Bruce Springsteen in Denver?

In this Post:

• The Rising
• E Street Band
• Barack Obama
• Bruce Springsteen

Emboldened by the fact that the rumors about Ted Kennedy appearing in Denver proved correct, Loose Cannon is going out on a limb this morning: I have a feeling that Bruce Springsteen will make a surprise appearance here at Invesco Field on Thursday night on Barack Obama’s big night.

I wrote that paragraph above last night, based on…well a gut feeling—and planned to post about it on this blog today. Well, I still am posting, but now I have company: This morning, the Rocky Mountain News, a good local daily newspaper here in the Mile High City, is reporting that its sources say Bruce and rocker Bon Jovi are both planning surprise Thursday gigs at Invesco to celebrate the Democratic nominee. The Washington Post says no way that’s happening. So let’s weigh the evidence—scant as it is. 

First, a caveat: Loose Cannon doesn’t know from Bon Jovi, but I’m a pretty strong fan of Springsteen's music, and while not a bona fide Bruceologist, I follow what “the Boss” and his band are up to. So, I’m possibly not being objective here. And yes, a good journalist is supposed to be dispassionate, and to stick to facts, not feelings. But stay with me a minute. What do we know about Springsteen and Obama?

Let’s start with the most recent bit of tea leaf reading, er, evidence: When Joe Biden was trotted out on Saturday in Springfield, Illinois, the music that Camp Obama ginned up for the Delaware senator's appearance was The Rising, by Springsteen and his E Street band. Not dispositive in itself, no, but maybe Biden was secretly humming Bruce’s classic hit Born in the U.S.A. when he slipped up and called Obama “Barack America.”

In a more serious vein, Springsteen, who has long been a liberal Democrat, worked hard for John Kerry four years ago, speaking on his behalf and playing music at Kerry rallies. This time, in 2008, Bruce felt so strongly in favor of Obama that he formally endorsed him in the primaries, issuing a statement that simultaneously revealed a powerful  and idealistic affinity for Obama—as well as revulsion at some of the tactics of the Clinton campaign.

Want something more concrete? Well, since mid-August, Springsteen and the E Street Band have been playing concerts every other day or so. They played in Richmond, Virginia. on Monday August 18. They played in Hershey, Pennsylvania. the night after that; Nashville, Tennessee on August 21, St. Louis on the 23^rd  and Kansas City the following night the 24th as the convention was opening in Denver.

An old acquaintance from my days as a college student in Colorado went backstage at one of the Missouri concerts, and asked Bruce and the E Streeters straight up about coming to the convention. They insisted that Denver wasn’t happening. But Loose Cannon notes that the band is not scheduled to play again until Sunday night August 30 in Milwaukee. Plenty of time for a side trip to the city rising out of the plains at the foot of the Rocky Mountains and the coronation of a young Democrat who is beloved by Bruce and his gang. Or, perhaps, all wishful thinking on my part. But, as the man says in his songs, it ain't no sin to be glad you’re alive….

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