Bruce Springsteen review: Just how good are the USB wristband downloads?

Since it was announced Bruce Springsteen would be issuing live recordings of his tour – after decades of pleading from fans and those in the music industry for such releases – the reaction has been fairly mixed.

The live shows for this writer have become the ultimate goal in enjoying Springsteen & The E Street Band’s music. If you were to offer me the chance of a 60-second meet-and-greet, signed memorabilia and a photo in a hotel lobby with the man, OR tickets to just one concert, I would take the concert every time.

So when the option to take home a live recording of the latest shows on the tour appeared, I went overboard. I ordered a dozen wristbands online – one for each of the Australian shows, including two I would miss, and one for a friend.

Then of course they announced you wouldn’t need a USB wristband, and could download straight from the net for a fraction of the cost. And I’d just spent more than $500. Bastards.

When the wristbands finally arrived I immediately returned half of them to Live Nation for a refund. I figured I’d keep a few and use them, and get some cash back for the rest. Not to mention the packaging was so bad that one of the tidy little black boxes they come in had in fact been destroyed in transit.

Now, after going to nine of the 11 Australian shows and making a last minute trip to New Zealand where I stood on a broken foot for twobrilliant shows (no, I won’t shut up about it. It still fucking hurts…) I’ve got round to using one of the USB wristbands to download a show.

The Wristband

I will admit to really liking the look and practicality of it. I don’t wear any jewellery other than a watch and this has become the male accessory I’ve been looking for to wear on the other wrist. It looks good, and it’s practical for carrying around important files, transferring stuff between computers at work, and everything else. It was a good buy regardless of the music.

Downloads

The first show I chose was Brisbane. The full album of Wild and Innocent… and plenty of Greetings… magic left me dying to hear it again.

But after plugging the USB in my laptop, opening the relevant files, launching the software and clicking the relevant show, nothing happened. There was just no response.

I tried it again a few times, but nothing was downloading, the screen didn’t even change.

Then after a few attempts a message popped up to warn me that despite not downloading a single beat of opening track Stayin’ Alive, I had used up the download limit for this USB.

Luckily the website where you can purchase downloads had an email address and within 48 hours of asking them for help I was given a code to enter on a specific link, and this I was told, would let me download my album.

So, following the link and instructions I successfully downloaded the Brisbane show in the higher quality FLAC file.

Of course I wanted to put this show in my iTunes or at least on some music player on my iPhone. Checking out various sites, conversion software and a few apps on playing FLAC files, I found myself with an album I couldn’t use, unless I wanted to lose the quality I had wanted or just play tracks from the laptop.

But before plugging in another of my remaining wristbands, I noticed I had left the web page I downloaded the tracks from open, so figured I’d try and download the Brisbane show in MP3 format too, without having to use up the wristband’s limit, which purchasers had been told would allow just one show to be downloaded.

It worked. I had the Brisbane show on a format I could use.

Of course then I remembered how great the Born To Run album had sounded in Auckland.

So yeah, I clicked download on that one too.

Again, it worked. No new code, no new wristband. It seems maybe some glitch in the system had just allowed me to get three recordings of two shows. Brilliant.

Of course I couldn’t have a Born To Run­ album show, without also having Sydney’s Darkness On The Edge ofTown. That would just be ridiculous.

And again, without leaving the webpage which I had entered a specific code to enter, the MP3 files downloaded.

Within 24 hours I had downloaded all available shows from the Australia and New Zealand tour in MP3 format to my computer – that’s 12 because Melbourne 2 was never released – all from one wristband without having to pay any more fees.

I’ve even gone so far as to raid my iPhone for photos and create album covers with an image of every show now in the iTunes artwork.

So this all means I really didn’t need to spend a load of cash on buying the wristbands for every show. I could have bought one – and used it to get all of them. Those brilliant bastards.

Sound quality

Despite expecting a low quality sound with the MP3 files, so far I have been nothing but impressed. And I say so far because I’ve only got through Brisbane and night two in Auckland.

