by Andrew Franklin, Philadelphia, PA

I knew Bruce Springsteen was coming to the Tower for a solo acoustic tour in support of his new Devils & Dust album. Of course, I was shut out from tickets. I caught wind that Bruce will hold tickets for the day of show to those dedicated fans who wait in line the day of to get in. So that day in mid-may 2005, I rode the train to 69th street and assumed my position in a line that was already about 40 or so people deep at about high noon outside the doors of the Tower Theater in Upper Darby.

I waited with everyone else in line for hours and hours in the early summer heat. Finally, around 6 or so in the evening, the line began to move. As I got closer and closer, my anticipation grew. When Bruce and Jon Landau drove by, I knew I was going to get in. Finally, I could see the front of the line where they were bringing the devoted fans. I was second in line when the attendant from tower came out….hoping to hear him say the next couple people in line could come out, my heart dropped when he announced “Thats it!”…there were no more tickets!! Over six hours waiting in line to see my rock hero and I wasnt getting in. He informed us that a few more ticketes might become available in another hour or so, ones reserved for people from the label, Bruce’s special guests, and that if we wanted to wait, we could, but there were no guarantees.

About an hour or so later, the Tower personnel returned and brought the guy in front of me in. I was anxious and nervous, but hopeful. A few minutes later, they returned, told me and the guy behind me to come in…. nearly 7 hours later and a day of ups and downs — I WAS IN!!!

On the walk to the door, he told us that we had the last two tickets in the entire venue. THANK GOD!! I ended up sitting about 5 rows back from Bruce at stage left. From that point on, Mr. Springsteen could have sang anything he wanted, but as usual he peformed a special show for his “hometown” Philly crowd, pulling out the world premiere of the unreleased late 70’s song “Iceman” and a stellar piano version of “Incident on 57th Street”….at the closing refrain of the song someone from the upper level yelled out….”THANK YOU!!” and I think that summed up the feelings of everyone at the show, especially those who waited in that line all day to see The Boss.