Speaking of Born To Run, I wonder why he always has the house lights turned on when he plays that song. Is there any particular symbolism, or message, to it?

I'm not complaining - I like it, because it's fascinating to be able to see an arena full of Springsteen fans. It's amazing to see the reactions one man can create.

[It's amazing to see the reactions one man can create.]

I think you just said it all...

I remember during "The River" shows, the lights used to go up for the "Detroit Medley", and that was an amazing feeling looking around, seeing thousands of like-minded fans. Of course now it's pretty common for the lights to be turned on for many acts and their encores.

I have small request from someone in the South who won't get to see this show until '08....After one of you sees one or a couple of the first shows, could you please post a set list?

I plan on taking my 14 year old daughter and would like to compile a comp cd for her with the most likely set list of songs. With so many for him to choose and her not knowing his music at all, this would go a long way to help her enjoy it more. ( she is gettting into classic rock now beyond 2000's pop)

I have been to over 450+ concerts since 1977 but only four of them have been Bruce so compared to most, I am still a newbie. But in my defense I have wanted to see him for many additional tours but have either lived in cities he didn't play or have been out of town etc...( I know, excuses, excuses)

I am really looking forward to this one as his last one for me w/ ESB was fantastic with front/right stage seats. I hope to give my daughter a similar experience.

Thanks in advance. I know we are a month away but wanted to get my Xmas list in now.

Rich...Backstreets always posts entire set lists, from every show.

http://www.backstreets.com

Thanks I forgot about them. I am not real big on fan sites as I have way too much on my plate as it is and this site is my only real internet indulgence.

I will check them out though and thanks for the reminder.

SPRINGSTEEN: I SAY "YAY!"

Thats my answer to the question "if you could be one other person, who?"

broooooce.. the boss... bruce springsteen...

made the hairs on my arms stand up aged 12, makes the hairs stand up aged 29...

he aint my favourite musician (marr), heck, he aint my favourite singer (mozzer), he aint frank black, he doesn't have the 'ex junkie' swagger of reed or bowie, or the dead early kudos of curtis or cobain (or the sadly missed elliott smith & jeff buckley), he doesnt make me lose myself like radiohead .. but for the overall package, for the person, for what he stands for... where he comes from...

springsteen is the COOLEST FUCKER ON THIS PLANET

disagree? agree? what say you!

I'd rather be Dave Marsh, so I can be paid to write about how wonderful St. Boss is (and my wife can be on the payroll as well)

But that would also make you a pompous, sanctimonious windbag.

The best show I've ever seen was Bruce & the E-Streeters at the Meadowlands Arena on the Born in the USA tour. The audience was just as exhausted as the band by the end.

Arg...my impulse control stinks. I'm sorry, I just need to stay out of the Springsteen threads with my snotty threadcrapping, but sometimes...maybe I'll do a seperate thread one of these days attempting to pinpoint what it is about Bruce that annoys me these days--because I used to enjoy his music very much (and probably still would if I ever played any of it again). Because it's really not the music that annoys me...

For those of you who are not familiar with the structure of the Springsteen organization, Dave Marsh's wife is Barbara Carr. Carr is second in command of the entire Springsteen organization behind Jon Landau.
I have a very long and complicated history as a result of being a Springsteen fan (since '78) so I think I can safely say that I wouldn't necessarily wish that I could be Springsteen. But I like to be like Jimbo in the regard that I can think back on the best shows I've seen him do over the years and recall those times when Bruce left you feeling as if you had been hit by a freight train. All of the shows I saw from the formal tours of The River, Born In The U.S.A and Tunnel of Love just wiped you out.
The show from the first time I saw him perform on October 25, 1980 not only left me feeling dazed for a week afterwards, it totally changed my concept of what to expect from a rock concert.
I saw Bruce perform a fantastic show on opening night of Tacoma at the TacomaDome on October 17, 1984. None of us knew it, but he had a terrible stomach flu for the show and you wouldn't have known it. He did, however, get wheeled out on a stretcher after the show was over because he was exhausted and dehydrated. There was some doubt that the 2nd night was even going to happen and appeared to likely be cancelled. We were all told to wait a day. On the 19th, it just so happened that Bruce came out and basically tore down the roof of not only the TacomaDome, but basically every roof of the Seattle/Tacoma/Puget Sound area as well with a show for the ages. You see, it didn't help that the great opening night got eclipsed by one of the better shows he's ever done in his career. I was also in the 10th row for this show as well.
And then, I'll never forget the 3 shows out of 4 that he did to end the whole Born In The U.S.A. Tour in late September and October 2, 1985 at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. Those weren't just shows. They were endurance tests. Including the break, the final show of the tour on October 2nd clocked in at just a shade under 4 hours and 45 minutes long. I went to shows # 2, 3 & 4. A lucky lady who used to be a member of the old ICE community just before we switched over to over here with Linda got to go to the opening night show where Bruce did "Janie, Don't You Lose Heart". If I'm recalling correctly, stevef went to these shows as well. I don't remember if he went to all 4 nights or which specific ones.
If anything, I wish I could be a babe-magnet, but being a player is something that's only in my dreams and will likely stay that way. At my age, I just want to meet one special lady and be done with it rather than be a rock star. A good second choice for me would be to have the good fortune of becoming friends with some of these famous people so that I can relate to them on artistic things as well as helping them to stay connected to just regular things.

