The Big Monkey’s Top 10 Springsteen shows

The Big Monkey has been to 100 Bruce Springsteen shows, more or less, since 1981. We’ve been to a few shows together since 2002, and every time, he says, Wow, that was so great, that made the Top Ten! So after he said that about the Tom Morello guest appearance on the Magic Tour in Anaheim, I put it to him: what are your Top 10 shows???? At least today’s list

#10 Magic Tour, 2008, Anaheim. “The Ghost of Tom Joad’ with Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine was that good.

#9 Devils and Dust Tour, 2005, Pantages Theater, LA. Went with the Art Predator, he played lots of different instruments, mandolin, pump organ, piano, and it was a powerful record.

#8 Seeger Sessions Show, 2006, Greek Theater, LA. Fun music, great band, everyone was having so much fun playing those songs, and went with the Art Predator.

#7 Ghost of Tom Joad Tour, Wiltern, 1996. Won front row tickets from a LA radio station; had to name the song from 2 notes. The song was “E Street Shuffle”. His first acoustic tour, just him and the guitar.

#6 Night 2 Tunnel Tour 1988 Mountain View. Sat halfway up right in the middle. Really good show. Had to be there. The energy, the sound, the performance, all came together.

#5 Sat Night, Tunnel Tour, LA Sports Arena, 1988. Roy Orbison’s birthday 10th row seats. Before Bruce sang “Born to Run” he told everyone how Roy Orbison influenced him and everyone sang happy birthday to Roy Orbison. “We waited after the show and no one was recognizing him and we went over there and talked with him. He was the happiest guy. This was before his new records came out before the Traveling Wilburies, before he became popular again. I took his picture and he signed my ticket stub on his birthday.”

#3 & # 4 The Chrystic Shows for the Chrystic Institute, 1990, Shrine Auditorium, LA. Bruce played a lot of songs which ended up on his next records, Lucky Town and Human Touch, so no one had heard them before. He blew off his best friend’s bachelor party to make the show. no regrets. The memories of that show lasted much longer than the marriage (it made it 2 months).

#2 The Bridge Show 1986, Shoreline Amphitheater Mountain View CA. Bruce acoustic, all by himself, likely the first time he’d ever done that, and the first year of the Bridge shows, and the first year for the Amphitheater.

#1 The River Tour, 1981, LA Sports Arena. It was his first show, what caught the fish, what turned him on.

And what are your Top Ten shows of all time? By Bruce Springsteen or anyone? I too will think about this one! Or Festivals??