Reprint from DAN # 18/19 Well, it was more than a Bruce Springsteen concert. It was more than a bar band playing some covers. It was more than just a Rock’n’Roll party. It was "something" that made me dreaming, hoping, believing and most of all, it gave me another reason to live. It was kind of a confirmation for everything I did the past years. Bruce said the other day in an interview: "Rock’n’Roll is Saturday night, it’s always supposed to be Saturday night." OK, there are some Rock’n’Roll girls who may be Saturday night, but the Rock’n’Roll music itself is...is a way of life. And Berlin gave me the confirmation for this. I have more thoughts (and dreams) to write about but I’ll now try to write something about the show. The musicians came on stage at 9.00pm. The first version of Hungry Heart as the next two or three versions were started with a tape in the background. So the band didn’t knew when the tape started. It started just with three beeps before the music came out. Then the band took over and played live. The crowd was partying as much the band on stage was. Bruce first looked tired but as soon as the music started he was reborn. He really was alive that night. At the end of the first and second version of Hungry Heart, Bruce tried to bring his soulinfluence into the song. He just sang some words trying to procure that feeling of soulmusic. When the second version had finished, he just slipped into "Down The Road Apiece". This was an incredible song. Rock’n’Roll pur. The band played hard while Bruce was rocking with his guitar. The crowd went crazy during the chorus, definitely. Bruce’ first band, "Steel Mill", had this song in their setlist. Last known performance: February 4 1972. After this first step into Rock’n’Roll heaven, the band left the stage for twenty minutes. The break was necessary for moving the cameras. The band came back for two other versions of "Hungry Heart" and a hard rockin’ "Boom Boom". During the chorus, everybody in the audience raised his fist four times in the air. Looked nice. The song was never-ending. Bruce repeated the refrain again and again. This version was harder than the Tunnel-tour version. This was the second step into Rock’n’Roll heaven. After this triplet, we had another twenty minute break. Before the band came back on stage, the organisators told us that during the next version of "Hungry Heart", they wanted to film how crazy and wild the crowd was. So when they came back, everybody showed his good mood. Bruce counted one-two, then the band started playing live. Everybody on stage and in the audience was dancing, clapping hands and singing. Incredible, really fascinating. Then we had another version of "Hungry Heart" before they rocked the two Dylan covers down. Everybody from the band was singing one verse from "Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door". Niedecken sang his verse in German (he actually got an album out and is on tour with Dylan songs translated in German). Both Dylan songs sounded more like Rock’n’Roll classics than Dylan songs. They really played hard that night. This was the third step into Rock’n’Roll heaven. After those four songs we had the longest break which lasted about forty-five minutes. It was worth waiting anyway. When they came back on stage, Bruce said in German "Sorry for the long waiting". Then the band played a last version of "Hungry Heart". When the song had finished, the band except Bruce left the stage. So what next? Maybe "Jersey Girl"? No, Bruce first tuned his guitar before he started to sing "The screen door slams...". Fuckin’ incredible. What a lucky guy am I? He played "Thunder Road" without his harmonica, just accompained by his electric guitar, right in front of me. This was the entrance into Rock’n’Roll heaven, definitely. Bruce Springsteen doing "Thunder Road" in a bar in front of one hundred people. It was more than just a great song. It really was the welcoming into heaven. So we stepped into heaven and then they were. All the "Honky Tonk Women" (and men) were dancing, partying. I’ve never seen something like this before in my life. I sang as loud as I could but I couldn’t hear my one voice. This was so amazing. Better than the original, hotter than the melting point of gold, bigger than everything in the world. Hard to believe, but it really was true. Amazing, unbelievable, fascinating. The band went on with "Glory Days". Everybody in the crowd was jumping and singing. It’s so hard to write more about this show and the songs. I mean, what can I write about "Jumpin’ Jack Flash" and "Twist & Shout". Everybody was partying in the crowd and on stage. Niedecken and the band really enjoyed playing with Bruce Springsteen. And Bruce himself had also a hell of fun because the band really played some excellent Rock’n’Roll. It’s hard to believe that they played for the first time together, but it is the truth. And there was the crowd. Everybody went completely mad, out of their mind. It was the only place to be in the world, a party I’ve never seen before, a Bruce Springsteen I couldn’t imagine, a crowd which went completely wild, it just was something I couldn’t imagine existing on this earth. Unbelievable, amazing, fascinating, crazy, mad, ... total geil. There are no words in any language to describe this gig. When I first saw Bruce Springsteen playing in a stadium in 1988, I swore to myself that I gonna see him again. So it happened, I saw him a couple of times in stadiums and concert halls. Well, on the 9th of July 1995 I saw him for the first time playing in a bar. Afterwards, I swore to myself that I gonna see him again in a bar. I don’t know when and where in this world... And it’s also for sure that nothing and nobody can prevent me from going to the next bar gig. He’s just the fuckin’ best bar musician in the world. And he’s so real. He takes you along to heaven - if you want, you can follow him, if not - let it be. Well, before I finish this one, I’d like to thank the organisators of this gig. Everything was excellent organized. They served us water during the breaks, they always told us what’s going on next. They’ve done an excellent job. And a very special thanks to my friends who made this possible for me. Thank you very much for this phone call, for keeping me updated and for the complete organization. You choosed a hard job - done it excellent. Last but not least thanks to Bruce and the band for taking me to heaven and for the confirmation. by Philipp Nyffenegger