From: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org (LuckyTown Digest) To: luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Subject: LuckyTown Digest V9 #63 Reply-To: luckytown@luckytown.org Sender: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Errors-To: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Precedence: bulk LuckyTown Digest Friday, August 9 2002 Volume 09 : Number 063 NOTE: Sale/trade posts should be emailed to luckytown-ads, *NOT* to luckytown. That includes tix wanted/tix grovels, post them to luckytown-ads, please. Contents: opening night [MMc7878@aol.com] re: Mary's Place found in Dallas, Texas?! [Tanna ] More on "My City of Ruins" [Don Weisman ] re: intro to `My City Of Ruins' [Daryl Mann ] (no subject) [LGriese@aol.com] 8/7 Thoughts - The Real Disappointment - and Bruce vs The Who ["Mason Wei] MSG Pre-Show Gathering for LTD's ["Tommins, Patrick J." >August 7th>Opening night blues>38 and 2 [BergLei] 'Boss Fans Debate The 'Rising' Level Of His Publicity' (The Boston Globe) [Barry Kaplovitz ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2002 00:03:19 EDT From: MMc7878@aol.com Subject: opening night You people have lost your minds.... I attended opening night show (was lucky enough to have a ticket). It was incredible... The complaints I read on here are insane... Of course Bruce wants to sell records and promote his album...that's his job...If he didn't play songs of the from the new album he would be the Beach Boys playing Great Adventure.. If you don't want to hear the new songs.. don't buy tickets to 18 shows.. That way those of us who want to hear the new songs can go to more shows.. It's amazing that many of the critics wrote I cant wait to hear how he does in D.C. Are people really serious complaining that Steve had some problems with an amp.. or Nils with a guitar?... Did i read one guy write that Gary mixed in a little high? My god..what do you people want? The album is outstanding...The concert was outstanding.. 20,000 people singing word for word on Waitin on Sunny Day ( a song that's not a single. a song on an album that was released a week ago... a song that was trashed by many of the idiots that subscribe to Luckytown..) As for the length of the show... the man gave us his all for 2 hours and 25 minutes.. HE IS 53 YEARS OLD... I'm 40.. times change.... I dont want to be there for 3 plus hours.. I'm old and so is Bruce...get over it.. LIVE IN THE PRESENT As for rarities ..they will probably come..but did you every think that the band is working so hard on geting the new stuff down that they don't have the time to practice the obscure nugget that you want to hear? Once again.. It was a $75 honor to be there opening night..it was thrilling...it was opening night..there were going to be a few bumps in the road..if you didn't want to hear those bumps.. then you shouldn't have bought a ticket.. Rock N Roll is not about pacing..song selection....Steve's amp trouble...Nil's guitar trouble...your pining for 1975 Rock n Roll is about the No. 1 album in the country...An oustanding album.. It's about hearing those songs (not something off the Greetings that you kissed your first girlfriend too). It's about the Rising.. It's about a man and his band giving their all and then some which they clearly did on Aug. 7. Those who disagree..sell your future tickets and give them to real rock 'n' roll fans..After all..Beach Boy tickets at Great Adventure are still available and I hear they have some great rides there.. Regards, Jim from Howell [text/html attachment deleted] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 20:16:40 -0700 (PDT) From: Tanna Subject: re: Mary's Place found in Dallas, Texas?! Alan in Dallas passed along some comments re: "Mary's Place" and a band from Dallas in Digest #61. Sorry Alan, don't know the band but you also added the following, "...Of course, then the chorus busts in and I thought of Southside, with a big Miami Steve horn-and-chorus arrangement." That would be the "Miami Horns" from Johnny's band and Steven's Disciples of Soul, hence that feeling but here are some lyrics from a Sam Cooke song about "Mary's Place". Not quite the same Mary but a striking similarity. Cooke was a pretty darn big musical influence for Steven, Southside and likely Springsteen too. They've done a lot of his songs in the past. Thanks for the cd recommendation. I'll have an eye out for it. Solidarity! Tanna Meet Me At Mary's Place Sam Cooke A friend