114 – Bruce Springsteen – Friday, September 14, 2012 – Nationals Park – DC

This show will always be known as the one when I got to meet Bruce.  We did not actually say anything to each other -- perhaps, given Kevin and Paul’s connections, this will happen next time. ;)  We were, however, TWO FEET from each other, leaping and screaming for fifteen glorious seconds.  It was hard to tell who was jumping higher – him or me!  

Other memorable moments included…

--- Driving around SE for 45 minutes trying to find a parking spot, shuffling another 45 minutes trying to get into the show, and wandering for 90 (!) minutes after the show trying to find my car.  [I didn’t say these were pleasant moments – just memorable.]  

--- Hearing the unexpected guitar solo in “Prove It All Night,” the calypso vibe in “The Ties That Bind,” and the trumpet to go with the train in “Johnny 99.”

--- Seeing this atonal little kid with industrial headphones lifted on stage during an acoustic “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day.”  He couldn’t sing, but he sure could fist pump.  Bruce worried, “I think I may have scarred him for life.”  Hardly.

--- Hearing the Scottish vibe and maracas interlude in “Shackled and Drawn,” the shift from hushed acoustic to upbeat banjo in “We Are Alive,” and the vast improvements on “Land of Hope and Dreams” – so much better than the album version and Clarence’s nephew has gained such confidence.  It was also satisfying to hear “Jack of All Trades,” “Racing in the Streets,” a strong piano song I had not known very well, and the welcome return of “Darlington County,” “Dancer in the Dark,”  “This American Land,” and “BADLANDS!”          

 --- Seeing and hearing Bruce work the crowd: “This song is from before you were born – way before you were born…This is exhausting; I need to get some new life. [He starts eating a slice of pizza mid song!]…I heard there’s some pretty good baseball being played here right now.  [The crowd loudly cheers.]...[During ‘Wrecking Ball’] The arena’s filled and *Giants* played their games.  [For once, most of the crowd is saying something other than ‘Bruuuuce.’]…Can you feel the spiiiirt?  Oh, you can feel that they’re all here.  You know how I can tell?  They’re in your voices.”

--- Involuntarily clapping when I saw a guy next to me in a Heisenberg t-shirt.  He claimed he burned through Breaking Bad in two weeks since it was ‘so addictive’ [heh].

--- Involuntarily slanging during the encore: “DC Central Kitchen, what what” / “good golly I like ‘Detroit Medley.’”  Since when do I talk like that?  

--- Taking in the crowd the whole night.  The stadium panorama was incredible.  You had 40,000 people, including two of my students’ parents TC/JK, on their feet for four hours.  You had three guys pounding air drumsticks during the “Born To Run” drum solo.  You had two marines walk past me the moment “The Rising” began – the only time they came by the whole time!    

Throughout the show, Bruce asked, “WashingTON, are you done?”  Ultimately, four hours later, the answer was “yes.”  We were all done until the Verizon Center next fall.  Until then, no concert was likely to measure up to this one…     

Grade: A+