BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE!

Kat and I had an unbelievable time at the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band concert at the Verizon Center in DC last night.
I've seen Bruce live about... maybe eight times? Last night was definitely in the top two concerts. The band sounds incredible, and if Bruce is talking a bit less than usual, there's no shortage of sheer musical power up on the stage.
Lots of Bruce-and-Steven nose to nose on microphones (he called out "C'mon, Steven!" about five times during the show), and did the same with Patti on one or two songs (their duet on "Tunnel of Love" was fantastic).
Here's the set list:

• Radio Nowhere
• No Retreat, No Surrender
• Lonesome Day
• Gypsy Rider
• Magic (introduced with a few words about Washington DC and spin)
• extended harmonica solo by Bruce, leading into...
• Reason to Believe
• Night
• She's the One
• Living in the Future
• Promised Land
• I Work for Your Love
• Tunnel of Love
• Workin' on the Highway
• Devil's Arcade
• The Rising
• Last to Die
• Long Walk Home
• Badlands (absolutely the most high-energy song of the concert to that point)
• Girls in Their Summer Clothes
• Growing Up
• Kitty's Back
• Born to Run
• Dancing in the Dark
• American Land

A little surprise on the way out: we were making our way out of our row and reached the steps when we saw Tim Russert and his wife. He's really youthful in person! Had on glasses and a huge grin. I asked him (probably shouted, 'cause my ears were ringing) how he liked the show and he said "Amazing!" I said this was Kat's first Bruce concert and he said, "My first was in '73!" I added she was first in line for this concert and they said it was a great show to have as a first. Could not have been a better way to say "Hi!" to someone we watch nearly every Sunday morning. Gonna have to send a fan letter...

(Note: the Wikipedia entry above has an interesting paragraph about Mr. Russert's Bruce connection.)

Anyway, Kat's off at work this morning and I'm home, enjoying Veterans Day off. I'll post on Veterans Day later, as my dad and two of my uncles were WW2 vets, but for now... Bruce absolutely rules.

Great article on Bruce's show here.

Field Report on Bruce in NJ, by Paul Skeen

Hey folks,
Paul Skeen, one of my oldest and best friends, saw Bruce's rehearsal show in Asbury Park. He also had a bit of extra luck when it came to the Boss, as his email describes...

I have very interesting Bruce story for you. Tuesday night my friend Rich asked if I could go with him to the Tuesday rehearsal show in Asbury.

Having seen the show the night before and the $100 price , I thanked him but said I'd have to hold off. The next day I asked if he was able to get rid of the ticket. He said he had,in a way.

He traded that ticket for 2 tickets to the Friday rehearsal show at the Meadowlands. His wife would then be able to get to see the show. Well, on Thursday his wife discovered she would not be able to go. He offered me the ticket for free.

Hmmm.

Free Bruce Ticket/the Arena was not charging for parking/3500 people in a 20,000 seat Arena.

I'm not an idiot.

The difference between Monday's show and Friday's was unbelievable. The sound was much improved, the band was tighter . The only thing they need to fix is a couple song transitions, which I know they will. The feeling of being in a 20,000 seat arena that only had about 3000-3500 people was surreal.

About 10 minutes before they came out they allowed everyone to go to the floor. We opted to move over a section and down about 7 or 8 rows. They only sold the side sections on the lower level for reserved seating and not that many general admission tickets.

To say the least, you are going to see a great show.

Here's the setlist:

• Radio Nowhere
• Ties That Bind
• Lonesome Day
• Gypsy Biker
• Magic
• Candy's Room
• She's the One
• Livin' in the Future
• Promised Land
• Town Called Heartache- Duet w/Patti
• Reason To Believe
• Darlington County
• Born in the USA
• Devils Arcade
• The Rising
• Last to Die
• Long Walk Home
• Badlands
• Waitin' on a Sunny Day
• Thundercrack
• Born to Run
• American Land w/ Larry Eagle & Lisa Lowell from Seeger Sessions Band

I have to say this. "Reason to Believe" was one of the best songs I've ever seen him do. I really hope you get it at your show.

Thanks for the heads-up on the Bruce show, Paul. Being the longtime fan you are, your opinion carries a lot of weight with me and Kat. Hope we'll see you and Belinda soon!

Kat Scores Bruce Tickets!

Hey gang! Katherine won huge today. She went to the Verizon Center to get tickets for Bruce's November 11 show-- and they were doing a ticket lottery. She chose a number... which happened to be #1! Can you believe it? First in line, she had a prime pick on where to go.

The seats in the very-closest sections were sold out but she got A-row seats in the next section over (section 121 for those of you looking at the VC map). We'll have a fantastic view of one of the rock world's best performers doing his thing.

I am so proud of Kat. She did great and scored us some unbelievable tickets. I have to take her to dinner to celebrate.

We plan to see Bruce and the E Street Band in NJ when he comes back, but his tour dates now are weeknights--hard to manage from here in DC. Still, we hope that there'll be plenty of dates to choose from when he returns to the Garden State. Gotta see him in the Meadowlands or Madison Square Garden.

Very excited, y'all.