Welcome to another edition of Read This Before I Die’s Bucket Review - a review of alleged “bucket list” experiences that I’m squeezing in before I kick the bucket. Today I’ll be reviewing Bruce Springsteen’s recent concerts at Gillette Stadium.
I’m extremely lucky to have great friends who invited me and my wife to these concerts. We went Thursday night with friends who treated us to a tailgate and great seats for the concert.
Saturday night it felt like we were sitting closer to the moon, but we were generously given enough tickets to bring both kids and their girlfriends!
I’ve never seen Bruce live before and also never been to a concert at Gillette. As for the venue, it seemed great Thursday night sitting so close but on Saturday you could sometimes hear Bruce’s voice echoing back at him. Gillette is really just too big for a concert. And getting to and from can test your patience like getting behind the old lady in the grocery store line with a fistful of coupons and a checkbook. As for Bruce, I’m a casual fan and certainly didn’t know all of the songs that he sang. He did mix the set list up a little between the two nights. He barely talks - just keeps singing one song after another. He saves most of his classic hits for the end of the show, which for me was by far the best part. The worst part was also near the end, when on both nights Bruce decided to rip open his shirt and expose his 73 year old chest. Why Bruce, why? Unless you're at the beach, the only thing a 73 year old should be exposing in public is their ability to move over to the right lane on the highway.
The E Street Band is old too - but still excellent, despite these constant thoughts I couldn’t get out of my head during the show:
Guitarist Steven Van Zandt looks like an unemployed pirate.
Deceased well-known sax man Clarence Clemons was replaced by his nephew, Jake, who looks like the long lost, nerdy younger brother of former Patriot Tight End Jermaine Wiggins.
Drummer Max Weinberg looks like he wants to refinance your mortgage.
But again - all great! Bruce sang for almost three hours, and he and the band looked like they were having as much fun as we were. Overall a great show that I’m glad I finally experienced thanks to some generous friends. Overall Rating (out of 5 buckets):
David Scott is a husband, father, retired police chief and current cancer patient. He has loved the Red Sox since he was a child, even after the 1986 World Series. He loves all things Boston sports, and misses Marcus Smart.
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