Friday, August 3, 2012

From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)

I was wrong.

No, not about that (or thousands of other, less important things).

About whether E Street Band would still be a working, let alone viable, entity after the death of Clarence Clemons.

Springsteen has miraculously reinvented the band, and the ongoing "Wrecking Ball" tour has been a wonder to behold, particularly the recently completed European leg.

Take the clip below, for instance, filmed last Sunday in Gothenberg, Sweden. Springsteen has taken a lesser song, a tune I considered to be filler on "The River," and turned into a majestic tour de force, with Jake Clemons doing more than just echoing the Big Man. The entire 10 minutes is magnificent, particularly the build-up with the band vamping on "don't cry now," over and over.

Intense, beautiful and poetic. And a perfect love song.



Watching this tour progress to new heights has me excited for another very important reason, On Labor Day weekend, Jack and I will be traveling to Philadelphia to see a show at Citizen's Bank Park. His first show. Number 109 for me.

I never thought I could share this passion with my children, but Bruce keeps going and going, He remains a vital and evolving artist, and Jack, who loves music, is fortunate (as am I) to be able to see Springsteen still doing wondrous things.

Music has mostly been a solitary pursuit of mine, the hours and hours spent in my room or apartment, listening and poring over record covers. Traveling to shows alone, to see everyone from Peter Frampton and Tom Petty to Squeeze and Chuck Berry. Not to mention, a solo flight across the country to see Springsteen in Northern California.

That's not to say I didn't share some unforgettable experiences with many friends.

But this is different on so many levels. And obviously special for Jack, who is so excited to see his first adult concert.

Someday he may look back on this and think it all seemed funny.

But on September 2, my past, present and future will collide in a E Street-drenched glorious noise.

And that's so much more than alright with me.



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