of mine told me one early mornin' (Over at Mary's place, ho) Said tonight there's gonna be a party goin' on (Over at Mary's place, ho) He said "If you can enjoy a real nice affair (Over at Mary's place, ho) Then you'll make it your business to be right there" (Over at Mary's place, ho) He said in fact: Meet me (meet me at Mary's place) We're gonna have (we're gonna have us a ball today) Why don't you (meet me at Mary's place) Why don't you meet me (meet me at Mary's place) We're gonna have (we're gonna have us a ball today) Why don't you (meet me at Mary's place, ho) He said: There's one thing I that want you to know (Over at Mary's place, ho) You're gonna have a good time before you go (Over at Mary's place, ho) He said: There's one more thing that I'm gonna guarantee (Over at Mary's place, ho) Got to have fun if you're a man like me (Over at Mary's place, ho) If you wanna have fun, meet me (meet me at Mary's place) We're gonna have (we're gonna have us a ball today) Why don't you (meet me at Mary's place) Oh meet me (meet me at Mary's place) We're gonna have (we're gonna have us a ball today) Why don't you (meet me at Mary's place, ho) If you wanna have a good time (meet me at Mary's place) We're gonna have (we're gonna have us a ball today) Come on & (meet me at Mary's place) Oh, meet me (meet me at Mary's place) We're gonna have (we're gonna have us a ball today) Come on & (meet me at Mary's place, ho) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 06:56:37 -1000 From: Don Weisman Subject: More on "My City of Ruins" "Since I first heard it in Asbury in December 2000, I've always thought MCOR sounded like 'People Get Ready.' Insterestingly, he's throwing a 'Get Ready' snippet into LOHAD on the current tour." The original, first-year Asbury version, definitely lent its roots directly to that Curtis Mayfield song. The more recent, sans horns, version still does, but the heavier organ arrangement brings out the Beatles reference. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2002 18:55:18 -0400 From: Daryl Mann Subject: re: intro to `My City Of Ruins' The introduction to `My City Of Ruins' is almost identical to Gregg Allman's cover of Jackson Browne's `These Days' from the `LAID BACK' album. In fact, the Springsteen song has a decidedly `Allmanesque' flavor to it. Whether intentional or not, a sweet nod to Bruce's friend Jackson and the Allmans as well. Daryl. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 13:13:11 EDT From: LGriese@aol.com Subject: (no subject) After years of lurking, this is the first time I'm writing, in response to a message by John Moye. Thanks very much, John, for giving us our first review of this tour - I appreciate hearing about how the show was. However, I hope that your message doesn't signal the beginning of a series of complaints from concertgoers about the length of the shows and the choice of materials Bruce choses to perform for us. I have been faithfully attending Springsteen concerts ever since seeing him at the tiny Main Point outside Philly back in 1974, and always looked forward to the shows that followed the release of a new album for the chance to see different material performed. Anyone who goes to these shows knows that the majority of songs played will be from the new album/CD. This tour is no exception and I am praying, praying that I will be lucky enough to get a ticket for one of the Florida shows when they go on sale Saturday. I cannot wait to hear the magnificent Rising songs performed live! I suggest that those who don't want to see mostly Rising songs in concert should either listen to the CD more or let those of us who cherish this CD get the tickets! When I first listened to the CD, I was marginally pleased, but my response quickly grew in leaps and bounds and now it has infected every fiber of my body in a deliciously haunting way. In the rare times when the CD isn't being played, I am singing one of the tunes in my mind. There isn't a throwaway song on the recording (though I do usually fast forward through Further On Up the Road). As for the length of the shows, of course we would like them to go on and on, but since they're playing so many shows in a short space of time, I hope they conserve their stamina so it lasts all the way through the later shows (like Florida!). I am married to a 52 year old man, and I'm astounded that Bruce can give his all for 2-1/2 hours straight! So please, Luckytowners, for those of us blessed