35 Days to Europe!

Sometimes I write some bits of my Sunday post during the week. Now, I don't want you to get the wrong idea, I'm not constantly thinking about my blog - I do have a life.  I spend a fair bit of each day sitting on a bus and an idea might come to me or a song on the iPod might spark something off.


It doesn't always pay to be too far ahead of myself, though. Things can happen at the last minute which make my earlier scribbles completely out of date: a sort of 'hold-the-front-page' moment.  Here's the paragraph I wrote last Thursday:-


I know some people don't watch set lists but here's why I do.  At my shows I know Bruce will walk on to the stage and play WTCOOO and Wrecking Ball and then...I'll be waiting with anticipation for the next song.  I'll be excited, on the edge of my seat (or, if I'm lucky with the people around me, standing up). The first few notes: what is it?? Wow! it's ???? or hmmmm not my favourite.  

but

If that song wasn't on my wish list, a couple of great songs later, I get another chance and so it goes on. That's what a Bruce concert is all about - the highs, the not so highs then perhaps  the highest - that song I always wanted to hear.


So... do I know the first song is going to be WTCOOO followed by Wrecking Ball ?? Obviously not!  Who snuck Badlands in there to throw me off?  it would seem that Soozie wasn't in the loop either.  If you keep your eye on her here she seems to have chosen the wrong instrument.  Thanks to Kev Harrison on Greasy Lake for pointing this out











The gist of my point is still the same though.  Although much of the set is the same it's the little surprises that keep us going back for more.  Well that's not the only reason is it? We can't keep away - it's a kind of addiction - it's a Springsteen thing.




We are now 10 shows into the tour so here's a little game for you.  On the left is a list of the ever presents in the set list after ten shows with gaps where there have been changes (although these have been a bit flexible from night to night).  On the right is a list of the other songs played so far. Which of the other songs would you put in the gaps to make your ideal list to date. You can only have songs already played and there are eight gaps to fill.

Ever presents	Others
We Take Care Of Our Own	Adam Raised A Cain	1
Wrecking Ball	American Land	2
	American Skin	3
Death To My Hometown	Atlantic City	4
My City Of Ruins	Badlands	5
	Because The Night	6
	Candy’s Room	7
Jack Of All Trades	Darkness On The Edge Of Town	8
	Does This Bus Stop	9
Easy Money	E Street Shuffle	10
Waitin’ On A Sunny Day	Glory Days	11
	Jackson Cage	12
The Way You Do The Things You Do	Johnny 99	13
634-5789	Kitty’s Back	14
	Land Of Hope And Dreams	15
The Rising	Lion’s Den	16
We Are Alive	Lonesome Day	17
Thunder Road	Murder Inc	18
Rocky Ground	Night	19
	Out In The Street	20
Born To Run	(The) Promise	21
Dancing In The Dark	(The) Promised Land	22
	Prove It All Night	23
Tenth Avenue Freeze Out	Racing In The Street	24
	Radio Nowhere	25
	Raise Your Hands	26
	Ramrod	27
	Rosalita	28
	Seaside Bar Song	29
	Seeds	30
	Shackled And Drawn	31
	She’s The One	32
	So young and In Love	33
	Streets Of Philadelphia	34
	Talk To Me	35
	Thundercrack	36
	(The) Ties That Bind	37
	Trapped	38

 

Did We Miss It?

Two nearly moments on TV this week.

Firstly - American idol.  Now I know it's fashionable to knock this show but I have watched it on and off for a few years, and if I am absolutely honest, I prefer it to X Factor.  So Bruce was going to visit but would he actually appear on screen?  Well I didn't watch this week so I don't know but I assume the lack of any outrage from fans suggests he kept well away from any TV camera.

In the early years of American Idol rumour has it that Bruce wouldn't even give permission for a song of his to be performed.  Here's an old blog post from a fan talking about the first ever Springsteen cover done on the show.

Perhaps Bruce was at a loose end whilst he was in Los Angeles.  Although he seems to be happy just strolling along with Patti in these photos.

You know I love the way Patti just looks so ordinary when she's relaxing.

She certainly scrubs up well although MIke tells me he doesn't find her attractive.  He prefers Soozie.



The second nearly TV moment happened when we were channel hopping and chanced upon Elvis Costello's Spectacle on Sky Arts 1.  Bruce's episode is mentioned but I can't see when it's on.  Yeah yeah I know we have all seen it (in our case thanks to Tony P) but it's Bruce on the telly so you have to watch.

Just like yesterday when I strolled by the CDs whilst I was doing my weekly shop.  I spotted Songs For Japan and although I had no intention of buying it I just had to check out Bruce's name in the track listings.

We did manage to watch something on the box this week with a slight Springsteen connection thanks to a heads up from Ceinwen.  Cemetery Junction  is a film written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant and based loosely on 'Born to Run'.  It's about escaping from your boring job, mundane existence, home town and doing something exciting with your life.   Funny and quite poignant I enjoyed it although we were interrupted very near the end by a phone call and ended up watching the last 15 minutes or so on the plus 1 channel an hour later.  It spoiled the flow rather.

As films with Bruce connections go this wasn't my favourite.  That would be The Wrestler and I liked Reign Over Me.

Before I finish I've just had a quick peak around my usual message boards and blogs to check for any breaking news but it's very quiet.  Perhaps everyone is on holiday.

So that's it for this week except to say that Joe D'urso is starting his UK tour on 18th May. The dates are here.