Our audience remains tribal…that is predominantly white. On occasion, the Inaugural Concert, during a political campaign, touring through Africa in '88, particularly in Cleveland with President Obama, I looked out and sang "Promised Land" to the audience I intended it for, young people, old people, black, white, brown, cutting across religious and class lines. That's who I'm singing to today. Today we play for everyone.

That was a cool read. It's interesting to me how much this show meant to him - I had read some stuff about his reaction to it in the media in the days before the show, but I didn't quite realize he thought of it as such a huge statement. Thanks for posting.

OUR BAND IS THE MIGHTIEST IN THE LAND.

Take that, Vampire Fucking Weekend.

Fuckin' A!

Wow, that was a great read. Bruce seems like a pretty cool guy. You know, at the risk of stating the obvious. I meant to pay attention to ticketmaster when the tickets for the Toronto show went up, but forgot and now it seems they are sold out. Bummer, that. I kinda think I'd like to see him. Usually I aim for smaller ticket shows, smaller bands. More intimate. But...

I usually agree about small shows...but Bruce is able to fill an arena and not only make you feel like it's a small show, also make you feel a kinship with the entire crowd of thousands. The atmosphere he and his fans create is amazing, small room or large.

I'm hoping to see him on this tour, too. By the way, even if the tix are sold out, if you are willing to visit the Backstreets website, you can usually find tickets in the forum (called BTX for "Backstreets Ticket Exchange," which is how it began - and there's an ethos among fans that you don't scalp, you charge face value.

And not only that, but Bruce has a policy of running ticket "drops" - that is, the tickets are sold in bundles. A certain number are issued on the day of sale, and when they're gone, you see SOLD OUT. But sometime in between that day and day of show, there'll be a ticket drop where more tix are released. If you check Backstreets you'll see the messages - like "TORONTO DROPPING NOWW!!!!" and that means you stand a chance of getting them if you start clicking over at Ticketmaster. I've actually gotten 2 out of my 4 shows' tickets on the drop.

And finally, Bruce always reserves hundreds of tickets for day-of-show sale at the venue. If you show up early that day and keep calling at the window, you can often get them. So that is the rundown - Scoring Bruce tix, 101. And you need to track the forum to catch the drops, because they aren't publicly announced or anything.

Definitely go if you can. I know you'd love it. He's just one of those performers everyone should see once in their lifetime even if it's not their kind of music - and for you, I think you'd just really appreciate the amazing stage show and all the music-history references as well as the setlist.

He's a good writer. That was well worth the read.
Ditto on seeing Bruce. I saw him in Toronto way back on the "Born in the USA" tour, and it was about four hours of non-stop awesome.

Mrs. Octo managed to get us tickets to his show at the Mellon Arena in the Spring, she's just so awesome. The show sold out in less than 1/2 an hour. I've been wanting to see Bruce for something like 30 years but somehow time and/or money never lined up at the right time. I'm really psyched that I finally get to see him.

You're in for a treat, Brother Octo. If he does "Thunder Road" raise a fist for me.

I'm gonna check that BTX out for sure...Thanks for the tip!

Mr. init and I were at home watching the game. We were sitting on the couch when the show began, but we were standing after about 20 seconds and didn't sit down until it was over. What a magnetic performance. Bruce tickets are now on my wishlist.

Bruce Springsteen is the only rock show I've been to where the artist had more energy than I did. Bruce outlasted me at 58 years old - totally redefined what it means to "get up for something".

Absolutely inspiring. He makes you want to change the world.