I was in Buffalo last night for the last show of the tour and here's my review that I posted on BTX:
Well, I should be writing a paper, but Catfishdancing asked me nicely to write one when I ran into him last night. So anyways...
Each show I've gone to has kind of raised the bar. My first show was actually in Buffalo and I was directly across from the stage all the way back. Either way I loved it and it gave me the fever. My second show was at Gillette Stadium, I was in the 100 levels and up until tonight, it was my favorite show. Then, while Albany wasn't my favorite show, I was in the pit for the first time (4 rows back from the stage) and for the first time, I was sharing the night with someone who "gets" it. But tonight topped all my shows with 3 and a half hours of rock, but this show will be remembered as the one where I met Bruce Springsteen. But more on that later...
So, because no one was crazy enough to join me in the 100s, I decided to go solo, which meant I got a really good seat. So much easier to get singles than pairs. Now, I'm a huge believer in the theory that anything than can go wrong will, but last night went like clock work. Drove to the University of Buffalo to pick up my friends who were up in the 300 levels, watched the rest of the Bills game, drove to the arena and while looking for food, we were almost run over by Bruce's motorcade and someone from the cars waved at us... might have been Max or Nils, I think. Anyways, we wander around until we decide we're not really into the whole sitting down at a restaurant, we decide to just head back to the arena, where they are finally letting people in. So, after a huge confusing entrance, we finally got in and I found my seat met some cool people around me and at 8:22, the lights went down.
(I was in a pretty bad section, but I wasn't going to let that get me down. Lots of beer runs, lots of bathroom breaks, several people leaving before the show was over, some talking during slow songs. I'm not going to comment on that, unless it was really bad.)
1. Wrecking Ball
I was hoping for Tenth Avenue or Restless Nights (which we heard during the sound check), but this actually did really well in its spot. I've never been so surprised by a song (until later in the night).
2. The Ties That Bind
I've seen this before, but it's really always a pleasure to hear this one, especially with one of Clarence's best sax solos. Great way to be introduced to Clarence that night. The crowd exploded when Clarence blew on his sax for the first note of his solo. This is always one of my favorite parts of the show. At my first show it was also Ties, Second show it was Tenth Ave, Third Show it was Badlands. The crowd loves Clarence.
3. Hungry Heart
Much like Clarence's sax solo, the crowd just erupted. Not a song that I'd throw on a dream set list anytime soon, but I have decided in my two years of Bruce concerts that if the crowd is into it, that is sometimes enough to make it a highlight. I had seen it once before, in a stadium that sat 60,000 people, but when the crowd sang, it was so much louder and not just because the sound had nowhere to go. The crowd surf was excellent. I've seen video, but it doesn't really do it justice.
4. Working on a Dream
I was hoping for a couple more songs up top, but I expected it to lead to a longer post album slot. Anyways, this was good, standard performance, although like, Stan said, it seemed like he finished the house, allowing the theme of the past two tours to come full circle.
5. Blinded by the Light
First time seeing this one. Let me just say here than for the most part, the sound was great last night. While most of the time it seems like they throw Nils on acoustic, just to give him something to do in songs that he's not needed on, it was on top of the mix, which was really nice, because he's so damn good. The crowd enjoyed this one, even had my section singing along.
6. Growin' Up
Another first for me. This is one of the songs I enjoy playing on guitar and it didn't disappoint live. Seemed like the standard version until he told the story. The thing that struck me most is that it wasn't the goddamn guitar, the teenage werewolf or even something more modern like a retelling of the Birthday story. I know this one has been told before, but it felt really special tonight. I remember turning to the person next to be after wards and told him that we were in for a good one.
7. Mary Queen of Arkansas
This was one of the few songs I sat down for, just to listen. It was really nice to hear Nils on Harmonica, it would have been rather dull if it were just Bruce on an acoustic. Would have been nice to see Roy on accordion or something like that, but I'm not complaining.
8. Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?
I really do like this song, it was my first favorite song on the album. It was a pretty standard performance, but well done. Has Charlie or Danny for that matter, ever had an organ solo in it? That seemed new to me.
