Bruce Springsteen at AAMI Park

Last night (4/2/17) I had the thrill of seeing Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform live in Melbourne.

The venue, the relatively new AAMI Park, is one I have not been to before, but is a football stadium (soccer and rugby) that is also used as a live music venue every so often.  It has a distinctive rectangular design and the roof, that partially covers the arena, looks like a bunch of soccer balls loaded one on top each other, shrouds the structure.

The concert began in broad daylight (doors opened at 4.00pm) with two support acts entertaining the early arrivals, before Bruce Springsteen kicked off his show at around 7.45pm.

As we had reserved seats, we took our time getting there, dining first at the Corner Hotel in Swan Street, Richmond.

From there is was only a short walk to the stadium in Olympic Boulevard, and we caught some of support act, Jet’s show, from our seats on the floor, a fair way back from the stage.

Cameras were forbidden so I didn’t mind being at a remove,  watching the show on the big screens, to the left and right and above centre stage.

Bruce Springsteen is renowned as one of the best live acts in the world, and I can appreciate why. He was indefatigable, practically playing non stop over three hours, ably supported by the wonderful E Street Band who comprised:

Bruce Springsteen (guitar, vocals)
Stevie Van Zandt (guitar, vocals)
Souzie Tyrell (violin, vocals)
Max Weinberg (drums)
Gary Tallent (bass)
Roy Bittan (piano)
Nils Lofgren (guitar)
Charles Giordano (organ keyboards, accordion)
Jake Clemens (saxophone)

Springsteen is adored by his fans and he reciprocates the devotion warmly, interacting personally with them, shaking hands and allowing certain lucky fans to climb on stage for a five minutes of fame song and/or dance.  Banners seem to be the go if you’re down the front in mosh pit; the camera catching the signs requesting songs, or wishes to sing or dance with Bruce and the band.

It was high powered set encompassing 27 songs, with rockers and slower ballads in the mix.

As daylight faded to night, above the open air arena you could see fruit bats flying over and white birds wheeling above. And towards the end of the show fireworks were detonated off to the side outside the arena with sparks and streaks of light appearing above the top edge of the stadium.

As this was the first time I’d seen Bruce Springsteen live, I was impressed and enjoyed hearing old classics such as Born To Run, Dancing In The Dark , Hungry Heart, Glory Days in person.

I’d certainly consider going to see Bruce and his E Street Band again.

Set List  (from Setlist.fm)

1. American Land

2. Lonesome Day

3. My Love Will Not Let You Down

4. Out in the Street

5. Sherry Darling (sign request)

6. Hungry Heart

7. Glory Days

8. This Hard Land (sign request) (tour debut)

9. New York City Serenade (with strings)

10. Prove It All Night (with '78 intro)

11. Trapped (Jimmy Cliff cover)

12. Youngstown

13. Cover Me

14. Death to My Hometown

15. My City of Ruins

16. Cadillac Ranch (tour debut)

17. I'm Goin' Down

18. Waitin' on a Sunny Day (tour debut)

19. Because the Night (Patti Smith Group cover)

20. Badlands

21. Thunder Road

22. Born to Run

23. Seven Nights to Rock (Moon Mullican cover)

24. Dancing in the Dark

25. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

26. Shout (The Isley Brothers cover)

27. Twist and Shout (The Top Notes cover)

New Year at Flemington with Black Caviar’s Daughter

Oscietra – Black Caviar’s first foal

After the tragic end to 2016 with the death of our beloved cat, I needed cheering up, so headed out to Flemington to welcome the New Year and witness Black Caviar’s first foal, Oscietra, have her first start at the race track.

She was set to run in the first race on the program, so I caught the first train to Flemington, along with a good crowd of other racing enthusiasts. Many of course, like me, were only going to see Oscietra.

There was plenty of time to cruise out to the stalls area and a big crowd was gathered outside Oscietra’s stall to get a first look at the star mare’s daughter.

Crowd outside Oscietra’s stall – there’s even a guy wearing a Black Caviar cap

I managed to wriggle in and got several photos of the filly. The atmosphere was reminiscent of the days when Black Caviar was at the track.

Oscietra standing calmly in her stall

Oscietra took the attention calmly as if she’d seen it all before, even though it was her first day at the races.

Alas she wasn’t able to emulate her mum with a win, being outgunned by the more experienced filly Limestone, but was far from disgraced running third.

Oscietra in the mounting yard

Oscietra pinged out of the barriers and led for most of the race down the middle of the big Flemington straight, and was only overtaken by Limestone in the last 200 metres.  Miss Wahoo ran second.

Limestone overtakes Oscietra close to the finishing line.

It is probably a blessing that Oscietra didn’t win her first race, as expectations will not be as high next time round, where she has the potential to be the star act.

Limestone returns to scale

There was a larger than usual crowd in attendance for such a low key meeting, and Oscietra’s race was the feature race as far as most were concerned.

I stayed for two more races, the first of these being the  Straight Draw Handicap, run over 2000 metres. Flying Light was the starting favourite and he didn’t disappoint winning by ¾ length from Master Zephyr with Kourkam running third.

Flying Light wins the Straight Draw Handicap

Flying Light returns to scale

Race 3 was the Byron Moore Handicap, a race over 1600 metres.  The wonderfully named Crocodile Rock, a Lloyd Williams import from Ireland was the favourite, but he left it too late in his run to overtake eventual winner Gervaise who romped in at good odds.  Stone Warrior ran third.

Byron Moore Handicap finish – first three across the line – Gervaise, Crocodile Rock, Stone Warrior

Gervaise returns to scale

Crocodile Rock returns to scale

As trains were not scheduled to leave Flemington until 5.00pm, I was obliged to make the long tramp to Epsom Road to the tram stop. The journey home took about a hour, the 57 Tram being an old slow Z class vehicle that weaves its way through the north western suburbs to the city.

The autumn racing carnival kicks off in earnest in February, so there’s not long to wait for first class meetings, with various build up races occuring in January.

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It is now a week since Willy’s death and we still miss him, and expect him to appear and demand attention at any moment.

Talya by contrast is a quiter, less demanding  cat, so it’s no wonder she’s now emerging from Willy’s shadow and taking over where he left off.

This morning she waited for me and occupied my lap as Willy used to do. She never got a look in when he was around. She’s asleep on my pillow as I write, another invasion of Willy’s former domain.

Talya – the Queen of the Universe

And I’m pleased to report that she has finally given up pulling her fur out, so is looking much prettier these days with her fur grown back.

As for the rest of 2017, I’m hoping for small pleasant distractions to offset the gloom of the new world order.

For a start, I have three concerts to attend in the near future, the first being Americana maestro Tim O’Brien at Caravan Music Club next week.

In February I’m going to a Bruce Springsteen concert. I have never had the pleasure of seeing him before and wouldn’t have gone had not Frontier Touring had a Boxing Day sale, where I acquired tickets at a discounted price. 

And I’m keenly looking forward to seeing the Dixie Chicks in April, from second row seats at Rod Laver Arena.

As for books, there’s nothing much that has piqued my interest so far, but I believe that Hilary Mantel’s final book in her Thomas Cromwell trilogy will be out later this year.

Cross fingers,  John Crowley’s Little, Big (25th Anniversary Edition)  may be finally published this year.  I’ve expressed this same wish every year since this blog was started, and hope not to write it again in 2018.

John Crowley also has a new book in the offing which is rumoured to be published sometime in 2017 – always something to await with pleasurable anticipation.