Don't ask me how these things make their way to the Internet, but thank God they do. And in this case, they made it to cyberspace in both audio and video. Ah, the wonders of technology...
As anyone who has seen Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band on the current world tour for the Magic album already knows, right now these guys are turning in some of the best shows of their career. The concerts since returning to the States from Europe earlier this year have in particular been nothing short of spectacular. Watching the setlists change from night to night has also been something of a die-hard Springsteen fan's wet dream.
But if you want to talk about a dream setlist, I personally can't imagine anything could possibly top seeing Springsteen and the band run through the entire Born To Run and Darkness On The Edge Of Town albums in a single night. Every song. In their original order. In 2008. In a small, intimate theater setting.
Couldn't happen, right?
Well, in fact it did happen just a few weeks back, on May 7 at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey. And if you happened to have an extra couple thousand dollars lying around (not to mention travel costs for those fans who aren't natives), and had fast enough fingers to beat the rest of the crazies with bucks trying to score a ticket, then you too could've witnessed this historic night.
When I first heard about this setlist, I nearly cried that I missed it.
But I like I said, thank God these things have a way of finding their way onto the Internet. Now, since Blogcritics doesn't condone bootlegging, I'm not going to tell you where to find this amazing show. But for those of you who have ever downloaded a concert, I'll just say that a quick check of the usual places could yield you sweet pay dirt.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
I smell a BSCA show.
2 - Glen Boyd
Smell it you may, but apparently not this week.
-Glen
3 - Laser
Glen, great review. Bruce always lives up to the challenge of providing us with the unexpected. It is how he stays true to himself and makes the journey for his fans never-ending. As another legend(leonard cohen) sang just this past week, "hallelujah, hallelujah your faith was strong but you needed proof" Bruce gives us all the proof we need.
4 - Glen Boyd
Thanx Laser. Sounds like Cohen sets up a perfect segueway to Bruce's own overlooked 1992 gem "Living Proof" there doesn't it?
-Glen
5 - Josh Hathaway
Nice work, "Iguana" Glen. I was pretty floored by the set list of this show. One of my favorite things about it is that they fucked up "Badlands." You can probably tell us how many times that song has been played since '78, but you're going to need a few extra hands. I've seen them once and I heard it. Of all the songs to misfire on, that's the one they booted. Hilarious!
The Stones did a thing a couple years back where they went deep cut on a different album each night. I think it would be cool if Bruce did that on a handful of shows- maybe play one album straight through each night over the course of a few shows. You could have Darkness night, BTR, Greetings, etc. The River would be tough because it's a double and because he doesn't play "Price You Pay," but I think it would be a whole lot of fun to see him tear into those albums.
6 - Glen Boyd
Thanx Josh. I just wish I'd have been there. And you're right...Bruce doing one of these type of shows for "The River" is just about the only way you'd pry a performance of "The Price You Pay" out of the man. Less of an impossibilty than I would've thought after this show though. Who knows...?
-Glen
7 - El Bicho
There's been a number of cool shows like this lately. The Complete Wilco five-night run in Chicago and Phil Lesh's current five-night stand in SF where he is recreating two Dead albums a night. More bands need to do this. The hits are boring after a while.
8 - El Bicho
btw, Bud Light for the birthday Rockologist
9 - Mat Brewster
Cool stuff Glen. Funny I was just listening to a Bruce bootleg and thinking about doing a review. Guess you beat me to it.