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Friday, April 11, 2008

Indianapolis, IN 3/20/08 Bruce Springsteen

I'm quite behind on my reviews obviously. This is the first of eight
done if we count Dallas coming up.

March 20, 2008
Indianapolis, Indiana
Conseco Fieldhouse

I swear my reviews are books sometimes. I just get way too excited
about music especially Bruce. I'll keep the review a little leaner
this time.

All right, so this was my spring break. I went to Indy, Cinci, and
Columbus. I left Springfield, MO at 11:30 p.m. by Greyhound headed
for St. Louis with a transfer and I was on my way to Indy. I arrived
around 9:30 a.m., and I wandered around the city the rest of the time
waiting for 2:00 p.m. That was too much walking with my backpack that
carried my laptop and clothes for the week.

A little after 2:00 I went to the arena and got my wristband. I was
number 83. I was tired after all the traveling, not much sleep, and
walking around during that time. I saw two girls about my age
talking, so I went over to them. We talked a bit about Bruce, and I
realized one girl looked familiar. I asked her if she ever posted on
any Bruce message boards. She told me her username, and I told her
mine. I was surprised because by chance we started talking and met.
To think we've known each other online for 5 years though hadn't
talked much recently. Lisa was with her, and we became friends. To
think I met Lizzy and Lisa this way which is the reason I made it to
the California shows is kind of crazy.

Anyway, we hung out a bit and went to Hard Rock to eat before the
show. We all got into the pit and were two rows back on Clarence's
side. We met a few other people within our age group which was great.
I joked we should have made a big circle and danced during the show.
Lisa kept saying The Ties That Bind would start the show I think. I
said it would be Night. Lo and behold I was right! Great opener it
was too. Naturally Radio Nowhere was the second song, and seeing as
this was my first show this tour Lisa was dying for me to hear it.
Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to our expectations. It seemed
the band kind of stumbled with the opening of the song. I'll consider
that the only stumble of the night.

I appreciate Lonesome Day more than I did on The Rising tour. I've
always loved the song, but the studio version just slays me nowadays.
Needless to say, I really enjoyed hearing it live. Prove It All
Night I can never tire of. Right now I have a friend getting into
Bruce, and when I hear this song I think of the excitement he has when
he talks about it. I wonder if he'll keep that excitement once he
finally hears it live. I have to think he will because I have.
Gypsy Biker isn't a top favorite from Magic, but nonetheless it is
great. I like it more live, and have a lot of fun singing the final
verse. It can't just be me. Maybe it is.

Magic is just surreal. I love the lyrics, the meaning, and hearing it
live with Soozie is wonderful. I know some won't agree, but I prefer
her over Patti.

Reason to Believe!!! I think saying the song title is enough. This
song is freakin' fantastic. If it was great before then it is amazing
now with the new version. I never want to stop hearing this song this
tour. Before the show I must have heard it on various boots from the
tour 35 times. It really gets you moving and singing along. It's
hard not to.

Tour premiere of Rendezvous at this show. What a night! I love this
song! I remember when I got the CD it was my favorite from the get
go. I didn't see this coming at all, and right into Because The Night
we go. I'm not sure I could tire of this live. I mean sure I might
want to hear something else sometimes, but this song is smokin'. I
realize every time I see Nils live how much more I appreciate him than
I think I do. She's the One is next, and I think the two songs go
very well together. I love hearing the harmonica and Bruce's
yelps/noises/whatever I should call it.

Livin' In The Future is my favorite song from Magic, so hearing it
live for the first time was a real treat. Not only do I love the
lyrics and music, but I completely agree with what Bruce has to say
before the song starts.

Next is The Promised Land, but before the song starts Bruce speaks of
a guest. I was wondering who in the world it could be see we were in
Indy. DANNY!!! What a surprise! Lizzy, Lisa, and myself were going
nuts. From there on the night really picked up and it was great to
see the band be so happy that Danny was there. Promised Land was
intense as always and felt better than ever before to me. And since
Danny was there we get Spirit In The Night! I love this song so much,
and had only heard it once previously with Vini Lopez as guest on
drums in 2003. Bruce and the band were on fire, and who doesn't like
watching Bruce and whatever he decides to do with the mic stand. ;-)
After this Danny actually pulls out the accordion for Sandy! Wow.
Some people still haven't heard this song live and this was my second
time. I'm not a big fan of Sandy, but I always enjoy it more live.
This performance was really special.

Devil's Arcade, The Rising, Last To Die, Long Walk Home, and Badlands
come along next to no surprise. All were great to hear especially
Last to Die and Long Walk Home. These songs are my second and third
favorites from the new album. Hearing Last to Die live made me
realize just how great it is. The desperate beauty of that song is
killer. Long Walk Home is a lot of fun to sing along to, and I'm
really glad that Stevie has his own part to shine on while the crowd
sings along. Badlands is just as great as ever. I'll never tire of
singing along to "it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive."

For the encore Danny came back out which was great. We get a
wonderful Backstreets and then one of the best versions of Kitty's
Back. Well, I think so anyway. I really love the jazzy sound of the
song. It is so much fun plus I am always willingly to watch Bruce
break out into a solo. Born to Run is a powerful mainstay as always
and Dancing in the Dark is a lot of fun to sing to and interact with
Bruce and the band. Hannah was the lucky girl that Bruce pulled from
the crowd to dance to. That was really cute and fun to see until I
learned more later on.

American Land closes, and this is my first time to hear it live. I
loved it before, and I love it more now! You can't help but clap,
jump, and sing along. This is one of the best closers ever. I don't
see any reason to stop with it. The lyrics are so powerful too. It
ties up all the meaning that Bruce is trying to get across these days.
I have to say this is one of the best Bruce shows I've seen. Granted
it was only number seven and not one hundred, but I thought the band
was smokin' and just playing and having fun like never before or at
least more so than they have had in a long, long time.


Night
Radio Nowhere
Lonesome Day
Prove It All Night
Gypsy Biker
Magic
Reason To Believe
Rendezvous (Tour Premiere)
Because The Night
She's The One
Livin' In The Future
The Promised Land
Spirit In The Night
4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
Devil's Arcade
The Rising
Last To Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands

Backstreets
Kitty's Back
Born To Run
Dancing In The Dark
American Land

6 comments:

Ghost Repeater said...

Good for you! Even if American land is not as good as you make it seem ;) jajajajaja And I don't know who Danny is.

Kelly said...

Oh Ari, American Land is awesome!! I don't know what you are hearing. lol
And Danny is the organ player for the band. In November he had to step aside because he has cancer and needed treatment. To see him come back for a bit was such a treat.

Main said...

Cool review. :D

But now I am curious: What did you hear afterwards about the girl dancing on stage??

Kelly said...

Thanks Main. :)

Well, the girl's mom acts like she has the right to be in the front every show. After being front row in Cincinnati and waiting we saw her pushing through the pit with her daughter. She pointed her daughter to the area where we were telling her to come over there. We found out she tells her daughter to look sad and that way she will get closer. The woman just uses her daughter. Hopefully her daughter won't grow up to be like that.

Main said...

That stinks! :(

Kelly said...

Yeah, it does. Luckily, we all still had a great time.