The vocals are clear, the strings in Brisbane are still sensational, and both Curt Ramm’s trumpet solo on Meeting Across The River and Jake Clemons’ Jungleland solo sound incredible from the Auckland recordings.

Obviously it’s a lot to ask for the recordings to sound as good as ­Live 1975-1985 or Live In New York City¸ but for a three-hour live album, the MP3 download is incredible value for money.

USB Wristband refunds

I returned the six – five unwanted, one damaged – wristbands to retailers Live Nation on February 14. That was a month ago. I still have not heard anything about them, or had anything refunded. I will be contacting them shortly about the $250+ I expect to be refunded.

Springsteen at Sydney Allphones Arena

As workers across the city were warned to down tools and get home early before the threat of a freak storm rolled in, there really was just one way to follow up Melbourne's two, reportedly great, full-album shows in Sydney.

A full Darkness On The Edge Of Town show was the highly-anticipated follow-up to the weekend's double album punch, (especially for those who fucking missed it) and the E Street Band were on incredible form.

The album from start to finish was easily the dominating highlight of the night, that also contained a few new Australian covers to surprise the Sydney crowd.

The Easybeats' Friday On My Mind opened the show with Springsteen in full intensity getting the crowd pumped from the opening bars of the Sydney band's famous 60s hit.
(Flowing straight into Out In The Street, with the clear reference to the song in the line 'on Monday I got Friday on my mind' Springsteen was keen to show his love for the Aussie band.)

One of only two sign requests of the night, Cadillac Ranch followed, and the only show at Sydney's Allphones Arena received High Hopes and Just Like Fire Would before Springsteen launched into Spirit In The Night.

This song may have been a surprise for some with the noticeable lack of saxophonist Jake Clemons, leaving the solo duties to Eddie Manion, who ever the talented professional seemed to enjoy the impossible challenge of taking up a Clemons' spotlight.

And Springsteen was keen to show he had no worries about Manion's ability - calling him off stage during Spirit..., and repeatedly bringing him forward for all of the younger Clemons' solos.

He also thanked Manion for stepping into the role while explaining how Jake had left the tour after his father, Clarence's brother, Bill, also a talented musician, had died earlier this week. 

Although he clearly rose to the occasion, Manion's incredible skill and talent on the saxophone couldn't quite fill the void left behind without a Clemons on the stage. Something that Jake has done so well since the death of his legendary uncle by building his own star profile with a fast-growing following of his own.

Making the call to complete a three-concert run of full album shows however was more than enough to appease die-hard fans who were missing Clemons air on stage.
Every song was masterly performed, with Springsteen blasting out an angry guitar solo for Adam Raised A Cain, and Roy Bittan's piano a brilliant stand-out onSomething In The Night.

Springsteen's fierceness appeared to surface again on Streets Of Fire, taking a suitably sharper edge than its earlier appearance on the tour in Perth.

Meanwhile, Nils Lofgren's solo work for the night was saved for Prove It All Night, (not the '78 version), which, like any Lofgren cyclone-powered never fails to impress.
After the Darkness ended it was hard to see where Springsteen could go next for surprises.

But it seemed The Easybeats were not the only Aussie band in for a tribute as the encore started with a rocking version of INXS' Don't Change.
As with the previous cover, the band clearly revelled in being challenged with a local song and the crowd were pumped for show's final hour.

Even then the surprises didn't end as Springsteen turned away the guitar and harmonica for a potential Thunder Road acoustic closer, instead taking a request forSurprise, Surprise and taking on Dream Baby Dream for night's solo finale.

Set list
1. Friday on My Mind (The Easybeats cover)
2. Out in the Street
3. Cadillac Ranch (sign request)
4. High Hopes
5. Just Like Fire Would
6. Spirit in the Night
7. Badlands
8. Adam Raised a Cain
9. Something in the Night
10. Candy's Room
11. Racing in the Street
12. The Promised Land
13. Factory
14. Streets of Fire
15. Prove It All Night
16. Darkness on the Edge of Town
17. Darlington County
18. Shackled and Drawn
19. Waitin' on a Sunny Day
20. The Ghost of Tom Joad
21. Land of Hope and Dreams

22. Don't Change (INXS cover)
23. Born to Run
24. Dancing in the Dark
25. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
26. Shout
27. Surprise, Surprise (solo acoustic, sign request)
28. Dream Baby Dream (solo)

Length of show 2 hours 59 minutes.
Australasia tour so far: 8 shows, 232 songs - 101 different.

