St Paul 11th November 2012 - show 76

The most livable city in America according to the city's motto

Gotta laugh at this photo - not everyone seems very excited to find Bruce so close to them !!

Well we've had a few days break from the tour and to be honest it was quite a relief. I'm getting a bit jaded. Don't know how Bruce keeps up the enthusiasm. I wish I was so happy in my work! 

Anyway on to the show. Savin' Up was a rarity played tonight. Stan Goldstien gives us some facts about this track:-

... a song he wrote in 1981 and was later recorded by Clarence Clemons (with lead vocals by J.T. Bowen) on Clemons' 1983 album "Rescue."

Bruce also did a duet on "Savin' Up" with the late, great Jersey Shore musician John Luraschi on Luraschi's 2009 album "The End of the Road."

It was the first time Bruce ever performed "Savin' Up" live with the E Street Band. He had played it live three others times, all at bar performances in Asbury Park (the old Deck House, Wonder Bar and Stone Pony).

There's a very long review of the show here.  It seems the writer was at his first show

As a Springsteen first-timer, it's impossible to know where a show like Sunday's fits into the spectrum. For me, there are few live acts that can mesh a career's worth of material, a band of virtuosos, and stadium-sized heart so convincingly. He's only eight years younger than Bob Dylan, but what a difference in the level of energy. Also, you can see how everyone from Bono to Craig Finn (especially on "It's Hard to be a Saint in the City") gleans from Bruce's infectious live persona. In two cities filled with aspiring Springsteens everywhere, this is a masterclass on how to get an audience (and band) on your side by leading with unbridled spirit.

He also gives a mention to Savin' Up

"We've been pretty good so far," Bruce said with a laugh. "So we can afford to fuck one up." The next minute or so was spent deciding which key to play the song, and some vamping and clowning by the band. But then -- then! -- this was a moment to behold. The firing of the five-piece horn section, the muscle of Nils Lofgren and Little Steven on guitars, and the rhythmic surge of drummer Max Weinberg and bassist Gary Tallent all felt as vital as at any moment all night.

Here's the full set list. Only the second Long Walk Home of the tour.  When I saw If I Should Fall Behind in the list I thought Patti might have put in an appearance but she wasn't on stage. 

From the above review:- 

While the rest of the band left for Bruce's spare and heartfelt solo showing of  "If I Should Fall Behind," dedicated to a married couple who had the song played as their first dance.

	Louisville  3/11/12 Time not known	St Paul 11/11/12 Time 8.16 to 11.18
1	Shackled And Drawn (59)	We Take Care Of Our Own (76)
2	Lonesome Day (24)	Wrecking Ball (76)
3	Hungry Heart (32)	Out In The Street (39)
4	We Take Care Of Our Own (75)	Death To My Hometown (76)
5	Wrecking Ball (75)	My City Of Ruins (76)
6	Death To My Hometown (75)	Spirit In The Night (46)
7	My City Of Ruins (75)	It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City (7)
8	Spirit In The Night (45)	Hungry Heart (33)
9	E Street Shuffle (19)	Jack Of All Trades (58)
10	Streets Of Philadelphia (2)	Atlantic City (14)
11	Atlantic City (13)	Savin’ Up (1)
12	Because The Night (32)	Open All Night (4)
13	She’s The One (26)	Darlington County (25)
14	Growin’ Up (4)	Two Hearts (10)
15	Open All Night (3)	Shackled And Drawn (60)
16	Darlington County (24)	Waitin’ On A Sunny Day (76)
17	Waitin’ On A Sunny Day (75)	Long Walk Home (2)
18	The River (29)	Badlands (68)
19	The Rising (62)	Thunder Road (43)
20	Badlands (67)	If I Should Fall Behind (3)
21	Land Of Hope And Dreams (51)	Rocky Ground (37)
22	Rocky Ground (36)	Born To Run (76)
23	Born To Run (75)	Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) (19)
24	Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) (18)	Dancing In The Dark (76)
25	Dancing In The Dark (75)	Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (75)
26	Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (74)
27
28
29
30
31
32
33

Zurich 9th July 2012 - show 42

Well I can't find anything interesting about Zurich! Tina Turner lives nearby.

Taken from http://bta.bg/en/gallery/image/214839

This blogger appears to have been won over:-

A simple recipe, play the hits, give the audience what it wants and be thouroughly enthusiastic about what you do. As big as the venue was, as pricey the tickets were, you could not shake the feeling that this guy really does enjoy every minute of it. And it transcended easily, this was honest and coming from the heart. How about the music itself? Solid, well built up and fit for everyone, even to a bitter old music elitist as yours truly.

