Springsteen vs. The Kentucky Derby

You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, you mind find
You get what you need - Rolling Stones

So, Spot and I are online about 2 months ago trying to get Bruce Springsteen tickets when they go on sale. Spot can get one at a time; I can't get any. Spot gets 3 and we quit. Perhaps my not getting tickets is an omen: the Springsteen show is on the same day as the Kentucky Derby. I can't miss my favorite event of the year with the Freeman's and the opportunity to catch up with friends. Seeing folks happens WAY too seldom now-a-days.

I rationalize; I can go to the Derby Party during the day, leave early, and catch the Springsteen show in Greensboro that night. But then Mark, Spot and I decide to try the "lottery" for the Springsteen show. We need to be in Greensboro before 5:00pm. No Derby party.

So we arrive in Greensboro about 4:15, drive around the Coliseum and find a sweet parking space on a side street. There is a guy sitting in the front seat of the SUV parked behind us talking on the phone. He gets off the phone and tells us his kids are trying for the lottery as well. They've been here camping out for a while, he's here to pick them up in case they don't get in. We get excited and head to the Coliseum.

We go right up and get a numbered armband. It is 5:00.....the drawing is taking place in 15 minutes. We find our place in line. Our armbands are numbered 1263, 1264 and 1265. 1200+ have gotten here before us and been waiting. Should we have stayed in the Triangle and gone to the party?

A guy on a bullhorn announces how this will work: a number will be drawn from a hat, that person will be first in line, we'll take the next 450 persons behind that persons number. Very efficient and fair. Still, we've got less than a 33% chance of being within the proper "grouping".

And then the announcement....the number is 11xx. I can't even think! We're going to get to the front of a Springsteen show. "I'm Courtney Cox in the Dancing in the Dark video!!!!" (note: wow......this video is from 1984! Have I changed this much in 25 years?)

The show was AWESOME. Springsteen still performs with the passion that makes his shows epic events. I hope I have half his energy and good looks when I'm 61. The E-Street Band is showing signs of age but not sounding any older. Clarence is something like 71 and showing it. Bruce would help him to his place on stage and during encores Clarence did not leave (he sat in a chair). Max Weinberg's son played drums during most of the show. He was excellent and it was fun to watch the relationship between the young Weinberg and Springsteen. It must be weird to have known this boy when he was born and now have him keep time for your band.

3 hours later my ears are ringing. I've been on cloud-nine for this entire week. I hate that the show happened on Derby Day but..........you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes......

(the Steensboro May 2nd setlist)

Cheers.