Now the European leg is done and dusted, I'm wondering how people are feeling?
My thoughts -
Positives -
He's still got it, whatever it is
Voice is mostly fine, the odd missed note, but nothing serious
The band - just as fantastic as ever
Some venues were great...
Negatives -
The lack of spontaneity
Some venues left a bit to be desired...
No mention of events/happenings outside. I was surprised Tina Turner didn't get a mention but I actually now wonder whether even if somebody huge passed away he would say anything.
Questions -
I'm not sure everything being scripted worked for people going to multiple shows (I took a loo break during the George Theiss talk on the 4th occasion) BUT, most people do one show. Certainly all the people I know outside of here and other fan websites go once and they have been blown away.
Will the format remain in place? I guess the next American leg might give us an idea, but will he carry on with this if he comes back next year?
My positives outweigh my negatives and I am really happy to have had the chance to be in the presence of ESB again. I will doubtless go again if/when I get the opportunity, but maybe only one or two shows (but please don't hold me to this!)
Mike Saunders shares his thoughts. Can't say I agree with all, but some fair points. Valid comment in Gary Hudsons response too.
https://www.facebook.com/100011266872160/posts/pfbid021HgmbqYXKhx2N5staJVX1xSaoa7d1N1G5mG5H91RTmBshWTPLgBNQCpCtKc1ucNSl/
I wish I had a show(s) to go to so I could offer some reflections.
Alas, what I'm seeing on BTX suggests the rumoured Feb 2024 Oceania leg of the tour is off. One poster says they were aware of venue holds in Melbourne that have just been released in recent days.
TBH, I was worried from the moment Taylor Swift announced her February shows here. While they are limited venue wise to east coast stadiums, the media frenzy here just reporting on the ticket sales was insane. My feeling was that JLM would still want a Bruce tour to be a 'the biggest game in town' type event, but it would be completely swamped by the Swifty show head to head.
I had also completely forgotten that Pink was also touring Australia in that time frame.
Between the two of them, I also assume they would've already stitched up the best of the best in local tour support staff. Probably companies and people JLM may have used previously are already committed.
Lastly, my guess is that Bruce's tour schedule for this year has taken it's toll on him and the band. I think they would all prefer a few months off before hitting Europe again (for which the rumours seem very strong) next Northern Hemisphere summer).
And the Oxblood Docs are still the absolute bomb!
@Walkerinthesun I hadn't realised you were in Diggers, when were you in? I had a cheeky couple in there morning of the gig.
Best beer anywhere.......even if it is a Jambo stronghold.
And here are a few of my better pics from HP2:
Ox-blood DM's 👊
AJ already has a hi-res of the above......
Lastly, one of the pics from Springsteen.net. Bottom left, in grey tee......
Post tour blues, tbh.....
8 shows:
Barca 1&2
Dublin 1&2
Edinburgh
Birmingham
Hyde Park 1&2
All pretty decent pit q numbers bar Barca 1 which was GA.
As the (relatively) static set-list became apparent I must confess I did have concerns but, as surprising to me as it might be to others, I enjoyed the last show as much as the first, perhaps even more. Only exception was Birmingham, more of which anon. Physically those 3:45+ sets are no longer an option so it seems inevitable that when you prune it down the wild card audibles and hard-core sign obscurities are going to go. A bit more rotation would have been nice but overall I can live with what was played, with 1 exception.
Nightshift remains dire imo, and distorts the flow of the show, dropping energy levels dramatically within the Kitty/NS/Mary’s sequence. Yeah, you can argue about Kitty and Mary’s inclusion I suppose, but NS - jeez. They graft hard to lift it again thru the latter, but don’t think any favours are done if Hometown/River/LMS feature in the set shortly after. Had a major impact on my enjoyment of the Villa Park show, and I didn’t feel they really hit their stride again until the tail end of the main set. Seems odd given the set is supposedly considered and tightly structured to deliver ‘the story’. Or maybe it’s just me?
Irrespective of this the opening run towards Kitty is an absolute blast, with Ghosts slotting in seamlessly among the older warhorses. WB/Rising/Badlands, with latter stripped back to basics, just stunning, even though we’ve heard them over and over. Lot of love for She’s The One too.
2nd show set-lists preferred to 1st night, every time.
Band were very, very good throughout: powerful and direct, tho' early shows in particular GT appeared somewhat disconnected. That LMS trumpet solo could be a bit hit and miss too, with some distinctly off notes in the earlier shows.
Bruce started off at Barca in fantastic voice but latterly seemed a bit more ragged and strained, I thought. Obviously much less mobile, but then so am I, and I've got 10 years on him. Guitar playing stellar though, a major highlight, but it did mean Nils and Steve appeared underutilised at times.
At the U.K. shows I was 2nd row central for all so got a real good view of what was going on. The big takeaway was the interaction - I refuse to believe the magic trick implication that there is any falseness in his relationship with the audience. The man radiates warmth. Teared up on more than one occasion, happy to admit. It’s a two way thing still.
Also, the whole mood on stage seemed much more relaxed for the U.K. shows with band banter and goofing around. When I think back to the impression Steve left after River 2 he was a man transformed for this outing. Good to see.
Starting off in Barca and, to a lesser extent Dublin, however, there was little interaction with audience and band members beyond the structured solos, introductions and ‘legendary E Street Band’ ritual. Maybe it took a little while to loosen up after the post-arena break? Interested to hear views of those who saw later shows on continent.
Highlights:
The Barca pit experience - mental.
