# So, I saw Bruce Springsteen in concert **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 16, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-saw-bruce-springsteen-in-concert/201939 "2003-09-16T13:56:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-saw-bruce-springsteen-in-concert/201939/1 "2003-09-16T13:56:11Z")
As the title says, it’s true. I don’t particularly like his music but one of my friends had an extra ticket since the person who was originally going to go with him cancelled at the last minute. I was invited earlier but said I don’t like him and would rather not go. Even up to the last minute I said I didn’t really want to go but said friend wouldn’t have gone alone so I went with him. While there said friend and I went guy watching. It is the best way to pass the time. There were a lot of really hot guys. It shouldn’t be surprising since the audience filled the stadium. One older gentlemen was dancing with a 5ish year old boy that we catted about. “Poster couple for NAMBLA!” Teehee. Not really, it was probably grandfather and grandson but it was still funny at the time. The presence of many women who have what we used to call “Jersey hair” was quite entertaining too. For those that don’t know, it is the poofy bangs and big hair that makes most glam rock bands hang their heads in shame. Poison would wish their hair was like that. Also, I was flirted with by two women most unskillfully. It was flattering but I figured they didn’t have gaydar at all since they were probably from a place where most of the gay folk are closeted. It is odd being flirted with by women since I don’t realize it is happening very often. The first one looked me up and down, smiled real big, and winked. Nice, but not at all subtle. The second, looked me up and down, wiggled her eyebrows and said “hello there big boy.” I was thinking, “what are you, some kind of hooker?!” She said it most cheesily. It made her seem about 15 years younger than she was (she was about 30 as I am also about 30). It was nice so I said hello to her and smiled. There wasn’t a reason to be rude. There were also a lot of burnout hippy folk there. Bruce is my mom’s favorite singer and she is a burnout hippy so that isn’t too surprising to see them there. I was more surprised with the huge age range of people there. Of course there were a ton of people who took their kids. So there were mid 30-somethings with their 2-5 year old kids, a bunch of early teens who appeared to be their by themselves, and then people in every decade of life into their 60’s (or so I would guess). It was nice to see such a mixed group of people. I was surprised. He puts on a pretty good show even though I didn’t like his music. The entire audience stood when he came on, I could have cared less so I sat most of the concert and watched every once in a while on the screens when they came in view. He had a lot more energy than I thought he would. He played a lot of music I didn’t recognize but eventually he played “Pink Cadillac.” I vaguely remembered that one. He claimed to not have played it in concert for about 20 years. Of course he ended the concert with his big hits “Born in the USA” and “Born to Run” and “Born whenever/Whatever.” I was seeing a “Born something or other” theme there. 😃 It was a good concert overall. The energy he put into it really made it enjoyable. I promised my friend I wouldn’t make fun of him the whole time since I didn’t want to be a drag the whole time and make the concert no fun for me or him and just let it be what it would be. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-saw-bruce-springsteen-in-concert/201939/2 "2003-09-16T14:13:19Z")
Glad you were able to have a good time despite not being too into the music. Bruce Springsteen is my all-time favorite musician, so I can’t empathize with you too much. Next time your friend needs a date to a Springsteen show, send me an e-mail! 🙂 It is interesting, though, I’ve been to one of his concerts, and I made the same observation about audience demographics that you did. He very clearly has appeal that crosses age and class barriers. He still attracts new listeners and holds onto ones that have been listening since the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-saw-bruce-springsteen-in-concert/201939/3 "2003-09-16T14:35:28Z")
It really was quite amazing (the demographics that is). I wonder how much he makes per concert after paying for the venue and paying his band and staff (the merchandise hawkers and roadies), etc. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-saw-bruce-springsteen-in-concert/201939/4 "2003-09-16T15:24:17Z")
