Bruce

[Dark Star]

Superb. One of the best I've seen in 20 years of gig going. Also went to Sunderland the night before and it was funny to see the same performer put on two very different shows.

He'd obv. looked around Sunderland and played a very 'fallen on hard times' set, seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. Manchester was playful almost from the start. Spirit into Shuffle, Prove It with the intro, the "Stevie double" of Two Hearts into You Can Look and Twist and SHout with poor Curt Ramm's mishap, total party atmosphere.

[Uh-Oh!]

I was there when he did nearly 5 hours of self indulgent rock god nonsense at Hyde park this year and then when you thought it was going to end he brought on the other go to rock God for any royal occasion Paul McCartney. Even the die hard fans were glazing over at the tedium of it all as they played on past the fireworks and had to be shut down......brilliant, cant beat a pompous Rock God cut down to size....2 of them, even better

[sinhala]

Where did this Ken Bruce rumour come from ?

[Uh-Oh!]

why did you make yourself endure a whole set (nowhere near 5 hours) of tedium? Was it too late for you to be left on your own?

Edited November 8, 2012 by Uh-Oh!

[Wooderson]

Agree with you Megabowl. Saw both Dublin shows in July, the first night of which was a rollicking party affair. Lot of on stage props and general pisstaking. The 2nd night was this nuanced, exquisitly crafted show which eclipsed anything I've seen from him in the past. It was what Glasto _should_ have been. The sombre mood but perfectly realised.

[Ted Dansons Wig]

I was there when he did nearly 5 hours of self indulgent rock god nonsense at Hyde park this year and then when you thought it was going to end he brought on the other go to rock God for any royal occasion Paul McCartney. Even the die hard fans were glazing over at the tedium of it all as they played on past the fireworks and had to be shut down......brilliant, cant beat a pompous Rock God cut down to size....2 of them, even better

[russycarps]

I heard he was on for 7 hours and 47 people committed suicide....

[Uh-Oh!]

he came on after 7 pm and finished just after 10.30

[eFestivals]

so it's only me that thinks Bruce is dull. Glad we've sorted that one out.

[Uh-Oh!]

Unrelated Springsteen trivia, unless your the socialist leftist type. his daughter paid allegedly 5 million dollars for one of the horses which won the UK a gold at the Olympics, she's an international show jumper and wants it to compete in Rio 2016

[MEGABOWL]

He was right about Sunderland. Plus - as I remember the fog kept rolling in over the stands which was weird - like audience dry ice. But he did 7 Nights to Rock which I've always wanted to hear. All in all though - like you preferred the Manchester night.

Stayed at a hotel at Scotch Corner absolutely full of folk doing the 2 nights one after the other same as us - then it was apocalyptic rain all the way across the Pennines

[MEGABOWL]

Agree with you Megabowl. Saw both Dublin shows in July, the first night of which was a rollicking party affair. Lot of on stage props and general pisstaking. The 2nd night was this nuanced, exquisitly crafted show which eclipsed anything I've seen from him in the past. It was what Glasto _should_ have been. The sombre mood but perfectly realised.

[judyblue110]

Bruce got Glastonbury wrong last time...? Anyone care to explain how?

I wasn't there, but I remember returning to my hotel room after seeing Neil Young in Hyde Park and seeing it on the TV... looked amazing.

The next night in Hyde Park was fantastic too (albeit Glasgow shortly afterwards, and Manchester this year surpassed that.)

Still, I'd like to know why so many of you feel he got it "wrong"? I'm not challenging opinions, just a bit unsure - what footage I've seen looked amazing.

[Wooderson]

"Party/sentimental-Bruce" would make the most sense. The "Carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders" Bruce turned up last time. He needs to stay home in NJ.

[judyblue110]

I was there when he did nearly 5 hours of self indulgent rock god nonsense at Hyde park this year and then when you thought it was going to end he brought on the other go to rock God for any royal occasion Paul McCartney. Even the die hard fans were glazing over at the tedium of it all as they played on past the fireworks and had to be shut down......brilliant, cant beat a pompous Rock God cut down to size....2 of them, even better

[Wooderson]

Still, I'd like to know why so many of you feel he got it "wrong"? I'm not challenging opinions, just a bit unsure - what footage I've seen looked amazing.

[The Nal]

Experience: Don't think Bruce was obviously as familiar/comfortable with festival crowd then.

[judyblue110]

Opening: Whilst "Coma Girl" was in retrospect, perfectly appropriate and measured hat-tip I certainly hadnt heard it before so the sentiment was lost on me. It was anti-climactic and confusing.

Attitude: Think Bruce felt that this festival audience was there for him specifically, not for the ESB. Thus it was the most "Bruce centric" of the shows I've seen. Performance felt off as a result.

Setlist: Thought that tonally it wasnt right. He lost a lot of the audience with the "Prove It > My Lucky Day > Outlaw Pete > Out in the Street > Working on a Dream > Seeds > Johnny 99 > Tom Joad" run of tracks near the beginning. The 'Hard Times' thing was fine for his own shows of course. Just not at GF.

Record: The 'Working on a dream' album isn't held in the highest esteem.

Experience: Don't think Bruce was obviously as familiar/comfortable with festival crowd then.

- - -

I enjoyed the show and was terribly moved by the performance of The River, which is up there with the finest things I've seen him accomplish on a stage, but the general mood of the gig was sombre and downbeat. Bruce is great at that, but Glasto is not the place to bring people down. The opposite is generally a requirement.

[The Nal]

Cool, all good points I guess, I hadn't really considered the fact that the shows I saw were "tour shows", whereas this was a festival show, as you say. I was only comparing it to what I had seen.

I do enjoy the WOAD album though, been listening to it a lot this week, bit disappointed he played so little from it on that tour, and it's practically forgotten now (along with the aptly-titled "Magic".)

Thanks!

[eFestivals]

how can he play Outlaw Pete and not be considered dreadfully dull*?

That's a genuine question, btw.

(* and that's a massive understatement ... aural torture is more accurate).

[judyblue110]

Unfortunately he played Working on a Dream, Outlaw Pete and Queen of the Supermarket regularly. I rarely hit the bar at Bruce shows but that was an open invite.

[judyblue110]

how can he play Outlaw Pete and not be considered dreadfully dull*?

That's a genuine question, btw.

(* and that's a massive understatement ... aural torture is more accurate).

[Wooderson]

Outlaw Pete in hindsight is an absolutely dreadful song. I wasnt a fan at the time, but less so now. Take a very staunch and loyal Bruce supporter to defend it.

I even disliked that he brought out Brian Fallon for 'No Surrender'. Spoiled it for me.

- - -

Bruce at Glasto was an 7.5/10 and he's usually a 9.5 or a 10 out of ten.

[SonOfTroyMcClure]

Do you even like music Neil?

That's a genuine question, I don't want any "I wouldn't call that music! *titter-titter*" nonsense. I've never seen you have a positive opinion of any musical act ever. You're the Chris Moyles of eFestivals.

[eFestivals]

Do you even like music Neil?

That's a genuine question, I don't want any "I wouldn't call that music! *titter-titter*" nonsense. I've never seen you have a positive opinion of any musical act ever. You're the Chris Moyles of eFestivals.

I can only guess that you've never heard Outlaw Pete.

First time I heard it I didn't even know it was Springsteen, but I know I nearly turned the radio off. The only reason it stayed on was so I could find out who was releasing such dreadful stuff.