9. Lost in the Flood
Another first for me. And this was one of my highlights of the night. I have heard boots of it, seen videos of it, but this was so intense, it almost brought hte house down. Roy, Max, Bruce, they were all on fire and it was if the song had been played every night. Charlie also did really well with the organ, which to me, was always the best part of the song, so props to Charlie! The thought that it had been played only 6 times full band since the reunion tour was just crazy to me. I turned to the person I was next to and said "Can he just play that again?"
10. The Angel
I don't like this song. One of the few songs I don't like from the pre-break up days. However, it was nice knowing this was the first and probably only "full band" performance. The strings were nice on it, I say strings, because I'm not sure if it was a violin or viola. It sounded a bit too deep to be a violin and if it was a violin, why not just get Soozie to play?
11. For You
This was one of the songs that got some people in my section up and not just because it was a fast one. They knew all the words too. This was my first time seeing it and it didn't disappoint. The band really seemed to enjoy playing this one. Steve and Garry really seemed to enjoy it especially.
12. Spirit in the Night
Or as I like to call it "Does Bruce realize he's 60?" In my four shows, I've never seen him as all over the stage as he was during this song. It was also more intense than I remember it being the last time I heard it. I also made eye contact with Steve during this song and he nodded at me. I know that because I was one of the few standing in my section during this song. WHO SITS DURING SPIRIT!?!
13. It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City
This lost the crowd again, but I don't know why. It was a great performance, but I digress. It was really funny when Bruce hit the wrong pedal on his guitar that killed the signal and didn't realize it until he was halfway to Steve's mic and he had to run back and fix the problem. The end of the album led to a standing ovation that continued into...
14. Waiting on a Sunny Day
Another song I'm one to complain about on set list watches. Not tonight. It's a fun little song that most of the crowd really gets into. Not really much more to report. From my angle it looked like Kevin almost missed the guitar and the little girl was funny. She definitely didn't have any stage fright.
15. The Promised Land
I've seen this quite a bit, but it was nice to see it come out after a little while of not being played. Buffalo's crowd had the best "blow aways" I had heard at a show before (that I have been to personally). I really do like this song, especially the musical bridge with solos from Roy, Steve and Clarence. Steve had a really cool backing vocal during Roy's solo.
16. Restless Nights
OH MY GOD! I always go waiting for an out of nowhere song and this was it. Would have been cooler if I hadn't been at the sound check, but I will not complain about this one. Great performance. Stan said that it lost the crowd a bit, but my friend who's a casual fan said he doesn't know why that one isn't played more. It was nice hearing Bruce say "Maybe he was right!" after. This is proof that Steve should be allowed to write the set list once in a while.
17. Surprise, Surprise
Not a song that I'm a huge fan of, but it was a nice tribute to Steve. I remember thinking that this show was going to be really loose during this song. It was really funny watching Bruce try to get Steve in the face with some frosting. Part of the appeal to the E Street Band is that they simply enjoy playing together and this song really showed that.
18. Requests (Merry Christmas Baby, Santa, Rock and Roll Shoes, Boom Boom)
Yeah, all of the requests were covers, but besides Rock and Roll Shoes, they were all songs that Bruce has played quite a bit through out his career. Merry Christmas Baby is one of my friend's favorite Christmas songs, so I called them. Curt Ramm really added a lot to this song and it seemed like Bruce really enjoyed this one and he worked the crowd quite a bit. It was another song I think they really had to figure out, couldn't figure out what key it was in. Santa is the classic Christmas song in my house and my parents don't even like Bruce. Really nice highlight of Clarence. Rock and Roll Shoes was very fitting for the night and the band seemed to like it. Boom Boom, was an intense performance and was one of the highlights for my friend who's a casual.
19. My Love Will Not Let You Down
One of my absolute favorites and probably the best performance of the night (outside of LITF). Max is so incredible, I almost forgot how good he is. Unlike Baltimore, this one failed to get the crowd up and moving, but for the people who were into it, they were all rocking.
20. Long Walk Home
This was the third time I've seen this song and easily the best performance. Hands down. I haven't heard a boot from this tour, so I don't know if Steve's part was included, but here it was put to good use. When I saw it on the Magic tour, Bruce didn't join him at the mic, which was really awesome. This was just on fire. One of my friends, who was on their second show said this was her highlight. Good choice.
21. The Rising
This is above Badlands (which was sadly missing) for songs that need to be every nighters in my book. It's the only song besides Born to Run that I would feel uncomfortable at a show if it wasn't played. This was a fairly standard performance, but even the standard performances last night were above average. I just simply love this song.
