Greg Kot’s online review of Bruce Springsteen’s concert generated these e-mail responses:
OAK PARK — You chose to focus on the material and presentation as the primary reason [the seats weren’t filled], which is strange, considering the irony in charging $100 to hear a bunch of tunes made popular by folk-hero Pete Seeger performed in a less-than-intimate setting! I can almost hear John Henry’s hammer banging against the walls of his coffin as he rolls away.
— Bob Walicki
EVERGREEN PARK — Like you, I was wondering if the show would be worth the price, but I understand that Bruce has his expenses (larger band, more roadies, etc.) and he works hard for his money, so I don’t begrudge him. People pay almost as much to take their families to sporting events. And to me, this show was worth the money, first of all because he was doing something so different that he isn’t likely to repeat, so I felt privileged to be there. I totally agree with you; it was such a wonderful show, and I loved hearing songs I’ve listened to and sung since I was a child reworked so they were just as fresh and relevant today as they ever were.
And seeing his obvious joy in performing was worth the price of admission on its own.
— Lynn Burgess
CHICAGO — I am a huge Bruce Springsteen fan and love the new album. I was really annoyed, however, that he chose the Tinley Park venue (the worst place in Chicago to see a show — and so far from the city) and then had the nerve to charge so much for the tickets.
With apologies to Blind Alfred Reed:
So the Boss decides he’s going to honor folk
But the ticket price he sets is just a joke
He must think we’re easy marks
‘Cause he’s playin’ in Tinley Park
Tell me how can a poor fan
stand such times and live?
— Kathy Willhoite
CHICAGO — The Seeger Sessions tunes are such “popular music” in the traditional sense — it’s a real shame that the concert wasn’t priced for the masses to afford. I know there’s a big band to pay, but I bet if they had offered even $50 lawn seats he would have pulled a significantly bigger audience.
— Sarah Yatzeck
