Deb: Colin and I were offered two front row tickets to BruceSpringsteen and the E Street Band the other night. Colin was doing shows in California, so I
called me buddy Barb and said, “Have you ever seen Bruce?” Her response was a
great example of why I adore her. She got breathless. “No No NOOO!” was her
breathy response, escalating in both pitch and volume. Because after all, it is
the Boss.
I proceeded to tell her that she was about to have the night of
her life. I did not worry about building up her hopes only to see them dashed
after a half hour into this concert. Because it is the Boss. And as such, I
knew with certainty that even if he were not her favourite artist, she was
going to see a show like none other. In this case, three hours and forty
minutes of pure rock and roll.
Our benefactor also left us passes for the E Street Lounge that
had food and cocktails, but we arrived only ten minutes before the concert.
Toronto was jam-packed with cars and people this night, which made parking
spots as scarce as hen’s teeth. But finally I found one and hurriedly headed to
our gate, marveling at the crowds and, in particular, their unusual
concert-going gear. But as I pushed my way through Klingons, Sailor Moons,
Darth Vaders and Avengers, I realized all too late that it was Fan Expo 2012
and I was in the middle of a fabulous moving comic book. After I finally made
it to the gate, Barb came running up, having paid … WAIT FOR IT ... $50.00 for
parking, breaking my previous record of $40.00.
If anyone from the
appropriate department at City Hall is reading this: Really? Really? Gouge
much? Come on. Man up on that. That is literally robbery! I
digress.........................
So we ran down to our seats giggling and arrived just as they started
playing Take Me out to the Ballgame as
we watched Bruce and the band leave their dressing room and head to the stage.
Bruce usually plays at the ACC but tonight we were in the Skydome (yes, I know,
Rogers Centre ... SKYDOME!), which is also home of the Toronto Blue Jays, hence
the song. The roof was open and the CN Tower loomed above our heads and the
weather was sassy warm with a perfect little breeze, light blue then dark blue
sky as our roof. We were starving and thirsty and just as we arrived at our
seats, the beer and wine cart pulled up, making the timing perfect to toast
Bruce’s entrance.
I smiled over at my Bruce newbie, my E Street virgin, and her
mouth was agape and her eyes were wide. This was my 6th
Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce concert. I warned her, as she was new, that
when the crowd sounded like they were booing, what they were really doing was
yelling Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce in low even tones.
The way I figure it, you can’t be a veteran at a Bruce
Springsteen concert because each and every time it is as if you are seeing him
for the first time. He comes on, sans warm-up band at the stroke of 8 as
promised and proceeds to go, full tilt boogie, till the rockin’ end. In the
middle he picked a little girl out of the audience and she sang a duet with him
like a pro, and no, it wasn’t a plant. It was so dear and he had us in the palm
of his hand. He leapt, he dived, he ran, he blasted us with song. And even
then, he did not look spent and his voice never faltered. Other than the fact
that he is sopping wet, he appears like he could keep going and going. In the
middle of the concert, in the middle of Tenth
Avenue Freeze Out, they did a beautiful tribute to the big man, the late
Clarence Clemons, which the crowd loved. Clarence’s nephew Jake has taken his
spot in the band and it seemed right. Talented and adorable with a great
personality that shines through. Good thing. Big shoes to fill.
Barb and I rocked. Barb and I rolled. Barb and I got our groove
thing on. Barb and I got our buzz on. We were eternally young that night and we
have our generous ticket donor and Bruce and the E Street Band to thank for it.
It constantly comes up in the press that there is an age where a
rocker should stop rocking. Bruce and the band is the best example for me of
the theory that rocking it out is ageless. There were huge newbie cheers when
Bruce asked who was there for the first time.
And now they know why they were there and they will be back. He’s the Boss. What can I say?
Glory days indeed!
And PS for part one of the other Bossy side of Two Bossy Virgins
please see Monday’s post.
Barbara: No, Deb couldn’t have oversold this concert as this was
a concert for the ages. No wonder half of Toronto came out to see him (clogging
every road around the arena, and driving those parking prices to insane
heights). We talked a bit the other day in the comment’s section about how
seeing music live is an experience all to itself. Especially when it is
performed well. And especially when it is the kind of music born to be played
live. Bruce’s brand of rock n’ roll is just that. Honest, gritty, raw, true.
Thank you, Deb and patron saint of concert tickets: you gave me a night I will
never forget. Thank you, Bruce, you inspired me and delighted me. By listening
to your heart, I was able to hear my own.