The Dublin crowd roaring Ghosts first line back at the stage. Post show pints and analysis with gig-buddy Carl.
Everything about Edinburgh, from the moment I stepped off the plane to catching the return flight: Glorious weather. Cake & coffee with my nieces in Lovecrumbs cafe. A pint of heavy in the Diggers. Finally meeting up with Cecilia and her husband and showing them around the centre of town in between roll-calls. The show itself (with a handshake with the man during TR). Meeting Max in WH Smith’s at the airport and having a real nice blether.
Birmingham meet up with Ann & Ken.
Leisurely pre-show breakfasts at Serpentine Cafe. Very civilised.
And throughout meeting friends old and new.
Lowlights:
The Barca 1 queuing shambles.
Barca 2 ice cold heavy rain for 2 hours. In Spain, during a drought ffs.
Dublin accommodation.
iPhone black screen of death prior to Villa Park entry. Fortunately they’d previously advised us to print tickets, but other shows weren’t accepting hard copies. Fortunately brought it back to life and no subsequent problems. Scary tho’.
Hyde Park as a venue and the stage height - looked like the Potola Palace. Entry staffs inability to manage queue entry.
I’m ready for more in ‘24. Fancying a couple of Europe shows if there are 2 in the same location and it warrants a city-break, plus one or two in the U.K.
Hope to see some more of you out there..
Sorry to copy some of what I said on another thread, but my appraisal hasn't changed. It was a good show. Not fantastic, but good. I'm glad to hear that others found Bruce in good voice, which I cannot affirm wholeheartedly. In Munich, he sometimes had to force the notes and was occasionally off tune. I had noticed that before on youtube from other gigs. Nothing drastic, but not up to the usual standard.
The music worked its magic nevertheless. I sang and shouted a lot and was blown away when he played my favorite cover "Trapped"! Then there was Backstreets in a very good version (almost with Sad Eyes) and a surprisingly moving "I'll see you in my dreams" as an acustic closing, with only a slight regret that it wasn't Thunder Road. And to bellow "Badlands" one more time felt really, really good.
"Nightshift" brought out all the power of the band which was really great but I would have preferred a couple more Springsteen songs nevertheless.
Still, I came away on a high, except there was the venue! I cannot stand for hours on end, so I always have seats. They were good seats (and were dear enough!) but my husband and I had to go down about 150 steep steps. Mr. B has knee problems, so - not easy. The way back up after the show was a nightmare. We were both exhausted when we finally made it to the top. At our age, we shouldn't try to go to stadium shows anymore.
So it's good-bye for me as far as concerts go, unless he comes to Berlin where they have elevators in the stadium. I'm still glad I went, but there are other Springsteen shows I remember more fondly.
I'm still a fan. As my T-shirt said, "Yes, I'm old but I saw Bruce springsteen on stage". Saw. Past tense, I'm afraid.
I also saw two shows this summer. One quite early on, Ferarra in May and Vienna in July.
Ferrara was an open-space venue, it was just after the horrendous floods and it was extremely muddy and wet... But I was in the pit with my new boyfriend, we got a bit drunk, and as a result, I got overly emotional. I have already mentioned, my first gig ended up being a very intimate journey into myself, my past, and my future. I'm sorry I can't explain this more articulately, but I wasn't as enthusiastic, the show felt like a dot at the end of a great book. It felt like a closure of sorts.
The songs seemed a bit rushed, I missed him talking, I missed the connection, but it was a great gig nonetheless...
Vienna was different. Stadium gig, I was there with my best friend, was sober, and in the seats. I honestly can't say which show I liked better. Bruce seemed in a better shape, he was very relaxed, and the setlist wasn't as rigid anymore.
The audience was very into it, very enthusiastic, and I think Bruce felt good onstage that evening. He looked great, had a fresh haircut and cool boots. 🥰
I met Ann and her husband in Vienna so that alone made the occasion unique!
I had two great, albeit different, experiences at two very similar shows in a short space of time.
Edinburgh, grabbed a quick pint with the Doc of this parish pre-gig then meandered out to Murrayfield on my todd, enjoyed the sun and a couple of chilled out beers.
I think this laid back approach carried into the gig where I kind of went into myself. I was much less animated, probably less emotional, than is usual at a Bruce gig, but I REALLY enjoyed it.
Of course I made up for it afterwards when I met a mate and kicked the arse out of it until 3.00am. (Way......too.......old.)
Birmingham, really ace couple of days.
Civilised curry and a few beers with @whispered secret and @Walkerinthesun the night prior.
Gig day, met a buddy that I hadn't seen in 35 years until we reconnected at a party a month prior.
Had a few pre-gig liveners with him and his son so was on a high going in.
Then during the gig I met another friend I hadn't seen in close to 30 years, who I went to Wembley with 4th July 1985. (He now lives in Albania.)
Enjoyed a great catch up with him afterwards.
So those were the factors around the shows, the actual gigs.....well, as has been oft said, the band has never been tighter.
Bruce's voice, guitar skills and general stagecraft have held up well, better than well.
Would I have preferred a set deeper in spontaneity?
A few rarities and wildcards?
Yes, certainly.
But the setlist was balanced, had a load of my personal favourites and showcased a lot of different styles.
I don't think either show cracks my top ten Bruce shows but they're the best I've seen since probably the last time I saw him.
Next year.....probably a single Scottish/UK show, unless the setlists take a turn for the varied.
But as the nights draw in on another summer with Bruce........contented.