So, ok, Florida weekend. But, Springsteen also scheduled a show in Tampa just two days later, and it would still be very little time off from work, and Tampa is an easy drive from Orlando. May as well call when the tickets go on sale, and see what happens.
What happened was, 5th row in Tampa. I guess we're going.
But, at 3 nights, that's too long to leave Aaron with the grandparents. Besides, it's Orlando. Disney. How could we go and not take Aaron? We'll take Aaron. Just having turned 3, I don't think he's ready to go to the show -- one gracious offer to redefine jailbait notwithstanding. So, Aaron's coming.
Which left us with two nights to figure out what to do with Aaron. In different cities. We're not too fond with the idea of babysitting services. This led to an idea of pure genius: Bring the family. Invite my parents. They need to get away from New Jersey. They need to spend time with their grandson. And they don't want to go to the concert. This... is perfect.
Well, it took some convincing, but I talked them into coming. We could stay in Orlando the whole time. Aaron's set. But, in the time it took to convince them, all the ProAir flights sold out. The only weekend fares left sucked. But, hey, if the parents are coming, why just spend the weekend anyway? May as well turn it into a real vacation.
So, go for 6 days. Get a hopper pass. Stay in one of those new hotels with oversize 2-bedroom suites so we can all be a big family. We may all hate each other by this time next week. Who knows?
Now, if you're going to DisneyWorld with a 3-year old, I have one recommendation: Muppets 3-D. Don't miss it. Dear lord, don't miss it. Kermit saved Saturday afternoon. What a blast. Then, oh, off to the other show. Leave it to Bruce to make Disney items seem like budget fare. His tickets -- $67.50. Theirs -- $47. His beach towels -- $40. The big Disney 2000 towel -- $20. And, at Disney you get the music of the Sherman brothers for no additional charge, in more arrangements than you can count.
On to the arena, and time to seek out familiar faces. Paul and Allison are there, and Mike and Chris, and lo and behold, once again we are within two seats of red-headed Patti and her husband from West Bloomfield. The arena seems new enough, but the only luxury boxes are way up top, so it feels small. We were told about improvements to the sound system, so this show would be a test.
And... the show starts, and the sound... SUCKED. I mean, this is not just ordinary bad, this is grab your ears in total pain, wanting to scream bad. As in, oh my god, what is that noise?!?!? To say that I heard some of the ugliest sounds I have ever heard at any show during Bruce's "Prove It All Night" solo would be severely understating it. Clarence's solo during "Darlington County" was barely discernable, except for the botched notes. Things improved when Bruce slowed it down for a beautiful rendition of "Mansion on the Hill," and "The River" was also splendid. But, by the time they got to "Youngstown," Nils had to fight to be heard above the cacophony.
Then a miracle happened. "Badlands" commenced, and the sound was suddenly clear. I could make out piano lines and guitar lines like never before on this tour. The drums were crisp. I don't know what happened -- seemed to me the volume was dropped somewhat, somewhere -- but I don't think it was just my ears. And, from that point on, it was great. Oh, my ears didn't stop ringing until Sunday afternoon, but at least the pain stopped.
The show was solid, with an unexpected -- and very strong -- rendition of "She's the One" being a particular highlight for me. Bruce also made an unusually strong appeal for Florida farm workers who had just completed a march to Orlando as part of a petition for better working conditions.
Whatever sound problems marred the early stages of the show in Orlando, they were gone in Tampa. From the opening notes of "The Ties that Bind," this show was a pleasure just to hear. Bruce was definitely pushing it throughout the night, performing songs like "Murder Incorporated" as if his whole career depended on the solo. Steve provided the levity, particularly during the final portion of "You Can Look," sometimes holding his line until it was too late for Bruce to respond (with a straight face, anyway). Clarence's dance during the "Ramrod" solo may just be the best twist in the show. And if Bruce is going to do that snot blast onto the stage, at least he's learned how to do it to the beat -- he got off a huge snort right in the middle of his 10th Avenue rap that blew us away.
Highlights? Well, being there. Isn't that enough? And a fiery "Because the Night." Being able to hear every note whenever Steve played the mandolin. And being close enough to rush the stage -- even if it wasn't such a highlight ending up next to a very big person who was drunk and who knew the words to "If I Should Fall Behind" and who was into mocking them, very loudly, just before the appropriate band member was about to sing them.
Yeah, it rocked. And I've got a bag full of fresh oranges, and Aaron has memories of dinner with Winnie-the-Pooh. It's 80 degrees in Michigan today. And I just gotta say, Bruce, thanks for reminding us about the importance of quality family time.
| The Setlists | |
|---|---|
| Orlando | Tampa |
| My Love Will Not Let You Down | The Ties That Bind |
| Prove It All Night | Prove It All Night |
| Two Hearts | Two Hearts |
| Trapped | Darkness on the Edge of Town |
| Darlington County | The Promised Land |
| Mansion on the Hill | Mansion on the Hill |
| The River | Point Blank |
| Youngstown | Youngstown |
| Murder Inc. | Murder Inc. |
| Badlands | Badlands |
| Out in the Street | Out in the Street |
| Tenth Avenue Freeze-out | Tenth Avenue Freeze-out |
| Where the Bands Are | You Can Look (but You Better Not Touch) |
| She's the One | Because the Night |
| The Ghost of Tom Joad | The Ghost of Tom Joad |
| Born in the U.S.A. | Born in the U.S.A. |
| Backstreets | Jungleland |
| Light of Day | Light of Day |
| Ramrod | Ramrod |
| Bobby Jean | Bobby Jean |
| Born to Run | Born to Run |
| Thunder Road | Thunder Road |
| If I Should Fall Behind | If I Should Fall Behind |
| Land of Hope and Dreams | Land of Hope and Dreams |
The Orel Family