enough to get tickets to this tour, let's focus more on the positive and not whine that the shows aren't exactly what we want to see. There are so many who won't get to see the shows at all. Hope to see some of you in Orlando or Tampa! Laurie [text/html attachment deleted] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2002 00:35:26 -0400 From: "Mason Weinrich" Subject: 8/7 Thoughts - The Real Disappointment - and Bruce vs The Who OK, folks, my (rarely posted) two cents. I was there on 8-7, and on 8-2. On 8-2 all the new songs worked terrifically, because everyone there was a "die-hard" - taking off time mid-week, waiting on long lines, etc. Last night, we met The Real World. The ones who DON'T all listen to the album non-stop for a week, and the ones that DON'T live their life for Bruce or anything like it. The band played well for the most part, although there were many equipment problems and they were sloppy on the first encore. But hey folks - this is a masterfully constructed album, and a masterfully constructed setlist for the most part. Opening with "The Rising", closing with "Into The Fire" - perfect. It truly gets the message across. But those fans were not there to get a message - they were there to listen to all the Bruce songs they are familiar with. I was truly disappointed with them - using "The Fuse" and an AMAZING "Worlds Apart" for beer and bathroom breaks, so they could be there for the inevitable playing of "Badlands." That may change as the tour moves, and people get the time to get more familiar with the material. But it may not, and it will be interesting to see how Bruce and Co. react. I think he was visibly surprised last night - his face to me looked almost puzzled at times. One last thing I can;t let go.. to Lisanne Biolos - I doubt you actually saw The Who this year based on your comments. While you are correct - nothing in the setlist was newer than 20 years - if you saw them, you would know how incredibly they are playing this year, despite the huge loss of John Entwistle on bass. I love both Bruce and The Who, and in 2000, as great as the who were, Bruce got the nod for his amazing MSG stand in my book. This year, despite loving his new album to death, live The Who have blown E St off the stage so far in 2002. Cheers - Mason ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2002 17:02:44 -0400 From: "Tommins, Patrick J." Subject: MSG Pre-Show Gathering for LTD's For those of us lucky enough to be seeing the band at the Garden on MON night, my good friend (Steve S., Toms River, NJ) has once again arranged for the Beema Grill, 1 Penn Plaza, NYC (212) 695-8747 to host a pre-show gathering. The Beema Grill will be spinning plenty of Bruce throughout the night, and its close proximity to the Garden (across the street) makes it a very practical spot for pre-show chow & beverages. Maybe they will allow us to change their name to "Mary's Place" for the night ! Hope to see you there ! PT ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2002 00:33:49 EDT From: BergLeis@aol.com Subject: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band>>August 7th>Opening night blues>38 and 2 Dear Luckytowners and friends: I was extremely lucky to have attended opening night (via a ticket trade) in New Jersey as this is a coveted ticket commanding outrageous prices if you can't get it through normal channels. Unfortunately, after 40 shows dating back to 1975 at The Tower Theater in Philadelphia, Pa., this is the second sub par show that I have seen. Now before I go any further on up this rocky road, let me preface this by saying that I am a devoted Bruce fan. I have not missed a tour since 1975 and I consider Bruce and the band to be an A+ performance band. The only other band who rates at this level is Pink Floyd and that is another long story which I won't go into now. Finally, I also want to say that I have a tremendous amount of respect for Bruce and the band as they have usually adhered to their high standards with regard to serving their communities(causes) the public (their ideals) and the fans (putting on the best show possible). Now that I have finished with sincere platitudes, let me say that after 27 years and 40 shows, I have only attended 2 shows that left me flat. During the summer of 1980, I saw a show at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pa. which I later heard that Bruce was sick during but somehow he still soldiered on and performed admirably. In