I have four boys. The youngest of which, Ben, turned 16 earlier this week. This is a story about how I risked missing his birth, just so I could go to a concert. Not just any concert mind you, it was Springsteen and the E Street Band... at Giants Stadium... in New Jersey.
So, once upon a time...
In the Summer of 2003 Springsteen and the E Street Band were wrapping up the Rising Tour with a 10 night stand at Giants Stadium. I had tickets for show 7 on Sunday night July 27, and was set to fly to Jersey with my brother Greg for the show. One little hiccup in the matter is that Chastity, my wife, was expecting our second child, and was due any day. A difficult decision for for sure.
The conversation starts a little something like... "ummmm honey.... so Springsteen and the E Street Band....." Thankfully her reply was, "I don't need you here to have a baby. You've already done your part, and I would rather have you miss the birth of you child, than to listen to you bitch about it for the rest of your life".
So.... off I go. I was lucky enough to have passes for Little Steven's Underground Garage Lounge, which was a pre-show meet and greet in a bar on the club level of the stadium. Stevie walks in, eventually comes up to me and my brother, and says, "so you're the two guys that flew all the way in from Kentucky?" We say yes, and then I say, "We're lucky to be here, my wife is nine months pregnant, and due any day". He gives me a quick smirk/smile, and says, "call her and give me your phone". As luck would have it, Chastity was out at the time, so the call went to voice mail. This is the audio from that call.
Thankfully, Ben, held out until mid-August, so I got the show, and was back well in time for the birth of my son. If she had gone into labor while I was at the show, I would still be suffering through the "I can't believe you choose the E Street Band over the birth of your child" To which I would reply, but Honey, it was after all the Legendary E Street Band.
(Oh, and years later, Ben's older brother got to interview Stevie in Columbus, Oh. but that's another story)
Oh, and how was the show? How do you think?
Here is the setlist
DOWNBOUND TRAIN
LONESOME DAY
CANDY’S ROOM
PROVE IT ALL NIGHT
EMPTY SKY
WAITING ON A SUNNY DAY
SAINT IN THE CITY
WORLDS APART
BADLANDS
OUT IN THE STREET
MARY’S PLACE
MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER
BACKSTREETS
NO SURRENDER
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KITTY’S BACK
BOBBY JEAN
BORN TO RUN
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MY CITY OF RUINS
LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS
ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT)
DANCING IN THE DARK
SEVEN NIGHTS TO ROCK