I have just witnessed the greatest fucking rock show of my life.
For more than 4 hours last night, no surrender rock filled Cobo Arena in Detroit.
In order: Bright Eyes, with a blistering 6-song set. I've never seen or heard these guys before, but they were good, and on. Good lyrics, well-performed.
REM: It's been a long time since I've seen REM, and I don't know their new album again. Stipe & crew were in top form, blending new and old material. Michael Stipe is a blast to watch, and the two songs on which Bruce guested almost blew the roof of the joint.
And then Bruce & the E Street Band did blow the roof off the joint. Boxed into a 90-minute time slot and with an urgent message to deliver, Bruce delivered urgency. After opening up with a 12-string acoustic rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, Bruce took out THE Guitar and marched the band through the warhorses -- Born in the USA, Badlands, No Surrender. All in tight, four and a half minute versions. By the time The Ties that Bind and Darkness were complete, I'd seen more songs with the old Esquire in 20 minutes than in the entirety of the last tour. Without some of the little "extras" of his newer guitars, Bruce was playing some of his screaming parts in ways I've not heard in years; the opening riff to Badlands and the Darkness break just scorched.
The intensity level stayed high throughout. When Bruce finally did switch guitars, it was for a heavy rocking rendition of "Johnny 99," the one significant style departure from regular setlist songs of the past couple of tours.
John Fogerty looked energized to be out with the band, and showed more energy than I've ever seen from him on stage. Unfortunately, he only had 3 songs, and since one of them was going to be his new single, his little mini-set served mostly to frame it -- between one other solo song and a Credence classic. Fortunate Son brought down the house, of course (any fears about the E Street Band nailing CCR songs being laid to rest), but I'd have liked to have heard Fogerty take lead for a couple more songs. "Green River" was soundchecked, so at least there may be some additions for future shows.
The political messages throughout the night tended to be succinct. Bruce, in addition to one message early in his set (and one at the beginning of the night before Bright Eyes started), put it in somewhat more comedic terms during the preacher interlude of "Mary's Place"; while still bloated, at least at 12 minutes this rendition of the song was 6 minutes better than during the stadium portion of the last tour.
Last night's duets worked particularly well; Fogerty sang his lines in The Promised Land as if they were his own, and Michael Stipe gave an extra push to Because the Night (featuring Bruce singing the 2nd verse lyrics made famous by Patti Smith).
For the encores, Travelin' Band was a sweaty joy, and for People Have the Power, everyone came on stage -- including the Dixie Chicks, who had just finished their show about a mile away at the Fox Theater.
The sound in Cobo, which dates back to 1960, was crisp and clear. Actually a pleasure the whole way through, which is not something I've often written regarding my experiences at Bruce shows.
Any lowlights of the evening were offstage: The parking situation (while Cobo roof was open, many nearby lots were closed to early arrivers); the GA line situation (on a perfect fall day in Detroit, GA ticket holders trying for "pit" access were generally in an indoor downstairs hallway of Cobo for more than 3 hours); the food situation (easily the worst I've ever experienced for a major event: the *only* choices for hot food were pork hot dogs and pepperoni pizza; Lori had to argue the staff into making a cheese pizza). Not many onstage messup of note -- Patti missed her cue for the harmony vocals at the end of "The Rising." And Michael Stipe very nearly knocking into Clarence during a solo.
Yesterday morning we had our first fall frost in Detroit. Bruce, with Bright Eyes, REM and John Fogerty, came and lit a fire for us.
The Orel Family
Email: matt@orel.ws
URL: http://matt.orel.ws/