Concert Review: Bruce Springsteen - Columbus, Ohio, March 24, 2008
Published March 27, 2008
The best part of all is that once inside it required very little on my part outside of the standing, clapping, and singing. Springsteen and band did all the leg work. My daughter may not appreciate Eddie Manion making a guest appearance during "Born to Run," but she appreciated the power and the fury of a crowd bathed in house lights singing each word of one of the great signatures songs of all time as if it would be the last song they sang. She didn’t need to understand the difference between "Spanish Johnny" and Spanish class to absorb the romanticism of "Incident on 57th Street," a song Springsteen sang by request.
In a night of outstanding moments, one that won’t be forgotten is Springsteen standing in front of the stage while he let what had to be the youngest member of the audience, a boy that looked to be no more than nine or 10, strum his guitar. That goofy sweet image, the goofy sweet delivery of "Sherry Darling" (another tour premiere) and the personal connection with the crowd at every possible turn created an indelible image that even the most jaded seen-it-all college co-ed couldn’t possibly ignore.
Springsteen may not have changed their lives Monday night. He may not ever change their lives at all. Indeed there’s every chance that the rush of the evening has already been forgotten, actually. But those two will wear the t-shirts we bought. And the other thing I do know is that some day probably years from now, when I least expect it, she’s going to say “thanks.” And when I ask “what for?” she’ll say, “you know.” And I will because it’s the reason I’ve been silently saying thanks to Springsteen the same way for years.
- Concert Review: Bruce Springsteen - Columbus, Ohio, March 24, 2008
- Published: March 27, 2008
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Rock, Review
- Writer: Gary D. Benz
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- Gary D. Benz's personal site
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great review of THE show of the tour so far. what a freakishly great setlist.
Jet--I didn't have the same traffic problems as others, apparently. I arrived in Columbus early, met up with my daughter, and left my car on the other side of campus. And you're right, Springsteen giving a great concert is a given.
By all accounts you got one of the best setlists of the tour. I've got Portland tomorrow and Seattle on Saturday and I can't wait! Nice report sir.
-Glen
Now *this* is a good review, especially if a good review makes me feel really bad about missing a show.
I've left many, many Springsteen shows thinking, knowing, I had just seen the best rock n' roll that there had ever been, or ever would be.
I've "Bruuuuced" so loud and long that I couldn't speak for two days. My ears have buzzed happily for three days, even though they know deafness is a little closer. A concert like is a celebration of the sheer joy of being alive.
This was obviously such a show. Thanks for this very personal, poignant review.
Bruce is more than a national treasure. He is a human treasure. Thank God for Bruce Springsteen.
Thank you so much for this great review. I am seeing the concert in Sunrise Florida tonight as a birthday gift.I waited over 30+ years to see them. I have listened to this wonderful music since I was young growing up in NJ and never had the pleasure of seeing them in concert. I am now so excited about it I am not sure how I am going to get any work done tomorrow while watching the clock until the show time. Thanks again from someone just surfing the web to see what I had in store, what songs Bruce was playing and how the tour is going.
That wait is going to be a little longer, Tran. Due to the passing of Danny Federici this afternoon, Springsteen's concerts scheduled for Friday in Ft. Lauderdale and Saturday in Orlando are being postponed.
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Nicely done Gary, but you left out the most interesting part. How the hell did you get in and out through traffic with an OSU game going just down the street?
Springsteen giving a great concert was a given!