Kaleidoscopic: Bruce Springsteen at the Hammersmith Odeon '75

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Kaleidoscopic: Bruce Springsteen at the Hammersmith Odeon '75

POSTED: Friday, May 8, 2009, 8:29 PM

Filed Under: Kaleidoscopic | Music Watch

In this week's Kaleidoscope, I wrote about Bruce Springsteen's London's Hammersmith Odeon '75 concert DVD (which you can buy on the 30th anniversary edition of Born to Run)/CD. Here's what I said:

Last week's Springsteen show at the Spectrum ranked high among my Boss encounters, but I would give my right kidney to have seen him play London's Hammersmith Odeon '75, available on DVD and CD. Bruce had blown up in the U.S., but London concertgoers were skeptical. The E Streeters don't sweat it, blazing through Born to Run, along with reworked choice cuts like "Rosalita" and "Kitty's Back." It's at this show that the Jersey wharf rat became king.

Here's what I didn't say: I watched this with my best friend in life and all things Springsteen during a Boss-related marathon, were we essentially just Netflixed anything that had Bruce Springsteen in it (probably our best marathon, although Jean-Claude Van Damme and Clint Eastwood were also stellar). We saw a lot of crap ' unauthorized documentaries, the worst fuckin' MTV Unplugged ever (ugh, the Other Band? Gross). But then we found Hammersmith. And it was glorious. In Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer, Chris Saliewicz writes about immensely influential this concert was on a young Joe Strummer who, while still in the 101ers, upped his own on-stage histrionics because of the Boss (who in turn was influenced by Van Morrison's stage act). If this show could knock Joe Strummer's socks off, it's atl east got to get you a little hot and bothered.

Watch it all and read my comments after the jump or go here for the entire YouTube playlist.

Thunder Road

Word on the street is that they used to do the solo version in concert because the band couldn't play the song live yet. Awwww! Cute!

10th Avenue Freeze Out

When the Big Man joined the band. How pimp is Clarence Clemons? So pimp.

Spirit in the Night

This is the most indicative of how Springsteen plays a show: At about 4:40, he gets super self-serious. Then he starts crawling on the floor. I remember watching this for the first time and being a little embarrassed for him. But then, at about 5:00, he crawls in between a space in the stage and continues to sing with his little wool-capped head just poking out. It was the "You guys thought I was serious? Come on, this is rock 'n' roll!" moment.

Lost in the Flood

My friends and I often discuss how funny we think it is when Springsteen curses. In this, he sings "gunning that bitch," which always makes me giggle a little bit.

She's the One

Yes, yes I am.

Born to Run

E Street Shuffle, Pt. 1

Best comment on this post:

Thezealotsguitarist: 3:00- Bruce invents the robot

E Street Shuffle, Pt. 2

So good it had to be split in two.

Saint in the City

This song's got swagger. Check out the Bowie version too, which I just heard for the first time the other day and is characteristically awesome.

Backstreets

Kitty's Back, Pts. 1 & 2

Listen for a little "Moondance" by Van Morrison

Jungleland

The most epic of all.

Rosalita

My fave performance out of the whole shebang.

4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)

How much do I want to be Sandy? A lot.

Detroit Medley

"Good Golly Miss Molly" ' and then I start to hyperventilate.

For You

Quarter to Three

Closing with a cover? Bold move, Bruce, bold move.

Brian Baughan

Posted 2009-05-08 16:03:47

This is awesome, Molly, and trouble. I already have the DVD, but never had the temptation to drop my work and pull out any one of those gems at will. I'm afraid you're wrong, though. As good as Rosie is, "She's the One" is the best performance here.

Lindsey

Posted 2009-05-08 16:06:53

This 100% made up for the shit that was "The Making of the Boss." And don't get me started on that other totally lame band that is not the E Street Band (seriously Bruce, what were you thinking?). Besides the band intro during Live In New York, this pretty much tops my Boss list. Sometimes (okay, a lot) I even dream about this concert. It does make me a little sad to watch it now though knowing that The Big Man just can't move like he used to.

AMEN

Posted 2009-05-08 19:35:27

>As good as Rosie is, âSheâs the Oneâ is the best performance here. AMEN

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