So that was Wrecking Ball 2012

I last wrote a Sunday post on 22nd July 2012. Finding time when I was doing the tour blog was just impossible. Although the shows thinned out a bit towards the end of the year I just didn't have the enthusiasm to start writing on a Sunday again.

Anyway as this is the last Sunday in 2012 here I am.

The 2012 Wrecking Ball tour was a bit different for us, as it was the first tour since we had made friends with other fans.

We went to the two UK shows in Sunderland and Manchester and both Paris shows. All the gigs came within two weeks so a bit like Christmas - I spent months looking forward to it and then... it was all over in the blink of an eye.

The weather is the first thing that springs to mind when thinking back to the UK shows. Sunderland was a bit mizzly and it poured down in Manchester. Sunderland was a bit of a disaster all around really - we were late so we didn't get time to spend with friends before the show, we parked miles away from the venue and the show was a bit flat. Apart from the rain Manchester was better and our best friends, who were at their first show, are now fans and will be coming with us in 2013.

My stand out moments were both during Paris night two.  Mike and I have been lucky enough to hear many rarities.  We had Incident at only our third show when we didn't even recognise the song!  We were at MSG in November 2009 when, of course, a few rarities were played both nights. But... I'm Goin' Down the second night in Paris was really an OMG! moment for me. Not one of THE songs from 'Born In The USA'  but my favourite track, and the only song from the album we hadn't heard live.

The second moment was when Mike tapped me on the shoulder to dance with him during Dancing In The Dark.  He doesn't dance so it was a great surprise.

I think Paris night two is considered one of the best shows of the tour. It certainly was for me.

Paris 5th July 2012 - show 40

The Eiffel Tower is painted every 7 years, in 3 shades of brown with darkest shade at the bottom. Approximately 60 tons of paint is required to paint it. Even today the Eiffel Tower is painted using mere brushes.

Well we set off for The Eiffel Tower. We have seen it before but that was 20 years ago on our honeymoon. Obviously it hasn’t changed but, hey, that was before the days of digital photography and I hoped to improve on the one ‘snap’ I took at the time. As it was I took 49 photos today. Happily I’ve whittled them down to 19.  

We were pretty knackered and the weather wasn’t getting any cooler so we headed back to the hotel early, stopping off for a Croque Monsieur at the same bar/restaurant we visited for after show drinks the previous night.

Given the set list yesterday I predicted a first three of Badlands, We Take Care Of Our Own and Wrecking Ball so we were both pretty surprised to get Ties That Bind as an opener. When No Surrender came up second followed by Two Hearts and then Downbound Train It seemed quite obvious that something special was happening here!

We were sitting much further back and lower down than the previous night. The crowd around us were pretty lively but some of the folks in the next block had obviously been superglued to their seats. Whole rows sat down for most of the show. Mike did point out at some time that a few were up and dancing but don’t think it was for long.  

It was without a shadow of doubt the most surprising show we have ever been to. The set list was right out of the left field and every song was a winner for me. I didn’t recognise I'm Going Down from the intro but when it dawned I  think I might have been the most excited at a Bruce show than I had ever been. I mentioned the song waaaaay back in my second post as the only track from 'Born In The USA' that we hadn’t heard live. It just might be my favourite song on the album so this alone would have made my night.

We saw Bruce at Parc Des Princes in 2008. The outstanding moment from that show was For You on the piano. I've talked about this before because we have never heard a crowd so quiet.  So Bruce walks up to the piano and plays ... For You.  What a coincidence !

Favourites are coming thick and fast. Racing next with a very long outro prompting Mike to remark that he’d much rather have the 2012 outro to Racing In The Street than the 78 intro to Prove It All Night. 

Out In The Street may be a regular but I like it. I’m always pleased to hear Land Of Hope And Dreams although we both prefer the original version.  Of course he can’t go wrong with Thunder Road - love the audience participation in this one. We danced together during Dancing In The Dark. I don’t think I have ever had so much fun at a gig.

A lot of people said after Manchester that it was the best show they had ever been to. I remarked at the time that I found it hard to choose but this just might be snapping at the heels of 'The River Night' at MSG. That night had a completely different feel. It was a privilege to be there at, what will probably be, a unique show and a dream for us to be in New York City. I can hardly believe I was there and it was just special for us. It was our last show of the tour and we knew it would be the last for some time- so a little sad. It seemed like the end of an era.

But if that’s the case this could be the start of a new era and it might just be the best yet. The Paris show was joyous, full of energy and joie de vivre (a bit of the local lingo there!). Bruce was clearly enjoying himself and so were we. We came out of the show bouncing and although it’s our last gig of the scheduled shows so far it doesn’t feel like the end.  

