Springsteen at Honda: Where was Patti Scialfa?
April 8th, 2008, 10:33 am · 1 Comment · posted by Ben Wener
As I mentioned in my Max Weinberg interview, we knew going into Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s rousing show Monday night that organist Danny Federici would be out, still battling cancer (though his recent appearance in Indiana has heartened fans). But where, people are still asking (including people who were there and heard the explanation), was Patti Scialfa?
At home with the kids.
“We’ve got the three teenagers now,” Springsteen mentioned between “Murder Incorporated” and “Magic.” “Homeland Security has a whole new meaning.” He joked that he and the missus didn’t mind the pot cookies coming out of the oven so much. “But when the Girls Gone Wild bus pulled up …”
Well, that’s when parenting takes priority over touring. Besides, not that she wasn’t missed (there she is with Little Steven Van Zandt in a shot from last October’s L.A. Sports Arena opener), but Soozie Tyrell did a more than adequate job filling in.
April 8th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Ben,
I’ve been a loyal reader and admirer of your style since your 1st pennings for the Register. Always good work. Your review of the Boss’s show last night (Monday) is right on indeed.
I’ve been on board the Boss-wagon since 1975, getting overwhelmed by how cool “10th Ave…” and “She’s the One” were, and finally buying the lp when I heard “Backstreets” played at full tilt on good old KMET while driving home one typically fruitless Saturday night. I and the many converts waited patiently as he and Mike Appel sorted out the legal crap for the next tour, and on July 5th 1978, - no overstatement here - my life changed. To keep it short, let’s just say I no longer felt like a square peg with my off beat musical tastes ,loving the 60’s classics that the aforementioned songs were inspired by - Mary Wells’ “The One Who Really Loves You”. The Stones’ “Mona,” etc. And when he encored with Gary US Bond’s “A Quarter to Three” I was in heaven. Score! An new old passion.
Last night was also pretty revelatory . Mostly musicaly. There sure is something incredibly cathartic about two extra hot guitarists slashing and driving through a balls-out riff like the solo in “Murder Incorporated” with a sicker- than- I- can- describe rhythm section holding the floor. More release with the killer imagery in “Girls in their Summer clothes”, the directive to blow away those shitty dreams in “Promised Land” and the party central takes on “Rosalita” and “Out in the Streets.”
But this show offered more than just great entertainment at $160.00 (ticket, parking, 5 drinks, 1 coffee) and long bathroom lines. My girlfriend’s best friend died in her sleep Sunday night/Monday morning. A beautiful, 29 year-old 6′3″ free-spirited ex- college volleyball star , who was also sadly an incorriguble (sp?) partyer with a weakening heart. She swore to April (girlfriend) on Friday that she’d go to the doctor Monday afternoon to check out those pains and goofy heart beats before going to.. the Springsteen concert.
To say that great art is transcendant is cliche city. I like to think that it is also transcendental, travelling from this dimension to the higher planes. Before I get too Rod Serling here, let’s just say i hope/believe/pray that Kristy heard it and felt the groove like I and the other Monday night partyer’s did. I like to think she was rockin’ unapologetically to all those great songs like “Ramrod”, a song that Commands one to get up and dance.
Somewhere, there is a party for good souls whose bodies couldn’t contain them on earth, but are welcome there. No heart disease, just tequila, beer, great lookin’ gals and guys to dance into eternity with. And transcendant music too , the likes of which was experienced last night. Party on Kristy, and save some dances for me will ‘ya?
PS - Oh BTW, Thanks again for the music Bruce. Don’t be a stranger to these parts.