Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band visited Los Angeles this past week for two nights, and I was lucky enough to attend both performances. Monday night was the first time I experienced the music of my fellow New Jersey natives live. I had high expectations, and they didn’t disappoint. Bruce, Clarence, Max, Stevie and company delivered with roof-raising high energy shows.
     On both nights Bruce opened things up with “Radio Nowhere,” the first song off of his new album “Magic.” It’s an instant classic. The second night, Halloween Eve, Bruce was carried on stage in a coffin by darkly cloaked and hooded pallbearers. He reached out and Stevie Van Zandt handed him his guitar. Bruce asked “is anybody alive out there,” a lyric from “Radio Nowhere,” and the crowd erupted. A sweet start to kick off an evening of legendary rock (video).
     Each night had very similar set lists. However, I’m OK with that because the repeats got me off my seat with fists pumpin’! Notables from Monday night were “No Surrender,” “Candy’s Room” and “Thundercrack,” which he said was the band’s show-stopper 34 years earlier on their first visit to the Los Angeles (the first time any member of the E Street Band was on an airplane). Tuesday night was unique with “Tunnel of Love,” “Night,” and “Kitty’s Back,” (video) a rarity from their second album (The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle – 1973). I especially dug “Tunnel of Love,” reminding me of driving to the Jersey Shore as a kid in my Mom’s 1972 VW Bug.

Sitting behind the stage was surprisingly awesome.

     The shows had an incredible vibe of rebellion against the current state of America, accompanied by shared optimism to do something about it. “Magic” does have more than a tinge of political angst and criticism of the current White House administration. “Last to Die” and “Livin’ in the Future” are prime examples. Bruce also echoed these sentiments in short preaching sessions between songs. “This song isn’t about livin’ in the future, it’s about livin’ right now!” As I said to someone looking for the LA Sports Arena before Tuesday’s show, “this way to salvation.” Bruce confirmed “the rising” feeling when he used his harmonica as an aspergilium to anoint the crowd, like a priest does to his congregation with holy water. He dipped it in water at the back of the stage, where The Boss would sponge off, and flung the water with long strokes to bless his followers.
     The Springsteen shows injected me with not just phenomenal music by superior artists, but with an uplifting attitude and philosophy. It wasn’t the Chevy truck-pushing bullshit America that John Mellencamp is peddling, but pure and authentic American folk rock with a message and a purpose. A lot of people do not agree with the events that G-Dubya has initiated and propagated during his tenure. However, to express this has been labeled un-American and pro-terrorist. Now these “events” are pushing back. Thank you Bruce. Keep touring and spreading the message.

My pictures from Monday and Tuesday
Two good articles at the LA Times about the shows: by Randy Lewis and Geoff Boucher
More Bruce at http://www.backstreets.com