10 things I learned at Bruce Springsteen's concert in Vancouver, on Friday, Nov. 22 at Rogers Arena:
1. You can't be two places at once.
I love Canuck-rock band Toque, featuring Todd Kerns and pals, who also performed Friday night (Nov. 22), at Coquitlam's Great Canadian Casino theatre. Wish I could have been there, but there's no way I'm turning down comp tickets to see the legend Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band.
2. I appreciate a good pre-concert food deal.
Nobody in the city makes steak quite like Gotham, located at the corner of Seymour and Dunsmuir since 1999. Social "hour" is from 3 to 6 p.m. when a premium open-faced New York Steak Sandwich is just $21.45. Shhhh, don't tell too many people, because afternoons can get busy in there. Or hey, if you're pressed for time there's always a $1.50 hot dog and pop from Costco, across from Rogers Arena.
3. Bruce Springsteen has written a lot of songs covered by other people.
Famously, The Boss wrote "Blinded by the Light" (a hit for Manfred Mann's Earth Band) and "Fire" (Pointer Sisters), but until Friday I'd forgotten that he also penned "Because the Night" for Patti Smith (who added some lyrics), in 1977. It's a great song, 18th in Springsteen's set in Vancouver. Of course, he's also known for covering songs by others, including the Commodores' "Nightshift" and his rocking version of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" by Harry Reser and His Orchestra (more about that later).
4. The Boss seems ageless.
Springsteen turned 75 in September, and you'd never know it. For three hours and 20 minutes, he sang his heart out, strummed guitar, danced, roamed the stage and worked as head cheerleader for a sold-out arena. The 31-song set was the longest of his tour with the 17-member E Street Band, also no spring chickens, for the most part. The core group members are "love makin', Viagra takin', history makin'" musicians, as Springsteen noted before launching into "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," when the departed band members Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici were celebrated on the video screen.
5. He doesn't talk to the crowd much.
Springsteen is all business on stage, meaning little chit-chat between songs. "I haven't played this one in a long time," he said quietly before launching into 1992's "Human Touch," and that was pretty much it for pre-song banter until his lengthy, emotional intro to "Last Man Standing," which emphasized feelings of mortality. It's a quiet, beautiful song, and it's too bad that some idiots behind us ruined the mood with hoots and hollars.
6. Springsteen is generous.
During "Thunder Road," final song of the main set, Springsteen noticed a woman in the front row holding a sign saying, "Harmonica for my 50th birthday?" And he obliged. What a guy. What surprised me, though, was that Springsteen didn't acknowledge the 74th birthday of "Little" Steven Van Zandt, guitarist and E Street musical director.
7. November is OK for Christmas music when Springsteen plays it.
The band's party-starting version of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" was a hit, especially when a couple dozen people in the front rows put on Santa hats for fun.
8. Bruuuuce counts "1, 2, 3, 4!" a lot.
He's the conductor leading a crack band, meaning Springsteen rarely takes a breath between songs. This makes for some seamless transitions, no time wasted.
9. Vancouver saw the last Springsteen show for quite some time.
They've done close to 120 concerts since early 2023, and have since overcome some health concerns. Now it's time for a break, with the next E Street shows booked next spring in Europe. Fans who need a fix can watch Road Diary, a fine documentary movie that offers an intimate look at the creation of the band’s legendary live performances. It debuted Oct. 25 on Disney+.
10. Tickets weren't cheap.
Some people were asking $1,700 for seats in the first 20 rows of the sold-out arena, significantly more than the "list" price of a ticket to see one of the most legendary rock bands around. I didn't once leave my seat, from 7:40 p.m. until the final note of "I'll See You in My Dreams" (dedicated to a 101-year-old fan) at just before 11 p.m. What a performance, what a night.
