Side two, however, is given over to three songs that stretch from seven to nine minutes. Three are short, one is longer, but they all have distinct sonic flavors. On side one, four songs jostle for the space to tell their stories. The two sides of the album are thematically linked, but musically disparate. I am thankful that I discovered Wild as a vinyl record. The album’s themes are those of someone who is questioning the life on the boardwalk, wondering of it is all the world has to offer him. There were still many colorful characters and locations, - “Spanish Johnny” “a pretty little place in Southern California down San Diego way” - but the storytelling had tightened. Intent on capturing the excitement of the live E Street Band - something Springsteen was prevented from fully accomplishing on Greetings both because of the songs and the record company’s unease with his desire to be a rock and roll artist - Springsteen also included more musical variety on the album. Wild, by contrast, is caught between two worlds. On Greetings it was the energy of youth, and the characters of the boardwalk. Springsteen has always been an artist interested in creating albums that are a cohesive statements of a time, a feeling, or an idea. It instantly became one of my favorite Springsteen albums and remains one that I return to frequently. I listened to it for the first time that night. At Val’s, in the used record bin, there was Bruce’s scruffy face staring back at me, his hand thoughtfully placed on his long-since-shaved-away beard. When I did finally acquire it, it was thanks to a visit to the local record store, Val’s Halla. I knew I liked Springsteen’s first and third albums, and I had bought many of his other albums by that point. One year and two months after purchasing my first Bruce Springsteen music, I discovered The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle. “ Sparks fly on E Street when the boy- prophets walk it, handsome and hot” Except for one thing: ‘Your flag flyin' over the courthouse means certain things are set in stone: who we are, what we'll do, and what we won't.’ It’s a haunting line, and one of his best.The Wild the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle (1973) But on ‘Long Walk Home,’ from ‘Magic’ (his most underrated album) he doesn’t back down from his convictions, telling the tale of a guy who returns to his hometown and doesn’t recognize anything, or anyone. He certainly didn’t need to challenge his audience, particularly after upsetting fans with ‘41 Shots’ and speaking out against President George W. By the 2000s, Springsteen would have been forgiven for taking a long victory lap and playing the greatest hits on tour. When the E Street Band were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, Steven Van Zandt noted that the band maintained a huge worldwide fanbase, which he said was ‘Due, directly, to our leader’s relentless striving for greatness, his insistence on our constantly evolving musical excellence and his continuing to write songs at an unnecessarily high level of quality.’ 2007’s ‘Magic’ was a great example of that. March 29 – Detroit, MI Little Caesars ArenaĪpril 1 – New York, NY Madison Square GardenĪpril 5 – Cleveland, OH Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse March 25 – Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum March 18 – State College, PA Bryce Jordan Center March 16 – Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – 2023 US Tour Datesįebruary 3 – Atlanta, GA State Farm Arenaįebruary 7 – Hollywood, FL Hard Rock Liveįebruary 10 – Dallas, TX American Airlines Centerįebruary 18 – Kansas City, MO T-Mobile Centerįebruary 27 – Seattle, WA Climate Pledge Arena A full list of tour dates can be viewed below. Springsteen’s tour with the E Street Band kicks off February 1 in Tampa, Fla.
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