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It would be an easy conclusion to say my music is like therapy, but it’s more the ‘write what you know’ cliché, and unfortunately, this is a lot of what I know. I know other things, too. I’ve lived a charmed life. I’ve led a horrific life. And a lot of times it goes hand in hand.  – Charlie Sexton 2005

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While touring Europe in his pre Rascals days with Joey Dee, he was inspired by an opening act called The Beatles.

“I had the specific vision for The Rascals from the beginning,” Cavaliere recalled. “I was in Europe with Joey Dee, just before The Beatles came to the U.S. I saw them and worked on the same bill with them in Europe, and was wondering what all the noise was all about. I was able to see what they were doing and really felt I could do something like that.

“Because, basically, they were a singing group that did a lot of covers of American songs. and they did their own songs, when no one had heard of them yet. There was a uniqueness about them. I said: ‘This is what people are screaming about. It’s not their hair.’ My plan was to get the best singers and best players I could find. So, from the beginning, I had a concept based around the organ, voices and a great drummer.”

                                                                          -Felix Cavaliere 2015

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And there I was, believe this was outside the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park, NJ. Bruce doing a special show during The Ghost Of Tom Joad tour.

I think he was also working undercover as a vice cop as well, but that’s never been substantiated. But the facial hair and brown leather coat kinda gives the entire enterprise away.

Adult life is dealing with an enormous amount of questions that don’t have answers. So I let the mystery settle into my music. I don’t deny anything, I don’t advocate anything, I just live with it.- Bruce Springsteen
 

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Greek Theater, Berkeley, CA.

And there I was.

I’d seen Beck three times in the previous few years, but this was an outdoor gig with a chance to que up very close to the stage with the right amount of preparation. My Beck wingman Eric accompanied me and we assumed our slot fairly close to the stage.

The Black Keys came on around 3pm, a bit early, but there was some 7pm curfew in effect. Perhaps because it was a Sunday on a college campus or such? I don’t know, but that was the deal. The Black Keys were not the big deal they are today; no one seemed to know who they were other than they were from Akron and if they were opening for Beck, they must have done something to impress somebody as Beck doesn’t suffer opening bands lightly. They did a more than admirable job.

Beck came on around 4:15 and dove headfirst into his set. At one point a few songs in, he started taking request. Someone called out for ‘Debra’ and he went for it, which was fun.

He also did a cover of Prince’s ‘Erotic City’ which was a surprise as well as Nelly’s ‘Hot In Herre’ which at the time was a current hit on the charts.

When it came time for the encores, Beck returned with the Black Keys in tow and everyone had donned white OSHA jumpsuits. Wacky. But that’s Beck for ya. Here’s a shot from ye old Kodak disposable camera.

Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything. – Plato

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University of Tampa cafeteria. Tampa, FLA.

And there I was.

Sophomore year and I’m eating my lunch and digesting what this year of college might bring forth.

Over the loudspeakers comes an announcement that the college has secured two tickets to the upcoming Police concert at Orlando’s Tangerine Bowl in two months’ time. The Fixx, who were also starting go gain musical traction at the time, were installed as the opener. A classic early Eightie’s line up if there ever was one.

We were instructed to reach under our seats where an envelope containing said tickets would be found.

I instinctively reached under my seat, not expecting to find anything, but the plastic bottom of my chair, but lo and behold, I felt an envelope.

And for some reason, fear took over. Fear that I’d have the envelope and that I’d be the center of attention for the entire cafeteria. That fear.

So instead of conquering my fear, I gave into my fear and acted like nothing was happening. Rose from my chair, dropped off my lunch tray and exited the cafeteria. To leave those tickets to another, less fearful student.

Fear not!

That’s my church, that’s my sacrament. You know just playing music every day and offering it up to God, and saying thank you. – Sting

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Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. Continental Airlines Arena. East Rutherford, NJ.

And there I was.

I had tickets to three of the Reunion Tour shows in Oakland later that Fall, but a chance to see Bruce with the E Street Band on our home turf of Jersey was too much to pass up.

Our group convened in the Meadowlands parking lot at 1800 hours and we proceeded to our appointed gate. As usual, I was packing my Kodak disposal camera. Shoved down my pants the better to avoid detection. Once again I made it through.

Our seats were behind the stage. Which sounds sorta crummy, but it’s an interesting vantage point, especially for a seasoned Bruce concert vet like myself. Knowing I’d be seeing him in front of the stage in Oakland I didn’t mind this new view. The seats were actually quite close to the stage and the band does as good as job as any artist to make their way to us from time to time.

As the encores were finishing and the band was making its way down the ramp backstage, I was doing my best to get their attention without looking like a total idiot. But my entreaties were going unnoticed as believe it or not, others near me were trying to do the very same thing. Imagine that?

But…but…all at once Bruce notices me as does Steve and both even point to me. And at that self same time, the entirety of the band came into frame and I snapped the one shot I had left.

Upon developing of the film I was left with this:

Not too shabby for a Kodak disposable with no flash nor zoom. And no photo shopping here folks. Heck, I don’t even know how to photo shop something so there you go. Bruce is bathed in the white lights and seems to be walking on air while Clarence clutches his forearm, forever connected. That’s my left hand you see in the frame.

So that was that and there you go.

The best music is essentially there to provide you something to face the world with. – Bruce Springsteen

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