I don't listen to Springsteen's music anymore. I can't really say why, but he just doesn't interest me. Having said that, I add that he is the best live performer I have ever seen. I saw him at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 75 or 76, and in Tampa back in (I think) 78.It was his first ever show in Tampa, and he opened with Buddy Holly's "Oh Boy"-

"All of my love, all of my kissing, you don't know what you've been missing, Oh Boy..."

Perfect.

Saw him in '77 at the Berkeley Community Theater (had front row balcony seats)
he was touring on the 'Darkness album, I believe. It was a very good show, although
I wasn't a real big fan then. I had a choice to see him or Neil Young in L.A. next month,
tickets for Neil's show were available first, so that's what I'm doing, also better seats
than I would probably be able to get for Springsteen too. I still don't think they have
announced the venue for Springsteen yet (Neil's show is at the new Nokia theater,
nice place from what I hear).

Setlist: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - 10/5/07 Philadelphia

On the second night of the current E Street outing, Bruce Springsteen put forth what could emerge as the "B" setlist of the tour - the alternate to opening night's offering.  At least, if one completely over-analyzes the setlists of the rehearsal shows, one could jump to such a hasty conclusion.
In Philadelphia, things opened up as expected with "Radio Nowhere," but the Phillie crowd got "No Surrender" in the number two slot and "Candy's Room" where "Night" fell on opening night. Patti Scialfa's lead turn on "Town Called Heartbreak" was bumped to bring in "Brilliant Disguise," and "My Hometown" sat in for "Darkness on the Edge Of Town."
The written setlist posted to BruceSpringsteen.net yields a couple more surprises considered but not played: "Adam," ostensibly "Adam Raised A Cane," was originally slotted for the post-"Brilliant Disguise" position, and the opening song of the encore was written to be a choice of "Racing" (likely "Racing in the Street") or "Girls In Their Summer Clothes." "Racing" was not played.
The length of the show was roughly the same as opening night, with a total of 23 songs each night.

The played list:
1. Radio Nowhere
2. No Surrender
3. Lonesome Day
4. Gypsy Biker
5. Magic
6. Reason To Believe
7. Candy's Room
8. She's The One
9. Livin' In The Future
10. The Promised Land
11. Brilliant Disguise
12. My Hometown
13. Darlington County
14. Devil's Arcade
15. The Rising
16. Last To Die
17. Long Walk Home
18. Badlands

Encores:
19. Girls In Their Summer Clothes
20. Thundercrack
21. Born To Run
22. Waitin' On A Sunny Day
23. American Land 

http://blogs.livedaily.com/index.php/ma ... and_10_5_0

I'd like to have a video camera and be Penélope Cruz for 15 minutes

For me...ME...his relevance ended with Human Touch/Lucky Town in '92. I understand he is a messiah on stage, but I can't listen to any post '92 CDs of his.

Hay I like Bruce!

Have you listened to the new one? I'd been hating his new stuff for about the same period as you, but his new album is fantastic. Easily his best since Born In The USA.

I got an advance of "Radio Nowhere", and was so floored by the horrible mix/mastering I didn't bother to grab the album.

This sentence is the exact reason I could never be an audiophile. IMO, skipping an album of well-written, well-performed songs because of mix quality is missing the point.

Growing up, I had hundreds of tapes that were fifth-generation dubs or recorded from scratchy LPs. A better quality recording was nice, but the song was what was essential.

It really makes me sad that you feel that way.