Tramps like us ..... Bruce Springsteen rocks Fenway Park

Tonight Jude got to realise one of those niggling lifetime ambitions that just kept getting put off or unfulfilled for one reason or another .............. he got see Bruce Springsteen play live ..... and in Fenway Park of all places.

Here at the gig are, L-R: Anthony, Jude, Tim and Mark.








Jude was hooked on Bruce Springsteen ever since his brother Paul bought him 'The River' for his Christmas present when he was just 12 years old.  Sometimes the simplest gifts are the best, and that one certainly did the business.










So tonight's gig was in the famous Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.  But rather than watching home runs and great catches tonight it would be rocking to the sounds of 'The Boss'.

So Jude met Anthony, Tim and Mark 'Out on the Street', on Yawkey Way in fact, for a beer before heading into the concert. 

First stop ........ eh ......... the bar!




















Here is the view from the left field box where the lads were parked.  Spot the Hancock tower and the Prudential there in the distance.











So the lads got settled and ready to rock.













Then the excitement built as the crowd awaited Bruce hitting the stage and before you could say, 'Hey there are some great songs on 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' .................











............ Bruce was on stage and belting out 'Promised land' from that very album.  That's Stevie Van Zandt there in the middle.  Magnificent!!!











Mark and Tim enjoy the concert.













The E Street band have always been an integral part of Bruce Springsteen's career both in the studio and live in concert.  Even the most casual observer will remember the great E Street Band Saxophonist, Clarence Clemons.  Well sadly Clarence passed away last year and was (amazingly ) replaced in the band by his own nephew Jake Clemons, who you can see here.







Actually, you could say Clarence was irreplaceable (and there was actually a great trinute to Clarence in tonight's show) but his nephew Jake is really doing the business in this great band.











It's been said before and it'll now be said again ....... .......... there's a 'darkness on the edge of town'.












The Rock n Roll squad.













It's an August evening in Boston, Fenway Park is buzzing ......












...... it's 80f, the beer has been popped, and Bruce is belting the tunes out ...........












..... and the lads do not need too much encouragement to join the fun.













'Shackled and Drawn' was belted out with a nice Irish twist to the music thrown in for good measure. This pic is slightly blurred but eh..... you get the idea.

The view of the Hancock Tower and the Prudential Tower from Fenway Park.












One of the most famous people associated with the Boston Red Sox was Johnny Pesky.  He was a player, manager, coach, stadium announcer and ambassador for the club until he died a couple of days before this concert.  Bruce had the stadium lighting folks shine a light on the 'Pesky Pole', which was named a long time ago after Mr Pesky himself (because he always hit the ball in that direction).




  

'Hey Anthony, I'm going down there for a boogie', said Mark.  'Don't do it Mark, not with your boogie style, Mark.....wait Mark ....don't.....

But Mark would not listen, he knew best, and of course he lasted all of 30 seconds before ..........












........ being politely asked to stop dancing because he was scaring the locals with his moves, hehehe!

Seriously ......he had to return to his seat because this is a restricted area, not a dance floor.









'Yep ..... told ye Mark ..... I told ye so ...... told ye they wouldn't allow you to dance .....not here, there or anywhere .... not with moves like that anyway Mark', said Anthony as he and Tim chucked their own moves in Fenway.          

Tim , Anthony and Mark are mad Bruce Springsteen fans, nuts altogether.  Jude's loves Bruce Springsteen but these guys take it to a whole new level.  Tim and Anthony are here tonight, they will see Bruce play again in Fenway tomorrow night, and they will see him play in Foxboro (home of New England Patriots) on Saturday coming (Mark would have been doing the exact same but he was flying to Ireland the next day).  That's nuts but they love it.      

Mark, Anthony, Tim and Jude having a great time.













The E Street band are just amazing, including the backing singers.












'Here Mark, your singing's a bit like your dancing, dodgy to say the least', said Jude.  Mark didn't mind, he was loving it.

Whaaasssuuupppp!!












'We take care of our own', sang the Boss.













For 3 & 1/2 hours the lads rocked it out to all Bruce's old classics.

'Tramps like us .........










'yeah Tramps like us ..................













........ baby we were Borrrrn to Ruuun!!!

'Hey Mark, why did they chuck ye out of the wheelchair section? asked Jude.

'They didn't like my E Street shuffle Jude', replied Mark.

'Oh yeah, many congratulations on your engagement to Michelle', said Jude. 'Thanks very much', replied Mark.






Tim, Anthony and Mark having a great time at the Bruce Springsteen concert in Fenway.

The beer is flowing and everyone is in great spirits.  How could you not be?  At most concerts the headliners start at 9.00 and play to 10.30 (ish), so after 7/8 songs folk are already beginning to think about the encores, but with Bruce Springsteen he and the E Street Band are only getting warmed up at that stage!!!  This concert just kept going and going, he started at 7.00pm and played until 10.30pm, now that's what I call respecting, and repaying, your fans.  Brilliant!!

The view of Fenway from the lads' seats.

Mark is all smiles as he is made to look small when standing beside Anthony.

'Now that's what I call a show, now roll on tomorrow night', said Anthony as this show ends and he looks forward to his second show of the week.










Jude's first ever Bruce Springsteen concert was even better than he thought it would be, it was fantastic, 3 & 1/2 hours of classic songs ............ and the fact that he spent it in this great company just made it even better.  Rock n Rolling good times!!