Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band: A Love Letter

Hi. Welcome to Bloom Anywhere. I'm Gwen Moran, a writer, editor, author, and problem-solver. My goal is to share information, ideas, and resources to help you overcome obstacles, reach your goals, and find more joy in life, even when things are messy. Thanks for joining me. (If you got this from a friend, subscribe here: Bloom Anywhere.) I'd love your feedback and suggestions for future topics. Please send me an email: connect@bloomanywhere.com.

As a longtime Jersey Shore resident, I’ve been an unabashed Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band fan for most of my life. I’ve lost count of the number of concerts I’ve seen, but he’s one of the few artists for whom I’ve slept on a sidewalk to buy tickets (back when that used to be a thing and my joints didn’t ache as much). I’ve seen him play at big arenas and in intimate settings like Convention Hall and the iconic Stone Pony, both in Asbury Park, NJ. My first Springsteen show was when I was in college. The most recent was Saturday night in Philadelphia, the last show of his Land of Hopes and Dreams tour.

There are musicians who attract large followings of devoted fans. Springsteen and the E Street Band are among them. Legions of fans await the next show, some having seen dozens or even hundreds of shows. Online groups like Spring-Nuts and Bruce Springsteen Fans are active, engaged communities that both follow the band and are places where real, in-person friendships are cultivated.

As I sat in the Xfinity Arena watching the band again, I looked around the arena at the attendees. I thought about why so many of them were devoted fans. The music, sure. Springsteen & the E Street Band are responsible for truly iconic songs. But they have consistently done things that cultivated such loyalty for decades.

Elements of Lasting Fandom

The most foundational of all their actions is that they deliver. During every show, their passion for their music and message was evident. The band never phones it in. Every show is an hours-long jam session, giving fans their money’s worth. It’s even more remarkable now that longtime and original band members are in their 70s. Springsteen is 76. Steven Van Zandt and Max Weinberg are 75. Garry Tallent and Roy Bittan are also 76. Nils Lofgren is 74. The energy and stamina it took to put on a nearly three-hour show would challenge people who were decades younger. They’re living proof that age has little to do with performance.

Then, there’s the authenticity. Springsteen is famously accessible to his fans. Whether he’s in a bookstore, at the gym, or getting fresh air at the Manasquan inlet (one of his go-to spots), he stops to talk to people and take selfies. I once met him at a book signing. He was as kind and gracious to the first visitor as he was to the 2,000^th. After the last night of the tour, Van Zandt showed up the next day at a gathering of the Spring-Nuts in Asbury Park. They champion local artists and support charities in their own communities and in the communities where they tour.

They also stand up for what they believe is right and use their platforms and resources to create positive change. Collectively, the band members have supported numerous local and national charities, both through their advocacy and their donations. Van Zandt, who created a second career as an actor with his portrayal of Silvio Dante in the HBO series The Sopranos, was a pivotal figure in the 1980s anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, organizing the boycott against the popular Sun City Resort and working to produce the song “Sun City,” which garnered attention and support for the boycott. (Fascinating story about his activism here. I also recommend the documentary Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple, which chronicles his anti-apartheid work and other causes, as well as his storied career.)

Intersecting with that attribute, the members give back in myriad ways. After original band member Danny Federici died from melanoma, the band and Federici’s family established a melanoma research fund at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The late E Street Saxophonist Clarence Clemons supported charities that helped survivors of child abuse and domestic violence, as well as music education, substance abuse recovery, and other causes. Band member Patti Scialfa, who was not part of this tour, is also involved in leadership for the U.S. Equestrian Team and other causes.

The Takeaways

At the end of Saturday night’s show, the house lights were on while the band played. A group of people at the front of the pit held up signs that said, “Thank you for our lifetime.” The message was moving, and Springsteen choked up as he ended the show.

Obviously, being a member of a famous rock band and/or having recurring roles in movies and on television affords one a certain amount of wealth and privilege. However, Springsteen and the E Street Band also offer lessons we can take forward into our own lives. Lessons about showing up and doing our best. Lessons about being authentic and kind to others. Lessons about standing up and speaking out to make the world a little better and easier for others. It’s no wonder that so many see Bruce and the E Street Band not just as rock stars, but as trusted friends who have provided the soundtrack for our lives.

Whom Do You Admire?

Who’s the influential figure that you admire in the arts? I’d love to hear who’s inspiring you with their art and actions. Please send an email to connect@bloomanywhere.com.

* The original email version of this newsletter was released with an incorrect headline. I apologize for the error.