We're slacking! New ArchiveS: July 4th and 5th, 2012 - Paris, FR

Maybe more examples of Bruce's magic trick...

Commentary around the five songs after the Ties That Bind opening on Night Two is that they were all audibles. I.e. not expected, done 'on the fly' to some extent. The written set list not including them adds to this story. Yet, watching this video (which I'd never seen before tonight) makes me wonder. There is no visible Bruce 'running around the stage' telling band members what to do like I've seen reported. He cues Max, calls out 'c'mon, Stevie' for two songs, but otherwise everyone falls in pretty easily. Roy's beginning to 'Something In The Night' is particularly notable for how little Bruce actually interacts with Roy to get him to intro, well, Something In The Night. I think this 5 song 'rarity' stretch was pre planned as a possible alternate opening to the set and Bruce's 'c'mon Stevie' cued it, with another 'Stevie' and cues to Max confirming to keep this pre organised roll of rare songs running. Still, it's all entertaining as hell and I'm still grinning watching it even while punching balloons...

I don't know, I must be some bizarro outlier in the Springsteen fan base. Not so much here, but elsewhere on other forums, people complain about the WB tour. And most of what they complain about is the stuff I love the most about it... the extra backing vocals, the horns, the anything and everything is on the table free-wheeling nature of it all.

Due to both age and geography, I never saw Bruce live in that 78-81 period where so many folks who did had their personal 'road to Damascus' Bruce moment. I think the overwhelming nature of what those folks saw has locked some of them in to a narrower definition of what is 'peak' or even 'essential' Bruce.

For us that came aboard via BITUSA or after, and maybe didn't get to see him live until later, it's a different journey. BITUSA opened the gate, Live 75-85 put me squarely on the train as a rabid fan. But from there, if you hit the back catalogue out of sequence like I did, it becomes quite a crazy journey. Jumping from Live 75-85 to Greetings and WIESS was a real 'what the fuck is this' experience that opened up a whole other world of Bruce Springsteen music. Then, suddenly, a new album called TOL drops which, again, requires a reset as a listener.

My theory is that maybe that sort of induction to the Bruce catalogue makes me more open (or maybe less critical or put off) by journies into realms somewhat removed from what the 'classic' 78 to 81 period represents.

Best latter-days Born In The U.S.A. I've heard in a while, singing the chorus straight without the vocal upturn he's been doing for some years now on the word "born."

I've only purchased the second show so far. Mrs Bosstralian says 'what, ANOTHER show? How many do you need?' or some variant thereof almost every month... I didn't want to explain it cost more this month because there are two shows. Anyway, usually takes me a week or so of intermittent listening just to get through one show so I'll sneak the other one in a few weeks from now.

Liking all I've heard so far. I thought I'd bought the wrong one when the tribal drumbeat that usually heralds WTCOOO started after the intro music... until the intriguing feint from that into Ties That Bind instead. 8 or however many years into this series and it's still throwing out performance curveballs like the start of night 2 that makes it all worthwhile. ("Yes, dear, I do need another show").

http://www.backstreets.com/news.html

Excellent.

It's Saturday morning here, looks like I've woken up to Christmas in July!

Nice work @Mario Brega with scoring another gig as a Backstreets reviewer.

I didn't bother loading the audience recording of July 4th on my Apple Music with the official release two weeks away, so I've spent the last fortnight listening to most songs played on this night via other 2012-13 shows they're featured in. (It was actually quite nice taking a break from 2016 and revisiting Archive releases like Rome 2013, honestly).

I've listened to "634-5789" A LOT recently. And I'm still enjoying this version like it's the first time I've ever heard the song. Damn it's great!

"The Promised Land" playing now. This is the song I've been closing my eyes and imagining hearing in 2023.

The only thing Im thinking about ... A year from now this magic will be occurring once again. Jesus, we are blessed. ..

I'm not being a true fan.. I'm skipping tracks..

Jack.... This song gives me comfort. And a punch of awareness.

How many lives did Bruce save?

😊 found my old headphones, charged at 40%

I need headphones and a substitute for a joint.

Oh, and to add to Louisa forgetting her headphones, I have to listen to only one on account of fatigue in my right ear - I played Wembley 1981 too loud hahahaha.

So I need all of you to listen a little bit harder and enjoy this shout that little bit more or me!

Outside, in the 100 degree heat, my bike is waiting for a tune-up, but in here, halfway through a joint and a third of the way through the first show, it's summer in Paris and the wrenching can wait until the evening cool.

The nights are lighter in England at this time of year. I thought I'd dodge out after 10pm and listen to this show, take it in the way I used to before blogging after two weeks of working and panicking July 4 would be leaked - when I saw July 5th that anxiety went through the roof. I didn't know what was going on!

I can feel the spirit. It has shot straight into my heart.

I absolutely love what they did in 2012...

Damn. Forgot my headphones at work and can't listen now.

Got the whole day off and loving this.

Mrs now high kicking the length of the room to 634……