Review of Bruce at Verizon, May 18, 2009

I thought I would send out a review of the Bruce show I went to. Keep in mind that I E-Bayed my extra tickets so that the gratuitous price of the ticket would fit in our family budget. Luckily Bruce is so popular. Michelle and I went for free.

We sat on the side of the stage, in section 226. Mid-level. Not nose bleed, but not up-close.

First things first: thank goodness he didn't make us endure Born In The USA. Although he left off Thunder Road and some other fan favorites, he made up for it by playing Hava Nagila. I am not making that up. It was one of many fan requests that he took from the audience via posters fans had made and passed up to him if the poster caught his eye. And no, "Freebird" didn't make it.

Overall it was a very impressive show. Dude can command a stage, that is for sure. Although it was more "guitar symphony" than it was "art," he accomplished his stated goal :"to build a house right here tonight." He is a true rock star, the look, the presence. Reminded me a bit of Elvis in the sense that he is more showman than pure singer, but he can deliver a song, that is for sure. And for a 59 year old man and his equally long-in-the-tooth band, they played one heck of a 2 hour and 45 minute show. He and the band left every ounce of energy they had right up there on that stage.

And there was Garry Tallent, up there with his Specter short scale bass, with Max Weinberg holding down the rhythm.

Clarence was the only downer. He clearly is not long for this world, but somehow the man still manages to play his sax in not quite the same way he used to, but "close enough for rock and roll." He was literally helped off the stage like a wounded combat soldier. And he made good use of the 2 chairs that were on stage for his specific benefit.

Oh, and the venue offered $8 Bodingtons. I had one for me and one for Paul Minor.

Sign of the times: during one song I turned to Michelle and asked, "Isn't this song in a commercial?" First time that ever happened at a concert I went to.

Peace,
Al

Encouragement

So a good friend has recently encouraged me to write a blog. So I'll have to get off my arse and start typing. Stay tuned...