The Ties that Bind
Bruce Springsteen was the musical guest this week on Saturday Night Live. Even though 2020 was a year with no live music or tours, Bruce and the E Street Band got on the SNL stage and crushed it! To watch them perform is to witness passion in action. Each member of the band puts their heart and soul into every song. They sing each song like it’s their favorite, despite how many thousands of times they’ve probably performed it before.
Watching them brought me back to three years ago when I went to my first Springsteen concert. I had never been a huge fan, but I had heard about how epic his concerts are. Kim and I went with our friends Jeff, Howie and Scott. Jeff had seen him 11 times. Howie had been to 19 shows. And Scott was there for his 26th. They were so excited for me to have this experience. I watched and listened as the band played all 20 tracks in order from their famous double album The River. The fans— true Springsteen fans— sang every word to every song. They belted them out the way Bruce did, with passion and enthusiasm non-stop for 3.5 hours.
I loved every moment of it.
As I watched them perform again, this time on Saturday Night Live, I was brought back to the feeling I had at the concert. I have to admit, I even got a little choked up. To watch Bruce command the stage and deliver a stellar performance at age 71 is amazing. Next to him was his wife of 30 years, Patti Scialfa— still rocking her long red hair and leather pants— as well as his loyal friend Steven Van Zandt (also known for his role of Silvio on The Sopranos) who at age 70 still looks and sounds awesome. And then there’s the “young” guy playing the sax: Jake Clemons, age 33 and the nephew of the late Clarence Clemons. Clarence died in 2011 and left his beloved saxophone Excalibur to Jake. Jake replaced his uncle in the E Street Band, but claims, “Even though I’m playing his saxophone now, make no mistake, Clarence is still on that stage with us every night.”
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s history and continued success is admirable. Think about it… To have had the same job for 40+ years, to love it so much, to work with talented people decade after decade, to be friends with (or married to) your band mates, and to continue to get better with time— who doesn’t aspire to all of that?
I’ve always seen Bruce Springsteen as a superstar. A legend. A musical success. But it was not until his performance on SNL that I began to see him as a role model. I didn’t realize it until now, but I aspire to be like The Boss. I’m no rock star— and you certainly don’t want to hear me sing—but all the elements that are present on his stage are the things I strive for everyday: Creating a legacy. Showing up for every meeting with passion. Demonstrating a love for my craft. Acquiring and keeping loyal “fans” for decades. Having endurance and getting better with age. Being enthusiastic and passionate every time I show up. And having the privilege of working alongside people I love, which is so much more fun than being a solo artist. Yeah, I want to be like The Boss.
For me, this was a revelation. But for those of you life-long Springsteen fans, you probably already knew. After all, these are the ties that bind.
