Hunter of Invisible Inspiration

So it was just a couple days ago when I first got the idea to put one of my poems on video... I chose "What's Inside?" as my first.  I don't know, maybe it's my admiration for his acting ability but I cast Bruce for the lead in my video...  and since Bruce is in it I wanted to share it with you.  Hope you like it!  

What's Inside?

It was late last night... I followed you home like a spy
You couldn't see me because I was dressed like a fly
You let yourself in, and quietly lit a candle
In the shadow, opened your safe, pulling on its handle
I watched as you fell heartbroken to the ground
Eyes filled with tears your soul echoed a sad sound
So much sorrow I saw in your spirit just then
I began to cry, too... remembering when

Then closing your safe you wiped your sad eyes
Got in bed with your wife quietly hiding your sighs
But I needed to know what had hurt you so bad
What was locked there inside that had made you so sad?
So I broke open your safe... only to see
One single item, an old picture of me.

~GG~

Be Still My Soul

Be still my soul as I hide my love inside
Don't beat my heart, don't show the tears I've cried 
Spirits again hurled into this world of pain
To live without you would be living life in vain

How will you know that I'm the one you've lost
You vowed to find me no matter what the cost
My blood it burns for I know that you are near
But heat can be confusing and that is what I fear
Oh let the coolness of my scent calm the raging fire

Let my spirit guide you into your heart's desire
Embrace the love we knew in lives we've lived before
Be still my soul, let him search for me once more

~Gina Giambone~

Oh, and just in case you haven't seen the original by Bruce & Thom Zimney

Hunter of Invisible Game

Thank you... from the bottom of my heart!!

Heaven's Wall

Romeo's Been Found

 

Time To Follow That Dream

It's BOSSTIME!!

First stop... Napoli!

Catching The Wrecking Ball Train to Europe!!

I think I need a Bruce fix!!  And I'm going to get one even if I have to fly to the ends of the earth for it!  Well as we all have heard (from Stevie) there will be no USA dates this coming fall for the Wrecking Ball Tour so if you want it, here it is, come and get it... but you better hurry cause it's gonna be over fast!  So what's a girl to do?  If she's got any "cents" she'd get on that plane... then take the fast train... that brings her to... Bruce!  (ahem) I mean to Europe to see the E Street Band's Wrecking Ball Tour!  :)  Never know what you'll get a chance to hear the E Street Band play!!  

"Leap of Faith"

I'll try to keep you updated along the way...

and I promise to stream something live every chance I get.  :)

Oh, yeah... my request list!

NO NEED / She's My Westside Angel

Okay... something more realistic:

4.  YOU'VE GOT IT
5. LEAP OF FAITH

1.  For You
2.  My Love Will Not Let You Down
3.  Back In Your Arms

6.  This Depression
7.  The Fever
8. Kitty's Back

9.  Till The End (The Backstreets Winterland Interlude)
10. Tougher Than The Rest (In Leeds)

And Bruce... if you would... may I please have your harmonica!!

Got The Fever FOR YOU!!

With just 19 days left before I board that plane for Euroland, Bruce began the second European Leg of The Wrecking Ball Tour without me!!  Yes, I'm kicking myself already... one show in!!  To reward his dedicated fans, Bruce came out before the show for a little pre-show set the included: This Hard Land, ALL That Heaven Will Allow, THE FEVER and Growin' Up.  That's a nice reward!!  :)

Very sweet, indeed!!  And I wasn't there...

The show began with another sweet little treat when Steven finally came onto the stage. With a drink in his hand (and a Frank Sinatra swagger) he delighted adoring fans with My Kind of Town, (Lillyhammer is) followed by one of my favorites: Two Hearts... always better than one!!  The show progressed into a rocking Wrecking Ball Show with a rare Better Days and the extra special gem, Follow The Dream.  If that didn't make me wish I was there... regret waiting till Mid May... Bruce started the encore with an amazing solo piano version of For You!  I missed it, but Cindy caught it on tape... For You!

I'm gonna keep the faith... I'm gonna follow my dream and chase For You once more!! 

See you soon, Europe!!

Countdown EUROPE!!

    

Because The Night Belongs to Nils

As if we needed further proof...

Brisbane, Australia 14 March 2013:

Pull Your Finger Out, Brisbane!