Tougher Than The Rest

The earliest that I saw people lining up for shows in Brisbane or Sydney was 9pm the night before - but in Melbourne, it will take more than a 12hour head start to grab the highly sought after number 1 spot in the GA line.
Bumping into concert regulars as soon as I arrived in the city I saw fresh numbers had already been given out, and were already past 30.
This was at 7pm on Saturday night.
The first guy in line was there at 2pm and prepared to camp out overnight for the privilege.
After checking in to my room for the week here I went and grabbed the 42nd spot in line - that's better than 71, for Sydney 3 and 121 and 107 for Brisbane 1 and 2.
So far we've had roll calls at 10pm Saturday, then Sunday at 7am, 11am and now heading into the 1pm.
So far we've gone past 110 with some seven hours to go.
Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena being closer to the city centre than previous venues on this tour, the wait between roll calls has bee made a lot easier as you have time to disappear for a few hours - as long as you're back in time.
Miss that roll call, and when you do get back you're moved to the back of the line.
If anyone thinks any of this waiting, roll calls and sleeping outside arenas is mental, then you'd be amazed by what happens across Europe.
Tales of people sleeping on the streets for up to five nights in Sweden have spread through the GA camp.
While the US lottery system designed to cut down on people waiting and could see people who only wait 60 minutes get first in line, has it's fans and it's haters.
With GA tickets for Tuesday and Wednesday's consecutive shows, I'm expecting their to be a race from the stage on Tuesday night to the start of the following night's GA line.
And when it comes to Hanging Rock, where a strict no camping rule has been talked about, I'm guessing a lot of people will be sleeping in the car park before the gates open at 2pm.

Roll Of The Dice

Five shows, two cities, one five-hour flight, and two 12-hour train rides down.
Another five shows, one city and a Hanging Rock to go.

At the halfway point into my trip across Australia to see all ten Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band shows asking "has it been worth it so far?" is a fair question.

And the answer, probably unsurprisingly, is a resounding "yes".

From the five shows, two in Brisbane, three for Sydney, the expectations of the performances and entertainment values has not only been met but monumentally surpassed.

Throwing out some numbers, 63 different songs have been performed out of the total of 113 performed tracks in almost 16 hours of music from the five nights.

I can't name any other artist or act that would come close to that in the world today.

Even Monday night in Sydney when Springsteen was reportedly not at his best and delivered a set ten minutes short of his trademark three hour mark, the band still delivered everything, like it was the last chance they would ever play anywhere again.

The range of songs, the requests from fans even the unpredictable nature of interacting with the crowds for songs like Waitin' On A Sunny Day and Dancing In The Dark, show that every night is different.

So when people ask those who go to multiple shows, "won't you just be seeing the same show again?..." the answer is a clear no.

(Usually followed by a shaking of the head and a reluctance to explain further to someone who hasn't see Springsteen live just why people need to camp out over night to get to the front, or go to show after show, after show.)

Everyone has their favourite songs.
For many it's the hits that may - or may not - get played.

For others it's the rare tracks, that again, depending on how lucky you are, may - or may not - get played.

The final show in Sydney with the huge amount of signs for rare tracks and rare versions of popular tracks - I mean Prove It All Night with the 1978 extended intro must have been a WTF moment for the uninitiated - demonstrated perfectly how Springsteen fans' minds work over their favourite tracks.

Not only do they want to hear them live, but when it comes to deciding which concert to go to they also fear missing out on the one where it gets played.

Since day one of this trip I've had people from across the world message me on Twitter to request I tweet the setlist throughout the concert, as I learned that people from all over the globe take breaks from work, stay up all night or get up early to follow every track that gets played, note how many times it's been performed on a tour and how long each night runs for.