20. Born to Run
This song never disappoints. It actually got my whole section up, surprise surprise. When Clarence played his sax solo, despite trying not to, I couldn't help but pray that this isn't the last time I get to hear him play it. This was an extended version similar to the end of the reunion tour where he really worked the crowd and soaked it all up before going into the last verse. I'm pretty sure the crowd blew out my ear drum during this one.
21. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Hands down probably the best live song Bruce has in his catalog and it was nice for him to tell the story of the band. Great performance, although Clarence missed his sax solo, but it seemed like he was distracted by the moment. Can't really blame him. I also missed the high five after the last verse. That's probably a strange favorite moment of the song for me, but that's what it is.
22. I'll Work For Your Love
Probably not the best spot, but I loved the sentiment. I couldn't help but think that this was a big thank you to the fans for supporting them for the two years and as an extension, the past 35 years. That and I really like this song. Both my favorite songs on Magic were played tonight.
23. Thunder Road
Third time hearing it, this was my favorite performance. Another song that I was praying that this isn't the last time I get to shout at the top of my lungs "Show a little faith, there's Magic in the night..." Oh, there was Magic in Buffalo last night and Clarence's sax solo is probably the most joyous thing I've ever heard. Very bittersweet.
24. American Land
I decided to take this chance to watch the video screens and the band just looked happy to be there, especially Nils and Charlie, the two new comers. They really appreciate what they have and I appreciate having them there. The crowd really got into the E STREET BAND part and all threw up their Thank You signs, which Bruce seemed really touched by.
25. Dancing in the Dark
Longest version of Dancing ever. Not that I mind it was a lot of fun and the kid was hilarious. I also loved the sign, that summed up my feelings and probably the feelings of everyone in there.
26. Rosalita
This was the one song that all my friends said they wanted to hear going in and they got it. Modern versions of Rosie really are a bit disappointing compared to older records, but I never think that when I'm there. The crowd had a lot of fun with this one and the "play some pools, skip some school..." part was really audible tonight, in a way I haven't heard before.
27. Higher and Higher
Fantastic. It seemed to fall apart in the middle a bit, but it was fantastic none the less. Curtis and Cindy really seemed to enjoy it and really ate up the crowd appreciation.
28. Rockin' All Over the World
I thought they were going into Glory Days, but I'll take this. The thank yous were pretty funny, going through everybody. And the best part of the night. "WE LOVE YOU, WE'LL BE SEEING YOU!" I know that's nothing to base rumors off of, but it's nice to hear that they are continuing.
Great, great show. Giant love letter to the fans and the band in general. It took a while for the crowd to get into it, but once Sunny Day hit, the crowd ate it up. Was it the show I would have written on paper? No. But are they ever? In my book, even St. Louis was missing Rosalita. No Bruce songs as requests was a little strange, but in reality Santa is as much a Bruce song as anything else is. Merry Christmas Baby is similar. This wasn't an emotional show (except for parts of Greetings and Thunder Road), but it wasn't supposed to be. This was a celebration of the E Street Band, not a funeral. Who else puts on a three and a half hour show of pure energy, joy and love? No one.
After the show, my friends and I decided to head out back and say goodbye to the band as their motorcade left. I was talking to some fans (including one from New Hampshire/England that was really cool and had some cool stories) and then people started clapping, I turned around and Steve was literally two feet away from me, accepting a birthday cake and a card from two fans. He said thank you to us as we thanked him and drove away. Max came out and waved at us and exchanged a few words from his car. Then after about another hour of waiting, Bruce came out and walked down the gate, shaking hands, signing things and taking pictures. When he came to me, I asked him if he would sign my ticket stub and he responded with an "of course." And as he was signing, I thanked him for two wonderful years of music and he responded with a very humble "No, thank you, my friend," nodded and kept going down the line. Coolest moment of my life!
Well, it has been a great two years and I hope to continue further on up the road.
BTW, it was nice getting to meet the famous Catfishdancing. Really cool guy, wish we could have talked longer. On the drive up I remember noting that I really wanted to meet Catfish and Gina. I didn't get to meet Gina, but I got to meet Bruce. I guess that's an okay consolation prize.
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