It's Boss Time!

Part rock concert, part soul revue, part church service, part memorial service, part political message, part party.  That's a Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band concert.  All those elements were on display last night at the Garden as Bruce and his band played an exhausting, nearly three hour show.

This was a well-balanced show featuring "must play" hits (Born To Run, Dancing In The Dark, Thunder Road) deep/fan favorite cuts (Thundercrack, Jackson Cage, Promised Land) new songs (Wrecking Ball, We Take Care of Our Own, Jack Of All Trades) soul covers (The Way You Do The Things You Do, 634-5789) politically/socially conscious messages (41 Shots/American Skin, My City Of Ruins, The Rising) and an encore R&B guest shot by Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band (Raise Your Hand.)

Let's face it, new stuff is usually the weak part of any concert (Beer line! Bathroom break!) But since 2001, Bruce has finely and successfully weaved his current material into the set list along side the hits. This expanded band (up to 17 at times, including background singers, a horn section, and a percussionist) played these songs with a new musical depth and dimension not reached on previous tours. It's all about pacing. Just when you feel it might be slowing down or getting unfamiliar, they rear back and grab you with a lights-on yell/sing along you can't help pumping your fist to.

What about the elephant in the room? How to deal with the recent loss of sax player, minister of soul, and "The Big Man" Clarence Clemons?  The answer was a horn section, including Clarence's nephew, Jake on sax.  A brilliant move.  One person could never replace Clarence, so why try? Bruce made references to him (and previously lost keyboardist Danny Federici) throughout the show without naming them. During band roll call he called out "Are we missing anyone?" If we're here, and you're here, then they're here." And when he sang the line "The Big Man joined the band" during "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out," he stopped the band for a 2-minute, lights-on deafening audience cheer for Clarence. Pumping his heart, Bruce looked moved as his loving friend looked down on us all.

Other random fun things Bruce did: In darkness delivered a hilarious carnival barker/house announcer intro to the show; crowd surfed back to the main stage after doing some songs on a mini stage at half-arena; told a 17 year old that a song he requested was 3 times as old as he was; made fun of the fact that he couldn't sing anything like Smokey Robinson; gave the mic to some women to sing along to; and told us we'd go home with sore feet, sore hands, and a sore throat. We did. And it was good.