retrospect, the fact that he even completed this show is testament to how great a live artist he is and maybe I shouldn't be critical. However, on that night his voice was so bad that it has to rate as a sub par show. Sub par may be OK for some bands but when you are A+, it doesn't cut the mustard. Now what makes the 2002 tour opener sub par is much more troubling. Let's start by looking at the setlist: The Rising/Lonesome Day/Prove It All Night/The Fuse/Darkness on the Edge of Town/Empty Sky/You're Missing/Waitin' on a Sunny Day/The Promised Land/Worlds Apart/Two Hearts/Badlands/Mary's Place/Countin' on a Miracle/American Skin (41 Shots)/Into the Fire First Encore: Born to Run/Glory Days/Thunder Road Second Encore: My City of Ruins/Born in the U.S.A./Land of Hope and Dreams At first glance, this two-and-a-half hour show looks like it might be OK since there appears to be a decent amount of old material to complement the new songs. Also, it should be noted that this was not a bad performance by this great band. However, in order to really understand why this concert did not get high marks, consider the following 2 reasons: 1. The show lacked true variety 2. The show didn't hit a true peak and there were no surprises 1. This 22 song 2 1/2 hour show lacked variety>> This show had 11 songs from "The Rising"(out of 15 on the entire CD), 2 songs from "Born To Run," 4 songs form "Darkness on The Edge of Town," 1 song from "The River," 2 songs from "Born in The USA" and 2 songs from "Tracks". Again, at first glance this might seem like an OK mix, but upon closer examination, when you take 10 new songs and throw them into the first one hour and 45 minutes with 4 songs from Darkness and one from The River, you have a bad mix. Why? Well, the selection just leaned WAY too heavily on the new CD. I know that a decent amount of people who are fans like this CD. Personally, I think that it is pretty good (although NOT his best as Bruce claims). It is simply too dark and not lively enough to devote one half of the concert to. Now I know some of you say, yes, this is what Bruce wants because he feels very strongly about 9/11 and is committed to being a voice and conscience for that. Well, that is OK but do we truly need 11 of 15 songs from the new CD. Bruce says that he "wants to bring a new generation of listeners to his music". This show did NOT do any justice to providing a true link with his past. The first 2 albums he wrote were not touched on in concert. Furthermore, if you look back at the "Tunnel of Love" or "Born In The USA" tours( the last 2 tours featuring new albums or CDs,) the setlists were longer and the new material sometimes had 8 offerings but never dominated the night. How would I have improved the song selection? Very simply, I would have cut 4 or 5 songs from the new CD. Bruce will have plenty of time to roll the others out in the next 38 cities. The crowd should not be smothered with the new CD. Instead, "Incident on 52nd St. + Growing up + Jersey Girl" or some other songs from the early years could have been worked in to throw the hometown crowd something to work with. Also, you MUST and I mean you MUST get the crowd cranking with more electric songs utilizing the whole band. The only real cranker all night was "Prove It All Night". That simply does not do justice to this awesome trio of Bruce, Nils and Steve. Why not add some covers + another cranker to complement the Born to Run-Glory Days-Thunder Road series at the end? A final note...Get rid of "American Skin". It was played the entire tribute tour. If the idea is to be thematic with this show, then don't insert this song into a concert heavily laden with tributes to the courageous 9/11 rescuers. It is another downer song. It was not well received by the audience and did not fit well at all. 2. The show didn't hit a true peak and there were no surprises>>EVERY Bruce show that I have ever been to has peaks and valleys. Like the great showman and virtuoso that Bruce is, he knows how to work the crowd into a lather and then cool them down with slow music. If you look at the setlist, this show had the possibility of doing that at various stages but it pulled back into slow songs too quickly leaving the audience with no peak payoff. It is possible that the band is finally showing its age. Clarence is 60 and has had 2 hip replacements. He did an admirable job on opening night but one could sense that the lack of movement (the band was stationery