Until The Night Is Over

This is the first time I have written a blog whilst Bruce is touring. I wasn't sure how to play it. I couldn't really summarise everything on a Sunday as there would be far too much to say. On the other hand because I have already posted three times this week I wonder whether I have anything to add. We'll see how it goes then.

Well three shows this week.  I would have loved to be at any of the three but if I were to choose only one it would have to be Tampa.  Much as I love Badlands I would have been really chuffed to hear Prove It All Night.  As I have mentioned many times before, Atlantic City is Mike's favourite and he would be quite happy to hear it at every gig.  For me it is the one song that really hit me, from our very first show, when I wasn't familiar with Bruce's early albums. 

American Skin (41 shots) will always remind me of Dublin.  I know most of you heard it sound checked from the pit line.  We were in the hotel just down the road and I could hear very faint strains creeping in through the open window.

What about Talk To Me!  Something from 'The Promise' which pleases me no end.  I hope there is more.  Of course Bruce originally gave this song to Southside Johnny and guess who is coming to Manchester in June?  Oh! oh! oh! could it be?  Seeing the two of them on stage together would make my day.  Sorry to say Southside isn't in Manchester until 28th June and I don't see him popping over a week early just to sing with Bruce. I guess it will be Light of Day for us one year then.

Bruce looks as if he is really enjoying himself here. Great bopping around the stage there Bruce when Southside is singing the first verse. You get a good impression of how - well - strange Southside is while Bruce is singing - what is he doing?  Much as I like Johnny I have to say Bruce makes a much better fist of this here.

So short and sweet this week.  

Next up Boston

Tampa Friday 23rd March 2012 - show 3

The distance from Greensboro to Tampa is about 646 miles, so if you were going from show to show you would now have travelled 975 miles so far.

One of our our Bruce buddies - Lorcan Claffey was actually at the show! 

Here is his great review

I don't even know where to begin. One of those days where it all seems to come together. Picked up my tickets at the will-call window and the guy says to me "pit lottery is still open". So we saunter over and get number 670/671. Wander back 2 hours later and they call the number and we're only 60 off it - result!! So we lined up. And he sound checked - great. Then we walk in - and the barrier where C stood is open - I could not believe it. Front Row. Pinch me....

Anyway, showtime comes around.... What can I say - this is one train you don't want to miss. To me, his voice was stronger than WOAD or Magic tours. Really great and he has the pacing of the new material perfect. He started with a four pack - WTCOOO, Wrecking, PROVE IT, Death. Good Jesus, I could barely keep up. Prove It was mega and he took the solo himself and tore two strings off his fender!! The pace never really stopped - he just kept building and building and the arena was jammed. Awesome night.

Highlights? Jack of All Trades into Atlantic into Easy Money.... the message is delivered, heart of the show. Talk to me.... Oh God, he ended it on his knees to Patti. Thunder Road, still a killer in the sun - just sublime, Rocky Ground into LOHAD is a fantastic encore opener.

Sum it up? Well any show where 41 Shots is played and it isn’t a highlight has to be good. Its an amazing feeling to be part of this weird and wonderful community where this 62 year old man can capture where you are at in life, how you feel and lift you up. Because that's what it is. Uplifting. Every but as good as the first time I saw him and every bit as relevant. He's still pushing forward and trying to make sense of the world and the passion he brings to it is astounding. Final song was of course 10th Avenue. And he brought out C's 10 year old son. The whole band looked like they could cry and if you hand't felt the hole in the stage, well it was there then. And the roar when he stops at "when the big man joined the band"? Well, it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive.

We're in for a hell of a Summer...

One postscript - a 15 year old African American was shot to death recently in Fl. The police gave the white security guard a free pass on it and it is a major controversy here - Obama is even involved. Bruce playing 41 Shots - still willing to stand up for what's right.

Well all I can say is if I hear this set list at any of our gigs I will be happy.

There are a million and one sites out there giving you stats.  I plan to keep the set list for Atlanta on my blog together with the latest set list. That way we can see how it has changed since the first night.  The number after each song indicates the amount of times it has been played on the tour. 

Atlanta 18/03/12 Time 8.10 to 10.44	Tampa 23/03/12 Time 8.25 to 11.12
We Take Care Of Our Own	We Take Care Of Our Own 3
Wrecking Ball	Wrecking Ball 3
Badlands	Prove It All Night 1
Death To My Hometown	Death To My Hometown 3
My City Of Ruins	My City Of Ruins 3
The E Street Shuffle	Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street 1
Jack Of All Trades	Talk To Me 1
Seeds	Jack Of All Trades 3
Easy Money	Atlantic City 1
Waitin' On A Sunny Day	Easy Money 3
The Promised Land	Waitin’ On A Sunny Day 3
The Way You Do The Things You Do	The Promise Land 3
634 -5789	The Way You Do The Things You Do 3
Shackled And Drawn	634 - 5789 3
Lonesome Day	American Skin (41 Shots) 1
The Rising	Radio Nowhere 1
We Are Alive	The Rising 3
Thunder Road	We Are Alive 3
Rocky Ground	Thunder Road 3
Land Of Hope And Dreams	Rocky Ground 3
Born To Run	Land Of Hope And Dreams 3
Dancing In The Dark	Born To Run 3
American Land	Dancing In The Dark 3
Tenth Avenue Freeze Out	Glory Days 1
	Tenth Avenue Freeze Out 3

The You Tube clip is Prove It All Night of course