Tear drops on the city

By Paul Casey Gotham

Ooh.

That’s about all I could manage. I was 19-years old and seeing Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band for the first time. They had just belted out a stirring rendition of Jungleland.

It was late in the three-plus-hour long show, and the natural thing was to clap and scream approval. But I couldn’t.

Ooh.

I eventually joined the other 20,000 or so at the CNE Grandstand and applauded. But my initial instinct was a hesitation to try and freeze that moment in time as if I could live forever covered in goose bumps.

There was the song’s plaintive opening building into a romp before ending with Springsteen howling.

A saxophone interlude wailed into the Canadian night capturing the struggles of all the song’s characters. Clarence Clemons paying tribute to the Magic Rat. Bringing to the surface the emotions of those soul engines running through a night so tender.

I’ve seen better concerts since that one. Shows with more energy and perhaps a tighter sound from the band, but sub-consciously I compare all shows to that summer night in Toronto when I first saw Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Rock ‘n’ Roll changed for me that evening, and Clarence’s saxophone played a big part. Sure there are probably other saxophonists who qualify as being technically better than “The Big Man” (not that I would know the difference), but none can capture the mood of a song better than Clarence.

Much has changed since July 23rd 1984. We paid $17.95 for tickets – a fraction of the price for Springsteen’s recent tour. We probably spent less than that for gas to make the six-hour round trip from Rochester to Toronto, and passports were not needed at the border.

Now today, comes the sad news that legendary E Street Saxophonist, Clarence Clemons, has died from the complications of a recent stroke.

Despite a series of recent public appearances, Clarence’s passing confirmed the fears of all fans. His health struggles of past years finally won. He joins original E Street keyboardist, Danny “Phantom” Federici, who lost his struggle with Melanoma in 2008.

Though hobbled for the “Magic” and “Working on a Dream” tours (which ran nearly continuous from October 2007 to November 22nd, 2009), Clemons performed the National Anthem in April at this year’s Florida Marlins home opener. He also worked and performed with Lady Gaga. Each time giving hope to fans that the E Street Band would ride again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJIXkgnOl9c

But there was a hint that something was wrong earlier this month. Prior to the second game of the N.B.A. finals, Clemons was announced on television as the performer of that night’s Star Spangled Banner. Either there was a mistake made in production, or “The Big Man” was a late scratch because he never appeared. At the time, I questioned my sanity. I was sitting in a room by myself with no one to confirm what I heard. Now I know differently.

The inevitable happened.

That which motivated me is now reality.

As dates of Springsteen’s “WOAD” tour slowly trickled out, Western New Yorkers were honored with the final show in Buffalo. In the back of my mind was the gnawing possibility that this could be the last time seeing the band with this lineup. Like I needed a reason. It didn’t matter that I would have to go work the next day after a ninety minute drive home. The fact that my job as a teacher would require me to stay at work the next day until eight o’clock for parent-teacher conferences was unimportant. I would be there. The worry was for not. Adrenalin carried me through the next day and night and for the rest of the week.

Springsteen and the E Streeters performed the entirety of “Greetings From Asbury Park” on that night complete with classic Springsteen story-telling: “There I was. It was a stormy, stormy night in Asbury Park, New Jersey.” Springsteen went on to describe his first meeting with Clarence. The tale has become a myth over the years with the truth lost somewhere in the swamps of Jersey. That’s okay. With Bruce egging him on, Clarence belted out the notes into the night – sweet and melodic as always.

We all knew it couldn’t go on forever.

Yeah. It’s pretty selfish of us. Clarence is in a better place free from all the discomfort of surgeries on his hips, knees and back.

Thanks Clarence.

Peace brother.