All aboard for Springsteen
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, April 21, 2009
Reviewed by Jeffrey B. Remz
Three songs into the show, Bruce Springsteen told the faithful, "We came here with a purpose - to rock the house...and also to build a house. We're going to take despair and build a house of hope. We're going to take a house of sadness and build a house of joy. We're going to build a house of music and spirit and noise, but we can't do it by ourselves."
The Boss was right about needing a little help from his thousands of friends, but let's face it, Springsteen and the E Street Band were on fire throughout the 2-hour 40-minute show. Maybe they fed off the crowd, but it's more like the opposite was true.
With a "One, two" count off by Springsteen, he was off with a solid version of Badlands, setting the table with Adam Raised a Cain following. Springsteen did a solid turn on the first of three songs from "Working on a Dream" with Outlaw Pete.
Springsteen mixed it up between rockers and more mid-tempo poppier songs. This was American rock music at its finest no matter what the speed or specific style. The E Street Band was up to the task as well with the Big Man Clarence Clemons playing penny whistle or his usual sax to good effect, Soozie Tyrell on fiddle occasionally, keyboardists Charlie Giordano and Roy Bittan spicing the songs, Steve Van Zandt throwing in mandolin on several songs and Nils Lofgren on lap steel (in addition, of course, to Van Zandt and Lofgren's regular guitar work).
One person missing was wife and back-up singer Patti Scialfa. She was resting after having an accident with a horse a few days before. Scialfa, who will be back in a few days according to Springsteen, suffered contusions and bruises. One big treat was Jay Weinberg on drums. He subbed for his father on the final four songs of the regular set (he will handle the skins this summer on a European tour when his father is doing late night television) and doubtlessly made his father, who did a damn good job on the rest of the songs, mighty proud.
This was an evening of highlights aplenty. The Wrestler was delivered sad and heartfelt. Old songs certainly stood the test of time. Closing the regular set with Born to Run was a high with the house lights turned on and Springsteen showing zero signs of growing bored with the staple.
Springsteen may not talk as much as he once did in concert, but the joy and exuberance he brought to the stage shined through again and again on this night. He has always been the consummate example of a performer who can connect with his audience. He waded into the crowd on the floor in front of the stage several times, letting the audience strum his guitar with him on one song. In effect, he broke down the barriers, making his fans feel a part of his show.
The strongest indication of bond between singer and fans was when Springsteen gathered a slew of posters from the crowd on the floor, brought them on stage and as he has done in other tour stops, randomly picked songs written on the signs that he wanted to play. That would include Raise Your Hand, an excellent I'm Bad I'm Nationwide, Goin' Down and Growin' Up.
Springsteen truly is this generation's Woody Guthrie. He sings of the problems facing our life in many of his songs without getting too preachy or too negative. And there is certainly hope in his message as well with songs like The Rising and particularly two songs he trotted out during the 36-minute encore, Stephen Foster's 1855 song Hard Times Come Again No More and Land of Hope and Dreams.
The music go down real easy with Springsteen, but the message may be of equal importance and impact. The merging of music, community and hope may never have been apparent than in the closing words of Land of Hope and Dreams. with the crowd almost all raising their hands to the skies, Springsteen sang, "Don't need no ticket. Just get on board."
With outings like this, that proved to be no problem whatsoever.
