Going Down to Lucky Town

 

For nigh unto 20 years, Bruce Springsteen shows have taken on a new temperature and significance, ever since I introduced my son Andrew to the Jersey Devil.  On almost two dozen occasions in five different states, we've enjoyed a father/son tandem to take in the concerts and they've provided me with indelible parenting memories - amplified, I might add, when my daughter Heather took in her FIRST Bruce show last August, making it a full family affair.

Springsteen shows have always been a gathering of family,  both real and assumed.  My brother took me to my first Springsteen concert 44 years ago, and I have tried to help indoctrinate others to the E Street magic in the ensuing decades.  Us E Streeters proper have taken in hundreds of shows between us, forming our own Band of Brothers in the process.  And in Andrew's case, a music aficionado in his own right (including an acolyte of the current Beatlemania-level frenzy that is Taylor Swift), he's come to appreciate the deep catalogue of Springsteen music and the indefatigable energy that permeates the 3-4 hour concert extravaganzas.

Which brings us to our latest father-son pilgrimage, this time to Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut ( a place where, by the way, Bruce proudly exclaimed he had no idea where the #$%& it was).

Surrounded by all the trappings of a casino, we had a feeling we were going to be treated to some of Bruce's gambling related songs (we weren't wrong), so Andrew thought it would be appropriate to contribute to the local economy.

Alas, no Golden Ticket awaited Charlie at the end of this factory tour.

Connected with fellow Springsteen aficionado Ken and Breena Gordon.  Ken's been following the Boss around the country - and world - for round about the same amount of years as me.

Ahead of the show, we were able to make a pitstop in the vaunted E Street Lounge. 

And just like Vegas, what happens in the E Street Lounge stays in the E Street Lounge.

Finally, we made it to our seats, and since the venue was quite warm, it was time to break out official E Streeters Running Club Swag.

And with that, we were off, and sure enough, Bruce opened the set with Roll of the Dice off his 1992 Human Touch Album

Well I've been a losin' gambler

Just throwin' snake eyes

Oh love ain't got me downhearted

I know up around the corner lies

My fool's paradise

In just another roll of the dice

Followed immediately by Lucky Town, from the self-named album of the same stretch of time in 1992 - which also happened to be the year I married the love of my life (and saw Bruce perform in Worcester the night before our wedding to boot!)

I'm going down to Lucky Town, down to Lucky Town

I'm gonna lose these blues I've found down in Lucky Town

Baby down in Lucky Town

Show a little faith, there's magic in the night.  You ain't a beauty, but hey, you're alright.

Oh, and that's alright with me.  Thunder Road, indeed.

The lights came on for the raucous encores, headlined by Bruce's anthemic and unforgettable trademark song, which just happened to be emblazoned on the back of my shirt as well.

No, I'm not yelling at my son, we're just joined our voices with thousands of others to belt out one of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time.

It wasn't a pretty little place in Southern California, but Ken and I were still celebrating Rosie Coming Out Tonight - you can hear them in the back room strumming

There's something to be said about the zenith of every show when the house lights shatter the darkness and explosively reveal arena contents during Born to Run, and you can absorb the frenzied euphoria of the crowd in its entirety.

It works on so many levels, and feels like the train's come roaring round the bend.

Out in the middle of the crowd, Bruce is getting hit with a 10th Avenue Freezeout courtesy of the 9,000 in attendance.

The change was made uptown, and the Big Man joined the band, as well as the show, during a photo feature spotlighting Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici, the two deceased veterans of the E Street Band.

Good night to the E Street Band's consigliore Little Steven, Professor Roy Bittan, and Mister Gary W. Tallent.

The Boss himself was the last to make an exit

And finally, you know it had to happen.

Bruce has been ending every show on this tour with the song I'll See You In My Dreams.

Not sure he was referring to dreams about donuts, but t's safe to say it can also serve as an appropriate final note for Andrew as well, as waiting outside the venue for us was a certain donut shop not found in our region.  A dozen sinkers may or may not have come home with the lad.

Not sure when the next father-son Springsteen outing will take place, as Bruce is jetting off now to Europe and doesn't have any East Coast tour dates schedule for the near future.  But you can be sure that when the opportunity does present itself, this tandem will be taking full advantage of any opportunity we get to share the experience!