We Watched Bruce Springsteen Watch Blinded By The Light In Asbury

It’s sort of bizarre watching Bruce Springsteen watch a film.

Look, if there’s one factor I don’t even attempt to “play it cool” about it’s my unadulterated love for Bruce Springsteen. I’m type of partially severe after I declare that again in 2004 I moved to New York City for extra entry to Springsteen live shows. (My variety of exhibits attended has ballooned considerably over the past 15 years.) Anyway, in some way, in all this time, I’ve by no means been to Asbury Park, New Jersey. On Wednesday evening, Blinded by the Light – a love letter of a film in regards to the music of Bruce Springsteen that I first noticed again at Sundance and adored – was having its premiere in Asbury Park. This gave the impression to be a very good time to go to Asbury Park.

So, right here’s just a little little bit of backstory about Bruce Springsteen and this film: Blinded by the Light, directed by Gurinder Chadha, relies on Sarfraz Manzoor’s ebook about rising up in a Pakistani household whereas dwelling in English city of Luton and falling in love with Springsteen’s music. Springsteen just about gave this manufacturing full entry to his catalog – utilizing a Springsteen track in a film normally prices a fairly penny – and, boy, Blinded by the Light didn’t skimp on the Springsteen music. So, after all, when Blinded by the Light premiered on the Sundance Film Festival, there have been numerous rumors Bruce himself could be making the journey to Park City, Utah.

Now, I’ve seen Bruce roughly 26 (possibly 27, I haven’t counted not too long ago) instances however I’ve by no means caught one among his “secret” or “rumored” exhibits. Basically, let’s say, oh, Joe Grushecky is enjoying a gig at The Stone Pony or Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, there’s possibly a 5 p.c probability Bruce exhibits as much as simply jam. This won’t ever, ever be introduced. And more often than not you’re simply going to wind up getting a full Joe Grushecky set. But, on these uncommon events, the fortunate individuals there’ll get to principally be transported again in time to the early 1970s, earlier than Born to Run, the place they get to see Bruce Springsteen simply hanging out in a bar enjoying guitar. It’s each Springsteen fan’s dream.

So, this previous January, I chased these Sundance rumors laborious. Now, looking back, from the sources I had, I do imagine, at one level, Bruce was planning on doing a shock present at Sundance, however then it fell aside. So, as a substitute, what occurred was I pulled each string doable with an finish results of me ready within the freezing chilly for 2 hours to look at Feist carry out a canopy of “State Trooper.” (That’s no dig at Feist, it was a fairly superior cowl of “State Trooper.”) But, alas, later on the Sundance premiere for Blinded by the Light, Gurinder Chadha introduced Bruce wouldn’t be there as a result of he wished the film to talk for itself, or no matter, in order that was that.

When I used to be first emailed in regards to the Blinded by the Light premiere (with an afterparty on the famed Stone Pony) my first response was, “I’ve fallen for this one before.” And the parents at Warner Bros. have been very coy a few Bruce look, which might imply something actually. (Again, I’ve seen this play out not in my favor earlier than.) But! I lastly determined I used to be on the lookout for an excuse to each see this film once more and to go to Asbury Park, and that was sufficient. I wasn’t relying on the rest and, with my luck (please bear in mind I traveled again dwelling to St. Louis for two Stanley Cup Final video games and noticed the Blues get blown out each instances), there was no method Bruce was displaying up anyway, so why even fear about it?