Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band

The Rising 2002-2003

After 14 months of traveling around the world with the E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen concluded his tour in support of his last studio album with the E Street Band. “The Rising” world tour concluded with 3 sold out shows in New York’s Shea Stadium on October 1st, 3rd & 4th. Not surprisingly to some of you dear readers, this concert reviewer was in attendance for the tour opener on August 7 2002 in New Jerseys Continental Arena, the tour closer at Shea on October 4^th and another 7 shows in between. Sure, this may seem to be way overkill even for die-hard rock and roll fans but I figure that if some of my peers can attend as much baseball, hockey or football games in the same period of time than who’s to say? So I will take this opportunity to review one of the nine concerts that I attended during this tour...

 

August 24, 2002 The Forum Los Angeles 

I was lucky enough to see my second Rising show as a fluky result of being on vacation in LA this particular week. My dear friend Marianne lives in LA and not only had tickets but had an extra that allowed me to attend with her and 2 of her friends.  

 

Several noteworthy items occurred that night, one that was immediately noteworthy and the other became noteworthy as a result of recent political events in California. I’ll start with the latter, as some of you know Bruce introduces the E Street Band members with what appears to be spontaneous stream of consciousness rapping.  Having already attended in excess of 20 Bruce concerts before this evening, I know that this rapping is actually well rehearsed if indeed not scripted.

On this evening, Bruce introduced sax player Clarence Clemons as the “governor of California” to the delight of many fans in the audience. Nearly one year to the day later, Ah-nuld is indeed the “governator of Cali”, so this tongue in cheek intro seems not at all far-fetched after all (at least to me!) 

The other noteworthy occurrence for me was how, at the end of the show, I had watched the crew breakdown the stage in preparation for leaving that night for the next days show in Phoenix. I saw and took the opportunity to just walk right down to the main floor of the Los Angeles Forum (we were in the nosebleed section, opposite stage). I then headed backstage and found my way to violinist Soozie Tyrell’s dressing room. I knocked, Soozie answered and she graciously signed the back of my concert stub! I told her that I was from NY and that my brother Eric knew her from their shared days at “The Bottom Line” in lower Manhattan. Again she graciously acknowledged this and before wearing out my welcome, I left Ms Tyrell to her after show partying. Marianne and her friends could not believe my story until I produced the signed ticket stub! Neither could my brother until he saw the autograph and said “Yep, that’s her signature all right…”

Finally, this show also included absolutely blistering versions of 2 newer songs.  “Worlds Apart” is one of Denise’s favorites from the new album. Also a favorite of Adelaide’s, and mine was “Countin’ on a Miracle”. Sadly for me, this was also the last time I saw the band perform these 2 songs over the remainder of the tour but OMIGOD they were unforgettable!