Do you have one?? The proverbial “bucket list,” you know….the experiences you want to engage in before you kick the bucket? My list is long, and ever-evolving. The older I get, the more precious this list becomes. My list is really not extravagant. A lot of things I want to do or see are right here in the glorious USA.

I’m a music enthusiast, not limited to any particular genre. I can’t carry a tune in a basket and have no knowledge or desire to play an instrument. But I have the utmost admiration and respect for those who can and do. Music is constantly playing the periphery or in the forefront of my daily life. When my dear friend enthusiastically messaged me that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were coming to Detroit on their current tour, I wasted no time securing tickets. Another check off my list. I mean, Bruce is 73, the fear of him kicking the bucket in the near future kind of exceeds the fear of me kicking it. It was a no-brainer, I was going.

When I set eyes on the set list that he had been performing at recent shows, I was a bit disappointed. I mean, why would he not do “Brilliant Disguise” or “Born in the USA” or “Human Touch.” Aren’t those Springsteen classics? I ignored my dismay and trusted that “The Boss” knew what he was doing. After all, you don’t maintain a successful career spanning more than five decades by disappointing your fan base.

On the night of the show, we eat dinner at the hotel restaurant. The other couple with us are longtime friends and we are enjoying drinks, food and easy conversation. Before long, a woman I’d guess to be in her late sixties, of short stature and a petite frame appears at our table. Adorned in flashy apparel, a Springsteen t-shirt, a glittery red bow in her bleached-blonde hair and heavily applied makeup, she asks us if we are going to the show. “Hey, you know it!” She shifts her walking cane to her other hand and proudly points to the pin on her shirt, announcing that she is a “Spring nut” and goes on to tell us that it’s a group of 10,000 members and we can join if we want! She follows the tour schedule, showing up at most of the shows. She gives us a spoiler alert about how Bruce will wrap up the show. How he will rip open his shirt, exposing his buff physique, and bust into “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” with the big screen displaying a touching tribute to the late, great Clarence (the legendary E-Street Band saxaphone-playing genius.)

We make way to the venue, standing out in the cold March air, among thousands of fellow fans. A predominantly 50+ crowd eagerly awaiting the performance. The show starts promptly as scheduled and the crowd goes wild as a svelt Springsteen gracefully makes his way to the stage, accompanied by his E-street band, made up of about eighteen musicians. I am in awe at the energy and talent that fills the stage at that very moment. Steven Van Zandt, wearing his trademark head cover, emitting a stage presence that you can feel. Bruce owns the stage, but proudly shares the glory with his deserving bandmates. I was mesmerized, singing along with the songs I didn’t think I liked. Turns out, I do like them. And haven’t quit singing them in my head ever since. I keep asking Alexa to play “Ghosts,” “Letter to You,” the awesome cover of the Commodores “Night Shift” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.”

They performed for nearly three hours without a single break. No period of silence between songs. One song simply morphing into the next. Bruce sang with his characteristically rough voice, accompanied by a soulful edge that was nothing short of captivating. The back-up singers harmonizing flawlessly. The drummers, the saxaphone, various horns and guitars. The harmonica that The Boss played in between belting out song lyrics like it was effortless. Everything and everone involved working together to create musical perfection. This made me realize how lucky we, the fans, are that these talented people have devoted their lives to perfecting their crafts. Because through them we feel heard, understood, part of something outside of our otherwise quiet existence. “Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night. You ain’t a beauty, buy hey, you’re alright. Oh, and that’s alright with me.” The crowd sings along as one song shifts to the next. “Tramps like us, baby we were born to run!!!” The energy contagious. Chants of “Bruce, Bruce, Bruuuucce!” coming from every direction. People standing to dance a little or swaying in their seats.

And just as the “Spring nut” promised, Bruce did rip his shirt open and bust into the “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” song with a photographic tribute to Clarence showing overhead. The encore was a generous offering of several songs and I don’t think a soul in the place was ready for the night to end. My heart was full and to be honest, I didn’t really even mind that some of my favorite hits weren’t in the set list. Because now I have some new faves. And I have an immense appreciation for the E Street Band. They are phenomenal. The chemistry between them all is amazing.

We end our evening back at the hotel bar. The previously described lady is there and seeks us out. She encourages us once again to join the “Spring nuts.” She’s already planning her trip to the Cleveland concert. She spits out names of various band members and tells us the truck driver even gives the Spring nuts inside information. Her charisma for Bruce and the band is contagious. I guess that’s what music does. It connects all different walks of life together and reminds us maybe we aren’t all that different after all. Maybe that’s why I like it so much.

We wake up in the morning, in a hotel overlooking the maginficent city of Detroit. Norb chuckles and says, so….”are we gonna join the Spring nuts, I mean isn’t that just what I need, to be part of the the central intelligence for the Springsteen tours?” I love his sarcasm. And who knows, maybe we will join the Spring nuts. I will keep you posted.