An Australia Bruce Springsteen fan, known as "Killer Joe," 
shares his thoughts on the first 2013 Wrecking Ball Show in Brisbane:

"Ok.   Just got home.   Having trouble typing because my fingers are like freakin' sausages from clapping so much.

The Boss Man delivers the goods once again.   It took him some time to win the crowd over, but the Great Boss always wins.   Resistance is futile.

Just a ball-tearer of a show.... only Bruce can put together an incendiary heavy rock guitarist and a soul/bigband ensemble, and get away with it.

That said, the Brisbane crowd need to really get their shit together for Saturday night if they want Bruce to come back.    Brisbane crowds are always lame but some of these guys were extra lame.      Those of you who follow Rugby League may be familiar with the term "fire up, bitches!!" ... well you should take that on board.      And to the big numpty sitting next to me who sat through the whole show without even applauding once, give yourself an uppercut, dumbo!!    Get the stick out of your arse and enjoy life.   Oh and soz about the elbow in the head during Glory Days.  oops!!

Right, so the show itself... got off to a slowish start - We Take Care of Our Own is a good song, but casual fans here don't know it, and it doesn't have a real signature intro.

Then there was Just Like Fire Would... great thing for Bruce to do, digging out a song by a Brisbane band.   Unfortunately it was wasted on a lot of these numpties...  the Saints, like a lot of Brisbane bands, were more appreciated elsewhere than in their own hometown... seemed like a lot of people didn't even know it, and I felt bad for Bruce because he really ripped into it, seemed like he expected a big reaction.    Typically brilliant E Street rendition though.

Badlands was of course good, but felt to me like it's just lost it's edge with so many playings.    Wrecking Ball was ok, but things started to cook a bit more with Death to My Hometown.    Morello brings a fresh energy to the band that I love.

Hungry Heart - while Americans might be over it, this was the one that really flicked the switch, at least down in the pit (and even to some degree amongst the corpses I was sitting near).    

My City of Ruins - a great gospel standard, that I think is remembered by many from the Rising tour, and was appreciated by many (except apparently by Mr-Dickhead-I-don't-applaud in next seat, who chose to call his kids on his mobile phone (!!!) during the quiet middle section.   He even asked if they wanted to speak to Mummy!!     And this pair were not young, I bet the kids were teenagers!  Grrrr...

Then came Spirit in the Night, followed by ES Shuffle... not known at all by Aus casual fans, but their energy is pretty irresistible.

Jack of all trades was ok - not one of my faves.    Murder Inc. rocked hard as usual.     Loved Johnny 99 and Because the Night.    She's the One... legendary.     Shackled and Drawn surprised me... it is a sensation live.    Sunny Day was enjoyable enough (again the recognition factor from 2003 seemed to get the crowd going) - but the singing kid schtick is just as cringeworthy in real life as it looks on Youtube.   He really should lose that.

I found Apollo Medley kind of hard work... I wasn't raised with soul music and neither was pretty much anybody in Australia.   I don't think anyone knew the 634 song, and even The Way You Do the Things You Do is only known here because of Rita Coolidge.    Impressive playing and singing but not my favourite part of the show.

The Rising is always great, and Tom Joad was a high point for me... always loved the song, and it really feels to me like Morello pushes Bruce to reach for just a little extra.      Thunder Road was an absolute winner - surprised me how much the crowd got into it.

I loved We Are Alive to kick off the encore... another WB song that really surprised me... and then of course things really took off... interesting that the crowd response to Glory Days was much bigger than BTR... something for Bruce to take note of perhaps...

I should also mention the notable songs he didn't play...  I thought BITUSA would have been a lock, along with the River, for a first night audience... but there you go... glad I got those Saturday tix.

Great show, Bruce still rocks, and he took what I thought were some unexpected risks with the setlist - not all of them came off completely, but nobody can call him predictable... and you can bet there will be no empty seats come Saturday..." Thanks, Killer!!

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

Brisbane Australia ~ March 14, 2013

19:59

1.   We Take Care of Our Own

2.   JUST LIKE FIRE WOULD (The Saints)

3.   Wrecking Ball

4.   Badlands

5.   Death To My Hometown

6.   Hungry Heart

7.   My City of Ruins

8.   Spirit In The Night

9.   The E Street Shuffle

10. Jack of All Trades

11. Murder Incorporated

12. Johnny 99 (w/Honky Tonk)

13. Because the Night

14. She's The One

15. Shackled & Drawn

16. Waitin' On a Sunny Day     

17. Apollo Medley

18. The Rising

19. The Ghost of Tom Joad

20. Thunder Road

21. We Are Alive

22. Born To Run

23. Glory Days

24. Dancing In the Dark

25. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

23:11

3 hours 10 min.

