Bruce Springsteen at Concord Pavilion 06-06-06

After a day of devilish debauchery, it was time to repent at the altar of the great Bruce Springsteen playing American acoustic folk classics by Pete Seeger


THE VENUE

I never saw a show here before, we drove in from the north over the rich farmland of the Sacramento delta totally avoiding the immense crunch of traffic from the bay area. We pulled into the premo-delux parking area that is supposed to cost $20, but no one bothered to collect the money so that ended up free.

The arena is an amphitheatre tucked in a knoll on top of a ridge of golden hills overlooking the contra costa valley. We stocked up on inebriants and went to the section number of our seats ... the usher looked at the ticket and said we were in the wrong area and she led us down to what they called the "terrace" area. This was probably the finest seating arrangement I have ever seen in an amphitheatre ... the terraces are small, railing-enclosed elevated patios each with a table and four movable chairs ... ours was the one closest to the stage with an unobstructed view over the heads of those in the row seats

THE BAND

This was an all acoustic concert with 17 musicians backing Bruce. Bruce was in fine form and seem to truly enjoy performing and engaging with the audience. Given the intensity that he belts-out the vocals in his trademark gravelly style, it is amazing he has not blown out his voice after all these years.

THE SHOW

An energetic and spirited mix of traditional folk, bluegrass, gospel, boogy woogy, zydeco and protest delivered with megawatt intensity... Mostly songs from his latest CD of Seeger classics with a few from his previous Devils in Dust Album ... 3 hrs of great music

THE WAY OUT

Bruce's local charity Du jour is the Contra Costa Food Bank ... they got the $20 from the parking fee

:nice: :nice:

Check it out !

I've been catching a few of the songs from his new Seeger sessions album on Sirius and I am digging it! I need to check if iTunes has it available for download. I heard "Erie Canal" and "Old Dan Tucker" during the drive in this morning. :)

Don't bring me doooooowwwwwwn owwww-hooowwwwwwwnnn....

Don't bring me doooooowwwwwwn owwww-hooowwwwwwwnnn....


Huh? :eek7:

Huh? :eek7:

you know that song

*pterodactyl screeches*

What song?

kids :nonono:

:rolleyes:

here is the review from the contra costa times

One could see the effect the band, the music, and the fresh start had on Springsteen, who, dressed in a black-and-white 1930s Sunday suit, was even more the preacher that usual. From opener "John Henry," on through "O' Mary Don't You Weep," "Old Dan Tucker," "Jesse James," and most everything except the quiet stuff on the new Seeger record, Springsteen continuously pounded the band through nothing short of a 20th-century roots revival. With 17 musicians on stage, a less seasoned bunch could've been way too loose with material that's often supposed to sound stripped-down. Instead they blew it up into an inspired, folk music wall of sound. Accordions, horns, fiddles, a banjo, pedal steel guitar -- everybody got a turn in the spotlight, with an obviously tickled Springsteen acting as bandleader. More than a dozen voices carried just about every chorus, adding a grandeur most of these songs never had. It wasn't necessary for a crowd of Springsteen fanatics to know the words. The band taught them by the end of every initial chorus.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/14761850.htm