Bruce Springsteen’s acoustic concert tour stopped in Madison this evening. I found the event quite enjoyable. A few notes:

• The 8:00p.m. event began at 8:20. He finished a great show 10:50.
• The tour program was $20 (I offered 10)
• T-Shirts were $45 while a coffee mug was $15.00
• I purchased tickets (section 212) via ticketmaster the “moment” they were available. I understood that there would be 4,000 seats. That seems to have changed. I wonder how the seating distribution actually worked out?
• I thought his performance was wonderful. His voice was powerful and he seemed to be quite engaged, mentioning that someone told him it had been 30 years since he performed (commercially) in Madison.
• Mentioned he had not been invited to the White House lately – though he had been there some years ago, “when it was more fun”.
• Former State Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala sat not far from our seats.
• I was very impressed with the rather elegant lighting.
• Springsteen mentioned a number of “almost stalkers” who follow him around, including one who passed along photos on top of various mountains with a Bruce Springsteen banner.
• He also spoke briefly about what it’s like to be the “boss” ie rich (“Houses, money”)
• He said he would be back with the E Street Band but when a fan asked for a date said that he did not know when it would be.
• The crowd was a very interesting cross section of Madison area (I think) people. I’d say the average age was late 40’s to early 50’s.
• Tickets were being sold outside the Coliseum for 40 to 45 each.

Springsteen appears next in Worcester, MA on October 20.