Bruce'll Stop The Rain

Saturday night was just about the best night of my life (or at least the best concert I've been to). Based on a purely musical basis, Bruce beats the Who and Billy Joel (the experiences I had at those two shows involve interaction with the artist. So..yeah).

Bruce is my guy. There is no one I love more than him. He's number one. With the exception of Mark Fisher, I don't know anyone that loves Bruce as much as I do. I can't even explain it. Like...I don't even know what it is about him that I adore so much. It's a combination of everything: the music, the personality, the beliefs, the showmanship, the energy, the band...I can't get enough of him. He's the only artist I love 24/7 (okay, he's one of two--Billy Joel). I go through a lot of phases. Some days I want to marry John Mayer, some days he gets on my nerves. I've never said, "You know, I'm not in the mood for Bruce." I'm always in the mood for Bruce. I've been like this for more than two years now, and there's no end in sight. If you get into Bruce when you're young, there's no stopping. You don't just stop being a Bruce fan. His music buries itself deep in your soul. It would take a million years for it to crawl out of you. And the only person that could possibly live for a million years is Keith Richards.

It poured Saturday night. And I mean that. I've never seen it rain so hard in my life. Bruce didn't come on stage until a little after nine. But he made up for being tardy (and he stopped the rain). His set-list was near-perfect. Only Ramrod, Bobby Jean, Darkness, and Candy's Room could have made it better. He's so wild on stage, I love it. I cried several times, to be honest. I get very emotional at concerts, especially at Springsteen shows. As Bob said: It's great to have heroes. Bruce is my hero. As big of a guitar freak that I am, I'll take Bruce over them all. They can't do what he does. Nobody can. And maybe nobody should. His shows are indescribable. He pours his heart out night after night. I would trade in ten Red Sox/Yankees games for one Bruce Show. Yes. I am being 100% honest (when do I lie anyway?). Bruce means more to me than any baseball game could. Game Seven field box seat at Fenway or floor seats at Bruce? Bruce.

I have an inexplicable passion for him. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Vacating/RIP Danny Federici

April vacation begins today. It's the perfect way to end the week--sunshine and 72 degrees I'm guessing. I couldn't wait to get to fourth block. We played Jeopardy! today, and my row won again. We won with 18,200. Yes, we are that good.

Well, while most kids spend their April vacations lounging around, playing sports, or heading to Florida, I am lucky enough to be making my third trip to Europe. I leave Sunday for Austria, Venice, and Paris for nine days with some of my best friends. I can't wait. I need to get away for a bit--even away from my guitar, as hard as it may be. I've got a song in me that needs to come out. I need a change of scenery for this one. It's gonna be good. Trust me. I've got a few titles and the "story" in mind. It's in my brain. It's in my heart. Now it just needs to be on paper.

So I found out yesterday that 7,500 people applied to Berklee. Berklee only takes 800-1,000 a year..That's 13.3% at the most. I feel really good about that. Maybe I really am good at this whole music thing.

I haven't had a guitar lesson since March 31st. That is truly depressing. You have no idea how much I miss Bob. I may seem like I can handle an entire month without a guitar lesson, but I can't. Yes, I can figure out almost any song I want to by ear. Yes, I can learn stuff online or through books. Yes, I can analyze tunes on my own. But it's not the same. It's not the same. I need human interaction with music. As much as I enjoy picking apart a Hendrix solo on my own, it's always more fun with Bob. Music isn't something to do alone. It's interactive.

Danny Federici died today. He was the long-time keyboardist/organist of the E-Street Band--Bruce Springsteen's band. He was diagnosed with skin cancer earlier this year. Who dies of skin cancer, honestly. I was very shocked when I heard that. I don't really know what else to say on that. I'm awkward when it comes to death and funerals. I don't generally cry, and I never know what to say to people. I hate saying stuff like 'I'm sorry for your loss,' yeah, I am, but I don't feel like that's enough. It's just..I don't even know. I never know what to say, which is unusual for me. I like to think that I say the right things at the right times for the most part. I'm pretty good with words. I just talk too fast for people to understand sometimes (haha).

It's too nice to be inside right now. And I need to go tanning at some point today..Ironic, isn't it?

Oh yeah, and I may not have to go until May without a lesson. Bob just emailed me.