There is essentially an incredible community of 'setlist watchers' out there taking notes and making predictions one what song will be played where and then evaluating just how big of a shock it is when a song once thought to be abandoned from the live show gets brought out.

There have been so many surprises already on this tour that comparing night by night performances is becoming incredibly addictive.

Meanwhile theories are abound about the shows being filmed for a live Wrecking Ball tour DVD compilation or even that the second night at Hanging Rock will get it's own concert DVD release as, so I'm told, it's the 100th date of the world tour.

Reaching the halfway point the only thing clear is that there really are no guarantees on what to expect - other than that to never underestimate the band's ambition in belting out a tune you might not expect, and also never underestimate a fan's commitment to get to the front of the stage.
(More on the nature of Springsteen fans later)

Also, a few lessons learned along the way are simply avoid alcohol in the hours before a concert if you want to keep your place near the front without being met with angry looks from people who aren't aware of the hours you've logged in the line outside the venue to get your spot, and another is to get plenty of sleep on the nights you're not rocking out.

There have been plenty of times on this trip where I have been exhausted as a result of late nights and early mornings. None of these matter when the band start up but keeping up with Springsteen and Springsteen fans is both incredibly exciting, and overwhelmingly exhausting.

Bring on Melbourne!

Sydney Allphones Arena - 3

Ticket: GA (Priority wristband - first 100)

If anyone was worried that they would miss something special by not going to the final Sydney show, then they were right to be concerned.

After Wednesday's second show there was a contagious sprit of optimism hours before the doors even opened on Friday night that this would be the concert people in the city have been waiting more than a decade for.

Talk in the hours before showtime often debated whether Springsteen seemed a little under the weather with a shorter first show, and less time in the crowd in the second.
This being Springsteen of course, both shows still amazed, thrilled and put other acts to shame with his endurance and entertainment value.

Not to mention a killer set list on the second night which pretty much lead to every other person in the pit bringing in a sign with requests - and after quickly dispensing with a few tour familiar tracks, Springsteen was more than happy to oblige.

We Take Care Of Our Own was back as opener, followed by Wrecking Ball and tour regulars Death To My Home Town, Hungry Heart and My City of Ruins were blasted out with efficiency before he asked what the crowd had for him.

The first request was Growin' Up which lead into the E Street Shuffle, before Springsteen raised the bar for the tour even higher and sealed the night as the best yet for many of those who have followed the band since they arrived "across shark infested waters!"

Taking the call for Prove It All Night - '78 intro, Springsteen caused a mini storm on stage as everyone adjusted their instruments, swapped guitars and Tom Morello shook his head in a way that almost suggested he wasn't up to speed on that one yet.

(Not that Morello needs to convince anyone of his talent as he again used his guitar lead plug to effect in E Street Shuffle - let alone the always impressive Ghost of Tom Joad)

If that was the case it need not matter, as it was Springsteen's moment to show off his playing skills, put to rest any concerns and reports of ill health and tick the box of many a fan's live request wishlist.

The performance was incredible and recieved more awe and respect from the arena crowd than any of the moments to honour E Street's ghosts.

Blasting out the exntended intro, Springsteen led the band through the rest of the song, with Jake Clemons' sax on fine form and Nils Lofgren taking the later solo to remind everyone he's still the guitarist to watch when you're not watching the main man.
If that request wasn't enough it was followed by Trapped and a bucket list call for The River.

Then after a few moments back to the tour structure of Shackled And Drawn and Waitin' On A Sunny Day came another many had been waiting for - Backstreets.
Built up and performed with the epic style it deserved, the track was well worth the wait as it made it's debut on the Australian tour.

As did another song that for some reason gets far too much airplay on Aussie radio stations - Born In The USA.
In case some people hadn't got the message to get out their seats, Springsteen ordered the song to be played loud, and the band fired out a fierce version of the song that started another great encore.

And after the closing Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out people were almost preparing to leave when he took one last request, grabbing two signs and ordering the band back to position for Rosalita (Come Out Tonight).