Barracudas in the USA!!

     Finally, those four precious words that I had been waiting to hear for so long:  "Mom, can I go?"  "You WANT to go?" I asked... "Sure..."  It was that easy!  I loaned Sierra Rachel's cap (since Rachel couldn't make the trip over from Holland this time) and Sierra became our newest cuda-cub!!

  

We'd be meeting the Barracudas (my beloved Italians) in Charlottesville @ 2pm to get our  "lucky" lottery wristbands... Helene didn't have a ticket yet but was coming anyway to celebrate our good friend, Leticia's birthday! Her daughter would ride with her and bring little Cita (Helene's granddaughter) for a visit!  It was sure to be a lovely time!!  We so hoped for great spots "in" the pit for the celebration... fingers crossed!  Sierra was so excited to meet my friends... packed and ready, we got on the road early.  News had spread that Bruce would be playing at the rally to re-elect Obama at 3, so we'd need to get bands closer to 1pm to get to the rally and back in time for the lottery drawing... but that wouldn't work out for me... I had promised to pick Leticia up at the airport at 1:50.  We would wait for Leticia and skip the rally but insisted that the others go to support Obama!  ;)

     The ride over the mountain was lovely... the trees just barely hanging on to their leaves as autumn days turn cold... the fog sitting on the mountain was gorgeous as the sun broke through the trees over the horizon.  Just one more stop to freshen up and put on our concert outfits and back on the road!  We arrived only 20 minutes after the Barracudas!  Ale's face was the first I saw, his smile brighter than the sunshine!  He pointed me to where the others were parked!

There they were: my dear friends; Silvia, Robi and Vanessa, with her beautiful red hair!!  Hugs and kisses, gifts and TICKETS were given out!  A special gift from Matteo & Silvia... so sweet!  

Oh my goodness and my new Barracuda shoes!! Beautiful!! So much love and smiles it felt like Italy in the USA!  Thank you my special friends!!   Ale gave Sierra her own official cap and T-shirt!!  (She giggled), so cute... I could tell that she understood  my love for my Barracuda friends!!

It was soon time for Barracudas to get their wristbands and go to  support our President's re-election and hear Bruce's Forward! Sierra and I went looking for the airport which was very conveniently located right down the road... but now time is ticking and the plane is late... by 20 minutes... then more... and now traffic has thickened - so with Leticia-cuda on board we're trying to decide if we should check into our room which is 10 minutes walk from the Arena or pay for parking and get our wristbands before 4 pm... it's now 3:15... What should we do??  We decide to check-in and standing there with our hands full of luggage we find that the rooms are not ready yet and they can't give us our parking pass until the room is ready... so we wait on pins and needles... watching the clock, willing for it to slow itself!!  Will we make it back to the venue by 4:00?  Cut off time for wristbands? Room key in hand, we head to room 408 at 3:40... Sierra changes into her (orange) "Italian Fucking Die Hards in the USA" T-shirt and we head back to the arena to meet Helene who has found a ticket but is still frantically trying to get through traffic to get there as the clock ticks down... her daughter, Donna, who was just with her for the ride, jumps out of the car and runs down the block to the wristband line and gets her a wristband with us at 3:58pm... #557, 558, 559 & 560.  Helene-cuda parks the car and pours us all a quick glass of wine to toast Leticia's birthday... the celebration begins!! 

     While we waited we made a plan as to where we would stand (in back) after we lose the lottery!!  It was decided, we would go to the back platform to help Bruce crowd surf...  The Italian Barracudas were back from the rally with great smiles and happy hearts and I could tell it was a great experience for them.  Too bad they can't vote in the USA!!  :)  Ale showed me his number #107... we wished each other luck!!  I look up to see Sara Tersetti's beautiful face as she is walking toward us!!  More hugs and love from Italy!!  What a great day, indeed!!

