the rix mix

In Great Britain & Europe, Bruce Springsteen is, I suppose, a venerable rock icon, a working class hero, & a political centrist standing against America's ultra-right government. I can agree with all that. Given the differences between American & European cultural attitudes, he may have a large number of youthful fans over there that appreciate him as "contemporary" music. I don't know. Touring with E Street he packs Europe's stadium venues. But over here his audience looks like this:
My age give or take a few years & a few geeky kids. & that creaky crowde can no longer be counted upon to fill American stadiums beyond Jersey & a few other persistant pockets of Brucemania. There's a mild controversy about the dispensation of "hold back' tix for events at Giants Stadium, including concert seats in the field sections reserved & sold at original price to politicians & judges & other people of influence & authority. But what does it say when these Very Important Persons keep Springsteen tix for themselves or award them to fat cat pals rather than passing them to their kids - even their 30 year old kids? It means first that Springsteen's audience is old. It also means that in America Springsteen is a rock star for the late Tim Russert, for Tom Brokaw, for Sen. Lautenberg's most favored campaign contributors (the senator dropped his request for tix), jus' plain folks that can certainly afford to see Springsteen at any price. As for Bruce's politics, what's a little New Deal socialism among friends? So his leftist leanings are glossed over as singular opinions, the personal eccentricities of a fabulously wealthy, liberal genius & CEO with a Woody Guthrie obsession, a regular guy kindly remembering the people who made him so rich & famous. I have no beef with Bruce. I respect successful people with scruples. He's an older Jon Bon Jovi with stronger lyrics, if fewer hits. Bon Jovi, in his own way as middle class, charitable, & loyal to old fans, still attracts enthusiastic women in their twenties; 46 year old Jon has a prettier face, always memorable hair, more sing-a-long hooks, & Richie Sambora on stage for the girls who like a bad boy flavoring in their superstar guitarists. But I bet Springsteen has The Collected Poems of William Carlos Williams stashed away somewhere in his house, maybe a present from his new manager in 1975.

This week, E Street drummer & real estate expert Max Weinberg put on his tailored suits & assumed his usual position leading Conan O'Brien's TV band, commuting to Giants Stadium afterward, just another day at the office for reliable Max, getting in a little overtime collecting his slice of the Giants Stadium door. Admittedly, I've never been a Max Weinberg fan. He, too, deserves his success.

Labels: in the news, music, New Jersey, New Jersey politics