Indianapolis 10 Novembre 1999
Springsteen concert more than an oldies
party
By David Lindquist
The Indianapolis Star
INDIANAPOLIS (Thu. Nov. 11, 1999) --
As one
of rock 'n' roll's unwavering and true believers, Bruce
Springsteen knows the music's power is limitless.
He methodically built tension during the opening segment of his
concert Wednesday night, offering classic souvenirs from his
sprawling career.
Springsteen didn't, however, allow the Conseco Fieldhouse
audience to slip comfortably into party mode.
An early string of songs pinpointed the New Jersey native's long-running
struggle to find peace with geography.
He stacked Darkness on the Edge of Town, Promised Land, My
Hometown, The River and Youngstown atop each other to construct a
bleak monolith of American malaise.
When a devastating combination of Murder, Incorporated and
Badlands followed, the crowd finally erupted in glee (despite the
still-weighty lyrical content).
These two numbers exploit the power and joy of Springsteen's E
Street Band, the seven-man wrecking crew reassembled for a
triumphant world tour.
Somewhere in the midst of the wild reception for Murder and
Badlands, Springsteen put out a telling call to his 18,000
followers: "Is anybody alive out there?"
Despite the gathering's advancing age and entrenched
domestication, the fans repeatedly answered his challenge once
the floodgates of fun had opened.
During the intro to Tenth Avenue Freeze Out, the vocalist stood
atop Roy Bittan's piano and stripped down to a sweaty T-shirt.
After detouring the 1975 classic through Al Green's Take Me to
the River, Springsteen lectured on second chances through unity
and introduced his mighty players.
Because it was Star Time during each moment Clarence Clemons blew
into his saxophone, he truly earned his thunderous reception.
One song later, Springsteen and guitarist Steven Van Zandt traded
rubber-faced antics during 1980's You Can Look (But You Better
Not Touch).
The band also had its moments when playing it straight.
The River, one of the bleakest statements of Springsteen's career,
entered another level of desperation through mournful solos by
Clemons on sax, Springsteen on harmonica and pedal-steel accents
provided by Nils Lofgren.
But until the E Street Band embraced its playful side, the
veterans had no claim on the title of "Best Live Band on the
Planet."
Aside from Clemons, the early work was hard and, in places, dated.
The concert was most contemporary during Murder, Incorporated (aided
by a barbed-wire guitar solo by Van Zandt) and Springsteen's
Delta blues reading of Born in the U.S.A. (propelled by his edgy
performance on 12-string acoustic guitar).