got me hooked, some may be getting tired hearing this one, but I never will. “But just to say I miss you baby, good luck, goodbye, Bobby Jean”
Dancing In The Dark – Again from the Born in the USA album and another that helped to forever hook me onto “The Boss”.
American Land – A few members of the Seeger Sessions were brought out for this and I enjoyed this much more than I did when I heard it in Vancouver.
Jersey Girl [Tour Premiere] – One that I, and especially Cathy next to me, were waiting for all night. To hear it performed live and in New Jersey no less, was one of the thrills of the night for me and just confirms to me that even though I was born and raised in Vancouver, I am definitely a Jersey Girl at heart. :-) (Click song title for my YouTube link.)
Rosalita – Bruce wanted to give us one last fairytale and Rosie did not disappoint.

My friend Loren, as I mentioned in the beginning, had never been to a Springsteen concert and was simply amazed; he kept repeating “it was unbelievable, every person in the stadium was standing and singing every word of every song”. Thanks Loren for being crazy enough to join me and for being part of one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

And that’s what it’s all about. My New Jersey Springsteen experience may have come to an end but it was the thrill of a lifetime and I’m afraid I’m hooked. The next time he performs in New Jersey, there’s no question, I just have to be there!

In the meantime the next and last stop for me on this “Magical” tour is Kansas City on August 24th. In just a couple of weeks it’s “Kansas City, Kansas City here I come”…and I can’t wait!

Click the links at the top or here to see my PHOTOS and VIDEOS.

~ Sly

IT’S OFFICIAL! ON july 31, 2008 i became A HONOURARY “jersey girl”