What a difference a year makes: 10 thoughts about Springsteen in Philadelphia

First of all, I have no notes. Figuratively — I have no suggestions for possible improvements — and literally: Unlike many of my Bruce Springsteen concert experiences, I brought no pen and paper to Friday night’s show in Philadelphia (setlist and videos here!), choosing instead to just be in the moment. It was a good choice; in many ways, I’m still there.

It’s true: A day later, my second outside-of-New England experience with The Boss (the other being in Jersey with the Other Band) still had me ruminating, as Springsteen shows tend to do. And so I thought I’d share a few extemporaneous thoughts about one of the most joyful concerts I’ve seen in my lifetime, either by Bruce or anyone else:

THOUGHT 1: I was originally scheduled to see Bruce in Philly mere weeks after seeing him at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., last August: Thanks to his peptic ulcer disease, that became a full year. And in the end, I’m glad. (Not about his ulcer, just about the gap.) Friday’s show proved to be the perfect bookend to the Gillette show, one of the last before Bruce’s illness scuttled shows for months. 

At that show, we left with the feeling that Bruce thought the end was near — at least of his touring life. As he stood arms outstretched, taking in the life-giving roar of the crowd, he seemed like someone savoring something special he knew was close to ending. The headline on my review was “Springsteen stares down death,” and it sure felt that way.

Not on Friday, though. His voice was strong right out of the gate on a thundering version of “Seeds.” He plowed through at least five songs like a man possessed (after “Seeds” was “Prove it All Night,” “My Love Will Not Let You Down,” “Two Hearts,” “Darkness on the Edge of Town” — I’m exhausted just typing those) before even asking “Are you ready, Philadelphia?” The man was just getting started.

At the end of three celebratory hours, it was clear: This was someone healthy, hearty, and happy to keep going as long as we’ll have him. What a difference a year makes.

THOUGHT 2: Bruce may not be weaving 10-minute stories about teenage werewolves or his problematic relationship with his father anymore. But his spoken interludes on Friday were still among the highlights. The first, during the dedicated story slot during “Growin’ Up” (a welcome surprise), acknowledged the problems that sidelined him last year (“My belly hurt!”) and ended with a perfect, site-specific paraphrase straight from W.C. Fields’s proposed tombstone: “All in all I just laid there thinking, f—, I’d rather be in Philadelphia!”

The other, during his tribute to fellow Castile George Theiss before “Last Man Standing,” was probably even more welcome to E Street Nation: “We ain’t doing no farewell tour bullshit!” We’ll hold you to that, Bruce.

THOUGHT 3: Bruce audibled “Waitin' on a Sunny Day” for its U.S. debut during this tour, as evidenced by the collective groan that went up among a certain faction of fans who are, shall we say, not enamored of it. Well, I will go on the record right now as saying: I love it when the kids sing. They’re adorable. So sue me.

THOUGHT 4: “Reason to Believe” had me wanting Bruce to do an entire album of blues interpretations from “Nebraska." Someone please tell him I said that, I’m sure he’ll hop right on it.

THOUGHT 4: The percussion duel during E Street Shuffle is the best thing to ever happen to that song, and just the latest evidence that Max is a national treasure. (Also, he apparently plays gigs on his day off! Hasn't the man ever heard of naps?)

THOUGHT 5: “Wrecking Ball” remains the best song about a building ever. (Sorry, “Sexy Eiffel Tower” by Bow Wow Wow.)

THOUGHT 6: The latest arrangement of “Long Walk Home," featuring the E Street Choir at its thrilling conclusion, cements its status as one of Bruce’s best songs of the 21st century, and one of the best songs about America, period. (“Who we are and what we’ll do, and what we won’t.”) Given the unexpected hope and joy seeping into our political landscape during the last few weeks, here’s hoping (and joy-ing) that the walk will wind up being a little bit shorter than we thought.

THOUGHT 7: “Ghosts” was missed. It’s a stone-cold modern classic and they should have put it on that new greatest hits album nobody bought.

THOUGHT 8: WAS THAT PHILLY ELVIS??

THOUGHT 9: I know I said I had no notes, but I did think that just maybe, on a night 2 in Philly, Bruce might pull out a “Jungleland” or “Land of Hope and Dreams,” or even “If I Was the Priest,” which Pittsburgh got. (Damn you, Pittsburgh!) But even if some of the diehards might have left wishing they’d heard this or that, I’m convinced the average soul in Citizens Bank Park, from longtime listeners to youngsters not wanting to miss their chance with the Boss, couldn’t have been happier with the selection.

THOUGHT 10: And as for who those souls were, one look around at the multiple generations — those kids we started to see at concerts around the turn of the century must now be bringing THEIR kids — leaves no doubt that Bruce Springsteen is one of the mostly widely influential and important artists still out there doing the work. People who have been with him from day one and from every stop along the way — including the ones who were not even a twinkle in their parents’ eyes when “Greatest Hits” came out, much less “Born to Run” — are still getting on the train.

After getting a scare last year, I’m so glad that train’s still running — and that I’m still on it with them. It’s great to have such good companions for this part of the ride.

What thoughts went through your head watching Bruce this time around? Let us know in the comments.