I have to say this set list was pretty extraordinary.  If I was stunned by the six songs that opened the second Paris show I would have been amazed to hear Don't Look Back as an opener. I like If I Should Fall Behind. It's a particular favourite of Mike's and ... on the piano - wow! Don't you just love it when Bruce walks towards the piano? I like to rock but those piano moments are special.

Just when you think the tour must have reached it's peak: when you think Bruce can't pull anything else out the bag he surprises us again.

Here's the set list

	Denmark 07/07/2012 Time 9.00 to 12.00 (approx)	Zurich  09/07/12 Time 7.22 to 10.45
1	No Surrender (14)	Don’t look Back (1)
2	Badlands (34)	Badlands (35)
3	Two Hearts Are Better Than One (6)	Ties That Bind (10)
4	We Take Care Of Our Own (41)	We Take Care Of Our Own (42)
5	Wrecking Ball (41)	Wrecking Ball (42)
6	Death To My Hometown (41)	Death To My Hometown (42)
7	My City Of Ruins (41)	My City Of Ruins (42)
8	Spirit In The Night (19)	Spirit In The Night (20)
9	E Street Shuffle (12)	Working On A Dream (1)
10	Jack Of All Trades (38)	Growing Up (2)
11	Trapped (10)	Save My Love (4)
12	Because The Night (16)	Jack Of All Trades (39)
13	Working On The Highway (15)	Youngstown (10)
14	Shackled And Drawn (27)	Johnny 99 (12)
15	Waitin’ On A Sunny Day (41)	Working On The Highway (16)
16	The River (18)	Shackled And Drawn (28)
17	The Rising (40)	Waitin’ On A Sunny Day (42)
18	Out In The Street (21)	Promised Land (28)
19	Land Of Hope And Dreams (28)	If I Should Fall Behind (1)
20	We Are Alive (38)	The River (19)
21	Born In The USA (17)	The Rising (41)
22	Born To Run (41)	Out In The Street (22)
23	Glory Days (9)	Land Of Hope And Dreams (29)
24	Dancing In The Dark (41)	We Are Alive (39)
25	Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (41)	Born In The USA (18)
26		Born To Run (42)
27		Hungry Heart (12)
28		Seven Nights To Rock (10)
29		Dancing In The Dark (42)
30		Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (42)
31		Twist And Shout (6)
32
33

There are several YouTube videos of If I Should Fall Behind.  I choose this one because the sound is good

It's A Small (Bruce) World

Hi Guys.  Well it's been a slow news week and I'm wondering whether I will have to start diversifying a little and telling you more about my non Bruce world.  Yes there is one if I dig deep enough!

So I went to the hairdressers this week.  To cut a long story short I have been going to my previous hairdresser for years.  Her salon has closed and I was faced with finding someone new.  Hairdressing seems to be a young person's job - at least in a city like Leeds it is - and a trendy young person at that.  Finding a place where I didn't feel a hundred years old was key to me feeling comfortable.  After a couple of false starts I opted for a small independent place.

So she is wielding the scissors and making polite conversation and we get on to holidays - standard hairdresser conversation.  I say I am not going anywhere this year  but would like to go back to NYC sometime.  Told her we saw Bruce at MSG and she said ... 'I love Bruce Springsteen.  Saw him in Gothenburg!'  Of all the hair stylists in all the salons in all the world I choose her - spooky.  Ha! - it was a Bruce story after all.

Been thinking about starting on my Bruce doll this week.  I made Belinda a couple of months ago and I've just finished Cassandra.   Both girls have gone to good homes.

Belinda

Cassandra

cassandra

Thought I would do a bit of research into Bruce's face.  Of course I know what he looks like but as I'm not confident of getting a good likeness I thought I would lean towards a sort of caricature.

 This lead me to these pictures among many.  Hmmmm don't think I'll be copying any of these.  Need to practice a soul patch though!

But what really took my eye was this because he's a doll - someone has got there before me!

 

I think he's quite cute.  If you are interested here's the designer's blog featuring more dolls she has produced.  Mike has his head in his hands at this moment.  He knows full well that this is another handicraft I must have a go at.

I checked out The 100 Club today just to see what his number 1 song was.  I've mentioned this blog a couple of times before because the writer chose two Springsteen songs in his top 100.  Good choice for the top slot and great to see that he is now a proud dad.

My trawl through the blogs also turned up a cover of 'I'm On Fire'  here.  and Bruce's appearance at The Wonder Bar last week gets a mention in OK magazine - maybe not the UK version though.  Might have a quick flick through in WH Smiths tomorrow just in case!

Bruce is putting in another one of his guest appearances. This time on a track on the New Stewart Franke CD.  No I'd never heard of him.  In case you are as clueless as me here he is

Finally for this week a special mention for my hubby Mike.  It's our wedding anniversary tomorrow so this is for him