Not that the band or the crowd needed any encouragement, it was Friday night in the city and everybody wanted to keep the party going, and we had enough requests out there to keep going and going until Melbourne.

Setlist:
1. We Take Care Of Our Own
2. Wrecking Ball
3. Night
4. Death To My Hometown
5. Hungry Heart
6. My City Of Ruins
7. Growin' Up (Request)
8. E Street Shuffle
9. Prove it all night ('78 intro) (Request)
10. Trapped (Request)
11. The River (Request)
12. Pay Me My Money Down
13. Workin' on the Highway
14. Darlington County
15. Shackled and Drawn
16. Waitin' On A Sunny Day
17. Backstreets
18. Ghost of Tom Joad
19. Badlands

20. Thunder Road
21. Born In The USA
22. Born To Run
23. Dancing In The Dark
24. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
25. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) (Request)

10 hours 'til Sydney show 3

Today with a single GA ticket, and having missed out on priority entry so far in Sydney I decided to go all out, and line up as early as I could.
After an hour's train ride this turned out to be 9am.
Based on Brisbane's early doors I thought I could at least get in the top 50.
An assumption that I should have learnt by now that was sure to be a mistake.
If there is one thing clear on this tour, it's never underestimate a Springsteen fab.
The guys currently head of the line arrived here at 9pm last night. They were joined by a few more around 10pm, and others have been adding to the line since the early hours.
Right now, I'm at 71. With roll calls planned for 10am, 1pm and 3pm to check everyone is holding their position.
Which means if those ahead of me are missing could move closer to the front of the line.
But seeing the dedication of these fans I'm not feeling all that lucky.

If she wants to see me...

Some great tunes from Blender Gallery's Springsteen exhibit From Darkness To A Dream in Sydney last night.
Not just covers, but decent takes on some classics.
If you haven't checked out the gallery yet it's in Elizabeth Street, Paddington, and well worth a visit,
I mean, don't we all wish we had a room in our house that looked like this...

Hiding on the Backseats...

After the dust settled on another fantastic concert in Sydney I've been left weighing up the question of whether Springsteen's shows are worth it when you don't have standing tickets.

As the General Admission tickets for all the dates are limited and require something of a military operation and/or a bit of luck to secure, most people going to see their musical heroes in Australia for the first time in a decade will be seated.

The second Sydney show was the first where I was unable to grab general admission, so after three great shows up against the barrier, or no more than three rows of people away from Springsteen, I was in the middle of the floor seats - B Reserve, section D.
First of all, the way the arena was laid out, the view was near perfect.

OK, so for the first time I couldn't reach out in a bid to strum Springsteen's guitar during Born To Run, but I could see everything - the whole band, stage, and light effects - brilliantly.
The arena seats raised as they are, it's hard to miss anything, unless you're unfortunately one of those short people that always gets stuck behind a 6ft 2" guy like me.

(Check out what the view was like from the panoramic view from Wednesday night.)

The sound too, is fantastic - Sydney's Allphones Arena has so far done the job it's there to do superbly.
However, the first noticeable downside to the seated area is essentially, all the people you're sat next to.
Everyone there is obviously a fan and wants to get the best possible experience, but sometimes you can end up in a crowd that just doesn't feel like it's getting into the party spirit.
At times during Sydney 2, I was looking around at my close neighbours wondering why they were so firmly rooted in their seats, while up in the stands people were up on their feet, punching the air and raising their hands just like they were in the pit.

But on the floor seats, any attempt by someone like me to do just that was met with shouts to sit down - and at least twice, a thrown drink in the direction of me and my girlfriend from some fuckshit whose aim is as bad as his attitude.
As I could see fine sitting down, all it would have taken was a polite request from someone behind to sit so they could see. (That's the spirit of E Street brother and sisterhood that people can experience in the pit, if they're polite enough and don't try and ruin the view from someone who was there before them.)

But it took Springsteen himself to get everyone off their ass midway through the show before the floor seats guests started to really enjoy the action.
By this time, myself and a few others had moved to the side rail where we were allowed to stand up without any hassle.

