Thursday, July 31, 2008

LIVE FROM EXIT 16

A flipped propane tanker, a detour through downtown Newark (surprisingly busy during rush hour), and then an hourlong line of traffic leading to an overpriced parking lot. But here I am, at the Meadowlands, cursing the lack of public transit in this colossal suburban wasteland, an hour early for the quintessential Rustbelt cultural experience: a Bruce Springsteen concert.

Traffic frustrations aside, the atmosphere is convivial here. Lots of boomers and near boomers gathered to listen to the Boss in his home state. On this tour, Springsteen has been playing 30 song sets--so I'm expecting a rocking night.

My friends and their precious cargo--beer and sandwiches--are almost here. Peace from the heart and soul of the Garden State.

3 comments:

hesperia said...

Jealousy.

Tom S said...

The Boss played for over three hours. It was my third Springsteen concert to date (I heard him in Atlantic City [!} on his acoustic tour in 2005 and a year later in Camden doing the Seeger Sessions tour--both stunning events. Sorry you couldn't be there with the other 50,000 of us at the Meadowlands on Thursday night, but you can live vicariously by checking out the set list at www.brucespringsteen.net

hesperia said...

Here's how old I am. My two Springsteen concerts were The River Tour in 1981 and Born in the USA in 1984 I think. I'd love to have seen the Seeger Sessions.

Thanks for sharing!