Springsteen. Giants Stadium. Jersey.

Two years ago, I posted something on this here blog expressing bewilderment over the cult of Bruce Springsteen. In the course of doing so, I said some semi-mean things about Bruce, who I said "sounded and looked like a man desperately attempting to move his bowels during his performances," and his fans, who I called "the least attractive fanbase in the history of rock and roll."

What sparked my little rant at the time was a 60 Minutes segment on The Boss. I wrote:

What I don't get specifically is how this man and his music have developed such an widespread, evangelical following. In the 60 Minutes piece Scott Pelley, the correspondent who filed the report, described Springsteen concerts as "part circus, dance party, political rally and big tent revival." And from what I know about springsteen concerts, that seems to be pretty dead-on.

The "big tent revival" analogy was something that really resonated with me. I've seen video clips of Springsteen's concerts that reminded me of things I'd seen and heard about taking place in Pentecostal tent revivals in the South. Grown men crying, people running up and down dancing in the aisles, people dropping to their knees in quasi deity worship, etc.

These are not teenagers mind you. These are adults. Adults with mullets, incomplete dental profiles and ill-conceived fashion choices sure, but adults all the same (ed. note: it has long been my belief that springsteen's fanbase is the least attractive fanbase in the history of rock and roll. in a landslide!)

In response to my Springsteen skewering, a writer and friend named Mike Ryan (here's a recent interview with the director of Zombieland he did for Vanity Fair), wrote to me to take issue with what I'd written. He asked if I'd ever attended a Springsteen concert before, and when I said that I hadn't he insisted on taking me to one the next time Bruce played at Giants Stadium. Fast forward two years later and on Wednesday night I found myself in Jersey with Mike for a Springsteen show. In the pit no less, only a few feet from the stage. It was one of the best times I've ever had. Here are some photos I took there (click on the images to enlarge).

Outside the stadium, walking to the gate reserved for people with floor passes:



Mike and I were among the first ones in:



About an hour and a half later, the place was filled when Bruce walked onto the stage and yes, the crowd did go wild:



I'd be lying if I tried to say that even I wasn't a little starstruck:



At one point, during the third song I think, The Boss came down from the stage and walked around in the pit as he sang. It was pretty amazing:



Bruce handed the guy standing next to Mike and I his copy of the night's set list, which included the entire "Born to Run" album played in order:



This nice Jersey girl's name is Renee. She and I became friends at the show. Renee is tons of fun.



To the right and left of the stage were these giant HDTV's projecting images caught by at least a dozen TV cameras. I thought that this view from the back of stage looking out into the crowd was pretty damn cool:



As was this one of Bruce and Little Stevie Van Sandt, aka Silvio from The Sopranos:



At what was supposed to be the end of the encore, fireworks went off all around the stadium and the house lights went up. But Bruce and the E Street Band weren't done. They played at least 4 more songs after this:



Finally, after a 3 hour, 15 minute performance, Bruce said goodnight to us all:



And for the record, and I'm not just saying this because someone paid $100 for a ticket to take me to the show, I am now officially a Bruce Springsteen fan. I can't wait to see him perform again.