Another one from the May 1974 show at the Harvard Square Theatre, Cambridge, MA
“I’ve seen the future of rock and roll and his name is Bruce Springsteen”
“Hey Bus Driver…”
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, May 1974, Harvard Square Theater, Cambridge, MA
This is actually a crop of another series from that night. I usually don’t shoot with cropping in mind (who does) but this really stood out and has been a favorite of some of the collectors who purchase prints through me.
“Bruce and Clarence, Harvard Square Theatre, Cambridge. MA 1974”
When we all learned of Clarence’s passing last year, a deep sadness enveloped all of us. It was such a personal loss. He was like a friend that we could never imagine being without. We all will remember where we were that evening. I was at a retirement dinner for a friend, standing in line, waiting to offer my congrats when the texts began to pour in. One message stood out among the others, “tears fall on E Street”
This image has always been one of my favorites. Bruce, with eyes closed, caught in the moment, letting the music work it’s magic inside of him. Clarence, the trusted partner, focused, doing his part, making his contribution, standing tall, standing strong, by his side, as he will be, always.
“There’s a little story I wanna tell you…” Bruce Springsteen, Harvard Square Theatre, Cambridge, May 1974
Bruce had a story for every song that night. And he wanted to tell you each one. You listened to every word. He engaged you. He pulled you in. And his hat was his tool. Like a drummer’s rim shot, he pointed it at you to mark an exclamation to a sentence or pulled it back to his head as he drew you in more to his tale. I don’t know which song this was, but in reviewing the set list i think it was ” I Sold My Heart to the Junkman”. A song, “So sad”, Bruce says, “That sometimes I have to leave the stage and cry…”
“Bruce Springsteen, Cambridge, MA 1974”
With the excitement and anticipation of the release of Wrecking Ball, I will post some of my favorite shots from Bruce’s historic “I’ve seen the future of Rock and Roll” show, May 1974, at the Harvard Square Theater in Cambridge, MA. When shooting film, with available light, sometimes mood must substitute for clarity. This is one of my favorites. I was standing on the edge of stage, just in the wings next to Danny Federici when Bruce turned in my direction.
“It’s midnight in Manhattan. This is no time to be cute”
When I was living in Boston in 1974 a friend brought home Bruce’s second album, “The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle”. He said he had heard this guy was pretty good and we should go see him ‘cause he was playing in a bar in Cambridge that week. Well, we did and I swear that night I heard rock n roll like I had never heard it before. I immediately called my promoter friend, who’s acts I photographed, and said you got to book this guy because he is incredible and if anything else I just got to hear him again. He borrowed my album and decided he should give him a try. Well to make a long story short, he went and saw Bruce at Charlie’s Place and asked if wanted to open for Bonnie Raitt at the Harvard Square Theater. To which Bruce simply replied, “Yeah, sure.”
Jon Landau was in the audience that night covering the show for the Phoenix and following the show wrote that famous line in his review where he said, “ I have seen the future of Rock n Roll and his name is Bruce Springsteen.” And dear friends, you know the rest is history.
