Feast and Famine: Bruce Springsteen 2017 in Review
Back on the jet from Washington DC to New Jersey, Bruce with Patti and Jon Landau reflected on what had just happened. A small, intimate affair at the White House with President Obama where Bruce had just played a secret acoustic gig for his friend, his friends family and loyal staffers.
It’s January 12, 2017, and the germ of the idea for Springsteen On Broadway has been planted. What if Bruce could take his critically-acclaimed biography — Born to Run — on the road? How would it work, would people come, and is it what Bruce wants to do?
And, so was born what would be one of the most unique — and perhaps most controversial artistic and business decisions that Bruce has ever made.
However, it would not be until June when news of Bruce’s booking at the Walter Kerr theater would be leaked via the New York Post — so let’s take a look at SBB — Springsteen Before Broadway.
As in some previous years, Bruce and the midnight gang were headed in January over shark-infested waters to complete a tour.
This time the band ended The River Tour with shows in Australia and New Zealand, in series of Arena and outdoor shows in the height of the southern hemisphere summer. A perfect way to end the 12-month tour before putting the E Street Band on hiatus.
New American Resistance?
The shows coincided with the inaugaration of President Trump — and in the first few days of the Presidency an almost comical conversation between the new President and Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnball.
At the show in Perth, Bruce announced that “we are the new American resistance”, signalling what many thought was the beginning of a vocal campaign by Springsteen against the new President.
However, despite this initial comment, Bruce’s level of engagement against President Trump failed to materialise, and it was not until October later in the year did Bruce’s views on the matter begin to emerge in media interviews.
Speaking to Variety, Springsteen said he wasn’t interested in writing songs about President Trump. “It’s not topical at all — topical writing at the moment doesn’t hold a lot of interest to me. [It] doesn’t feel necessary at the moment,” he said.
What? Wait? Springsteen is not going to heed some of America’s call? To many it was a surprise, but the reality is that Bruce had signalled the end of his campaigning years in one of the most important, yet overlooked passages in his biography.
On page 469 of the hardback edition of Born to Run, Springsteen writes:
“Wrecking Ball was received with a lot less fanfare than I thought it would be. I was sure I had it. I still think I do and did. Maybe my voice had been too compromised by my own success, but I don’t think so. I’ve worked hard and long to write about these subjects and I know them well. I knew Wrecking Ball was one of my best, most contemporary and accessible albums since Born in the USA. I’m no conspiracy theorist, so basically I realized that the presentation of these ideas in this form had a powerful but limited interest to a reasonably large but still select group of people, especially in the United States.”
Wow. Was this Bruce doubting the power and impact of his work to change the things that needed changing? It certainly sounds that way, and I believe is the point that Bruce was making in relation to President Trump. It’s not worth it.
Now, it’s not a popular point of view, but does that mean that 2017 saw the end of Springsteen the Campaigner? It’s very possible.
For what it’s worth — I disagree with Bruce somewhat. Wrecking Ball is indeed — in my opinion certainly his best record since Born in the USA, and is a top top piece of work. I also feel that themes that Bruce developed on the record still resonate as we continue to deal with the aftermath of the financial crisis.
As we reach this point in the Review of the Year, there is also another bombshell that Bruce drops in media interviews. He’s not writing.
For nearly well-over two years, rumours of the completed new album have circulated. According to many, the record is complete — but it’s now sitting on the shelf in Bruce’s den next to the hip-hop album and the country music record.
In interviews with media, Bruce revealed that the ‘new’ album was mostly written before Wrecking Ball, and that Wrecking Ball interrupted its progression.
The inference is clear — Bruce has not written — substantially any new material since Wrecking Ball in 2011/12. For fans and commentators this has been an decidely unwelcome revelation. But it fits.
The River Tour set lists really stayed true to previous recent tours, with no new material, and as Bruce embarked on Broadway — again no new material.
So, without self-belief that his work can be the change he wants it to be, is the fire that burnt so fiercely during the Wrecking Ball sessions now just smouldering ashes in the grate?
A funny thing happened on the way to…
Which brings us to Springsteen on Broadway.
Oh my goodness. Not since our first tweet in 2009 has there been such a situation.
Yes, we’ve disagreed over songs, and shows, and got a little snarky here and there, but on the whole we have been a community every step of the way — helping each other out, making friends and being 100% behind Bruce and his music — whatever he wants to do.
But, Springsteen on Broadway rocked that boat for sure.
I won’t dwell on the arguments that erupted other than to say that the combination of Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan system, the limited number of seats, and the cost of tickets created what has probably been the most toxic debate between Springsteen fans. Ever.
For me personally, I took a stand that I still believe — which is that Springsteen is charging too much money for tickets — and it got me a whole lot of grief, and support in equal measures. But let’s move on.