So to the set list. We will be talking about this night for a long time to come.

	Paris 04/07/2012 Time 8.35 to 12.00	Paris 05/07/2012 Time 8.58 to 12.39
1	We Take Care Of Our Own (39)	Ties That Bind (9)
2	Wrecking Ball (39)	No Surrender (13)
3	Badlands (33)	Two Hearts Are Better Than One (5)
4	Death To My Hometown (39)	Downbound Train (4)
5	My City Of Ruins (39)	Candy’s Room (8)
6	Spirit In The Night (17)	Something in The Night (2)
7	E Street Shuffle (11)	We Take Care Of Our Own (40)
8	4th July Asbury Park (Sandy) (1)	Wrecking Ball (40)
9	Jack Of All Trades (37)	Death To My Hometown (40)
10	Because The Night (14)	My City Of Ruins (40)
11	Darkness On The Edge Of Town (6)	Spirit In The Night (18)
12	Johnny 99 (11)	Incident On 57th Street (2)
13	Darlington County (6)	Because The Night (15)
14	Easy Money (13)	She’s The One (15)
15	Waitin’ On A Sunny Day (39)	Working On The Highway (14)
16	Promised Land (27)	I’m Going Down (2)
17	The Way You Do The Things You Do (27)	Easy Money (14)
18	634-5789 (27)	Waitin’ On A Sunny Day (40)
19	Independence Day (1)	The Way You Do The Things You Do (28)
20	The River (17)	634-5789 (28)
21	The Rising (38)	For You (1)
22	Out In The Street (19)	Racing In The Street (5)
23	Land Of Hope And Dreams (26)	The Rising (39)
24	We Are Alive (36)	Out In The Street (20)
25	Born In The USA (16)	Land Of Hope And Dreams (27)
26	Born To Run (39)	We Are Alive (37)
27	Bobby Jean (10)	Thunder Road (24)
28	Dancing In The Dark (39)	Born To Run (40)
29	Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (39)	Glory Days (8)
30	American Land (4)	Seven Nights To Rock (9)
31		Dancing In The Dark (40)
32		Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (40)
33

Paris 4th July 2012 - show 39

About a million Japanese tourists visit Paris every year. And of those million, about 12 Japanese tourists per year develop "Paris syndrome" and must return home. Some are returned home with a doctor or nurse.
Paris Syndrome is a psychiatric breakdown caused by the gap between a "deeply romantic" expectation of Paris and the reality encountered . The most common sufferers are women in their 30s.

it was a sticky, humid morning in Paris when we set off for a potter around Montmartre. By the time we found the Montmartre Cemetery we were pretty hot and sweaty. The cemetery, tucked below a busy main road, was beautifully cool and peaceful. We could have sat there all day. As it was we needed to get some lunch and our little pavement table found us sitting beside an Americans couple who were going to see Bruce that night. It goes without saying that we got chatting - never miss an opportunity to talk about Bruce is one of my mottos. It was their first time and she was hoping to hear Born In The USA. They were very impressed with our 20 show tally. We didn’t let on that we are only small fry!  

By the way the chap writes books and holds seminars about how to be rich and famous. Don’t think he needs to give Bruce any tips but if you’re interested here's a link to his web page.

So to the main event.

I liked the venue. Give me an indoor gig any time, and with the place being so small, the sense of anticipation, always there before a show, was really buzzing around the arena. The pre-show cheering and singing, usually confined to the pit, popped up in pockets all over the arena. Such a great atmosphere. Very very hot though. The lights going out whilst we were waiting was a little worrying. They were out long enough for me to wonder whether we could afford to travel back to France if the show was re- scheduled. 

We had great seats not far behind the back of the pit on Soozie’s side of the stage about half way up the stand.

So no surprises to start the set then - We Take Care Of Our Own, Wrecking Ball, Badlands.  Everyone around us stood up ..well except for one guy who was sat behind my right shoulder.  A handy shoulder, as it happens, for him to tap and ask me to sit down!!  So I look around me, up and down, right and left - no one is sitting down except this one chap. Needless to say I didn’t sit down and he didn’t stand up!

Sandy is one of my long time faves so it was great to hear it again but it was hardly a surprise given it was the 4th July.  Darlington County got an expected outing and a perfect Independence Day on the piano rounded off the ‘date specific‘ songs.  

Our new found American friends got Born In The USA.

This was our Patti debut so our first Easy Money.  One of my favourites from the album but not sure it translates to the stage so well. 

Finally a mention for Darkness - never complain about getting this one.

We had a really great time and were buzzing coming out of the show. The set list wasn’t as good as Manchester for us but the atmosphere was much better and Bruce seemed to be having a ball despite the heat. 

So a quick drink with friends afterwards at a fabulous local bar/cafe and off to bed.

