I’m Coming to Liberate You

Thesaurus: liberation: noun

The state of not being in confinement or servitude: emancipation, freedom, liberty, freeing

Friday night, I’m going to another Springsteen show. I have tried to figure out how many times I’ve seen him live, and I can’t. 1975 at the Jai Alai fronton in Miami, broadcast live from the Bottom Line in 76?, 1977 or 78 at the Paladium in New York City, then again in Miami at the Orange Bowl on the Born in the USA tour, and the River Tour… usually going to both nights of a two-night stand. At the Meadowlands and at the Garden. At the Miami Arena, the American Airlines arena and at the BankAtlantic Center. I’ve seen the original E-Street Band, I’ve seen the band with Nils, without Little Steven. I’ve seen the other band, and Bruce alone with an acoustic guitar, and I’ve seen the band back together, as it should be: with both Nils and Little Steven. I’ve rushed the stage during encores, been seated in the front row from the beginning, been up in the nosebleed seats, been behind the stage and backstage. I’ve received a pick from the hand of Little Steven (but he’ll always be Miami Steve to me), and a harmonica from a member of the sound crew. I’ve clutched the sweaty knee of my rock and roll god during 10th Avenue Freezeout. I’ve shot pictures from the balcony (back in the day, when you could bring a camera into a show) and danced on the arms of my seat without taking a single frame.

I have been in the presence of something and even when the show was as lackluster as a Springsteen show can be, which is not very, it is always very good. I have seen the giant show lights, swinging from the rafters at Madison Square Garden, when the whole building shook during “Rosalita” as the capacity crowd clapped and stomped their feet and danced in the aisles.

But always, I leave the show with my soul elevated and pure…liberated, if you will.