Springsteen and the E Street Band’s performances at the MUSE concerts each lasted for around an hour-and-a-half, and Marsh, in Bruce Springsteen: On Tour 1968-2005, describes them as, “a super-condensed version of its standard set.” Set lists were practically identical, save the Devil With The Blue Dress Medley and Rave On closed the first show and Quarter To three the second. As if in deliberate contrast with the music of the other artists, Springsteen’s two performances were largely shorn of quieter, more reflective songs (the obvious exception being the debut performances of the River), so that, as Marsh says, “they lacked most of the pensive, dreamy moments… [of] his usual concerts…’Prove It All Night,’ ‘Badlands,’ and ‘The Promised Land’ landed like cudgel blows after the soft rock that preceded them.” Indeed, these are the opening three songs and they are played in muscular versions, with a commitment and energy which well-earn the appellation of “cudgel blows,” and which collectively make for a tremendously exciting start to the show. After this there is a pause, during which occurs one of two incidents which, as Marsh points out, lent a “sour aspect” to the show. The concert was played the day before Springsteen’s birthday. “Bruce wasn’t thrilled to be turning thirty,” maintains Marsh and Springsteen reacted petulantly when a woman in the audience passed him a birthday cake. He can be heard saying, “don’t remind me,” before throwing the cake back at the woman, eliciting a widepread and clearly audible gasp, and stating that the icing-splattered fans can, “send me the laundry bill.” As Marsh succintly concludes, “it wasn’t funny.” https://youtube/watch?v=7DpvSXc02qg
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 17:13:43 +0000
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