Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Rogers Arena, Monday, Nov. 26.
EVEN before the stage lights came on at Rogers Arena on Monday and the E Street Band had gotten into position, Bruce Springsteen was at the microphone encouraging the audience to sing along with him to the gospel-tinged song, "Shackled and Drawn."
BEING THERE
By the third song the Boss was in fine form and had already left the stage to walk out into the crowd. Facing the audience Springsteen said "I hope there are some strong people here tonight" and with that he fell backwards and crowd surfed around while singing "Hungry Heart" until he was eventually deposited back on the stage.
It was obvious how much Springsteen loves what he does. At one point saying, "I may be old but I'm not ready to go home yet," And then shortly after, "I love my job." Later on he asked the audience how many were seeing the E Street Band for the first time and responded to the reaction with "that's good. I like new faces. It keeps me pushing," as he did a few boxing-like shuffle steps.
Easily moving from older material to songs from his latest album, Wrecking Ball, Springsteen kept the audience cheering all night long. For some songs he would stretch them out and play with the arrangement like the extended version of "Spirit in the Night" that saw him leave the stage and climb up into the stands only to return with a mock 'coon-skin cap' that is described in the lyrics. He then put the hat on and settled down on the stage with sax player Jake Clemons, nephew of the late band member, Clarence Clemons, serenading him, only to leave Clemons and lie down at the edge of the stage in front of some young girls - one of whom he then gave the cap to, all while continuing to sing.
The set list for a Springsteen concert is a work in progress and he happily takes requests from the audience. He walked out to collect signs that were held up as special requests, which he then would intersperse with the planned songs, often holding up the sign to the band to let them know what was coming next, both "Streets of Fire" and "Radio Nowhere" got this treatment.
The most noteworthy sign was a curvaceous cut-out of a red-head in a slinky green dress, complete with moving arms. Springsteen said, "we don't really do this song but I love someone who puts a lot of effort into their sign," and with a few words to the band to get them ready he broke into the raunchy "Red Headed Woman."
Three lucky audience members made it up onto the stage with Springsteen during the evening. The first was a very young girl who he brought up and shared the microphone with on "Waiting on a Sunny Day." She did a great job carrying the chorus on her own before taking a bow with him. Next up was an 80-year-old woman who Springsteen helped on to the stage for a short dance together to the hit song, "Dancing in the Dark." The last collaborator was a man in a Santa costume holding up a tinsel embellished sign who Springsteen joined for a duet of Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
After an incredibly long set the lights dimmed but the band never actually left the stage as Springsteen sang "Racing in the Streets" to only piano accompaniment, and as the song drew close to its end the band slowly joined in.
As the band built up to the final songs the house lights came up and stayed on making the Arena suddenly feel like a giant house party. While Roy Bittan played the opening notes of "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" Springsteen climbed on top of his piano to lead the band before he jumped down to take the microphone. He moved through the audience for one last time, stopping in the centre of the room and as the band played on at a lower volume he asked for a moment as he faced a big projection screen showing images of former band members Clarence Clemons (who died last year) and Danny Federici (who passed away in 2008).
Three hours and twenty minutes after they took the stage Bruce Springsteen and the 15member band bowed to the enormous applause they deserved. One by one as they left the stage Springsteen patted or hugged them until he was left alone to say one final thank you to the audience that continued to clap and show their appreciation for a spectacular show.
