Any Springsteen fans on here?

[PKTrekGirl]

Big fan for a very long time and have been somewhat involved in the fan community, actually. Have all the records, a billion bootlegs of concerts through the years, some rare collectibles, and had backstage passes to one concert where I got to meet Bruce and Patti - chatted with them a while, got the usual autographs, etc. My most important 'brush with greatness' in fact (and that's saying something since I've also met a US President).

Yeah...when it comes to The Boss, I'm pretty hardcore.

Haven't seen any mention of E Street Radio in this thread...but if any of you guys have XM, it's well worth a listen, especially when one of the band members has the mic. Some wonderful stories.

There is also some fabulous concert footage on YouTube - footage that many of us 'old timer' fans only dreamed of one day getting to see for MANY years. If you are a Springsteen fan, take advantage of YouTube - you have no idea how much some of the stuff there was once considered the Holy Grail of Springsteen collectibles.

Interesting that some of you consider Bruce to be 'brooding' though. IMO, he's not 'brooding' at all. In fact, I would call him an optimist, generally speaking. Unlike a lot of my other favorite bands (mostly grunge bands), Springsteen may have a message about things he might be less than satisfied with...but it's always an optimistic message that is filled with hope for a better tomorrow. That is not the case with all bands. And I would call Bruce a generally happy person - happy with his life, his career, etc. Which is also not the case with many members of some of the bands I am a huge fan of.

In fact, I actually actively turn on Springsteen when I need a more positive, upbeat message.

Surprised that was missed in this discussion, actually. It's an opinion that many Springsteen fans hold about his music.

Also, for any of you fans from the 80's who gave up on Springsteen during the Tom Joad-ish era, I'd really consider circling back around and picking up Magic...and The Rising. The Rising is a great record - especially in the wake of 911 - definitely in my top 6 or 7 Springsteen efforts. But Magic? That record is top 3 material, in my book. A stunningly great record, in every way.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I think he's always been pretty broody, it's just in recent years, he's lost the 'romantic young man' vibe...

Recently? I'd say he lost it by "Tunnel of Love," over 20 years ago.

he got too literal and lost his poetry.

I miss those lyrics he used to write ...I think more than anything, he's lost some of that sense of fun. Can't be helped... he's got himself grown kids now... whoever thunk that Bruce'd have grownup kiddies?!

I agree with both of these two posts. He's still great, especially for a guy his age, but more poetry/fun in the lyrics again, and less literalism/gloom, would nice.

I thought Nebraska was pretty dark with songs about a no good brother and teenage spree killers.

 

[indranee]

Well, my favorite album of his is Darkness so yeah I consider him a fellow brooder. He *can* be positive (perhaps more and more lately with good reason), but there is a very strong introspective streak in him. Anyone who can write stuff like Streets of Fire or Independence Day can brood with the best of them

 

[the G-man]

Haven't seen any mention of E Street Radio in this thread...but if any of you guys have XM, it's well worth a listen, especially when one of the band members has the mic. Some wonderful stories.

Oh yeah. E Street Radio is setting "one" on my satellite radio, followed closely by Miami Steve's "Underground Garage" and "Outlaw Country" stations. It's a must for Boss fans, though I sometimes think the bootlegs they play could be better quality. But that's a small complaint compared to the wealth of material on there.

I thought Nebraska was pretty dark with songs about a no good brother and teenage spree killers.

Yeah. No doubt. And, as noted above, I think it's a brilliant album.

However, it still had "Reason to Believe" closing it out.

I think the death of "romantic" Bruce was a slow one, beginning with parts of "Darkness," continuing into approximately half of "the River," increasing to much of "Nebraska" and "USA" and, finally, terminating completely with "Tunnel."

And, as noted before, there's a certain expectation of that, when you consider he was getting older.

At the same time, as much as I still like "mature" Bruce, there are times I mourn (as we are wont to do with any passing) the loss of the "romantic" Springsteen. The guy who wrote the achingly beautiful "Incident on 57th Street," which may be the purest and most perfect distillation of every moment of young love, lust and loss ever committed to vinyl/CD/mp3.

That song still makes me feel young, closing in on fifty.

 

[the G-man]

Although anyone who caught him last tour can attest, he was anything but brooding. For better or worse, he was extremely loose and many of the serious songs didn't make it into the setlist for very long. He ended up playing a lot of old school rock covers. Being used to angry Bruce, it was a bit strange, but kind of nice in its own way.

I think "live" Bruce is usually "happy" Bruce, even on the sad songs. The man is a born performer and truly comes alive on stage.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Bruce is fun live. I remember him asking once how many people were at the concert the previous night. Since the majority were he played a different set list.

 

[ElBurro]

Okay, here's a question since we're comparing Younger Bruce to Older Bruce.

Joni Mitchell and Frank Sinatra both re-recorded one of their songs when they got older it showcased the differences in their voices and personalities. So, which Springsteen song would you like to hear Bruce re-record and why?

For me, I think it would be 'Growin' Up'. It's a great song and it would be interesting to hear him reflecting on a rebellious youth from 40 years after it now that he is a family man and settled down.

Your thoughts?

 

[the G-man]

He "re-records" enough of his stuff live that I have no interest in hearing anything re-recorded in that sense.

There are a couple of the bootleg/demo songs where the sound is fuzzy and I'd like to hear him and the E Street do new studio versions: Jesse, Evacuation of the West, Eloise, Jazz Musician, the Iceman.

There's also a handful of songs that he's written/co-written and given to others (or never released) that I'd like to hear his version, including Jeannie Needs a Shooter (Warren Zevon) and the songs he gave Gary US Bonds for Dedication and On the Line.