the whole night) might have been due to age and possibly being tired from the rehearsal shows. Regardless of what the reasons were, the show never seemed to gain full flight. Yes, "Mary's Place" is an excellent new party song but why follow it with "Counting On A Miracle" and "American Skin"? Also, "My City of Ruins" is an excellent song about Asbury Park but why did it appear at # 20 and short circuit the final run of high energy songs? One might argue...Well, they were tired or they are older? Then take an intermission like you used to. The fans could use one to buy concessions and hit the restrooms. Or do a REAL encore break. Now I know that a bunch of you will not agree with my analysis calling it simplistic or that I don't have the right to criticize, but remember, Bruce himself has said recently that he was going to do the best show he's ever done and wants to introduce a whole new generation to his music. Sorry, but this show did not live up to that end. In conclusion, the bad news is that the band stumbled out of the block on opening night. The good news is that they have 38 more US cities and 8 stops in Europe to correct this in the near future. Let's hope that they will!!! Sincerely, John Leisenring BergLeis@aol.com [text/html attachment deleted] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2002 09:49:22 -0500 From: Barry Kaplovitz Subject: 'Boss Fans Debate The 'Rising' Level Of His Publicity' (The Boston Globe) The Boston Globe August 8, 2002 Boss Fans Debate The 'Rising' Level Of His Publicity By Steve Morse, Globe Staff, Globe Correspondent, 8/8/2002 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - You turn on the TV and there's Bruce Springsteen, who last week was on the ''Today'' show once and the ''Late Show With David Letterman'' twice, even going so far as to call his new album a ''great album'' on ''Letterman.'' Then you go to a magazine stand and there's Springsteen again, his face on the covers of Time, Rolling Stone, and Entertainment Weekly. It's been all Bruce all the time lately in the media - and some fans are wondering, ''Why the hard sell?'' The forceful approach is especially puzzling since his new album, ''The Rising,'' deals delicately with the fallout from the Sept. 11 terrorism. ''It definitely seems like a little bit of overkill compared to what he's done before. I can see how some people might be turned off by it,'' said Mike Sabovik, a Belmont resident who was tailgating with his wife and friends yesterday here, in the parking lot of Continental Airlines Arena, where Springsteen was scheduled to kick off his US tour last night. ''He doesn't have to be on Letterman every night,'' said Sabovik's wife, Micha. Then again, ''U2 was everywhere too [after they released `Pop'],'' said friend Peter Stringer, who lives in the Fenway. ''Maybe it's because his last CD [''The Ghost of Tom Joad''] didn't do that well commercially,'' Mike Sabovik added. ''But, really, for hard-core fans in the Northeast, the hard sell doesn't matter. We're going to buy it anyway.'' Nearby, a group of Braintree residents was asked for thoughts on the subject. ''I think he's done it for the right reasons: to support America,'' said Katie Nelligan, who was with her friends, Sue Roberts and Nancy Mullens. But the hard-sell issue is on the minds of other Springsteen loyalists, too. ''I think Bruce has been more visible than he has in the past, partially based on the fact that the new album reaches a broader audience,'' said Christopher Phillips, publisher and editor of the Springsteen fanzine Backstreets. ''But if I didn't think it was such a great record, I might cringe at the hard sell.'' Springsteen fans were also asked to comment on the subject yesterday via a Boston.com poll. ''I can forgive the guy for one week's worth of TV appearances, especially since he's spent the last 25 years ducking the spotlight,'' wrote Brian Alexander of Marlborough. ''Bruce needs to be on the cover of those magazines, and he needs to be making TV appearances,'' wrote Mark Lind, who plays with Boston band Sinners and Saints. ''People need Bruce and his music. There's really just no other way.'' Eric (no last name) of Brighton decried Springsteen's ''shameless self-promotion.'' But Chris Dupuis of Marlborough noted, ''After all is said and done, don't you think that Bruce is more worthy of this media saturation than someone like Anna Nicole Smith?'' Other fans blamed Springsteen's record label, Columbia, for