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Springsteen, Band Find Tonic To Tragedy
Tribune photo by KELVIN MA
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played their first show since the death Thursday of longtime keyboardist Danny Federici, Tuesday at the St. Pete Times Forum.
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Published: April 23, 2008
Updated: 04/23/2008 12:22 am
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TAMPA - Somewhere, Danny is smiling.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played their first show since the death Thursday of longtime keyboardist Danny Federici, Tuesday at the St. Pete Times Forum. If Springsteen generally plays as if his life depends on it, Tuesday night he played as if his soul and those of everyone in the arena were at stake.
The show began with a video tribute to Federici, who played with Springsteen for 40 years, beginning in pre-E Street outfits such as Steel Mill.
Then, as pianist Roy Bittan played the introduction to "Backstreets," a spotlight shone on an unmanned Hammond organ and accordion, Federici's instruments, a silent expression of the band's loss.
The rest of those expressions were anything but quiet.
Springsteen howled the chorus of "Backstreets" with as much passion as he did in 1975. Max Weinberg pounded his kit so hard it seemed close to tumbling - or disintegrating. The whole band played with an intensity that seemed impossible to sustain for the length of the show.
But they did.
Springsteen and band stormed through the early part of the set with no let-up. Weinberg kept the pulse going as guitars were swapped between songs. "No Surrender" was especially moving, with guitarist Steve Van Zandt joining Springsteen at the microphone. The two ended "Gypsy Biker" with a stinging guitar duel.
Finally pausing, Springsteen offered thanks for "prayers and condolences for Danny," then told the band, "We better get this right. Somebody's watching."
With Bittan on accordion, they launched into the sad, sweet "Sandy (Fourth of July Asbury Park)," evoking the early days of Springsteen's and Federici's musical life playing clubs along the New Jersey shore.
Springsteen told the crowd of 16,332 that the song's fortuneteller, Madame Marie, might be a Florida resident now. Then, he announced, "one more fairy tale," and delivered "Growin' Up" with more youthful vigor than a man on the downside of 50 should have.
There were so many highlights - "Atlantic City," "Because the Night," "She's the One" - but the show's emotional centerpiece came with the pairing of "Racing in the Street" and "The Rising."
The former song is one of Springsteen's most desolate, the cold flipside to "Born to Run," about finding out you're not that young anymore and maybe there's nowhere to run.
The song is so devastating as to make any attempt at levity seem a lie. "The Rising," then, was the perfect tonic, a song about demanding life - joy, even - in the face of tragedy. If every song seemed to have special resonance given the circumstances, this one may have had the most of all.
The encore began with a stirring rendition of the gospel hymn "I'll Fly Away," followed by "Rosalita," "Born to Run" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," a trio guaranteed to send any Bruce fan into spasms of sheer joy.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( frozenbuc ) on April 23, 2008 at 6:20 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Anybody that thinks that rap crap is music needs to check out "The Boss" and some of his contemporaries like Bob Seger. That's music that says something !
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Posted by ( slappy ) on April 23, 2008 at 6:42 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The boss is the greatist next to Elvis.
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Posted by ( GatorsFan ) on April 23, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The Boss sings to the middle class saying it's an honor to work a job, 8 to 5, to carry your lunch in a paper bag, to drink beer from the bottle, to wear jeans and a tee shirt, to wrench on your car on Saturdays and sleep late on Sundays; to carry, for as long as you can, the spark of youth glowing in the winds of time.
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Posted by ( welshiesdad ) on April 23, 2008 at 8 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Yeah, well too bad he can't sing worth a lick...I have a couple of his albums from some years back and rarely play them any more...
Got tired of hearing him yell through a song...
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Posted by ( srhg71 ) on April 23, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
What a night!!! It was awesome!!!!! He still has it!!
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Posted by ( BrianA ) on April 23, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
When you're good, you're good...but don't be the old guy telling the young guys what's good....only time will tell.
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Posted by ( rambler ) on April 23, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
It's important to remember that Federici died from melanoma. Don't forget the sunscreen, people!
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Posted by ( rambler ) on April 23, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
(sorry, just thought of this one, couldn't resist)
Hey, Bruce! Who died and made you Boss?
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Posted by ( StStephen ) on April 23, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Despite the posts from a couple of trolls it sounds like Bruce put on an amazing show last night. I’ve got tickets for tonight’s show in Orlando, I can hardly wait. This will be our (my wife & me) 46th Bruce concert together. Having someone you love with you at a show has to be the closest to nirvana this old man will ever experience!
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Posted by ( flomoll41 ) on April 23, 2008 at 12:07 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
It was an unbelieveable night! Only my second E Street show, but the absolute best concert I've ever witnessed, of any artist. I felt honored to be there and maybe have some small part in helping the band heal their pain. I know Danny was looking down on Bruce and the band with a big beaming smile. They got it right...
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Posted by ( welshiesdad ) on April 23, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Maybe I should have said bellowing through a song...would be more accurate...
at least according to Curtis' review he didn't do "Born In The USA". I've heard that one more times than I ever wanted to...
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Posted by ( slider ) on April 23, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Fans of Bruce Springsteen are not only devoted but articulate about why they worship the Boss. The new book 'For You: Original Stories & Photographs by Bruce Springsteen's Legendary Fans' is the work of disciples from Boise to Barcelona. The mayor of Delray Beach, Fla., says it best: 'Bruce fans are a fraternity - we share something deep and special, a relationship with the artist and with each other.'
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Posted by ( specialtimes ) on April 23, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
You mean you liked the show, without the "kill the cops", "beat your girlfriend" Take those drugs. WOW someone can still sing without those things in there songs. What a relief, songs you can actually listen to without all the crap in them.
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Posted by ( RichB ) on April 24, 2008 at 4:14 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
specialtimes I have to differ with you, let's not forget 41 shots.....That was garbage; he became a sellout by cashing in on the death of a young man and jumping on the bandwagon that the shooting was racially motivated.
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Posted by ( mamasway ) on April 24, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
SPRINGSTEEN ROCKS!!
To StStephan: You'll enjoy the show, I also have been to everyone of his concerts that I could and last nights topped the charts, It was the best I have ever seen from him, and for an old guy he still rocks the stage the best..GO BOSS!!!!
P.S. Bring tissues you might need them
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