I was curious if there were any members in this forum who are as big a fan of Bruce as I am. Let's hear it! It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive!
I saw Bruce for the first time Nov. 21st, 1978 in Evanston at NU's old McGaw hall. I can't remember what I had for dinner tonight, but I can remember twenty five years ago, almost every song from his set. Knew it was going to be like nothing else when in a darkened arena he started singing, "We-a-he-a-hell, the little things you say and do....." opening line to Buddy Holly's "Rave On". I've seen most everbody worth seeing (mid seventies-on), and while many have made more consistent studio recordings than Springsteen, no-one is his equal as an emotive, dramatic force on a rock n' roll stage. Second place as performers: The Who.
21/11/78 - NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS RAVE ON / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / TIES THAT BIND / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE - I GET MAD / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE 21.11.78 Evanston, IL, intro to ´Darkness on the Edge of Town´ ´´This is uh, this is for everybody up on the hill tonight....´Darkness on the Edge of Town´...â 21.11.78 Evanston, IL, intro to ´Independence Day´ ´´I´ll do this song, this is uh....(?) 20 bucks after the show....I´m not touching that, that´s disgusting....this is a, this is a new song, uh....that I wrote, originally wrote for the Darkness on the Edge of Town album....and if anybody (?) knows what´s it like to, whose father spent half your childhood in the kitchen (chuckles) you´ll know what I´m talking about, this is, this is for anybody that just left home this year or is thinking about it....this is called ´Independence Day´...â 21.11.78 Evanston, IL, middle of ´Backstreets´ ´´Hey, little girl....it´s good.....to see you back again....it´s been such a long, long time....and baby, you´re still looking fine....and I remember you.....baby, I remember you....that pretty face.....standing on the corner....and I know you remember me too....yeah, I know you do.... when we used to hitchhike....outside of town.....to that old, old abandoned Cadillac (?)... baby´d take me riding...baby´d take me riding in back....little girl, we go riding in back..... and down and down and down and down and down and down and down and down we go .....down and down and down.....and down and down....(?)....â 21.11.78 Evanston, IL, intro to âRosalitaâ ââNow, the following story....is true....the names have been changed...to protect....the good (chuckles)....see, I wasnât always this wretched, brokenhearted soul standing before you ....I was in love once....true.....I had a girlfriend....we ran away from her mother and father and went to California....and then....she ran away from me.....thatâs alright, Iâm a lucky guy.... Rosie, wherever you are....come back home !...â I have a CD of this show, let me know if you'd like a free copy.
Why do these singers and actors think we give a damn about their political opinions? Springsteen is a perfect example. I love the guy's music, but he can't seem to get in front of a crowd these days without shooting off his mouth in some Al Franken/Michael Moore rant. He makes the dixie chicks sound like Kennedy School professors. In the words of Laura Ingraham, "Shut up and sing."