REVIEW: Bruce Springsteen @ Giants Stadium, 10/3

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REVIEW: Bruce Springsteen @ Giants Stadium, 10/3

POSTED: Monday, October 5, 2009, 6:35 PM

Filed Under: Music Show

I've said it once and I'll say it again: Parsing the quality of an E Street Band show is a superfluous exercise. They're always going to be good, you're always going to get your money's worth and the thousands of people lucky enough to have a ticket will never go home disappointed (unless, to paraphrase Jon Stewart ' the Jerz's third greatest export ' you hate joy). While Springsteen and the boys have a definite affinity for Philadelphia, the Meadowlands is where they call home. So when the camera panned to a guy holding up a sign that said "You're our Local Hero," he's both referring to the song off of 1992's Lucky Town and welcoming home the prodigal son. But here's the deal with Bruce: He's a local hero everywhere he goes. His universality is inherent in his appeal. So how was Giants Stadium different from the Spectrum, Madison Square Garden, even the Vet? It wasn't. He still testified, he still did the band intro ("You've just witnessed the pants droppin', heart stoppin''") and he's still one of the only guys who can keep an arena on their feet for three straight hours. In honor of Giants Stadium's imminent destruction, Bruce broke out a new one, fittingly titled "Wrecking Ball," a tradition I hope he continues when he graces the Spectrum's stage for the last time in a couple of weeks. (Notice the words projected in the background, so we could sing along even though we'd never heard it before):

But I had also heard that you haven't seen Bruce until you've seen him at Giants Stadium and that it was a must for any true fan. So, again, how was it different? It was my best friend Lindsey who came up with the answer. After the show was over ' after the entirety of Born in the U.S.A., after the luckiest 13-year-old birthday girl in the world taught Bruce a few lessons on how to move, after a righteous "Kitty's Back" jam that rivaled his April encore ' she turned to me and said, "I never thought I'd cheer that hard for New Jersey." Setlist w/notes:

Wrecking Ball ' Why, hello Bruce.
Out In The Street
Outlaw Pete ' Out of all of the new stuff, I'm glad this has made it into the set rotation. Like at the last Philly show, he sang it up against a white light background. One day, I will write an essay about Bruce's call the audience of "Can you hear me?" in confluence with "Radio Nowhere"'s "Is anybody alive out there?" and the connotations it has on his celebrity status. No one will read it but I'll think it's good.
Hungry Heart ' I wish he played more from The River but because, as mentioned above, he played through the entirety of Born in the U.S.A., there simply wasn't enough time for "Crush on You" (hint, Bruce, if you're reading this, I'd really like to hear that when you play Philly. Thanks.)
Working On A Dream
Born In The U.S.A. ' As much as Born to Run is my favorite album, I'm glad he went through all of the Born in the U.S.A. It's high energy with few low spots. It also meant I didn't have to hear "Meeting Across the River." Goddamnit, I hate that song.
Cover Me
Darlington County ' "I see the glory of the comin' of the lord'"
Working On The Highway
Downbound Train
I'm On Fire ' A beautiful rendition of a beautiful song but I still can't listen to it straightfaced after seeing this:
No Surrender ' Other than this being a sentimental favorite, this is how we became tailgating friends with the people next to us in the parking lot. We had a broken styrofoam cooler filled with Buds. They had a tent, a grill, a table, snacks and port-a-potty (yeah, they brought one of those). We, to say the least, are amateurs.
Bobby Jean
I'm Goin' Down ' I've wanted to hear this live FOREVER. This is my second favorite Bruce Springsteen song at any given moment and I think it's one of the most romantic songs about someone not loving you anymore.
Glory Days
Dancing In The Dark
My Hometown
The Promised Land
Last to Die
Long Walk Home
The Rising ' One of the reasons this song is so important is that it's not only a rallying cry for American post-9/11 but it's a rallying cry for the band, the first album after a far-too-long hiatus. I always like hearing this live because I think, out of everyone in the place, the band feels it the most.
Born To Run
Jersey Girl Encore (of sorts, they didn't leave the stage but poor Clarence had to sit for most of the concert and he was wearing some fierce gold nail polish to match his sax so I didn't begrudge him)
Kitty's Back
Detroit Medley
American Land
Waiting On A Sunny Day
Thunder Road

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