October 16, 1982 - to date, it remains one of the hands-down LOUDEST concerts this music aficionado has ever attended.
(Rivaled only by Roger Waters at the Worcester Centrum on March 30, 1985.)
The show? Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul at 15 Landsdowne Street, Boston.
Admittedly, the club itself wasn't that large, which contributed to the ear-splitting volume. Course, it also had a lot to do with the performer - Miami Steve Van Zandt, frontman for Bruce Springsteen, who was exploring a foray into a solo career with his Men Without Women album.
The Boston-born Miami Steve had broken off from touring with Bruce after the Boss's Nebraska album and prior to Born in the U.S.A., which rocketed Freehold's favorite son into the rock and roll stratosphere.
Suddenly, here was Little Steven, bedecked in bandana and leather jacket complete with a Disciples of Soul rocker, and a band all his own, not to mention a sound.
I have to admit, I was a big fan from the outset, as were several of my fellow E Streeters, especially John Piekos. Yes, things took some sideways detours with Stevie's political Sun City anti-apartheid anthem a few years later, but Men Without Women, coupled with his follow up album, Voice of America, still hold a special place in my music collection.
Which brings us to September 29, 2017, a new tour with Little Steven and a return to the Orpheum Theatre in Boston.
In the 1980s I was lucky enough to see several music acts at the Orpheum, including the Police and a little known band from Dublin, U2, in May of 1983.
This time, I had not only the guy who introduced me to all things E Street, but the next generation E Streeter in tow as well - my brother, Jimmy and son, Andrew. Jimmy, by the way, was the one who took me to my first Little Steven show 35 years ago, so it all comes around.
Drawing from his latest album, Soulfire, Stevie and his Disciples riffed through several of the new tracks, but also paid more than ample homage to the music of some of his Asbury Park cohorts, including Southside Johnny and Gary U. S. Bonds.
The show featured street corner Doo Wop, soul sounds, R&B, blues - heck, he covered just about every genre he could squeeze into the 2 1/2 hour rockfest
It was akin to a night spent listening to his varied Underground Garage discography over on Sirius radio. A tremendous five-man horns section, complimented by a trio of non-stop dancers helped make for a packed stage of frenetic music talent.
It's no secret that Stevie and Peter Wolf, the former front man for the J. Geils band are best buds -the Wooba Gooba with the Green Teeth is a staple at virtually any Springsteen Boston-area show over the last 30 years, and almost always ends up sharing a microphone with Van Zandt.
This particular night, he resurrected a couple of J. Geils songs from the music crypt - Lookin' For a Love and Freeze Frame - both which kept the sold-out crowd on its feet hearkening back to the Boston-based band's 1980s tandem of hits.
Stevie wrapped up his show with the song Out of the Darkness, from his second album.
Released 33 years ago, its message and lyrics seem even more poignant in today's divided society.
Check it out here:
There's a sadness all around us
There are words we're too afraid to say
The things that I thought would last forever
Are changing every day
There's a hunger can't be satisfied
And the streets are filled with rage
It's time to dig deep inside ourselves
And face the life we've made
It's gonna take two of us
Ijust can't do it all on my own
I see the day gettin' brighter
Hold me a little bit tighter
Out of the darkness in hand in hand
Baby together we will make our stand
Reach out and touch me we can win somehow
I know there's nothing that can stop us now
Oh, baby, come with me out of the darkness
I've lived my life trapped with trouble
Now it's time to make a new start
I thought the only justice in this world
Came from an angry heart
Now I know there's got to be love to protect us
But we can't wait for it to come
I know there's more to life than black and white
The sooner we learn, the sooner we've won
It's gonna take the two of us
I just can't make it all on my own
If you are a fighter
Hold me a little bit tighter
Out of the darkness and hand in hand
Baby together we will make our stand
Reach out and touch me we can win somehow
I know there's nothin' that can stop us now
Oh baby, come with me out of the darkness
Peace, love and understanding!
35 years later, still a Disciple.
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