This Just in: Bruce is Awesome...

It’s been a whole week now since Marilyn and I went to the tribute to Bruce Springsteen concert at Carnegie Hall, and I think I’ve finally calmed down enough to write a coherent blog entry that isn’t just “Ohmigod!! Bruce is AWESOME!! Ahhhh!!” repeated over and over again. While that’s still a pretty much what I tell people when they ask me what I thought of the show, here’s a more thorough response (with fewer exclamation points) for you, dear Shore Fire blog reader:

Boasting a too-good-to-be-true lineup of artists covering songs by The Boss to help raise money for Music For Youth, the show had all the requirements for a really good concert even before anyone played a single note. But once on stage, the performers were all so genuinely excited to be there…at Carnegie Hall…singing songs by Bruce…with Bruce there listening and watching…with hundreds of Bruce fans listening, watching and singing along…

Oops. Sorry, got a little lost in the moment there. I guess trying to describe the special ingredient that made the show so great is just an invitation for my mind to keep wandering back to last week. I’ll refocus. What’s that you said? What band was my favorite? Good question.

Well, everyone was top-notch. Josh Ritter was, as always, swoon-worthy and subtle with his rendition of “The River,” and the Young People’s Chorus were outstanding, for sure. Patti Smith and Odetta both blew me away and I’ll be talking about seeing them both perform at Carnegie Hall for the rest of my life. But my favorite? I’d have to go with the guys who looked like they were having more fun than anyone else ever has on stage: The Hold Steady. I literally couldn’t stay in my seat while they played they were so great. They’re clearly huge Bruce fans, and clearly could have played any of his songs with the same enthusiasm and genuine oh-my-gosh-we’re-just-so-happy-to-be-here excitement they showed singing “Atlantic City.” And clearly, theirs is the next album I’m buying.

Oh yeah, and did I mention Bruce Springsteen also gave a surprise visit to the stage to sing a couple tunes? Yeah. I’ve never seen him play before, and I’d be lying if I said I knew all of his songs, but I can say that hearing him play was absolutely unforgettable, and that I’ll be telling my “The First Time I Saw Bruce Play” story to any and everyone who will listen for a very very long time…

Lucky for you guys, though, I’m not even going to try and describe what it felt like to watch Bruce bring all the performers on stage last Thursday for the show-closing “Rosalita.” You can watch the clip from YouTube below:



Happy Friday, folks. I don’t know about you, but I’m going to be spending my weekend listening to some songs by a certain fella from New Jersey…