Springsteen Reaches New Heights (& Lengths) In Jersey (8-23-16) 8-25-16 & Tonight at Metlife Stadium.
“I want to hear that satisfied sound!” – Bruce speaking to the audience at approximately the 3 hour, 50 minute mark of Thursday’s show shortly after refreshing himself by squeezing a sponge over his head.
It was epic because of the love! The communion between the man and his home and his hometown fans neared a religious intensity. Bruce closing his eyes and bowing his head and holding it together during Backstreets while The Professor Roy Bittan rang emotional notes on his piano. Bruce talking about how My City O Ruins was written about his adopted hometown of Asbury Park and how it’s experiencing a Renaissance these days with people on the beach again. The moment when the “Queen of E Street” Patti Scialfa shares the microphone with her husband on Tougher Than The Rest. The video tribute to Clarence Clemons during Tenth Avenue Freeze Out and the spirit of cherished friendship transmitted when Steven and Nils do vocals on Out In the Street. The feeling you get when 55,000 cheer on a 3-year-old singing Waiting On A Sunny Day. The fact that Bruce said, “My Mother’s here tonight…Take a bow Ma!” and “Tonight’s your lucky night” to the fan with the sign that said: 150 shows and No Lost In The Flood. The topper: a Jersey Girl finale with a newly engaged couple on stage.
The E Street Band was in absolute top form. Beginning with the guitars: Nils Lofgren was especially wicked offering tremendous runs on, most memorably, Youngstown and Because The Night. Steven Van Zandt, the boss’s right hand man, didn’t miss a cue or a trick all night from I’m A Rocker to Prove It All Night. Bruce Springsteen did some damage himself including complementing guest Tom Morello whose fierce, blinding work on The Ghost Of Tom Joad as well as 41 Shots was worth a trip to East Rutherford in itself. Soozie Tyrell rocking the fiddle on Cadillac Ranch. Jake Clemons strutting and burning on Rosalita. The eight violinists who helped start the show so dramatically on the rare New York Serenade. And the Max Weinberg and Garry Talent rhythm section propelling the whole glorious dynamism.
Catch ’em tonight (8-30-16) if you can and keep an eye out for the memoir and companion album next month.
