There was a time in Rock back in the 70's when Rock and Roll was fading into what we now call "Hair Cut Bands" and 2nd Generation pretentious British groups like Yes, Slade, T-Rex etc etc. Along came a guy who along with his incredible band not only saved rock and roll but added dimensions to it that we had not seen before. That was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band; their impact exceeded the medium of rock by at least 3 levels becoming one of the very few to appear on both the covers of Time and Newsweek back when that meant something.
I first saw Bruce Sringsteen back in 1973 at CW Post College on Long Island that performance perhaps living in infamy due to the Christmas song that Bruce recorded there and has been heard on the December airwaves ever since "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". I was brought there by a friend of my brother's a total fanatic who once waited in line 6 nights in a row at rock club in Greenwich Village The Bottom Line just to get standing room seats for his infamous week long set of shows at that club.
Thirty minutes into that concert I reached over to high five that crazed Springsteen fanatic and two hours later I had joined him New Jersey Boss fanaticism! I had never seen such musicianship and energy combined into one rock and roll show. I had seen everyone from the Rolling Stones to Elvis at that point so my range was damn good! It was what rock should be joyus, celebratory, rebellious but in the best of ways.
Flash cut to 36 years later concerts are something I hear about selling out on the internet in an hour or so at prices that would have bought me a decent car back in 71 and groups I've never heard of. (Korn?) With 29 years of marriage and two grown children behind me I walk into the a large arena in St Paul Minnesota where I find General Admission means standing on the floor. Knowing how long Bruce's concerts are I wonder how I will last that long. I suddenly regret the choice of wearing tight fitting cowboy boots.
Three hours of cheering, yelling, laughing and singing later I remember a time when I wanted that feeling not only every week but several times a week. I have every concert ticket stub to every concert and sporting event I ever went to. So I know its not just some Wonder Years memory I know it to be true. But for one incredible night I remembered the joy of rock and roll the feeling of escape and the feeling of possibilities. Springsteen embodied that in the early and middle 70's and with virtually no let down or decrease in energy or talent he still rocks that way and took a sold out arena along with him. The only tribute to time passing was his 18 year old son playing drums for the first five songs.
Last night I remembered that sometimes you can go home again at least if that home is in South Jersey Asbury Park! Rock on Boss Springsteen and the now almost as famous E Street Band!
