Mark, you spoke about the whole friendship angle that was apparent in the documentary footage. You certainly still get the feeling, watching them perform together now, that friendship is a key ingredient in the long-term success of the band, especially considering that everyone has side projects and 'outside lives'. One of the things I've long admired about Springsteen is the fact that he seems to have managed to survive mega-stardom without falling victim to too many of its trappings. He could have just as easily self-destructed in that spotlight glare or collapsed under the weight of his own mythology, but he seems to have succeeded in living his life with as much normalcy as possible under the circumstances, not a small thing in my opinion.
Hearing DJ talk about getting into Springsteen when he was in college, some sixteen years after Born to Run (if I'm calculating correctly), really does speak to the timelessness and universality of this music. The audiences that you find at a Springsteen show today run the gamut from the original fans who are now in their 50s and are showing up with kids and grandkids in tow, to young people in their late 'teens and early 20s. It's a pretty eclectic mix, and the shows are as powerful as they ever were, although perhaps in a slightly different way, as even the Boss yields a point or two to middle age. What I've taken away from this conversation that we've had is that there is some music that transcends time and place because it touches those parts of the human spirit that we all recognize, and speaks to the things that we often can't articulate but that we all yearn for - that's the music that's destined to live forever.
Article comments
1 - Lisa McKay
Thank you, Mark, for inviting us onto your Friday Morning turf for a visit - it's been fun!
2 - Mark Saleski
you're more than welcome lisa.
dang, i thought for sure that me & the dj could make you break your christmas rule!
3 - Lisa McKay
I was tempted, but you have to understand that I'm married to a man who generally has his Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving ;-)
4 - Mark Saleski
wow! i didn't know guys like that existed.
it's true, i don't see your husband at the procrastinators club meetings.
5 - Paul J. Marasa
Well, gang, as one of the Old Guard--I saw Springsteen in concert at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia in '74--and listened to him prove it all night as he did a benefit for the legendary Main Point north of Philly--and OK I'm from NJ, too, and I was listening to "Mary Queen of Arkansas" when I ran into your discussion here--this is some sort of trifecta--I feel I can add my voice to the Faithful. I think you're right: Springsteen will never be a nostalgia act--just check out the dead-on consistency and completeness of the "Devils and Dust" package--so those Glory Days will never be borin' stories, but just more good songs. There are no oldies, just tunes you haven't heard yet--or in a long time. Thanks for spreading the news.
6 - DJRadiohead
When did they start having meeting for procrastinators?
I guess I just haven't gotten around to checking them out.Fucking awful pun, that was going to be.Saleski, it was fun getting agree with you on something for a change. Lisa... it was a lot of fun to have you in on this as well. Maybe we can do this agin if we get the live package I pray for from this run of solo acoustic shows Springsteen is currently doing. Did you hear about him and Hornsby teaming up on Hymn #251 "Across the Border?"
And Mark, have you checked out "Missing" yet?
7 - ClubhouseCancer
There will be a live DVD of this run -- the shows in Boston were taped for this purpose. The show I saw last Thursday was a huge disppointment, though. It was the only time I've ever seen Bruce (out of too, too many shows since 1980) when I wasn't completely engrossed and transfixed by the performance. I still swear I'm gonna write a real review.
8 - Connie Phillips
Thank you, guys. Again with part two, I really enjoyed the differnt perspectives to the same product, and oh what a product! I feel like the only person who hasn't already purchased this set.
9 - Mary K. Williams
"I feel like the only person who hasn't already purchased this set."
No, Connie, not the only one. Mark thinks he can tempt me into getting this before Christmas, but I'm going to hold out. Then you and me and Lisa can get together and have a Bruce party.
Speaking of party, for me too, it was college when I first heard Born to Run. *sigh*. Just love it!
10 - DJRadiohead
I just don't see how you can let one more day of your life pass without buying this set.
It has been so great!
11 - Mary K. Williams
"I just don't see how you can let one more day of your life pass without buying this set."
Yeah, regarding the set, I'd been meaning to ask those 'in the know' -- Can you get the remastered CD w/o the DVD extras? Because, as much as I like Bruce and the E-streeters, I'm not a huge fan of watching concerts on video.
Not that it'd be horrible to own the whole thing. I"m sure I would enjoy it, just wondering..
12 - DJRadiohead
Unfortunately, to my knowledge, this box set is the only way to get the re-mastered CD.
The Hammersmith-Odeon show is gold, though! Look at young little Max Weinberg and Little Steve! It's hilarious and the performance is amazing!
13 - Mary K. Williams
ok ok I'll put it on my list. : )
14 - Mark Saleski
plus, if you know what you'r doing (and i don't really count myself in that category) you can burn an audio copy of the concert.
15 - DJRadiohead
Yes, well said. I actually have the Hammersmith Odeon DVD's audio content on my iPod. I have actually listened to the show many more times than I have watched it. It's wonderful and transcendant and... well, I am preaching to the choir here.
16 - Connie Phillips
Mary, sounds like a plan to me! It is officially added to my "must have" list so I can be a part of the masses.
17 - DJRadiohead
It's more than being part of the masses. It is baptism and religion and salvation. You will be a better person.
18 - Mary K. Williams
plus, if you know what you'r doing (and i don't really count myself in that category)
Yeah Mark, especially after that debacle in the Berkshires. ::Snickering::