the hype, while some pointed to Springsteen's PR staff as being in ''overdrive.'' (His PR spokes woman was unavailable yesterday.) But Mark DiTullio of Pittsfield, Maine, was emphatic when he wrote, ''A record company heavily promoting an album - whoever heard of that? Hey, Bruce rules. Back off.'' Globe correspondent Tom Walsh contributed to this story. This story ran on page D1 of the Boston Globe on 8/8/2002. Copyright 2002 Globe Newspaper Company. http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/220/living/Boss_fans_debate_the_Rising_level_of_his_publicity+.shtml ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 11:08:53 -0400 From: "John Moye" Subject: FW: A Few Clarifications on 8-7 Well I have now seen the responses to my review of 8-7; clearly my review sounded too negative and didn't highlight the positive aspects, which were legion. Then again, I thought the positives were obvious to anyone who happened to be there--(the fabulous "Waiting on a Sunny Day," and the graceful "You're Missing" come to mind)...I guess I should have emphasized those more in my last post, but they have been pointed out a million times since Wednesday. That said, some of the replies to my review, both posted and personal, have been just plain moronic. As if I am not grateful to see Bruce, or as if I am somehow not a TRUE fan because I don't wholeheartedly support his new material and its placement in the show. I love the new material as much as the next guy, but that doesn't mean that the show was 100% flawless and not worthy of any attempt at criticism. It's all too easy to just email and say "amazing, wonderful, go buy a ticket at all costs." That is the bulk of posts to the list, and frankly, posts like that don't do much for me. Tell me what you liked about it, to be sure, but don't hesitate to talk about what needs work as well....That was the attempt at my last post, which seems to have eluded many respondents (who write back and say "get your head out of your ass!"). :-) Someone else stated, and I agree, that the pacing of the show needs work (see, closing the show with INTO THE FIRE; see, the rather awkward placement of WORLDS APART in the middle; see, 41 Shots as the second to last song of the set). The band sounded great, the songs are lovely and powerful and sad-- but I just felt like he needed to throw a few more bones out to the crowd with some old ones to temper the new stuff along the way....(ya know, like "you all have sat through 90 minutes of my new stuff; now here's a rarity for you?")... Not bitching, and not trying to be greedy by asking for a few more oldies here and there. Finally, I don't expect Bruce to be leaping around like a 23 year old kid. But I heard many fans (not sure if they were "real" fans or not :-)) saying on the way out the door that 2.5 hours seemed rather short for him (in comparison with 2000, people, not in comparison with 1975). I am not complaining or faulting the guy for getting older. 2.5 hours with Bruce and the E Street is still the best 2.5 hours of my year, no joke. Again, I was simply trying to point out that it seemed a little on the short side compared to the last tour; everyone comes back in reply to that one with "YOU ARE A MORON! THIS IS NOT 1975!" Not recanting, just clarifying. Please cease the death threats and the e-mails about how I am not a "real" Bruce fan. Puh-lease. JM ------------------------------ End of LuckyTown Digest V9 #63 ****************************** ********************************************************************* ** LuckyTown WWW URL ** The LuckyTown FAQ, back issues, web-based subscription/unsubscription, and many other things can be found on the LuckyTown WWW Page: http://www.luckytown.org ** LuckyTown mailing list addresses ** You can send email to go into the next LuckyTown Digest to: luckytown@luckytown.org You can send email to go into the next LuckyTown-Ads Digest to: luckytown-ads@luckytown.org Any questions for the list admin should be emailed to: owner-luckytown@luckytown.org To unsubscribe, send email to majordomo@luckytown.org with message body: unsubscribe luckytown-digest To get further information on how to subscribe/unsubscribe/change your subscription address, as well as the other available commands, send email to majordomo@luckytown.org with message body: help ********************************************************************* The contents of this digest are not necessarily approved by the list admin.