     It's time... and Tom uses his mega-phone to get the crowd lined up in numerical order as we await the lucky (or should we say - unlucky) number... and we were informed that only 500 would be in the pit.  Sierra is disappointed that we were so late getting there cause our number was after what she thought was the cut off.  I then explained that what ever number Tom called would become number #1.  WE all hold our breath as he calls the number:  556!!!!!!  AAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!  We scream into each others' faces!!!  I look at my band just to confirm 558!!!!!!  OMG!!!  We are going in 3, 4, 5 & 6!!!!!  (555 got in with his wife)...   I wave to Ale, WE'RE IN, WE'RE IN!!!  He waves back!!  The line begins to move and we past the Italian Barracudas stopping to scream face to face with them as they celebrate that we're going in first!!! I catch Sara's joyful face once more as we're being escorted in!  She throws a cheer my way!!  Tom teases Sierra that it must have been her luck cause I'm never this lucky!!  I share a quick hello with Tony as we enter the pit and he, too is surprised at my luck... but my luck was just about to get BETTER!!  #1 & 2 go to the front corner leaving the center platform wide open for Barracudas!!!!  BARRACUDAS FRONT & CENTER!!!

We rejoice and my head spins with excitement... I try to calm my nerves...  I get on my tippy toes and search for the orange "Italian Fucking Die Hard" T-shirts and finally I spot Silvia in front of the platform to the left!!  BARRACUDAS LEFT FRONT!!!  Lights go down... music begins... and there he is... the icing on Leticia's birthday cake!!

Sierra's smile was priceless!!  Barracudas & Bruce - Forever!!  

more to come...

This Is My Confession

     

         Thank you, Bruce.

THIS DEPRESSION

Baby, I've been down, but never this down

I've been lost, but never this lost

This is my confession

I need your heart in this depression

I need your heart...

Baby, I've been low, but never this low
I've had my faith shaken but never hopeless

This is my confession

I need your heart in this depression

I need your heart...

I haven't always been strong, but never felt so weak
All of my prayers, gone for nothing
I've been without love, but never forsaken
Now the morning sun, the morning sun is breaking

This is my confession

I need your heart in this depression
I need your heart...

This is my confession

I need your heart in this depression

I need your heart...

This is my confession

I need your heart in this depression
I need your heart...

The Record Breaking E Street Band in Helsinki

Playing for over 4 hours,

Bruce and The E Street Band

Thank their loyal fans in Helsinki

Pre- show treat:  18:30

Bruce comes out early to "Thank fans for following" him on tour...

