No Surrender

In many ways, last night's show at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee reminded me of the first time I saw Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band in 1980, at the LA Sports Arena. Remember 1980? It was the year that both Ronald Reagan was elected president and a month later, John Lennon shot to death. I was living in Southern California and my best friend Jerry, a native New Yorker and HUGE Springsteen fan, was kind enough to invite me to accompany him to Springsteen and E Street's show at the LA Sports Arena--two nights in a row!

Back in those days Bruce and E Street played 3.5 hour sets full of raw emotion, intensity, rollicking good spirit, sincerity and social commentary. "Exhilarating" is probably the best way to describe those times. They were rock n' roll shows unlike any I'd seen before--and as nothing I've seen since.

There were moments back then and last night too, where I was on the verge of tears--all the while with a smile on my face. And I wasn't the only one. Springsteen and E Street's performances are transcendent and indeed, they elevate you spiritually to a place of deep joy and comfort.

When Springsteen and Van Zandt harmonize they evoke memories of spinning 45s records on the turntable back in our younger days, gleaning more from a few minutes on a disc than hours in a classroom. Most of us of a certain age can feel this on a visceral level--they speak to us in our language--the language of rock n' roll. Springsteen and E Street forge a connection which comforts us in a way in which mere words cannot fully do justice.

(Photo/Jim Bovin)

But there was a stark contrast as well between the Springsteen shows I saw in 1980 and the 2008 performance.

Time, as it will, is taking it's toll; the show is a full hour less in length than the gigs in 1980.

Most troubling to me was Danny Federici's absence. A founding member of The E Street Band, Danny is fighting for his life with a vicious form of cancer--melanoma that has metastasized. I've posted two video clips of Danny's last performances in 2007 below.
Though Bruce issued an upbeat-sounding statement last year when Danny first prepared to "take a leave" from the band, as I watched Bruce's face on the huge screen last night when he explained that his wife and bandmate Patti was home in New Jersey with their three teenagers, I saw a flash of deep sadness cross his face a moment later as he moved on to say that Danny Federici "may" be able to join them for a short stint "later" in the tour.

Also, if you haven't seen Clarence Clemons lately you'd have been shocked at his appearance. EDIT/After giving it some more thought, I realize that Clemons has lost a lot of weight and that doing so later in life leaves saggy skin--this could explain a lot./ The Big Man is no longer big and interplay between the Clemons and Springsteen was almost non-existent. It was Steve Van Zandt doing most of the clowning with Bruce last night. Clemons now moves slowly--perhaps he's dealing with arthritis?, often perching on an overstuffed chair nearly off stage, sometimes sitting for a song's duration. Thankfully, he is still able to belt out his amazing signature sound when called upon.

Despite these poignant reminders that time leaves none of us unmarked, "magic" continues to pulse through the night whenever Bruce Springsteen picks up a guitar and steps on stage.

Hard to read Bruce's writing? Here's the list, courtesy of Bruce's official website Bruce Springsteen.net, ( Springsteen songs only) in print:

March 17, 2008
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Bradley Center

No Surrender { lyrics }
Radio Nowhere { lyrics }
Lonesome Day { lyrics }
Streets Of Fire { lyrics } Tour Premiere
Gypsy Biker { lyrics }
Magic { lyrics }
Reason To Believe { lyrics }
It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City { lyrics }
Prove It All Night { lyrics }
She's The One { lyrics }
Livin' In The Future { lyrics }
The Promised Land { lyrics }
Cadillac Ranch { lyrics }
My Hometown { lyrics }
Devil's Arcade { lyrics }
The Rising { lyrics }
Last To Die { lyrics }
Long Walk Home { lyrics }
Badlands { lyrics }

Comments

[Cyn]

Thank you, Dan!
Bruce deviated from his set list in the second half of the show.
He did Cadillac Ranch in lieu of Racing In The Streets. I'd have preferred "Racing." Timeless song.
He could have left out Born to Run--but it's an anthem--and an audience pleaser--I so would have died to hear "Night," though.
Fantastic show--great evening--I got a program and a baseball jersey with Bruce Springsteen 2008 Tour and a great "heart" graphic on the back! I still cannot get over t-shirts being $40 each.

I am very lucky. I'm starting to have sense of urgency that some of the music heroes of our time--who in general at at least 10 years older than us--are fading from us. These reminders of mortality are a bit unsettling. Certainly though, a Springsteen show is the opposite of that feeling.

[Dan]

Wow. Terrific review, Cyn. Love how you tied the nostalgia element into this. My first Springsteen show was '84 (Hey, I was a late bloomer) but I was instantly a fan. I had never seen a performer leave everything on the stage after four hours of making music.

I was not aware of Danny Federici. The videos are emotional. I did notice that "Racing in the Street" was on the set list but you didn't mention it below. Wow - if he indeed played it, what a treat. That's one of my favorites.

Great job and lucky you.