My daughter has seen him several times – if he gets within 500 miles, she’s there. She has an incredible collection of his music, as well as books. She took me with her when he came to Ames about 10 years ago and I was mightily impressed. He puts on a hell of a show and it goes on for hours and hours. Where does he get that energy? He’s the real deal, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-saw-bruce-springsteen-in-concert/201939/5 "2003-09-16T15:46:42Z")
I saw him about a month or so ago. He didn’t play Born in the USA. I thought he quit playing that one because nobody gets it. It was kind of weird seeing him when he played a song I didn’t recognize and the rest of Giants Stadium knew every word. He puts on a great show. No warm up band just three hours (and a bit more) of Bruce. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-saw-bruce-springsteen-in-concert/201939/6 "2003-09-16T16:09:32Z")
I first saw him in concert in 1976. I will see him again in concert in about a week and a half. Rocking with the boss for over 26 years, QtM ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-saw-bruce-springsteen-in-concert/201939/7 "2003-09-16T16:19:22Z")
**Zebra** , He does still play Born in the USA, though he does an accoustic version with a 12 string guitar. If you ever pick up his live album from his 2000 tour, there’s a recording of it; really an excellent song, and I think the meaning is a little less hidden in that version. ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-saw-bruce-springsteen-in-concert/201939/8 "2003-09-16T16:47:09Z")
I know so many people, myself included, that weren’t a fan of his at all…until they saw him perform. For me, it was the “Born in the USA” tour, around 85, I think. I didn’t want to go but my uncle had given me tickets for a graduation present. Turns out it was the last show of the tour and I had seats that were 10th row, center. As much as I didn’t think I would like it (I was into jazz pretty heavily at the time), I absolutely loved every minute of. I have since become a big fan. Once I saw the show I finally “got it”. Nowm whenever I hear someone say that they don’t like him, I always ask “Have you seen him live?” Because if you haven’t, you just don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-saw-bruce-springsteen-in-concert/201939/9 "2003-09-16T17:00:04Z")
I saw him last weekend at Fenway Park. He played the full-band, rocking version of “Born in the USA.” Great show…in fact, here is the set-list for the show I saw… Fenway Park Boston, Massachusetts 9/7/03 Night 1–Sunday Onto stage with: Take me out to the ballgame 1. Diddy Wah Diddy 2. Rising 3. Lonesome Day 4. Adam Raised a Cain 5. Something in the Night 6. Empty Sky 7. Waiting on a Sunny Day 8. Spirit in the Night 9. For You 10. Because the Night 11. She’s The One 12. Badlands 13. Mary’s Place 14. Frankie 15. Jungleland 16. Into the Fire 17. Thunder Road 18. Further On Up the Road 19. Glory Days 20. Born to Run 21. Seven Nights to Rock 22. My City of Ruins 23. Born In The USA (full band) 24. Rosalita 25. Dancing in the Dark 26. Dirty Water (with Peter Wolf) ---
**Author:** ![Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muldoon_s_Squishiness)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-saw-bruce-springsteen-in-concert/201939/10 "2003-09-16T22:01:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dorkusmalorkusmafia \* > \*\*It really was quite amazing (the demographics that is). I wonder how much he makes per concert after paying for the venue and paying his band and staff (the merchandise hawkers and roadies), etc. \*\* I believe that after all expenses are taken care of The Boss takes home between $500-900,000 depending on the venue size. ---
**Author:** ![JDeMobray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@JDeMobray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDeMobray)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-saw-bruce-springsteen-in-concert/201939/11 "2003-09-16T22:15:24Z")
I saw Springsteen live for the first time on the 2000 tour. My mom is a gigantic fan and as a result I have known almost all his songs from when I was a kid. I was, at best, a casual fan of his up until I saw the show. I ended up seeing four shows on that tour and have seen him twice since. **Promised Land** , btw, is my vote for “Song That Doesn’t Translate Right Onto An Album.” I love that song live, but hearing the studio version from Darkness just doesn’t capture the heart. I would probably feel the same way about “Land of Hope and Dreams”, but the only version of that that I have is a live recording.