I went to all three shows in L.A. that week. An incredible run of great nights.
This night was special in so many ways. It was my 20th Bruce show, since my first in 1980 on Halloween night, at the same venue on the original River Tour. I was 13, my big brother who was 18 at the time took me. How cool was that? It was my first major rock concert. It changed my fucking life!
I had bought the tickets for this show way back in December.
I was single at the time. I decided to put up a contest on Facebook, on a Bruce fan site to score a date. Lol I put up my contest and within 30 minutes was getting responses from around the world. Lol.
Exactly 10 days before the show I met a woman here in Los Angeles and we fell head over heels for each other. I immediately pulled my FB post, announcing that there was a winner. Lol
So we went to the show. It was her first Springsteen show. My 20th. We had seats about mid-way and maybe 10 rows on the left of the stage. So not bad at all really.
Bruce kicked ass as usual that night.
But the moment I'll never forget was when they did Drive All Night from The River.
It's a long ass slow love ballad I've never really cared for to be honest. At past shows when he's played it that's my cue for beer or the restroom.
Well towards the end during Jake Clemons great sax solo the audience began holding up their phones with the flashlight mode on. It was reminiscent of back in the day when the audience held up lighters in appreciation of the song or the music.
As, 'Laura' and I looked around the auditorium it seemed like the lights everywhere were taking on the effect of being like starlight's in the night sky. It was romantic as anything. I looked down at her, she up at me. She closed her eyes and tilted her head slightly and I leaned down and we began to kiss as if the lights were meant for us. It was possibly the best kiss in my entire 55 years.
Because it was happening the way it did, where etc. I still feel like this night was maybe the best night of my life. Springsteen with my best girl on a Saturday night?
It doesn't get any better than this.
Thanks Bruce. Thanks ESB. Thank you and I love you Laura.