Here's the set

	Isle Of Wight 24/06/2012 Time 8.10 to 10.59	Paris 04/07/2012 Time 8.35 to 12.00
1	Badlands (32)	We Take Care Of Our Own (39)
2	No Surrender (12)	Wrecking Ball (39)
3	We Take Care Of Our Own (38)	Badlands (33)
4	Wrecking Ball (38)	Death To My Hometown (39)
5	Death To My Hometown (38)	My City Of Ruins (39)
6	My City Of Ruins (38)	Spirit In The Night (17)
7	Spirit In The Night (16)	E Street Shuffle (11)
8	Lonesome Day (15)	4th July Asbury Park (Sandy) (1)
9	Jack Of All Trades (36)	Jack Of All Trades (37)
10	Atlantic City (5)	Because The Night (14)
11	Because The Night (13)	Darkness On The Edge Of Town (6)
12	Working On The Highway (13)	Johnny 99 (11)
13	Shackled And Drawn (26)	Darlington County (6)
14	Waitin’ On A Sunny Day (38)	Easy Money (13)
15	The River (16)	Waitin’ On A Sunny Day (39)
16	The Rising (37)	Promised Land (27)
17	Out In The Street (18)	The Way You Do The Things You Do (27)
18	Land Of Hope And Dreams (25)	634-5789 (27)
19	We Are Alive (35)	Independence Day (1)
20	Born In The USA (15)	The River (17)
21	Born To Run (38)	The Rising (38)
22	Glory Days (7)	Out In The Street (19)
23	Dancing In The Dark (38)	Land Of Hope And Dreams (26)
24	Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (38)	We Are Alive (36)
25	Twist And Shout (5)	Born In The USA (16)
26		Born To Run (39)
27		Bobby Jean (10)
28		Dancing In The Dark (39)
29		Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (39)
30		American Land (4)
31
32
33

The Dilemma

So with the help of someone with good IT skills, the wonders of the internet and a Bruce Buddy as obsessed as I am, by 6.00am (UK time) on Monday morning there was, waiting for me via Facebook, a You Tube clip of Bruce's stellar performance at The Grammys.  Such a great way to start the week.

Tuesday morning I was watching the same performance on the TV after having recorded it in the early hours.  It looked just as good the second time around.  You can't have failed to notice how excited the violinist was over Bruce's left shoulder and you just have to smile at her Bruuuuucing at the end.

As always there were some naysayers on Greasy Lake  but I thought the man did good.





So then we are on to a press conference in Paris. Sony treated us to highlights and enticing snippets of some tracks from the album.






All I can say is wow!  -  loved them.

And whilst Bruce was in Paris he bumped into Cecile - one of our  Greasy Lake friends 

Following on from the press event we had a plethora of reviews of the album.  There's this from the Irish Times, this in The Independent and the review from the Guardian is here.  These all followed pretty much the same format but The Telegraph decided to go for a blow by blow account of each track.  Whether or not the music critics like the album will have no bearing on my opinion. Well let's face it I'm not exactly objective when it comes to Bruce's music and I'm gonna like it anyway.  

Well we are going to be able to hear the album, by way of a track a day, on Absolute Radio. This puts me in a dilemma. I like the anticipation of a new album almost as much as the actual thing. It's a bit like Christmas. No matter how wonderful your presents are you can't beat the thrill of seeing them for the first time. As a child I didn't go looking to see where mum and dad had hidden my presents and even now I don't squidge and squash the gifts under the tree to see if I can guess what's inside. I would just hate to know what they were before I opened them.

So once I've heard the album for the first time the surprise has gone. That wonderful feeling when I first open the CD put it on the stereo and hear those first few seconds only happens once. Historically, Mike  and I have always set aside a couple of hours to listen to the album for the first time. We open a bottle of wine, lock the door, turn off the phone and settle down. I love that frisson of excitement when I hear a song for the first time. We sit in silence, with just the odd look exchanged and, at the end, perhaps pick our favourite track. Then we listen again - possibly discussing each track as we hear it.  This is the only time we just sit and listen to an album and we only do it with Bruce.  Normally music is on in the background in our house.

The flip side of this is that many of my Bruce buddies will be discussing the album before I have even heard it and there will be endless threads on Greasy Lake. I like to be in the know so I'll find it really difficult to be out of the loop.  Do I really want to be listening to the album for the first time when lots of other folks already know all the words?  Oh! and am I depriving myself of two weeks enjoyment? What If I die in the next two weeks?  Well, if I do, Mike says he'll play the album at my wake!

Hmmmm it's a toughie but after due consideration I've made my decision. I don't want to hear any more tracks until I get the cd in my hot little hands.  Roll on March 5th.