1.  I'LL WORK FOR YOUR LOVE

2.  LEAP OF FAITH

3.  No Surrender

4.  For You

5.  BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

19:53 Helsinki Begins

1. ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD

2. Night

3. Out In The Street

4.  Loose Ends

5.  We Take Care of Our Own

6.  Prove It All Night (78 Intro)

7.  Wrecking Ball

8.  Death To My Hometown

9.  My City of Ruins

10.  Does This Bus Stop @ 82nd Street?  (request)

11.  Be True

12.  Jack of All Trades

13.  Downbound Train

14.  Because The Night

15.  Lonesome Day

16.  Darlington County

17.  Light Of Day (request)

18.  Shackled & Drawn

19.  Waitin' On a Sunny Day

20.  BACK IN YOUR ARMS

21.  The Rising

22.  Badlands

23.  Land of Hope & Dreams

~~~~~

24.  We Are Alive

25.  Born In The USA

26.  Born To Run

27.  DETROIT MEDLEY

28.  Glory Days

29.  Dancing In The Dark

30.  Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

31.  I DON'T WANNA GO HOME (request)

32.  HIGHER & HIGHER

33.  Twist & Shout  (song ends @ 23:57)

Bruce mentions the 4 hour mark and leaves stage @ 23:59

4 hours & 6 minutes

Shackled & Drawn to Europe

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED

IN SHACKLED & Drawn Cindy says it best... "it's all about love, Love, LOVE!!"   Not about who jumps higher or sings louder... or who knows more about Bruce & his band... but it's about the love that we feel in and from a crowd, that love must be unconditional... and when it is that crowd's LOVE lifts the band higher, as we throw our energy at the stage to be used by the band anyway the band sees fit!   The fans welcomed me open armed with embraces that last even now, one month later!  It's not all about me, Bruce or his band, it's about US!  It's about LOVE.  

If you can find that crowd in the USA then you have found a rare and beautiful thing and you are truly blessed!!   I've found THAT crowd in 9 cities out of 9 visited in Europe this tour... a crowd that fed the band love, Love, LOVE!!  So "stand up and be counted" Europe!!

Bruce Proves It ALL Night!!

To Barcelona



And to Manchester!

                                                 I somehow missed BOTH!!!

A special THANK YOU to the youtube tapers!!

It's HOT in Sevilla!!

21.20

1. Badlands
2. We Take Care of Our Own
3. Wrecking Ball
4. The Ties That Bind
5. Death to My Hometown
6. My City of Ruins
7. Trapped
8. Out In The Street
9. Jack of All Trades
10. Candy's Room
11. She's The One
12. Darlington County
13. Shackled & Drawn
14. Waitin' On a Sunny Day
15. The Promised Land
16. The Way You Do The Things You Do/634-5789
17. Because the Night
18. The Rising
19. Lonesome Day
20. We Are Alive
21. Land of Hope & Dreams

22. Rocky Ground
23. I'M GOIN' DOWN
24. Born To Run
25.Dancing in the Dark
26.Bobby Jean
27.Tenth Avenue Freeze Out

00:20

Thank you for the videos, Stian257... They are wonderful!!

Wrecking Ball Hits Seville

Starting the European Leg of the Wrecking Ball Tour off right, 

Bruce shows up a day early in Seville and gives media a mini-concert, soundcheck!!

‎19:03 CET

1. We Take Care
2. Death to My Hometown
3. Rocky Ground
4. Thunder Road
5. Waitin. on Sunny Day
6. I'm Goin' Down
7. The Promise
8. Shackled and Drawn
9. Apollo Medley (stop start while they iron out problems apparently)
10. We Are Alive

20:32 CET 

Translated from Pointblank

Bruce Springsteen rehearses in Seville to the press

At 7 o'clock in the afternoon today Bruce Springsteen appeared on stage at the Olympic Stadium in Seville . With black shirt, jeans and sunglasses gave final instructions to his extensive band, before embarking on the dress rehearsal of the European tour before a small audience. A few dozen journalists from across Europe (though mostly Spanish and Italian) have had access to the full test, followed by an impromptu and informal press conference.

For almost half an hour Springsteen has reviewed the repertoire of the tour and has dedicated a good portion of time to rehearse the band movements in certain songs, to decide which musician would go to the right or left of the stage, who stay with him at the center or what part of "Apollo Medley" must sing each chorus. "We Take Care Of Our Own" and "Death to my Hometown" opened fire, in the eyes of many cameras, while journalists took notes incessantly or advantage to send minicrónicas via Twitter or take pictures with their smartphones .

Minutes after the turn has come "Rocky Ground", with Michelle Moore on stage, just as in the American tour. The band keeps the same formation that has been in the U.S., except Patti Scialfa, absent this evening. Bruce commented later that Patti was at home looking after the younger son, still a teenager, and would join the tour soon.

Insistent and distant screams have broken the silence suddenly working in a large group of fans who jalebaba the artist from the windows of the hotel attached to the stadium, and within sight of it. Bruce joked with them, asked them if they wanted to hear a particular song, and then they have spent an inspired version of "Thunder Road" . The brass section has impressed more than one reporter. I really see you blow hard impose the epic end of the song, a few meters away, with the empty stadium and a very powerful and crisp sound.

"Waitin 'On A Sunny Day" marked the first encounter with the small audience. Bruce has jumped the track, has walked through the back of the pit and welcomed and shaken hands with many of the attendees, while continuing the song and even in the absence of children, was singing the chorus to a daring journalist . Easy trick, but direct, intimate and it works, which has served to create sympathy among reporters and cameras.

Here are two surprises: the rocker "I'm Goin'Down" , encouraging environment, followed by a historic moment. Bruce and the E Street Band have given us a sublime version of "The Promise". Something in his career has only happened four times in public (first show of the tour 78, performance at the carousel in Asbury Park in 2010, concert in Washington a few weeks ago, and now in Seville, in the semi-public trial to the press). Emotional and unique moment. Surprisingly, a foreign journalist asks: "Thunder Road has not played before?". We clarify the question and thanks.

"Shackled and Drawn" "The Way You Do The Things You Do" and "We Are Alive" have closed the session, after which Bruce has sat on the edge of the stage to answer questions from the press.It's been 15 minutes of questions and answers, more focused on political and social issues in music. Tomorrow, with the stadium full of fans and high expectations.

THANK YOU POINTBLANK!!!