I didnt land tickets until mid-Thursday. They were tickets that a group from Europe had to abandon, but they were about as far from the stage as possible without leaving the building. The plane was canceled. No notification. Get to the check-in, and the nasty word is up there on the screen. Its 12:15, ProAir's next flight wouldnt get in until after the show started, and no other airlines operate out of Detroit City Airport. Sane people would go home. I called Northwest. An hour later, we charged into Metro Airport and were on our way. By 7pm we were in Philadelphia. By 8pm we found a parking space.
Someone please tell me: Are people actually paid to direct incoming traffic at the First Union Sports Complex? I've been to many, many venues, and have never seen anything remotely resembling the chaos on Broad Street last night. No signs. No cops. Nothing. We heard several "Bruce blocks" on the radio, including songs that Lori was sure Bruce would never play (e.g., Blinded by the Light), and I began to think that might be the only Bruce music wed hear all night. We had to sprint from some remote lot to the Spectrum to make it on time. If you hear about empty seats when the show started, it's not because it was a late arriving crowd; it's because they couldn't get there.
Now, about the show. What is there to be said? Some Bruce historian may be able to dig up the date of the last show with 4 songs from Greetings from Asbury Park. Someone else may figure out if or when Bruce last held up a mike to a boom box as a way of starting a show. But, I can sum it up simply as this: Our craziness was rewarded. And it would have taken more than canceled flights and bad traffic to make us miss it.
I think every Bruce fan should see a show in the Spectrum. An intimate arena, if such a thing is possible, filled with people who know every word to every song. During Sprit in the Night, Bruces current arrangement usually slows it way down during the final verse. This crowd would have none of it, singing out the words loud and clear, until Bruce finally gave up and instructed the band to play along. I've seen revved up crowds before, but nothing like this. A crowd that would not only recognize The Fever, but sing to it.
For the encores, we went downstairs. The sound, for once, was crisp and clear. And everyone, it seemed even the drunks were singing all the words. What a blast! When Bruce actually played Blinded by the Light, Lori just dissolved into laughter. And, yes, the crowd knew the words to that one, too better than Bruce, who had to try hard not to laugh while reading the words off the TelePrompter.
Tonight will be simpler, still. We're arriving at 1pm. Can't risk missing a thing.
The Setlist
Introduction / Birthday Greeting
Growin' Up
No Surrender
Prove It All Night
Two Hearts
The Promised Land
Spirit in the Night
Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?
Mansion on the Hill
Independence Day
Youngstown
Murder Inc.
Badlands
Out In the Street
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out
Working On the Highway
The Fever
Backstreets
Light of Day
Bobby Jean
Born To Run
Thunder Road
If I Should Fall Behind
Land of Hope and Dreams
Blinded by the Light