Review: Springsteen, friends rock fantastic for a cause

[Viking12]

and for a fantastic cause !!!

DAMN!!! What a show! Wish I could've been there :(

Young and Springsteen roaring through "All Along the Watchtower" together. Fogerty raging "Fortunate Son" with Springsteen & the E Street Band. Springsteen finding "Man on the Moon" with R.E.M. Michael Stipe, R.E.M. lead singer, rallying with Springsteen for "Because the Night." Start preparing the monument.

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His opening salvo with the E Street Band of "Born in the U.S.A.,"Badlands" and "No Surrender" was as transcendently ferocious as the Boss has ever been. There was fire in his belly, fire in his voice and fire in his message as he sang about believing in love, faith and hope. And, oh yes, he made some public service announcements, as he has long called them in his concerts, about registering to vote and casting ballots for John Kerry.

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The final portion of Springsteen's 2¼ hours onstage was as revved up as the opening segment: "Born to Run" with R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and Mike Mills sitting in; Fogerty's pumped-up "Proud Mary" with the Boss and band; Young's uncompromisingly liberating "Rockin' in the Free World," featuring seven guitarists and his own roof-rattling-turned-scorching solos, ended with a feedback-drenched "Taps"; followed by the exuberant all-star rendition of the late 7/8'70s new-wave anthem "(What's So Funny) 'Bout Peace Love Understanding" and the rallying-cry finale, "People Have the Power."

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During its 65 minutes, R.E.M. mixed its hits with politically charged tunes, especially from "Around the Sun," which was released Tuesday. "We're R.E.M., and we approve of this concert," Stipe said after the band's opening number. Later, he explained that he was born on a military base and that his dad, 70, was a career military man. He added that he and his father are voting for Kerry. But Stipe urged all the audience to vote -- regardless for whom.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/1374/5018315.html