And I should at this point make it clear - especially for all those people who think it's fine to throw shit and people standing up - that it clearly says on the website when you buy your ticket that customers who purchase seated tickets, will be able to stand during the performance.
The main rule overall for anyone who has a seated ticket to the remaining shows on the tour is essentially stating the obvious.
Once you've been in the pit for a Springsteen show, being restricted to a seated position probably won't cut it for you.

But if you're heading to your first show, or you've never been in the pit and don't like the idea of being covered in sweat and occasionally pushed around during a Springsteen crowd surf, then rest assured, the seats offer both a great view, great sound and - once everyone gets in the spirit of the night - a great experience.
For me however, after three shows so close to the action, I was reluctantly looking forward to the first two Melbourne shows where I was in the upper reaches of the crowd and planning to write about the experience from there.
At least, I was until a shopping trip in Sydney with Miss #WreckingBallBlog saw me stood next to a Ticketek booth while she looked at shoes, and I quickly checked the vendors mobile app to see if any last minute GA were available.

Somehow extra standing tickets had been released this morning and I'm now planning to stand in the throng of the crowd for the remaining dates of the tour.
An amazing result which means I will no longer be heading to the upper tier seats at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena to see how the show looks from there on Sunday and Tuesday.

(However, those single seats are now available, so if someone feels like sitting up there for me and letting me know how it goes, the tickets are available.)

Sydney Allphones Arena - 2

Ticket: Floor, seated

People who have gone to both Springsteen Sydney shows may have trouble deciding which one was best.
Following the famous second night rule like Brisbane part 2, the setlist had a major overhaul with the first four tracks making their debut on the tour.

But what stood out more was the requests Springsteen took from the crowd and the band belted out.
Four in a row with The Promised Land, Cover Me, No Surrender and I'm On Fire - perfect with an Australian audience not afraid to show its love for the Born In The USA album.
Gone tonight for the first time was Spirit In The Night, but Jake Clemons didn't have an easy night as instead of joining Springsteen front of the stage as he played with the crowd over Janey in the dirt, he instead brought in the epic Jungleland as part of the encore.
Inside the arena early, we could hear the classic get a decent soundcheck through closed doors and when it came to stepping up to arguably Clarence 'Big Man' Clemons' most recognised solo, his nephew did not disappoint.
Such a moving performance that Jake's solo brought back that lump in the throat that chokes many fans during the My City of Ruins roll call every night and the picture montage during closing song Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.
It's the first time I've seen Jungleland since Big Man passed away - the last few performances he did were highlights of the concerts - and I honestly believe Jake did his uncle proud. And the crowd told him so.
Springsteen didn't leave the stage and travel to greet fans outside of the GA floor area as much as he has in previous dates on the tour - but belted out 27 tracks over 3 hours including the fun live cover encore addition of Detroit Medley.
Also becoming a fast live favourite is the rocking version of Open All Night - not previously a track I've given much attention to, but is sounding great on this tour once again.
Four nights in, the regular Wrecking Ball, My City of Ruins, and Tom Morello-fused Ghost Of Tom Joad is still impressing the crowd, and the set list changes have worked incredibly well so far.
I never thought I would see Devils & Dust get an airing on this tour - but after also catching that in the soundcheck it was the night's surprise opener.
(Seriously, how many people actually called that?)

Last To Die was also a great track tonight - the first time I've seen it live and brilliant with the full band behind him.
Friday, I'm back in the GA pit* - and once again, I have no idea what to expect from the band as they reach the fifth of ten shows.
If the trend continues however, I do know I will be blown away. Again.

(* First time in seats tonight - more on that to come!)


Setlist:

1. Devils & Dust
2. Last To Die
3. The Ties That Bind
4. Darkness On The Edge Of Town
5. Wrecking Ball
6. Death To My Hometown
7. Out In The Street
8. Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street
9. The Promised Land (request)
10. Cover Me (request)
11. No Surrender (request)
12. I'm on Fire (request)
13. My City Of Ruins
14. High Hopes
15. Because The Night
16. Open All Night
17. Shackled And Drawn
18. Waitin' On A Sunny Day
19. Lonesome Day
20. Ghost Of Tom Joad
21. Badlands

22. Jungleland
23. Born To Run
24. Bobby Jean
25. Dancing In The Dark
26. Detroit Medley
27. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

Spare Parts...

