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[wombat]

I have just returned from NYC where I saw Bruce Springsteen, whose name I left out of the thread title in order to fool certain of you into clicking when otherwise you wouldn't.  He was touring with the band from his recent Seeger Sessions recording of American folk music.

It was touch and go there for a bit.  First of all, wombat is a bit Old to go to a big arena concert, especially when it starts half an hour late and she has been travelling all day.  I was tired and it was very uncomfortable and all I could think was, I am half an hour closer to DEATH and I have not had any fun in that time.

And then, the concert starts, and I think, oh God, I just spent 100 dollars on a ticket and 300 dollars on the train in order to hear.... a pennywhistle player.  Which is particularly excruciating given that there was a period in my life when I was heavily involved with folk music so I know for a fact that one generally hears pennywhistle players for free.  What is more, then there was a banjo solo, and normally I would pay a considerable sum of money not to hear a banjo.

After about 45 minutes, I decided that I was not going to get through this without A, an infusion of caffeine, fluid, and sugar, and B, a move to an empty seat that was not tucked into a totally airless corner of Madison Square Garden.  I mean, these were not just bad seats, these were seats that were clearly in violation of some international human rights convention.

So I got a Coke for $3.75, thanked all available deities that the concert was not sold out, grabbed my friend and went around annoying people till I found two seats that were authentically empty.

It got a lot better after that.  Of course, the best part was still when he had mercy on us and played a song from The Rising.  But I am glad that I went. Not just because now I will not someday be in the nursing home and look back with regret that I never saw Bruce Springsteen live, but also because now I think I understand this recording better.  I now understand that either:

A. Bruce Springsteen is a musician of great talent and understanding who has a profound insight into the power of the American folk tradition,  or

B. One day Bruce Springsteen was sitting around and said to himself "Hey, let's see just how big a god I am.  What's the uncoolest song I can play and still get a whole arena on their feet?"

I mean,  you cannot imagine how strange it is to be sitting in Madison Square Garden surrounded by thousands of people of all ages - New Yorkers, no less - singing along to "Old Dan Tucker."

So really, I don't know which option is the correct one.  But, either one is OK with me.  If he wants to mess with our minds I guess he's earned it.

[robot_god]

MSG is the probably the worst concert theater in the world.  You're lucky you had the chance to move.

I was there for the S&M Metallica show with the symphony, and my seat was on the side of the stage and slightly behind it.  The audio engineers felt there was no need to angle speakers into that corner of the arena and resultantly the only audible instrument were the high hat cymbals.  Worst show I've ever been to.  I mean, worst show to which I've ever been.

Then there was Rush, and the stage was just so far away.  So far, far away.  I had decent seats to Roger Waters, but they were also on the side of the stage, so you'd have to twist your neck.  There are no good seats in MSG, and additionally, every seat is at least $60+.

MSG Amphitheater: that place is not as bad, but the sound in the back is pretty poor.

[AlohaDawg]

What is more, then there was a banjo solo, and normally I would pay a considerable sum of money not to hear a banjo.

Elitist. Banjo is awesome. Try playing one and you'll get an idea how awesome it is.

Thanked all available deities that the concert was not sold out

A Non-sold out Springsteen concert within 100 miles of New Jersey is a sign from Hell that you are about to be smited about the aural cortex with a big bag of suck.

 
I now understand that either:

A. Bruce Springsteen is a musician of great talent and understanding who has a profound insight into the power of the American folk tradition,  or

B. One day Bruce Springsteen was sitting around and said to himself "Hey, let's see just how big a god I am.  What's the uncoolest song I can play and still get a whole arena on their feet?"

I think it's probably B. And I happen to really like a lot of his stuff, too. But I was in Starbucks two weeks ago and on the overhead music what do I hear but "Froggy Went a Courtin'" and I had to ask because the voice was familiar but I couldn't place it. It was Bruce. Perhaps next he'll do an album of Renfest lute minstrel favorites. That'll pack 'em in.

[wombat]

I am sure that banjo is awesomely hard to play.  It doesn't mean I want to listen to it.  It feels like someone is hitting me on the eardrums with thousands of infinitely tiny ball-peen hammers.

I can't defend 'Froggy' but the rest of the album is really a lot better than that.

[pmcd9]

A concert in a basketball arena for 100 dollars a ticket.  That Bruce Springsteen really is a man of the people.

The album has gotten stellar reviews though.

~Paul

[jough]

Going to see Bruce Springsteen is like climbing Mt. Fuji - you're a fool if you don't do it once, but you're a fool if you do it more than once.

FWIW, my first rock concert ever was Springsteen sometime during after "Born in the U.S.A.".  My friend's brother took us, and then ditched us there.  Fun!

Also: the place where I saw him is now the parking lot for the new baseball park here in Philly.

Anyway, it sounds like your concertgoing experience was much worse than mine. 

[wombat]

Hmm, perhaps I should consider that this was like climbing Mt Fuji once in a hailstorm with a sprained ankle, and so I should do it one more time someday to try to get it right.

[V-Adore]

Hmm, perhaps I should consider that this was like climbing Mt Fuji once in a hailstorm with a sprained ankle, and so I should do it one more time someday to try to get it right.

I will respect you for doing so, but I will also respect you if you don't.

Anyway, gaaah. This is why I dislike going to big venues; you always seem to end up in seats where you can't see anything, or hear anything, or you have "partial view of the stage," or some such crap. I still recall seeing the roadshow version of Rent in the cheapest seats imaginable, which were sufficiently high that it resembled a flea-circus show. (On the other hand, I could hear the music. That was okay.)

[theinevitable]

in that circumstance, I would have considered not hearing the music to be a plus.

also, banjos are hell of awesome. I am a big fan of them.

[Hobot]

also, banjos are hell of awesome. I am a big fan of them.

Oh hell yes they are.  It makes me happy that pretentious indie folk have adopted them as an accompanying "wacky new instrument."  Next up: sitar (and it will be like the '60s all over again!).

[wombat]

Next up: sitar (and it will be like the '60s all over again!).

Please God no.  (Especially since whenever I hear a sitar, I get the most wicked craving for Indian food.)

[CortJstr]

Oh hell yes they are.  It makes me happy that pretentious indie folk have adopted them as an accompanying "wacky new instrument."  Next up: sitar (and it will be like the '60s all over again!).

G-L-O- ... ckenspiel

[pmcd9]

Tubular Bells

~Paul

[Hobot]

Tulsa Drone use a dulcimer.

[melack]

My first ever concert was this man at the Puyallup Fair, the biggest fair in Washington State and among the top ten in the country! I was ten and basically tagging along with my older brother.

I'd love to see The Boss in concert, but the image I have in my head of one of his concerts is where the mean age is 45 and everyone is from New Jersey. Being 21 and from the West Coast, I can only imagine feeling horribly out of place.