{"id":1875,"date":"2012-05-26T13:33:12","date_gmt":"2012-05-26T11:33:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/?p=1875"},"modified":"2012-05-31T09:51:38","modified_gmt":"2012-05-31T07:51:38","slug":"this-is-the-important-part","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/?p=1875","title":{"rendered":"“This is the important part!”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band – Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt; May 25th 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n

“There are two types of people in the world: Those who love Bruce Springsteen and those who have never seen him live”<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s funny, that whenever Bruce is not touring for a while, I tend to forget about him. He\u2019s been part of my life for so long that I don\u2019t feel the need to constantly remind myself here or listen to his music all the time. Being a fan comes in phases and my taste in music varies so it can happen that I don\u2019t listen to him between tours at all. The same happened this time. The new album came out, I got it, I listened a time or two and put it on the shelf. Not that I didn\u2019t like it, quite the contrary, I just wasn\u2019t in the mood. I also haven\u2019t been hanging out on the SPL (my Bruce forum) much lately and avoided setlist threads at all cost. Thus, I came to Frankfurt unprepared with no idea what to expect. I like it this way, I don\u2019t wanna go to the first concert preoccupied with expectations.<\/p>\n

I had front of stage tickets so I took my time getting there. It felt great not having to stand in line all day. Made it into the pit at around 7:00 p.m. and stood about 20 rows back stage right with a good view. Most people in front of me were shorter than I am. The usual pre gig jitters didn\u2019t set in until the light crew went up the ladders and everyone in front was cheering. I watched, smiling. Everything was so familiar. Shortly before 8, the setlist was replaced by a new one \u2013 Bruce being indecisive as usual. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Having been on a different planet music wise since the last tour, I was a little bit scared of what this concert would do to me. I have always believed in Bruce\u2019s power to convince me, to take me over and lead me into a different world where music is all that matters and all worries are forgotten. Yet sometimes I forget how that feels like and wonder if he can still do it. Answer: Yes, he can!<\/p>\n

As the band walked out I lifted my arms into the air and cheered with everyone else. The first notes of \u2018Badlands\u2019 were played and I felt a surge of happiness run through me \u2013 this I had been waiting for! I jumped, I sang along and I knew I was going to love it.<\/p>\n

The band had a full horn section with Ed Manion, Jake Clemons, Curt Ramm, Clark Gayton and Barry Danielian plus backup singers Cindy Mizelle, Michelle Moore, Curtis King and Everett Bradley (who also played percussion) – they did an amazing job. \u2018We take care of our own\u2019 was next and worked surprisingly well live. It may not be my favorite but it wasn\u2019t as bad as I had feared. They audience seemed to enjoy it. Participation was great, at least were I stood. Lots of singing along and clapping going on. \u2018Wrecking Ball\u2019 followed in a powerful version, then \u2018Out in the Street\u2019. Bruce was walking to the outer platforms for the first time then and people moved closer. Always a fun tune and something to get the audience going.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t immediately recognize \u2018Death to my Hometown\u2019, but I liked it. During \u2018My city of Ruins\u2019 I realized that Bruce is still the same goofball he always was\u00a0 (and I still love him for it too). He introduced the band and made a big show of introducing Patti who is at home \u201cwith our children\u201d (he indicated very small ones \u2013 forgot about their ages, Bruce? \ud83d\ude09 ). As cheesy as the intros where when he asked if we were missing anyone and the screen showed a banner that read \u201cDanny and Clarence are unforgotten\u201d I choked up and spilled a few tears. Bruce claimed \u201cIf we are here (pointing to the band) and you are here (pointing to us) then they are here\u201d and it sure felt as if they were.<\/p>\n

Bruce announced \u2018Spirit in the Night\u2019 by telling us that this was from a time when some of us were little babies and others weren\u2019t even born yet. Still, the audience knew every word. \ud83d\ude00 Bruce had fun going out to the platforms and going into the crowd, i.e. he laid down on their hands fro a moment. Someone handed him a cellphone. He took it and sang into it for a while. After that \u2018The E Street Shuffle\u2019 \u2013 not a favorite, but a first for me (at least I think I have never heard it live). It was great fun to listen to and watch the band interact.<\/p>\n

\u2018Jack of all trades\u2019 was amazing live. I really enjoyed it. Bruce announced it as a song for people who are struggeling. He did part of his little speech in German and it worked quite well. His language skills (or his reading foreig words skills) seem to improve from year to year. My first personal highlight was \u2018Youngstown\u2019 though. I have always loved this song, in any version and this one cut straight through to my heart. I listened, tears in my eyes. Interestingly some of the people around me, who had sang along to every song until then, didn\u2019t seem to know it. Maybe they hadn\u2019t been to any Bruce concerts since the 80ies?<\/p>\n

\u2018Darkness on the Edge of Town\u2019 sounded fresh again after not hearing it for three years and \u2018Johnny 99\u2019 was another high point, very powerful. When Bruce spit water in the air I knew the next song was going to be \u2018Working on the Highway\u2019 \u2013 some things just never change. It is that familiarity, however, all the little things, the stage antics, the same skits he has done for years that make a show so loveable. Of course Bruce shows live off his energy and the rarities he pulls out from time to time and the current album too, but a big part is the tested and tried routines that all the fans know and love (or hate). However cheesy this may be to an outsider, it is truly Bruce and makes up part of his magic.<\/p>\n

