Something a little different this week - not so much a long song, as a long clip. Over the last few world tours, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band have welcomed occasional song requests from audience members. These range from stone cold classics, obscure curios from their hefty back catalogue to one-off cover versions that find them reaching back to their bar-band days. This is a terrific example of the latter, pulled from a 2013 show in Leipzig. Springsteen plucks a request for Chuck Berry's 'You Never Can Tell' from the crowd, to the visible consternation of the band who obviously know the song, but have never actually played it. Steve Van Zandt, Bruce and the band spend a couple of minutes working out an arrangement - worth watching for the look on Steve's face as he tries to persuade Bruce to bring it down a key. Then, gloriously, they throw themselves headlong into a joyous, life-affirming performance. If anyone still questions why I've travelled so far, so often to see Bruce and the E-Street Band in concert over the years, here's your answer.
Consummate professionalism is the phrase that springs to mind. Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteI'm always impressed by musicians who can jam on the spot. Having spent a good ten years of my life trying (and often failing) simply to follow the music that was written down in front of me, let alone remember the notes when the music was taken away... watching people make it all up from scratch always leaves me in awe.
ReplyDeleteGreat story, Swede. Nothing but respect for Mr. Springsteen.
ReplyDeleteTerrific stuff
ReplyDeleteMy old Ma used to have a dishtowl like the one SVZ is wearing round his head