I Still Haven't Found...

What I'm Looking For

Bruce joins U2 at the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame show

The video below reminded me of the last time I saw U2...

It was May 30, 1983 in California... at The US Festival. Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul opened that morning... how wild! Along with U2 that Monday were Berlin, Quarterflash, Missing Persons, Pretenders, Joe Walsh, Stevie Nicks and David Bowie... U2 came on at 12:20 that afternoon... the part of the story that I so fondly remember was when the stars aligned I found exactly what I was looking for. U2 was on the stage... but there was this guy standing at the back of the stage... he was so... captivating. I didn't know who he was but suddenly I wasn't interested in the "bands". :) I smiled his way... and well I suppose I caught his eye... and felt an instant connection... every move I made he seemed to be making... unconsciously... it was like I was looking in the mirror but the mirror was a man. I reached up and pulled down on my bangs... a nervous habit I had back then... and at that very moment he reached up and did the same... He was soooo cute... :o (am I allowed to say that someone other than Bruce "was soooo cute"?) Anyhow... he was. If there is such a thing as a "soulmate" this was him. I giggled and looked away... and when I looked back he was gone... I was so disappointed... he had stolen my heart and disappeared! Then I notice him under the (high outdoor) stage coming toward me... well actually he was coming out to the front of the stage... I'm sure it was too watch U2... I watched him closely as he walked crouched down so he wouldn't hit his head on the stage... I felt myself blush... as butterflies fluttered in my tummy... my heart rejoiced. He hopped up on the rail next to me... there was magic in his eyes. It's been 26 years, 5 months and 1 day since that "encounter." At times I think about that man and I wonder if he ever found what he was looking for.

Thank you, Lenny...

"A warm and sensitive person, he was beloved by Bruce, the Band, the crew, and the entire Thrill Hill family." ~ brucespringsteen.net

"Leonard Daniel Sullivan III, 34, of Manasquan, died Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, in Kansas City, MO. Lenny was the Assistant Road Manager for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. He attended East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., and was a member of the Fraternity TKE at the University. He was born in Long Branch, and had been a lifelong resident of Manasquan. He also lived in Hollywood, CA for a brief time. Lenny was one of a kind. Through his life long love of music, he was able to travel the world four times with his cousin Bruce Springsteen. As assistant road manager he cared for and was loved by many. As one of his friends said, "If there is a stage in heaven you are behind it making it happen." He was warm, funny, and loving. He loved to laugh, and his smile was truly contagious. He will be missed by many." ~ Asbury Park Press

Lenny's family has requested that donations be sent to:
The Boys and Girls Club of Ocean County, NJ.
The website is: http://www.bbbsoc.org/
There is a donation button on the left side...
Thanks for taking time to look.

R.I.P Lenny

Meet Me In St. Louis...

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND

"WORKING ON A DREAM" Tour

St. Louis Set List watch

@ BTX (Backstreets) / Greasy Lake

(Start time = 8:15ish)

I'd like to thank ALL OF YOU who make this watch so much fun!!
"Remember: No one wins unless EVERYBODY WINS!!"

photo by: GG @ the Spectrum Night 3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I couldn't go to St. Louis...

and guess what Bruce started the encore with?

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child... :o

More Pictures from Philly...

Guess I need a little practice on my new camera...

maybe if I find the zoom button... but till then:

Don't forget to click on the pictures for close ups !!

When You Walk In The Room

I got lucky in Philly at the 3rd show... finally! They took us lucky lottery winners inside while sound check was still happening... and I really was lucky... cause right when I walked into the venue... just before we are supposed to turn to the left... I looked straight ahead and can see into the arena and there's Bruce on stage... I had a perfect view of him singing Bishop Danced! He was wearing beige pants and shirt. The guard had opened the curtain so a small group could watch sound check and they let me join them. There'd be plenty time to get back in line later. Bruce played through the song a couple times... I wondered if he had noticed us watching when he waved as he left the stage... or if he was just practicing. I picked a nice place near the back of the pit... and chatted with the very friendly guards... waiting for showtime. I was fully expecting Bishop Danced to start the show but got a stunner... When You Walk In The Room... which was the first time they've played it since 1976! God he looked good. :o I was too swept away with the moment to pull out my camera... but MagikRat took stunning video!

This was a night for lovers... broken hearted lovers... as Bruce and his band convinced us to grow up and dream again... cause Two Hearts are better than one... then came the promises... MY LOVE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!! The show could have ended there and I would have floated out of the building... but we were still getting the full Born To Run album! One more chance for Bruce to break out into a wild interlude during Backstreets! We were all anticipating... and he took it just a bit further than the last time... leading us on. But it was She's The One the stood out tonight!

Then came the requests and they were humdingers! The first I have seen... It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City... in Cleveland... but the next hadn't been played by the E Street Band since 1981... another shock... I Wanna Marry You.

Next we got a request from The King, himself.

It was a wonderfully fun night... I found myself once again leaving the show saying of Bruce and his E Street Band, "That was the best show I've seen in years!" wondering if night 4 would measure up... being Born In The USA. Well I have to tell you, The Born In The USA Tour, back in 1984 was an incredible tour... so full of energy... it was so powerful... I loved that tour... but the album I had heard live many times... most of it... as encores... so I was wondering what Bruce would do to shake things up... who would have expected the show to open with The Price You Pay?! The song that the whole Springsteen world has been waiting and praying to hear since... The River Tour? I don't know why I question him... and it was amazing... though as you can hear in the video... sign ediquette was lacking.

I had missed the pit and was standing at the GA rail behind the pit... and hadn't yet figured out how to use my new camera... but thankfully MagikRat was at the show!! What a great videotographer!! Anyhow since we had gotten the usual encores at the beginning of the show... there was lots of room for goodies after the album was played... and the requests were great... starting with a request that may have been the highlight of the night... giving Price You Pay a run for it's money... This one could very easily close every show... it took us Higher & Higher!

The next request was Loose Ends...

Then came a major highlight of this tour for me... Vini "Maddog" Lopez joined the E Street Band... sitting in for an "old school" Spirit in the Night... and I was soooo glad that I hadn't let this oportunity pass me by!! I have always wanted to see Vini play with the E Street Band... and in Philly that dream came true!

I left Philly higher than a kite! Thankfully I had gotten over my hurt feelings and made the trip... because this was again one of the best shows ever!! One of the most tender moments... was when Bruce personalized Save The Last Dance For Me to his buddy Jerry. I happen to catch Jerry's reaction... and it was adorable!!