\u2018Shackled and drawn\u2019 was another song I enjoyed much. It is always fun to hear the new songs for the first time, find out how they have been arranged. I could have done without \u2018Waiting on a sunny day\u2019, as I feel this one has been overplayed, but it worked well and was not drawn out endlessly. \ud83d\ude09 Even the kids pulled on stage by Bruce to sing with him were not so young that I felt their parents were irresponsible and they seemed to have fun. One of them was even wearing an SPL shirt.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t remember any details of instrumentation and such, but overall I loved how the songs were arranged and enjoyed watching everyone play. I remember Nils going crazy turning on the spot playing solos, Charlie playing accordion and Jake getting his time in the spotlight playing sax solos. The band seemed as tight as ever and had no trouble with requests either. The first of them being \u2018Summertime Blues\u2019 \u2013 dancing in the pit and fun! \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n

\u2018The Promised Land\u2019 and \u2018The River\u2019 followed and for the third time that night I had tear in my eyes. I have always loved \u2018The River\u2019 and for me it never gets old, no matter how many times it gets played. This version was very beautiful. The double of \u2018The Rising\u2019 and \u2018Lonsemone Day\u2019 has not changed since 2002 and could use a break in my opinion, but I guess there are just some songs that Bruce feels he has to play and these two are among them. It was OK, just not what I had been waiting for.<\/p>\n

By that time I was already lost in the music and the general Bruce-concert mode that takes me to a different place. It took me some time to recognize \u2018We are alive\u2019 (have I mentioned I don\u2019t know the current album all hat well?), but I thought it was great. \u2018Thunder Road\u2019 ended the main set and brought me close to tears again. I wasn\u2019t aware of the fact that I\u2019m such a crybaby. \ud83d\ude09 But seriously, I loved it and after fearing Bruce might not do it for me any more, I was so relieved to find out that I was wrong. No matter how many times I see him, he still manages to blow me away! Oh and the audience did a great job singing along too \u2013 the lines \u201cShow a little faith, there\u2019s magic in the night. You ain\u2019t a beauty, but hey, you\u2019re alright\u201d never lose their appeal or their power.<\/p>\n

The encores started with \u2018Rocky Ground\u2019. Michelle Moore got a chance to really shine during the song, it worked very well live. I was quite surprised to hear \u2018Born in the USA\u2019 next. I\u2019m not entirely sure I had ever heard the full band version live before. Not bad, not bad at all. During \u2018Born to run\u2019 I screamed along at the top of my lungs more than I sang. After all these years and all these gigs, I may not be able to identify with the older songs so much any more but I sure still understand the feeling of them.<\/p>\n

Bruce collected request signs and brought us the trio of \u2018Cadillac Ranch\u2019, \u2018Sherry Darling\u2019 and \u2018Glory Days\u2019. All of these are party songs for me and have their place as such. They got the audience jumping and dancing and fit the general atmosphere of the show. I was right in the middle of it, jumping like everyone else.<\/p>\n

\u2018Dancing in the Dark\u2019 followed and even without knowing the setlists of previous shows I knew it was going to be over soon. One last song to dance to, then \u2018Tenth avenue freeze out\u2019 brought the night to a close. Before the line about the Big Man joining the band Bruce announced \u201cThis is the important part\u201d. On the screens they had a little montage of Clarence playing the song during the years. It was a beautiful tribute and very fitting. For the last time that night I cried, then watched the band finish the song to great cheers, yelled and screamed until they were gone, blinked and slowly became aware of my surroundings again. On the long walk to the train station, many songs were replaying in my mind. It was a great start to this year\u2019s tour!<\/p>\n

One concert down, 6 to go. Next stop: Cologne<\/p>\n

Setlist<\/span><\/p>\n

Badlands
\nWe take care of our own
\nWrecking Ball
\nOut In The Steet
\nDeath To My Hometown
\nMy City of Ruins
\nSpirit in the Night
\nE Street Shuffle
\nJack of all Trades
\nYoungstown
\nDarkness on the Edge of Town
\nJohnny 99
\nSolo Acoustic intro: Working on the highway
\nShackled & Drawn
\nWaiting on sunny day
\nRequest! Summertime Blues
\nPromised Land
\nThe River
\nThe Rising
\nLonesome Day
\nWe are alive
\nThunder Road<\/p>\n

Encore<\/em>
\nRocky Ground
\nBorn in the USA
\nBorn to Run
\nCadillac Ranch – Sign Request
\nSherry Darling – Sign Request
\nGlory Days – Sign Request
\nDancing in the Dark
\nTenth Avenue Freeze-Out<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band – Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt; May 25th 2012 “There are two types of people in the world: Those who love Bruce Springsteen and those who have never seen him live” It\u2019s funny, that whenever … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[10,195,13,194,17,14],"class_list":["post-1875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-concert","tag-bruce-springsteen","tag-commerzbank-arena","tag-fan","tag-frankfurt","tag-germany","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1875"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1875\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1918,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1875\/revisions\/1918"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}