1,2,3,4! Springsteen throws a 60th birthday bash in Des Moines

Springsteen on the big screen at Wells Fargo Arena

September 21st 2009 was a pretty exciting night for central Iowa Bruce Springsteen fans, as well as for the Boss himself.  Springsteen and his E Street Band played to a good crowd in Des Moines for the first time in several years, and everyone in attendance was excited to see Bruce, Max, Clarence, Stevie and all the rest.  But, to add to the festivities, "The Boss" turned 60 on this day.  Many fans in attendance held signs wishing Springsteen a happy birthday, but the real gift was the nearly three hour set he laid upon those in Wells Fargo Arena. 

Springsteen concerts have long been rumored to be something you have to see to believe.  Usually in the neighborhood of three hours, high energy, shifting on the fly, and zigging when the audience and band thinks it's going to zag.  Tonight was no different.  It is refreshing to see a performer and his band show off the decades that they have worked together by deciding what songs to play literally during the show.  At one point Bruce picked up signs held by the crowd the were essentially song requests and picked two or three to play.  One, was the Dion song "The Wanderer," which Springsteen admitted they had never played before.  But, after a minute or two to figure out the chord progressions and jar his memory with lyrics, Springsteen and E Street played a very good rendition of the oldies classic. 

For those fans in attendance that weren't hard core Springsteen fans (of which I am one), the first hour to hour and a half may have been a  little long.  There were many songs that they didn't know, a few ballads, and some slow builders.  That didn't really dampen the show overall.  As the concert progressed a few more of the big hits crept in, the energy started to build culminating in arguably the best known Springsteen song of all time; "Born to Run."  A little twist was turning the house lights on during born to run which at first was a little unsettling, but very unique and got to be quite fun.  The lights came back on two other times, including during the playing of "Dancing in the Dark" which was more than just a bit ironic. 

As mentioned earlier, I have never been a hardcore Springsteen fan, but certainly felt some obligation to see him in concert while I had the chance.  He is a rock and roll icon, and if all of his performances are like this it is easy to see why.  He and his band give their all for the show, and leave it all on stage.  And, speaking of the stage, it was also rather refreshing to see the simple, yet very functional stage that was used.  Large, and spacious so that everyone had space to play and move, but two simple screens on either side of the P.A. system and an L.E.D. curtain behind the stage that could show background scenes or act as a giant screen to show the live action.  No gimmicks, just old fashioned rock and roll that Springsteen and the E Street Band have perfected over the last thirty years or so.  Turning 60 usually has people thinking of retirement, or slowing down, but judging by tonights show, neither "The Boss" himself, nor anyone in the E Street Band seem ready to think about that yet.  Don't be surprised if you get another chance or two to see them together in the years to come.  And if you get the chance, you owe it to yourself if you are a rock and roll fan, to get there to see it.