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The show started a little after 8 and rocked past 11. Not once did Bruce stop — he was non-stop music and energy. At ease. In control. As always.
He made several trips into the audience …singing …dancing…. even crowd surfing (crowd surfing at 60? He could’ve broken a hip!)
The “done to death” playing of full albums worked for me. It made me realize how good the songs on “Born In The USA” are. I came in thinking Bruce was really part of our past, and that the diehards were trying to relive their “Glory Days.”
But I found myself excited about the songs again. Yes, I was disappointed that, in the last concert ever at Giants Stadium, he didn’t do “Rosalita” or “Thunder Road.” But as soon as I heard those first notes to “Kitty’s Back,” I was in heaven.
I LOVE when there is time for musicians to REALLY show off their chops. And their solos were incredible. The Big Man, at 67, with recent medical issues, can still blow!
There was such a mixture of people there — living proof of how many years this man’s career had spanned, how many fans he’s collected along the way. There were young kids, older adults — and if I am not mistaken, I may have seen a walker.
Bruce read the signs people had made. During “Dancing in The Dark,” he grabbed one that said “Bald Men Can Dance Too,” pulled the man up to the stage and created another silly moment as the two danced together.
Another sign said “Suzanne Will You Marry Me,” so Bruce sang to them, then hugged and congratulated the happy couple.
He gave the microphone to a little girl who couldn’t have been more than 4. But she sang along as if she’d been raised on his music (probably was).
It made me think of my triplet nephews, who knew all the words to “Thunder Road” by the time they were 3. They would ask me to sing it to them when I put them to bed — and, of course, corrected me when I muffed a lyric.
He collected some signs for requests, then played the Rolling Stones song “The Last Time.” How appropriate. I found myself on my feet again. (For a video of the song from last night, go to: Bruce: The Last Time)
It seemed no time had passed when the fireworks went off, signaling the end of live music before the “Wrecking Ball” eventually takes down the stadium in the swamps.
But wait. A few more songs (or course) and the lights came up.
I can tell the naysayers: “Grandpa Tight Jeans” STILL ROCKS! And by the looks of it, it didn’t seem anyone had trouble with the price of the tickets. And when the DVD of the show comes out, we can say were there.
Lynn Paret is a local artist whose paintings and drawings center on rock and rollers through the ages. She has produced a series of “Baby Rocker” jackets with hand-crafted renderings of everyone from the Beatles to Blue Oyter Cult to U2 — and, yes, The Boss. And like any great artist, she takes requests! So check out: Creations by Lynnp620. And tell her CLIFFVIEWPILOT sent you.
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