'Hello, Ohio!' (Psst! Boss, we're in Michigan)


Updated 3h 12m ago | Comments 81 | Recommend 8 E-mail | Save | Print |

.


AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — A little geography snafu couldn't keep Michigan from being rocked by Bruce Springsteen.
The iconic rocker greeted his Palace of Auburn Hills audience Friday night with a hearty "Hello, Ohio!" — a reference he repeated several times over the next half hour before catching his mistake, with what appeared to be a whispered assist from guitarist Steven Van Zandt.

"I'm all right," said the grinning Springsteen, who remained visibly self-conscious about the slip. "That is every front man's nightmare."

No matter. If anything, Springsteen only seemed spurred to compensate for his Friday the 13th bad luck, ramping up the energy in what was already a rousing evening of rock 'n' roll with his E Street Band. The Boss definitely knew where he was: His traditional midshow dose of Detroit songs — this time including Bob Seger's Ramblin' Gamblin' Man— got an ebullient encore reprise with a cover of Jackie Wilson's Higher and Higher.

Fit, active and looking a decade younger than his 60 years, Springsteen had taken the stage to the ritual cries of "Bruuuce" echoing through the arena. He launched into his recently debuted song, Wrecking Ball, with its timely and emphatic message of hope: "Hard times come/Hard times go."

Determined to keep the hard times at bay for at least the next 165 minutes, Springsteen rolled into a set of ageless music, including a complete performance of his album Born to Run, which he described as his "most important record."

The mood was sentimental, but it was far from a cheap nostalgia exercise, as songs like Thunder Road, Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out and a supremely potent Backstreets were brought to life, sizzling with immediacy. With talk that this may be the E Street Band's final outing, a wistful, playful air hung over the Palace.

The house lights were brought up for the duration of the album's title song — one of many moments of rock communion with an adoring audience that seemed happy to forgive the Boss for his earlier road-weary brain fart.

Their attention was his to have in a characteristically high-energy, vamping Springsteen show. The set was heavy on classic material, generous with crowd sing-alongs (Hungry Heart), hardscrabble three-chord rock 'n' roll (Johnny 99) and poetic blue-collar anthems (Thunder Road). A booming rendition of The Rising reaffirmed why that 2002 song has cemented its place in the live repertoire.

Springsteen gave an inspired plug to the Detroit charity organization Focus:Hope before kicking into his encore, a loose and fun stretch with exhilarant runs through Dancing in the Dark and Rosalita. A slightly shredded voice presented few problems, as the singer occasionally skirted high notes and ably pushed his way through the sustained rock shout of Born in the USA.

The laws of physics rule out the possibility of a bad Bruce concert, but Friday's audience got a particularly good one. Amid the crowd of grizzled long-timers, young couples and families was at least one grade-school girl with a sign: "This Is Our First Show."

By the time Springsteen and company took their final bow just after 11 p.m., it's a safe bet she was wiped out — and ready for her second.
[Edited 11/15/09 9:45am]
[Edited 11/15/09 9:46am]

Aww, poor Bruce.

Timmy84 said:

Timmy, what's up with your avi? It's got the pink/stink eye.

sosgemini said:

It's supposed to be a "pride" symbol.

Timmy84 said:

Ehh, when did you come out?

sosgemini said:

Of what? I was always open-minded, where you been?

Timmy84 said:

Well, I was kinda walking out the door when you were walking in so I guess I didn't notice.

sosgemini said:

Oh OK.

I know somebody that went there. Didn't mention it. Only complained about having to pay for parking and said he would never go to the Palace again.