The Carousel Show

That highly talked about but extremely secretive show Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band performed last week at Asbury Park is finally out on webcast, in glorious high-definition. It's them saying thanks to us long-time fans. This is perhaps the best free Christmas gift I've ever received. So basically Backstreets invited about sixty odd fans down to the Carousel House along the boardwalk, where he and the boys played several songs from The Promise. We only get to see half an hour's worth, but boy, what a treat it is.

Those in attendance that particular day must've been the luckiest bunch of people in the world. The show begins with Racing In The Street ('78), done live for the first time. I never thought I'd hear Bruce start with the line "I got a '32 Ford, she's a 318." It's even more emotional and awe-inspiring than the album version. And guess who he brought along with him? The great David Lindley, on violins. That part where Bruce plays the harp at David is incredible.

This whole thing was filmed by Thom Zimny (and again fine sound mixing by Bob Clearmountain), so the mood is pretty similar to that of the now legendary Paramount performance of Darkness. Again, only the original E Street Band, this time with a small horn section. Gotta Get That Feeling, one of my current favorites, works pretty great live, but it doesn't seem to have that celebratory vibe I got in the album.

Next up is Ain't Good Enough For You. This is where things start to get interesting and surreal. I thought the audience were already getting up close and personal with the band just standing a few feet from the center stage. This time, Bruce gets everyone on the stage with him. They're so close to the band they're literally breathing down their necks. Some people look out of place when standing so near Bruce, like they don't know what to do, which is kinda hilarious to watch.

The Promise has David Lindley back on fiddle. He's old, but one cool looking fella. Instinctive musical abilities. This is the first time a full band version is done since the '78 tour, and it's a hell of a knockout. Please Bruce, let this be a tour staple. The band actually played more songs like Talk To Me, The Brokenhearted and Save My Love, which are not on this webcast. Hopefully we'll get to see it in the future.

The last song is Blue Christmas, a la Elvis. Towards the end, the audience crowds around the Boss, all wearing Santa hats. I love it when he speaks directly into the camera, wishing everyone happy holidays; just like one of those 60's live music TV shows. You can tell from all this that he and the band are just itching to go on out the road. From the looks of it, it'll probably be sooner than later.

This is my last Springsteen-related post of the year. It's been another great ride, with the fabulous Hyde Park DVD and Darkness box set. Thanks, Bruce and company. Merry Christmas and happy new year :)

Dec 13 & 14 -- ANZ Stadium, Sydney, NSW

Night 1:
Return Of The Stingray Guitar, Beautiful Day (Blackbird), I Will Follow, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, (Do They Know It's Christmas) Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of, Bad (Need You Tonight/Never Tear Us Apart), In A Little While, Miss Sarajevo, City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy (Remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet, Walk On

One, Amazing Grace/Where The Streets Have No Name, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, With Or Without You, Moment Of Surrender


Night 2:
Return Of The Stingray Guitar, Beautiful Day (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band), New Year's Day, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, All I Want Is You, Love Rescue Me, Pride (In The Name Of Love), In A Little While, Miss Sarajevo, City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy (Remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet, Walk On

One, Amazing Grace/Where The Streets Have No Name, Ultraviolet (Light My Way), With Or Without You, Moment Of Surrender

Note: Two tour premieres; double shot of Rattle & Hum. Love Rescue Me is played for the first time since 1990, and All I Want Is You, since 2006.

Dec 8 & 9 -- Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, QLD

1980, December 8th. Shot rings out in the New York sky.

Night 1:
Return Of The Stingray Guitar, Beautiful Day, I Will Follow, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways (Rain), Elevation, Until The End Of The World, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (Stand By Me), North Star, Pride (In The Name Of Love), In A Little While, Miss Sarajevo, City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo (Thunderstruck), I'll Go Crazy (Remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet, Walk On (You'll Never Walk Alone)

One, Dear Prudence/Where the Streets Have No Name, Ultraviolet (Light My Way), With Or Without You, Moment Of Surrender


Night 2:
Return Of The Stingray Guitar, Beautiful Day, New Year's Day, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Mercy, Bad, In A Little While, Miss Sarajevo, City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy (Remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday (Oliver's Army), Scarlet, Walk On

One, Amazing Grace/Where the Streets Have No Name, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, With Or Without You

Note: Thanks to a strict curfew, the show ends for the first time sans Moment Of Surrender.

It was 30 years ago today...

This is the most beautiful human photograph ever taken. But given the context, it's extremely sad just looking at it. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for John Lennon. Never let us forget what he gave to the world.

Ladies & Gentlemen......The Rolling Stones

Watching this, all I can say is WOW. This is one badass concert film. Comprising of performances over four shows in Texas, this was taken from the '72 Exile tour in the States, the Stones' first shows since that tragic night at Altamont three years ago. Funny I was just watching the film Gimme Shelter just a week ago. That was some pretty dark, disturbing stuff; I've never seen so many people and so much chaos going on on a concert stage before.

But on this Exile tour, the Stones once again reclaimed the title of 'greatest rock & roll band in the world'. There's that very sloppy yet tight quality to the Stones' musicianship, which makes them one of the hardest bands to cover properly. Most of the songs here are played with a faster tempo, and it's kinda weird hearing some of them without the backup singers, like Gimme Shelter and Tumbling Dice, but Mick Jagger did just fine filling in those missing parts. He seemed really into the show, strutting himself all over the stage like he's been doing it for the past forty plus years. Here are some great live versions of Bitch, Dead Flowers and Rip This Joint.

Charlie Watts has one of the simplest drumsets you'll ever see, but he still amazes me with his insane 'jazz' influenced licks; he's one of the all-time underrated drummers. Now if you listen to Exile, you'll know how incredible Mick Taylor is as a guitarist. Again I was blown away by his playing on this film. Just phenomenal on Love In Vain and Midnight Rambler. Quality wise, the picture on blu-ray is surprisingly good, the sound mix is just average. But that's not too much of a problem. And like I've said about Keith Richard's book before, don't think about wearing that tongue shirt till you've owned this film.

Video: 3.5/5
Sound: 3/5
Performance: 5/5

Dec 1 & 3 -- Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, VIC

The ones in bold are the rotated songs. Dec 1st also marked the 9th anniversary of George Harrison's death.

Night 1:
Return Of The Stingray Guitar, Beautiful Day (Here Comes The Sun), I Will Follow, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways (My Sweet Lord), Elevation, Until the End Of The World (Anthem), I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Mercy, Bad, In A Little While, Miss Sarajevo, City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy (Remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday (Get Up Stand Up), Scarlet, Walk On (You'll Never Walk Alone)

One, Amazing Grace/Where The Streets Have No Name, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, With Or Without You, Moment Of Surrender

Night 2:
Return Of The Stingray Guitar, Beautiful Day (Blackbird), New Year's Day, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Elevation, Until the End Of The World, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of, Pride (In The Name Of Love), In A Little While, Miss Sarajevo, City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo (Rockaway Beach), I'll Go Crazy (Remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet, Walk On (You'll Never Walk Alone)

One (I'll Stand By You), Amazing Grace/Where The Streets Have No Name, Ultraviolet (Light My Way), With Or Without You, Moment Of Surrender