A one, two, one, two, three, four!

[karohemd]

Back from Wembley and it was fantastic.
With two hours and twenty minutes the shortest Springsteen I've been to (usually they are an hour longer) but it was still awesome.
It was him on acoustic guitar and the entirely acoustic (if you ignore the pedal steel guitar in a few tracks) Seeger Sessions Band consisting of fifteen members (full horn section incl. susaphone, guitar, banjo, upright bass, two violins, piano/accordeon, background vocals) who pretty much filled the huge stage at Wembely Arena.
The played an almost one for one mix of tracks from the Seeger Sessions and Springsteen classics in the new style, most of them only recognisable by the lyrics. Really really cool. Johnny '99 sounded like a New Orleans funeral march and The River like an Irish Ballad. The two openers (Blinded by the Light and Does This Bus Stop on 52nd Street?) were completely reworked, too and sounded fresh and fine indeed. It was also the first time I didn't cry during Bobby Jean. Not that the Seeger Sessions version was bad, it just wasn't as moving...
All in all, glad I went. Despite being relatively far away, I had a clear view of the stage and the screen and the sound was very good, too.

And now, good night

Comments

[toxicpixie.livejournal.com]

Damn, I don't suppose he played 'The Angel' as well, did he? I love 'Greetings...', it's probably my favorite album :D

Nathan, the Toxic Pixie

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Er, no. It was funny to watch some of the audience's reactions, though. As Blinded and Does This Bus started, the 40something guy to my left and I were cheering while the alcoholic youngster (he got up at least five times to get a pint) to my right looked rather bemused...

[toxicpixie.livejournal.com]

Shame :/ I suspect never to be heard live again then, as he only played it on the one tour :(

I suspect his music confuses many people. Dead Presidents included :D

Nathan, the Toxic Pixie

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

To be honest, with that kind of back catalogue, he has to drop a few, even if he averages 3 hours per show.
Another aspect is that reworking a song into the Seeger Sessions style will take some time, too, not to mention rehearsing them with 15 other musicians so he'll only pick those he really wants...

Hehehe.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Full setlist (http://www.brucespringsteen.net/live/2006europesetlists.html#20061112)