ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E-STREET BAND IN AMSTERDAM

May 25, 2023 after 7 years Bruce returned to Holland. Start at 19:43 and The End at 22:43, a solid 3 hours show. It was again an incredible night in Amsterdam, at the Johan Cruijff Arena, a packed stadium with lovely people. “Bruce Springsteen weet de Arena tot in de ziel te raken”, heads newspaper de Telegraaf.

No Surrender, the blasting opening song and I could not remain seated but was basically the only one, what a dull audience in Amsterdam! Reading some press reviews, Excellent show, Bruce doesn't need laser shows, fireworks etc at 73 he does it all by himself supported by an extended E-Street Band. Weak point the sound quality of the Arena and the dull Dutch audience, only after 2 hours the audience starts moving. I had exactly the same impression. Good to notice that Detroit Medley appeared for the first time at the World tour and it was awesome! For me it was again unforgettable and simply excellent, with my personal highlight Kitty's Back, Badlands, The Rising and his closing, acoustic version of I'll See You in My Dream.....

Having lived for almost 14 years (1986-1999) in the New York area I realized how "Big" Bruce really is in the USA living there and a few years later I realized how big Bruce was in the rest of the world, from Europe in particular Scandinavia, France, Italy and Spain and he is massive in Brazil and Australia! 

Bruce has a very special place in the Dubois Family, a few example: Born to Run (1975) the first album I bought and I was instantly hooked on the Boss, BTR was my standard on my marathon playlist, Glory Days and Hungry Hart were standards at the legendary Mamaroneck parties, Dancing in the Dark was THE song at Dagmar’s and Chris wedding, Missing at Omi’s funeral was beautiful and very subtle projected and of course our own legendary version of Old Dan Tucker at Jorrit and Charlotte’s wedding in the Luberon. Our grandchildren Margot and Freddie wear cute Springsteen T-shirts, I believe from The River Tour. Trust me there are many more Bruce references in our family.

As a family we have been to numerous Springsteen concerts, Paul was probably 12 years old during We Shall Overcome The Seeger Sessions Tour at Bercy in Paris, Dagmar not sure must have been about 13 or so with The Rising Tour and I remember seeing (I believe) the Magic tour at Stade de France and a few months later at Parc de Prince, Jorrit was saying “Dad, it seems these guys are like Family to us, we see them so often”. Chris had his Bruce debut about 10 years ago in Paris, Charlie I think was 6 years ago in London and yesterday Lana joined the club YEAH!

Springsteen has numerous dimensions, the songwriter: he writes about love, daily struggles, family, the USA and its troubles, human rights, the working man. It's been said that Bruce was inspired by Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan (just turned 82) and James Brown. I certainly recognise this.
The composer he created such fine melodies, some of them are anthems now, they will stand the test of time, the saxophone section at Thunder Road was for many years the ringtone on my Iphone. The musician: he remains an outstanding guitar player, masters the piano and last night he played more than usual the harmonica. The story teller, in his early days this was very important to him, and was good at it. I have a bootleg where he talks for about 15 minutes on the classic ballad Pretty Flamingo. Last night he shared the story of George Theis, who at 16 was a band member of the Castilles, Bruce is the only surviving band member “The Last Man Standing”. Together with Columbia, his record company for 60 years he puts these songs together on records, I believe 21 studio and 23 live albums. All of these dimensions come together during his concerts, that’s where he is the ultimate bandleader and Rockstar. The interaction Bruce develops with his audience and how he relates that back to the band remains amazing and super inspirational. The Mighty Max Weinberg is his key man in the Band, he reads Bruce and relates that to the E-Streeters. Its an amazing form of true participative leadership whilst ultimate Bruce of course is the Boss. Afterall there is a reason for his nickname!

Barack Obama said in 2008, “The reason I’m running for president is because I can’t be Bruce Springsteen.” Ronald Reagan used Born in the USA as his campaign song, unfortunately for the opposite reasons of Bruce’s intention, probably Reagan’s campaign didn’t figure out the real meaning of that song. Hall of Famer, celebrity, political influencer and so much more.

At 73 Bruce seems still loaded with energy, he is fit and yet its legitimate to ask how many years will he keep touring…nobody knows, we know there is a library -  music center being developed in his birthplace Freehold, that will definitely a travel destination for me. 

E-Street legends, the late Clarence Clemons (the Big Man) and Danny Federici were remembered  through pictures and video clips, it's always a moving moment for me. E-Street members for life with Little Stevie, Nils ( from Neil's Horse!)  Gary (the only living original member), The Professor, Mighty Max, Charlie, Sister Soozie and newcomer Jake (he will always be the newcomer, in a similar fashion as Ronny Wood remains forever the new Rolling Stone), Patti wasn't around his show. 

 “I DON’T THINK, IF I PLAY GOOD TONIGHT, AT LEAST I PLAYED GOOD LAST NIGHT. ITS LIKE THERES NO TOMORROWS OR YESTERDAYS. THERE’S ONLY RIGHT NOW” Bruce Springsteen 1981

Bruce is clearly working diligently on this legacy in 2016 with his autobiography Born to Run, in 2018 Springsteen on Broadway, the album Letter to You and for me last nights playlist with of course the classics, but also more specifically: Ghosts – Letter to You -Last Man Standing – and lastly a stunning solo and acoustic performance of I’ll See You in My Dreams.

Next stop: London Hyde Park, July 8^th-2023…another family event, with for us a slightly different line-up, and I can't wait to see him again! Thank you Bruce and the heart-stopping, pants-dropping, love-making, earth-quaking, viagra-taking E-Street Band.

 

I'll see you in my dreams
When all our summers have come to an end
I'll see you in my dreams
We'll meet and live and laugh again
I'll see you in my dreams
Yeah, up around the river bend
For death is not the end
And I'll see you in my dreams

Setlist

No Surrender

Ghosts

Prove It All Night

Letter to You

The Promised Land

Out in the Street

Kitty's Back

Nightshift

Mary's Place

Trapped

The E Street Shuffle

Johnny 99

Last Man Standing (acoustic, with Barry Danielian on trumpet)

Backstreets

Because the Night

She's the One

Wrecking Ball

The Rising

Badlands

Thunder Road

 

Encore:

Born in the U.S.A.

Born to Run

Bobby Jean

Glory Days

Dancing in the Dark

Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

Detroit Medley

I'll See You In My Dreams