Last call for a spare pair of seated tickets to tonight's Springsteen show in Sydney!
Seats are B Reserve seating in section 38.
Cost is $180 each - but feel free to make an offer.

Also, I currently have 1 spare GA lawn ticket for the Saturday show at Hanging Rock, that includes bus travel from Melbourne.

And, the holy grail, a spare GA front standing for Melbourne's show 3 on Weds, March 27. Face value, and least I'd take for this, is $212!

Get in touch if interested!

High Hopes

Have very nearly just spent a few thousand dollars on an image or two from Sydney's Blender Gallery.
The small art venue in Elizabeth St, Paddington is hosting a Springsteen photo exhibit this week with some excellent rare and impressive prints on display.
My names down potentially for a popular shot of Springsteen and the Big Man.
Any Springsteen fans looking for something to do when they're not waiting for a space in the pit, then I recommend taking a trip into Sydney's suburbs, between the Harbour and Bondi Beach and seeking it out.
Be warned though, you won't want to leave empty handed.

Surfing the Springsteen crowd...

With a front and centre place in the pit again for Sydney 1 I was again right in the path of Springsteen's crowd surfing mayhem.
(This time I used two hands to help take him back to the stage.)
In Brisbane 2 however I had a spot slightly to the left and was able to get a different view of the journey Springsteen takes back to the stage.
This is how it all happens...

Sydney Allphones Arena - 1

Ticket: GA (No priority wristband)

Just when you think you have seen the best of Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band with two fantastic shows in Brisbane, they go and pull out even more to blow you away.
Sydney's first show of the tour was so spectacular it frequently left me, people around me - and even Springsteen himself - breathless.
Starting with American Land as a late tribute to St Patrick's Day, the party kick-started and never stopped.
Next up was Prove It All Night - one I've been holding for so far and was overwhelmed by. There was no extended Springsteen guitar solo, but still it always sounds incredible live.
Also from Darkness on the Edge of Town was Adam Raised A Cain and Candy's Room. I don't know if the guys around me were just as excited to see these tracks start up but it seemed like they brought the house down.
As did another Seeger Sessions' anthem Pay Me My Money Down.
As a bonus to those who missed Saturday night, High Hopes made a reappearance and is easily becoming a tour favourite.
As is Springsteen's Australian tour 'roll call' - those of us at previous shows couldn't help but shout his 'Over shark infested waters!' which is fast becoming this tour's trademark slogan.
For the third night we had the excellent Spirit In The Night too, which sits perfectly after a solemn and spiritual My City of Ruins and it's moment to honour those who are missing.
Sydney 1 was the shortest of the three concerts, but the energy put in by Springsteen surpassed those of the previous two nights.
After landing back on the stage after the encore of Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out he was seen turning to one band member and saying 'I'm fucked!'
The man looked exhausted as he often does at the end of the show, but you could tell he still wanted to keep going.
Other highlights of the night was a brilliantly fierce Youngstown and the band's cover of Moon Mullican's rock n' roll epic Seven Nights To Rock in an exhilarating encore.

Here's what for me is the best setlist of the tour so far:

1. American Land
2. Prove It All Night
3. Adam Raised A Cain (Request)
4. Wrecking Ball
5. Death To My Hometown
6. Hungry Heart
7. City of Ruins
8. Spirit In The Night
9. High Hopes
10. Youngstown
11. Candy's Room
12. She's The One
13. Pay Me My Money Down
14. Shackled and Drawn
15. Waitin' On A Sunny Day
16. The Rising
17. Ghost of Tom Joad
18. Badlands

19. Thunder Road
20. Born To Run
21. Seven Nights To Rock
22. Dancing In The Dark
23. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

The Price You Pay - GA or Bust

A few people I've spoken to at the first two shows have told me that when they tried booking tickets that for them seeing Springsteen they basically had one rule - GA or bust.