I’ve yet to see Springsteen on Broadway, but will fly from London to New York in mid-January to see it for myself. I’m looking forward to it.
By all accounts the show is remarkable, and I look forward to writing a review, but what does it say about Springsteen and his career?
Firstly, we remain monumentally fortunate that Springsteen is (a) still alive, and (b) performing.
Secondly, there’s a reality. Bruce is 67 years old. Remember those — legitmate — four hour shows? Yes, remember them as we may not see them again. Bruce’s diet and fitness regime remain incredible, but everyone must look after their own health, Bruce included.
And thirdly, I’m grateful for Bruce’s reflection on his career, and the people he has shared it with. Namely us — his fans.
Someone wrote that they felt that Bruce was using Broadway to give back to his fans. I’ll judge that when I’ve seen the show, but I understand the point.
And, hasn’t Bruce earned his right to slow down? Of course he has.
Feast and Famine
However, my main contention is that 2017 has given Springsteen fans a reality check.
Bruce cannot go on forever. The E Street Band cannot tour every year. Bruce does not want to campaign, politically or musically.
And that’s the feast and famine.
Every night — well into June and beyond to Europe if the rumors are true — Bruce shows up at the theater. There are fans outside, for sure — but there’s no pit line, no periscopes, no setlist, and there’s no new music.
He’s here — and we’re hugely grateful and touched by it — but in 2017 (and possibly 2018) he’s not there. Not on stage, playing with the E Street Band, banging out new music, fighting the good fight, and we must all learn to accept that.
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So, what else happened on planet Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band in 2017?
The boys in the band hit the road. Little Steven, Garry, Nils, Max and Jake Clemons all toured. My personal highlight was Little Steven in London with Paul McCartney. Amazing. Although I think the Manchester show earlier in the year was better. I’m loving Little Steven career development.
Garry’s show in London was also very good. Garry was supported by his daughter, Olivia who I still think would make a better Princess for Prince Harry than Meghan Markle.
I missed Jake Clemons shows. I’ve seen Jake in concert already. I like him, but he needs to find a non-Springsteen audience to build his career. I wish him all the very best.
The world’s first all-female Springsteen-inspired band hit the stage. The She Street Band debut in London was amazing. Congrats to all in the Band who will continue to do their thing into 2018 as they are bringing Bruce’s music to an entirely different demographic.
For Bruce, our friends at Nugs.net have found a great rhythm of monthly live download releases, which are hugely appreciated. I’m looking forward to a show from The Rising tour, and possibly something the European leg of the Born in the USA tour.
And we finally got to hear one of the rarest Springsteen tracks — I’ll Stand by You Always, which Bruce wrote for Harry Potter. It reminded us that there are Uber collectors out there that have such a treasure trove of material that we’d all love to see and hear. Maybe that can be a News Years Resolution for the Ubers!
Another highlight was the amazing interview by Jem Aswad in Variety. Ms Aswad had the gumption to ask Bruce some really straightforward questions, like: what are you listening too? Which got us a glimpse into Bruce iTunes library. It was a refreshing piece of journalism, seen to rarely as many reporters fail to tackle the issues beyond basic clichés.
A big shout-out also goes to whoever is behind @Bruce_Memesteen on Instagram. The account — if you’ve not seen it — is genuinely funny. I just loved the meme of Bruce and caption: The look on your dad’s face when he seens what your mum got you for Christmas for the first time.
I cried with laughter when I saw who liked the post on Instagram. None other than Ms. Jessica Springsteen. You can just imagine Bruce sitting in his chair in his PJ’s looking over at what Jess is unwrapping, having no idea what ‘he’ bought their only daughter for Christmas. Hilarous.
Also on a lighter note. The greatest selfie ever taken. From the Australian leg of The River Tour.
And from another angle.
So, what about 2018?
Springsteen has already announced that the Broadway Show will be extended to June 2018, which coincides with the Tony Awards on June 10. It’s inconceivable that the Show will not win a Tony Award to go alongside Springsteen’s Oscar. Winning both an Oscar and a Tony will further cement Springsteen’s long and lasting legacy, and would be a double that Bruce himself could never have imagined.
After June, strong rumours persist that he will bring the one-man show to London after. The phrase ‘early summer’ has been used by folks that are sometimes ‘in the know’.
The key question is whether London (and elsewhere) with the Broadway show is a short-run, or something longer?
My personal feeling is that the Broadway show will ‘tour’ throughout 2018, and we will not see the E Street Band, or possibly any new material from Bruce in the next 12 months.
The best that fans of the Band can hope for is possibly to wait until 2019, god-willing.
Of course, only Bruce knows what he wants to do — and history has proven often that Bruce himself doesn’t know either until it happens.
