THE BOSS before the WINDY CITY

Well here BPM, Spencer, and I sit in the early morning of another tuesday morning.  This one is  little different though....

We sit, slightly sleep deprived, in the observatory deck of an AMTRAK train from ST PAUL to CHICAGO. Which, all in all, I believe is an 8 1/2 hour trek.  It wouldn't be that bad, all three of us love long travels on trains. But, there is a gaggle of AMISH families and the strong aroma of manure filling the air.  I am guessing one of the brothers---i will call him stinky BROTHER JEBEDIAH---may have IBS. Because, everytime he walks through the car with his button flap crotch open, the strong nose curdling stench of fertilizer and top soil beats our senses into a bloody pulp.  Yet, he and the other men are well manicured.  To this I say, "Is it possible for an Amish man to be stinking and still be called Metrosexual due to hair product and cuaffage?"

Since Rhiannon came back, things have flown by.  Our put-in/dance cleanup went smashingly well!!!  RUSTY MOWERY, dance captain to the stars, was amazing.  He tweaked some things, and also solidified some moments that had either mushed into oblivion or we never even had.  These were things that all parties involved didn't remember when we were mounted.  This would also be why he and James Sampliner are the cats going to LONDON to set that company ( which by the by is all Brits).  Once done we had Rhiannon's first night back, which also brought the 1st of 2 night with Barry Anderson on as Emmett.  He was amazing.

He was lovingly endearing, awkward as Emmett should be, and pulled the audience in with him the whole way.  I felt like a proud brother!!!!   If i had pics this would be where I inserted them.

We also had a vocal cleanup with James, who was completely happy with the show---spare some tweaks here and there once again.  

Other than that it was a pretty much cut and dry week.  All three Kate/Chutney covers went on---Andreas, Tiff, and Jenkins....and we soon see the return of Megan Lewis as Lauren leaves us for a week.  

But, after seeing DR. MAMBOS COMBO again ( who rocked the mic as always) a few of us stayed behind in the Twin Cities.  This is why the 3 of us are now on the train.

We stayed behind to see the BOSS, Bruce Springsteen, in concert at the EXCEL CENTER next to the Ordway.  BPM has been now 15 times, and it was the virginal voyage for the rest---including Josh Campbell who came along. We got General Assembly seats on the floor.....which means you have a chance at heaven.   There is a lottery 3 hours before the show and if you are part of the mass of fans selected you get the honor of standing on concrete for close to 6 hours to be within 50 feet of the front of stage.  We sadly fell out of the bracket chosen, which was boosted from the normal alottment of 500 to 600 people due to the size of the crowd.

 It was the 2nd largest turnout for the Lottery--1159 people i believe.

So dejected, we went to use some free drink chits at a local restaurant we ate at for opening night.

I will now go on record as saying that BRUCE gives one of the most amazing concerts I have ever been to. It ranks in my top 4---with FARMAID '98, BEN FOLDS at CARNEGIE HALL, and ETTA JAMES at the NEW ORLEANS in Vegas alongside it.  

Not only was it the earliest he has started all tour, but he plays continually for close to 3 hours with no breaks.  This has happened for 35 years, and astounding seeing as how he turns 60 this fall.  Also astounding is the fact that his amazonian best friend Clarence Clemons--the tall Black man in the ornate MJ looking band costume, is 67 and still rocking it out 4 nights a week.  BPM thinks this may be his last tour--so we saw history in the making . It was action packed, non stop, and as a now FAN awe inspiring as a performer.  He is truly the peoples entertainer.  And not only did he open with THE BADLANDS, but he takes requests.  They have a thing called STUMP THE E STREET---which is impossible He grabs signs from the audience and decides what songs are next.  They played a song that they have never done on tour---EVER----and we got to watch it.  And GOOD LOVIN was better than I ever remembered!!!!   Nils Lofgren on guitar is just jaw dropping.  He shredded at every turn.  My favorite is when he started doing whirling dirvish turns while still fingerpicking at the speed of sound.  

Also, he has a new drummer. If you watch CONAN O'BRIAN you know that his band is led by MAX WEINBERG.  Well he has also been BRUCE's drummer since the dawn of time. But, with the LENO takeover, Max is unavailable for concerts. So, Bruce has brought on Max's son---Jay Weinberg.  He is 18.  

Thats right, 18!!! And after only playing drums for 4 years he is playing for THE BOSS.  Not bad when most kids are too busy drinking their freshman year in college away!!!!

The story goes that Bruce gave jay a list of 200 songs to learn. Jay came back a month later and Bruce then gave him another 500 to learn. And learn he did.  Jay brought a level of ROCK and energy to the concert that is unabashedly unique, and something fans haven't seen from Max. This was evident when he even shredded a drumstick during the BALLAD OF TOM JOAD.  And, from BPM's prediction, he's going to be a staple in concerts from here on out.   History in the making on all levels!!!!

Before I  close this lil ditty....I want to plug a great organization.  Since Bruce is the people's entertainer, he dropped the backdrop and sold all the tickets behind the stage for 20 bucks.  He then gave those ticket proceeds to benefit 

SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND.  They are an organization in Minnesota that gives food and aid to families that are down and out.  Recently, they are especially helping the families of those that have lost their jobs with the recession.  Its the only safety net that some families have, and a massive gesture coming from a generous performer who pays all the people on stage alongside him the same that he pays himself.  Selfless?  I would say so.   Its the little things that can make this a better earth to be on, and I now know why they call him THE BOSS.   Its gestures like this that remind me why I don't shop at WALMART---when the CEO's and the WALTON CLAN donate under 5% of their net profits to charity while their full time employees still live below the poverty level.....please excuse the soapbox.

In closing.....

HAPPY NATIONAL RIDE YOUR BIKE WEEK!!!!   Commute, car share, or hop on that banana bike Schwinn and take a lengthy ride to your nearest tree. Hug it, and hear the wind gently whisper THANK YOU for saving the environment one small step at a time.