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Got to see Springsteen last night; for the 2nd time this week.
Bruce was headliner at the 40th edition of Pinkpop last night. He has never played festivals before. Everyone I know and is somewhat of a Springsteen fan said it wasn’t the best of ideas for him to play at a festival. And well… they’re right.
Pinkpop has a very good reputation. They’ve had many well-known international headliners over the years. Unfortunately, I am not a big fan of festivals. And the organisation blew it when they said they don’t allow us to bring in any drinks or food. Not even tap water in a Camelbag. The only objective was to sell more of the overpriced food and beer.
OOH… AND I HATE BEER RUNS!!!
That sorta spoiled the fun for me. And Bruce surely didn’t play the best show in my opinion. The crowd wasn’t the best crowd I’ve had. But it was great to see Jay Weinberg play drums and it was fun to see Bruce wrestle a big teddy bear on stage. That teddy bear carried a sign with a very nice request song: From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come). A treat for every Springsteen fan and certainly the highlight of the night for me.
Next time Bruce play your own show and don’t make me go to a festival!
But still… It turned out to be a great weekend: I got treated to dinner in a top restaurant by my little sister. Thank you Baby girl! I loved it.
I feel I’m getting older. 5 or 10 years ago, I never suffered from jetlag. In less then a day, I would adapted to the new timezone I was in. But not anymore: I feel tired right now. Really tired despite the fact that I had a pretty quiet day. Fortunately, I know there’s a cure for the malady called old age…
“Hello Neighbors!”, with these words Springsteen greeted the crowd at the IZOD Center tonight. Hell… No Springsteen fan calls it the IZOD Center I guess… We all still call it the Meadowlands Arena. But I knew right then, I was gonna be in for a hell of a show.
Didn’t have the best seat in the house, but there were a lot of people outside desperately looking for a ticket that didn’ get in. So I was happy to be part of it.
Hearin’ songs like Something in the Night and Cover Me live for the 1st time in my life was quite emotional. But Working on a Dream moved me to tears. That song just brings out the best and the worst in me: hope and doubt at the same time. Double this time because of the rap he did.
When Bruce yelled: “The Turnpike is closed! Nowone gets out!” during the encores, you knew that the party was about to start. Flabbergasted was I.
I gotta hurry home and get my ass over to Pinkpop for another dose of pleasure and pain.
Friday night baseball at new Yankee Stadium… 1st dinner at the new Hard Rock Cafe inside Yankee Stadium. I sure was very happy to have an All Access card, ’cause the line was way long.
And then on to the game: the 1st game of a 3 game home stand against the Phillies. The very first pitch of the game and the Phillies bat it out of the park. Big disappointment to all Yankees fans. The Phillies continue to win the game 7 – 3. Lot’s of homeruns and very exciting game, even though my team lost.
Funny thing is: the city of New York had 2 Yankee Stadiums and 2 Giants Stadiums right now. The Yankees have just moved in to their new home and they’re ready to demolish their old place. The NY Giants will move to their new stadium later this year. But not before Springsteen play another couple of shows at the old Giants Stadium at the end of the fall.
As Springsteen plays his 1st of 2 concerts at the IZOD Center tonight, he makes the local TV headlines. Not with his music though, but with the controversy surrounding tickets sales for today’s and Saturday’s concert. Apparently, many thousand tickets where held back. A part of them by Springsteen’s management and Sony Music according to my9 news.
It seems a lot of people didn’t get in when tickets went on sale back in February. I guess I must have been very lucky… I hope it’s gonna be all worth it than.
Paid a visit to “Ground Zero” this morning. I knew 2 persons that persished in the 9/11 disaster. So this was special to me. Paused to think about my friends and to realize once again that New York will never be the same. I navigate the city by its landmarks and it used to be easy: all you had to do was look up and find the Twin Towers. And I find myself still doing that. Only to realize every time that they’re no longer there. And it’s not just the towers that are no longer there.
The rest of the day, I went hunting for clothes. I don’t think anyone will ever notice me wearing new things. And quite possibly I’m out of style, so all the money I’ve spent is in vain. But at least I look decent. And… I no longer wear stuff that is at least 2 sizes too big.
Listing to:
Empty Sky – Bruce Springsteen
We Didn’t Start the Fire – Billy Joel
The Rising – Bruce Springsteen
You’re Missing – Bruce Springsteen
My City of Ruins – Bruce Springsteen
… in beautiful New Jersey! Said goodbye to Charlot (happy birthday!!!) and Delphine who kept me good company on the plane. Took a taxi to my hotel. Dropped my gear and took more than a moment to enjoy the awesome view from my hotel room.
Gasped as the bus drove by the Meadowlands Arena. The anticipation filled my heart with joy… I think I’m ready for Saturday. I know I can’t hardly wait.
Headed into Manhattan to get myself reacquainted with the site again. Took a little stroll, checked out the commercials on Times Square and ended up in photography heaven. Spent a sh*tload of money of course.
And now an early night… Sleep deprivation and 6 hours time difference are taking their toll. Tomorrow is another day.
It has been 3 years since I’ve been away on holidays. My world has changed a lot in those 3 years. I had to fight for my survival and for some of the things important to me. I lost my self confidence and almost lost my faith.
This trip to NYC is a lot about reconnecting with my faith I guess. Another big step towards bein’ me again.
I look forward to my 1st Springsteen show in this tour. It’s gonna be an emotional roller coaster, I’m sure. And there is nobody there to catch me when I fall (I miss my baby sisters and my big brother already). That kinds frightens me!
As I boarded the plane for Newark (a NorthWest Airbus A330) those famous line of Sinatra’s New York New York popped in my head: If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere. I’m hopeful, but also full of doubt…
Listing to:
Frank Sinatra – New York New York
Bruce Springsteen – Leap of Faith
Billy Joel – New York State of Mind
Dixie Chicks – Long Way Around
Bruce Springsteen – Working on a Dream
Bruce Springsteen – Devils & Dust