Springsteen - Anaheim



Life has a way of coming full circle.  March Madness is over yet I found myself back in Anaheim, at the Honda Center, where the basketball tourney began four weeks ago. 

Only this time I came to rock:


At the intersection of Katella and E Street.

I took my nephew Logan to see his first Springsteen show.  It was time for him to learn that the poor man wants to be rich while the rich man wants to be king yet, oddly enough, the king aint satisfied 'til he rules everything.  The Boss ladles up these life lessons, seasoning with epiphanies like "it aint no sin to be glad you're alive." 

Before the show Logan asked about the big chair/throne on the left side of the stage.  I explained to him that The Big Man, Clarence Clemons, was getting on in years (he's 66).  When he's not playing the sax he needs to take a load off of his large frame.  He used to get by with a stool, but the chair/throne is more appropriate for one of the Three Most Important People in the World. 

Logan enjoyed the show.  His favorite part was when Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello sat in.  He joined the gang for a long, jam band, doobie-worthy version of "The Ghost of Tom Joad."  It was powerful.   Of course, it's already up on YouTube.  Check it out.  If you don't have time to watch the whole nine minute jam at least fast forward to the 7:00 mark when Tom's guitar solo enters Marty McFly country.  I wanted him to say, "I guess you're not ready for that yet.  But trust me, your kids are going to love it." 

Epiphany - Most people talk too much.  Pick your spots and folks will pay attention to what you have to say.   I was reminded of this while watching Clarence.  For 90% of the show he sits on his throne, maybe shaking a tambourine, maybe not.  He's not one to waste energy, so when he gets up and grabs a sax you know he has something important to say and you pay attention.  And when he has something completely transcendent to say, like in Jungleland, you hang on every note.  You might even weep, but you're a tough guy and you don't want your nephew to see you weep.




   

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Posted by Rocky Petralia at 4/12/2008 9:58 PM
Categories: uncategorized
 

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