I'm struggling to start this blog about the Bruce Springsteen concert Friday night.  It isn't that I don't have words, but that I have too many.  Too many superlatives and adjectives:  Amazing, Awesome, Fantastic, Heart-Pumping, Mind-Blowing.

Over 30 years ago, when I first became a Springsteen fanatic, when I described what I felt about his music, or the experience of Bruce and the E Street Band, those who didn't get it accused me of hyperbole, lack of objectivity, overexaggeration.

Those who got it, nodded their heads.  They were there.  They knew.

Some things really don't change all that much.  Sure, back in the "old days", Bruce and the band rocked for close to four hours.  We left the shows, exhiliarated, exhausted, sweaty and riding the mother of adrenaline rushes.

So, the show Friday night was "only" two hours and forty minutes.  Yeah.  Only -- Two hours and forty freaking amazing minutes of non-stop music from the preeminent songwriter and performer of our generation and the most kick ass rock 'n roll band ever.

Don't bother arguing and suggesting other bands for the title.  I will never, ever change my mind.

The night opened with a a dark stage.  Bruce's voice rang out with, "This is for Danny."   A video montage of organist Danny Federici who passed away a couple of weeks ago played on the big screens, accompanied by Blood Brothers.  I wasn't the only one tearing up at that tribute. 

The lights came up, the band took off, and the power didn't stop.

The first time I saw Bruce and the band was in August 1978 for the Darkness on the Edge of Town tour.  For the first two songs, I sat still, awestruck.

Almost 30 years later, I had pretty much the same reaction and then I bolted to my feet, danced and sang along for the rest of the show.  It was almost fitting that they played several songs from the Darkness album -- including one of the wildest versions of Prove it All Night that I've ever heard.  If Nils Lofgren had exploded from the force of his own energy during his guitar solo, I wouldn't have been surprised.

New songs from Magic mixed with tunes from The Rising, The River, Born in the U.S.A., Born to Run, Greetings from Asbury Park.  The set list ran the gamut.  With such an extensive song list, it is impossible to sing everybody's favorite song, but Bruce added audience requests to the play list. 

Something new to me -- audience members bringing posters on which they'd printed song requests.  Several times, Bruce walked to one person or the other, took the sign, turned it around and showed the band.  Without missing a beat, they'd take off on the song.

There will always be one or two songs that I'll cross my fingers and hope to hear.  I do so knowing it might not happen and their absence won't ruin the concert for me.  (Nothing could!)  Still, when Bruce picked up one poster and the video camera zeroed in, I grabbed my friend Jennifer's arm and screamed, "It's Thunder Road.  Oh my God, they're going to do Thunder Road!"

Thunder Road is my all time favorite song and the one that made me a Bruce fan in 1975.  I was driving my roommate's car, WNEW-FM on the radio, on Ocean Ave and had just hit Deal Lake, heading for Asbury Park.  On a gorgeous fall afternoon, the soulful harmonica notes drifted out of the speakers and into my soul.  I don't know that I've ever been so profoundly touched by a song since.

In concert, there are some songs where the audience participation parts are well-known to every long time fan.  Bruce stops singing, motions to the crowd, and listens.

In Thunder Road, that part is:

So you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore.  Show a little faith, there's magic in the night.  You ain't a beauty, but hey, you're all right.

Watching the screen, I saw Bruce grin when we sang.  I knew just how he felt.  Thirty three years after he released that song, we ain't that young anymore.  But you know what, we still have faith and there's still magic in the night.

The performance capped what was already a stellar night, but the band was far from finished.  They ripped into Born to Run, lights up and the entire place rocking.  Then, to my complete disbelief and utter joy, they hit the opening notes of Rosalita.

Years and years ago, Rosalita was the ultimate encore song.  You knew, you just knew, that if the song hadn't been played yet, nobody was going home.  Over time, understandably, this classic Bruce tune hasn't been played live that much.  Apparently, they've pulled it out several times on this tour.  How I got so lucky to be at one of the shows, I don't know, but I'm fairly sure that I lost my mind to excitement at that point.

The concert went on for a few more blistering-hot songs before Bruce finally called it a night.  Ears ringing, heart pumping, I staggered out with the the rest of the crowd.

Over 30 years of fandom . . . 11 full length concerts . . . Bruce is, was and always will be the Boss.  We ain't that young anymore, but that man and that band will always be pullin' out of here to win.

Thanks, Bruce and the E-Street Band.

I am super massively jealous. I love Springsteen and I can't even imagine getting to hear Thunder Road live in concert. I bet you were singing along with..."The screen door slams, Mary is dressed waiting, like a vision she dances across the floor as the radio plays..." Oh wow. And Rosalita? So so so jealous. Now I want to go and listen to my Boss playlist on the iPod!! Lucky you :)