Night Thirty-???, Ferrara, Italy

So happy you enjoyed yourself Louisa! Any more shows lined up for you or was that your one and only?

What I love about concerts is the connection between the fans and the communal sense of belonging and understanding. You guys all kindle these emotions in me, so thank you so much for your thoughts and wishes... It was an amazing, special show... Loved it...

The location was set in a park near the river, an open space type of venue, the ground was extremely muddy and wet, with parts of it underwater. Due to heavy rain and floods in the region, the fans urged Springsteen to postpone the show, the official explanation was "It's too complicated, the show must go on.." I am glad they didn't reschedule. The sun was shining Thursday morning and it was a good sign...

We spent the day in the Ferrara old town, which is a relatively small town. It was a big event for the locals, the stores and restaurants were all blasting Bruce. Everywhere we went there were fans in official T-shirts, and the street musicians playing Born in the USA and Thunder Road. I always find so much satisfaction in meeting and chatting with folks from all over the world.

We had a quick lunch, with some nice wine, and headed to the venue early in the afternoon. Walking the streets we still didn't quite realize the effects of the flooding. Nonetheless, we were well prepared, with high hiking boots, spare socks, ponchos...

At the venue, you could see people with big plastic trash bags up to their waists, or hopping around in just one single one. Some were barefoot, walking through the mud, it looked a lot like Woodstock.

Lots of people from the former Yugoslavia, familiar languages everywhere...

There were some electrical problems, I believe, both opening acts were constantly interrupted and there was a half hour of silence before Bruce came onstage, 10 minutes after they were scheduled.

When the show started, I was transported... Not so much geographically, but in time. I honestly don't remember the details. I sang along and had so much fun, wasn't trying to nitpick, I was there in the moment and it was all that mattered. The last man standing into Backstreets was when I started sobbing, but I wasn't the only one, it was a cathartic moment for most of the 50k in attendance.

The performance, the show, the music... It was great and tight and there was nothing really to complain about. It did feel a bit generic and predictable.

All the songs were translated on the big screens, including the Last Man Standing intro. Not much room for spontaneity, just another show to tick off, a job accomplished, professionalism at its worst. Greatest hits setlist...

He didn't mention the floods or the mud we were crawling through, I was honestly expecting him to say a few words and acknowledge our efforts as he did so often in the past.

No 'we'll be seeing you' at the end, no encores... He just walked away, and so did we. It was a great show nonetheless. I got the answers I was hoping to get. Love is real and it is wild.

Thanks, Bruce. You are getting old and I get it, I'm older too... There are limits. ❤️

@Louisa were your questions answered?

Is love wild, is it real?

I really need to check in here more than once a week, I missed this and it's now past tense.

So I hope you had a great time at the show.

Have a great time tonight! It's a special kind of show, this one.

Have a great time! You’re right, of course. When they kick in to that opening song the years fall away and nothing else matters for the next 3 hours. Everything is forgiven.

To my soul sister, have a GREAT time at the show and please know how excited I am for you!

Report back.

Have a great time and we will catch up in Vienna!!

Have a great time Louisa..and don`t miss Sam Fender or you will rergret it...I have convinced myself that Sam will make a guest appearance at Murrayfield.

Enjoy the hell out of the show.