Bruce & The Band At The Apollo: Wow!
The Bruce Springsteen concert last night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem was unforgettable. Prior to showtime, I wasn’t sure that the performers could compete with the audience, which included Michael Douglas, Tom Hanks, Pat Riley, Tom Coughlin, Bill Bradley, Harry Belafonte, Paul Rudd. Of course I was wrong. Even without saxophonist Clarence Clemons, Bruce and the E Street Band were a magnificent ensemble, blending just the right mixture of oldies and the new album, “Wrecking Ball.” There’s a specific rundown of the set-list here. For me, the highlight was the band’s tribute to the Apollo itself, which Bruce called “the home of the Gods.” And the finale!!! “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” moved into Sam & Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Coming.” For years, I’d stopped going to Bruce shows because I don’t like watching him on video screens in big arenas. The Apollo show restored my faith.
