Three Way News: Some preacher from the East says, "Dethrone the dictaphone, hit it in its funny bone”

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Some preacher from the East says, "Dethrone the dictaphone, hit it in its funny bone”

‘Cuz, ya know, that’s where they expect it least. I was really going to give the whole evolution issue a rest since I have posted on it several times this week but I have to pass along someone else’s thoughts on the subject. I saw The Boss doing a solo acoustic show in St. Paul last night and he had a few comments before his song Part Man, Part Monkey. So here (as close to a direct quote as I can remember) is today’s guest guest blogger. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Bruce Springsteen:

Evolution. The Kansas Board of Education thought it was time to kick that one around again. President Bush says he thinks the jury is still out on that subject. I think he believes in evolution but just can’t say so. The monkey vote didn’t put him into office. Inherit the Wind, the movie about the Scopes Monkey Trial couldn’t get made today. They would have to run it by some Board of Evangelicals. The Flintstones couldn’t get made today. Might have to re-examine that Fred and Barney relationship. We’ve come a long way. And now we’re going back.

Today’s Star Tribune had an article about the show, attempts to foil ticket scalpers, and Bruce’s politics. It ended with a great quote from my old friend Montgo who I actually ran into after the show, tho he didn’t mention that he had been interviewed:

St. Paul fan Tom Montgomery, whose first Springsteen show was at the State Theatre in 1978, didn't see the political backlash or lower demand for tickets as negatives. "Anybody who stays away just because they're a Republican obviously doesn't get Bruce, so good riddance," Montgomery said. "The Republicans are probably the ones who are driving up ticket prices in the first place."

Update: 03:15pm

Some people wanted to see an actual review (see, I do read the comments) so here is a link to the Star Trib review. Personally I really enjoyed the show. It started out a little slow and I’m not sure the Tom Waits act on Reason to Believe really works for Bruce. It got much better by the fourth or fifth song and I was pleased to hear If I should Fall Behind which I think is a very underrated song. I enjoyed just listening to him talk as much as anything. He had a good line about the new album being available at Dunkin’ Donuts in the intro to Reno. Pretty funny if you have heard about the Starbucks controversy. He talked a lot about raising kids and his intro to The River was a long discussion about listening to the radio when he was young and how his dad told him love songs were a government conspiracy to get people to get married and pay taxes. All those 50s artists were paid civil servants his dad claimed. Bruce said that made him kind of hide all his early love songs inside other songs and then launched into the River. Here is a setlist.