It seems that for many, once you've been in the front row for an E Street Band show, there's no going back. (to the back)

And with General Admission comes great pressure to reach the stage.

With Brisbane 1 I was lucky to arrive and be placed 121 in a group of 200 GA holders.
After arriving three hours before the gates opened I was given the number and a green wristband.

Then as the gates opened instructions were shouted out that once inside we had an hour before meeting outside a specific door, where we would line up in order and then be marched into the venue before anyone else.

After we were in, the rest were allowed in to fill up the remaining space.

For the second show with another GA ticket I left nothing to chance.

After hearing at midday that by 10am they were already at 53, I jumped into a taxi and told him to floor it to the Entertainment Centre.

The driver seemed to love this as he belted through a couple of amber lights and at one point started trailing a passing police car with its sirens on to beat traffic.

I was there by 1pm and this time had 107.

As I was earlier the GA set up was a little different. First you put your name down and was again given a number. Then at 3pm, a roll call was made to see who was still here.

At this point we had to get in line and have our tickets marked, and new purple wristbands handed out. Then again informed of which door to meet at and how we would be let in.

In total Brisbane 1 required about 5 hours of waiting in line and in front of the stage. Brisbane 2 I waited around 7 hours.

There was no word if this system would be the same in Sydney or Melbourne, but venues have advised early GA admission is on a 'first come, first served' basis and not a 'pit lottery' which is big in Springsteen's US shows.

And if you are going to do this then the general rule of thumb is you already have your GA ticket in hand ready to go. And I would advise using a buddy to help keep the line during toilet and drink breaks. It's a lot easier in a group than it is to go solo.

The only question for me is after being front row for the first two concerts, can I convince my girlfriend who is joining me for Sydney 1 with a GA ticket, to wait in line that long?...

Don't Look Back

It's official - tickets for all ten Australia concerts have been secured.

Somehow despite a frustrating problem with TickeTek's pre-sale website on Wednesday morning - that caused something of a quick angry panic - I managed to grab a general admission ticket for the third and final Sydney show.

So as well as securing tickets for each concert I've also managed to get front section standing tickets for every venue on the tour. Something I had struggled with in my previous purchases for Sydney's All Phones Arena.

New Jersey's finest together in London, 2009.

And in a bonus to the E Street overload New Jersey rockband and Springsteen influenced The Gaslight Anthem have announced their own tour of Australia later this year. And tickets are booked to see them in Perth in May.

Having seen the band twice before - including the 2009 Hard Rock Calling concert where Bruce joined them for The 59 Sound and Brian Fallon later returned the favour to join the E Street Band for No Surrender - there's plenty to be excited about. 

The band are one of the hardest working and committed bands around at the moment who know how to engage with an audience while blasting out a great sound. 

If The E Street Band can't make it to Perth, then their younger New Jersey neighbours really are the next best thing.

Title track: Don't Look Back

All Or Nothin' At All...

So just when I thought it was safe to put away my credit card and start planning my iPod playlists for each leg of my 16 day journey to see all nine Australian Bruce Springsteen concerts, the powers that be announce ANOTHER 'final' concert date.

A third show has been added to Sydney - right smack bang in the middle of the tour, and my epic East coast adventure tour.

Having previously decided that it was in fact ridiculous to go to eight out of nine concerts, and rectify the dilemma by grabbing a General Admission ticket for the final show of the tour at Hanging Rock, there is of course no way that I can miss out on the tenth show to be announced.

Not just because I will have to amend the tagline of my #WreckingBallBlog, but also because it will give me the chance to grab a GA front section ticket for Sydney's All Phones Arena.

Which to date is the only venue on the tour which I have not been able to get a chance to be in the front row.

Another bonus is that while re-arranging my 12 hour train journey for the next day from Sydney to Melbourne, I was bumped up into the buffet cart for free.

Tickets are on sale February 5. (Pre-sale a little earlier). So the mad rush of being online, card details in hand, constantly refreshing my laptop, phone and iPad trying to get the best tickets is going to happen one last time.

Title track: All Or Nothin' At All