As the summer wound down, Citizens Bank Park lit up with the vibrant songs of Bruce Springsteen. Known by many as “The Boss,” Springsteen followed his summer-long European tour by coming to Philadelphia, a city close to home for him.
Springsteen grew up in Freehold, New Jersey, a town in between Philadelphia and New York City, creating a unique music environment.
“Back in the day, you could get channel 2, 3, 4, 5, channel 6, channel 8! We get all those Philadelphia channels. And you guys used to have all those teen shows after school at the steel pier in Atlantic City; Roy Bittan; American Bandstand. Philly is like every music town,” Springsteen explained during his show on August 21, the first of two.
Freehold’s location allowed Springsteen to involve himself in music from a young age. “I first picked up a guitar when I was fourteen,” he said.
Ever since, fans have become enthralled by his performances, many of whom end up attending dozens or even hundreds of concerts.
I was first introduced to Bruce Springsteen by my mother’s close friend Jill Gardner. As a long-standing Springsteen super-fan, her spirit and love for his music is immeasurable and spreads effortlessly. After attending both Philadelphia concerts, she thinks Philly performances are special to him and the audience.
“In Philly and New York [City], he is a little more sentimental. It’s his hometown, it’s where he got his start. It’s where he first started getting a larger audience,” Gardner said.
According to Gardner, Bruce Springsteen’s concerts are like no other; they are “a big party.”
“Bruce is very down-to-earth. He still goes to the beach. You can see him in New Jersey driving around by himself,” Gardner said.
Springsteen’s concerts attract various audiences, supplementing their uniqueness. Sixth Former Liam French noted the immense age range present.
“All ages were there at the concert, and it was so cool to see these two girls, who were at least younger than ten years old, having the time of their lives, singing along to every single word. And right next to them were their grandparents, and while [they were] not jumping up and down, they were still enjoying themselves.”
Even those not in attendance at the concert appreciate the generational variety. Technical Assistant of Centennial Hall Mx. Victoria Gill-Gomez said, “A huge generational mix in the crowd is always nice to see.”
Many feel that Springsteen’s performances are unusual.
“What I really admire about Bruce Springsteen is that for him, the concert is about the band, not about him,” French said. “This was evident as he sat on the gate of the pit in awe as he watched [Jake] Clemmons’ sax solo during ‘Hungry Heart.’ Similarly, during ‘Nightshift,’ his ode to soul and R&B musician Marvin Gaye, he watched the choir and sat on the stage like a child, experiencing a symphony for the first time.”
“It is not an exaggeration to say that what he creates is something of a religious experience… It’s just not one I’ve had before,”
MR. Anthony Pariano
Springsteen’s music performances are impactful for everyone in a way that others are not. For French, “‘Spirit in the Night’ felt like going to church for the first time. This concert was a deeply religious experience.”
Another concert attendee, English teacher Mr. Anthony Pariano, felt the same religious aura about the concert. “It is not an exaggeration to say that what he creates is something of a religious experience… It’s just not one I’ve had before,” he said.
Most importantly, however, everyone was excited to get the opportunity to witness one of The Boss’s concerts in person.
“I have a little more joy permanently embedded in my heart than I did before attending the concert,” Mr. Pariano said.
