Springsteen: Still a Stud at 60

I've always loved Bruce Springsteen. I remember purchasing "Born in the U.S.A." on cassette when I was younger and hiding it because I would have been embarrassed for my parents to know that I owned an album with a picture of a man's butt on the cover. (My mother was a Jesus freak and I went to a religious school. Back in the early 80s, Amy Grant was about as out there as my musical tastes were allowed to be.)

Bruce is one of those rare entertainers who consistently puts out wonderful material and only seems to get better with age. Yet I never saw him perform live until this past Sunday, when he played at the United Center with the E Street Band. I have to tell you, it was quite possibly the most fantastic concert I have ever seen. They played for exactly three hours, with no intermission. The energy on that stage was unbelievable. Those guys just didn't stop! I kept thinking that the concert was over, and then they just kept on playing...and playing...and playing! And they sounded phenomenal.

Although the entire band is amazing, Bruce is the heart and soul of the group. He also has an insane amount of energy, and is a security guard's worse nightmare. All through the night, Bruce kept reaching out to the audience, touching people's hands and sometimes pulling random children up on stage to sing with him (adorable!). At one point, Bruce hopped off the stage and went strolling through the audience...FAR out into the audience. He was only a few feet away from me at one point. It was awesome!

The best thing about the concert? The fact that all the people on stage looked like they were having the time of their lives up there. That was really awesome to see.

Sunday also happened to be my birthday, and I'm very happy that I got to spend it with Bruce, who is celebrating his own birthday today...he is 60 years old! Happy birthday, Bruce! Your "Glory Days" are far from over. You have the energy and spirit of 30 six-year-olds, and I doubt you'll be slowing down anytime soon. (And also? You are even more attractive in person than you are in photos and on TV. Seriously, you still look as good in tight jeans as you did when you posed for that "Born in the U.S.A." album cover. Yowza!)