Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - I have seen rock and roll's future: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1578

Episode Date: November 10, 2024

In this 1578th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike monologues about The Boss. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, The Advantaged Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada, The Yes We Are Open podcast from Moneris and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at [e-mail]

I need to talk about the boss. hours away from home. We apologize. This is a fighting prayer for my country. I can smell the same deep cream of summer Above me the same night sky was gone In the distance I could see the town where I was born It's gonna be a long walk home Oh I looked into their faces and they were all rank strangers to me Cause that's what's all I want now Is to die and tell it all That I was a shabby boy With a sign that just said go Well it's gonna be a long long long Oh Three days later, I can't stop thinking about it.

I've clearly got to get this off my chest, and it just so happens I've got a pretty big megaphone here. I mean, what was the point of working my ass off for the past 12 plus years building my own radio station from scratch if I can't record the odd monologue or two? Let's start at the beginning. I think my first Bruce Springsteen experience was a compilation album I owned as a kid that included Hungry Heart. I liked Hungry Heart just fine, but then, in 1984, when I was a 10 year old all about Top 40 Radio, shout out to 680 CFTR, Born in the USA came out. Born in the USA had so many radio hits. I had to own the cassette and I loved it. I'd hear these songs all the time. Born in the USA, Cover Me, Working on the Highway, I'm on Fire, I'm Going Down, Glory

Days, My Home Town, and of course, his biggest hit, at least of songs he performed, Dancing in the Dark. I loved that album. Wait up for me, gonna be a long walk home Hey pretty darling don't Wait up for me, gonna be a long walk home It's gonna be a long walk home It's gonna be a long walk home Hey pretty darling don't

Wait up for me, gonna be a long walk home I remember being disappointed in the follow-up, Tunnel of Love, because it didn't sound like Born in the USA. What can I say? I was young. Then, my Bruce Springsteen memories are primarily of soundtrack Bruce. Streets of Philadelphia, Dead Man Walking, I still adore those songs. Heck, they might be my two favorite Bruce Springsteen songs of all time. Sure, big jams like Ban to Run were in the atmosphere, but I didn't start to appreciate 70s Bruce until I started kicking out the jams with returning guests on Toronto Mic'd.

The recurring joke was that every 60-something sports media personality would kick out a 70s Springsteen song. So much 70s Bruce, from Thunder Road to Badlands to Rosalita, I was getting an education about what I'd missed. Fast forward to 2023, and a very generous and supportive listener named Steve gifted me four tickets to see Bruce Springsteen in the E Street band at Scotiabank Arena. The concert was scheduled for November 2023 and I was keen to see what all the hype was about. I've been hearing about Bruce Springsteen and his long energetic performances for the past 40 years. That

concert was postponed a year and this past Wednesday I saw Bruce Springsteen I was hypnotized. The musicianship, the passion, the energy, the passion, the energy, the energy, the energy, the energy, the energy, the energy, the energy, the energy, the energy, the energy, the energy, the energy, the energy, the energy, the energy, the energy The musicianship, the passion, the energy. And this was one night after Donald Trump's victory, so I wasn't sure what mood Bruce would be in. The election was only referenced once, off the top of the show, and then he seemed to start the healing process through a cathartic explosion of rock and roll. It was mind-blowing, and at three hours it didn't seem long enough. I finally saw what all the hype was about, and it somehow exceeded my lofty expectations.

Yesterday I went for a 7km walk with my oldest and I was telling him about the concert. I described it as akin to being converted in a giant cathedral and told him I wouldn't hesitate to spend hundreds of dollars to share that experience with him one day. I am 50 years old and consider myself a high-energy guy but at 75 years old Bruce Springsteen put me to shame what an inspiration I have seen rock and roll's future and its name is Bruce Springsteen Meet me in a land of oil and grain Well, this grave, how he saves and serves Disgrace, how he proves his own worth Disgrace, how he calls and counters

Disgrace, how he's lost all his souls I said, Disgrace No one is warning Disgrace Faith will be rewarded Disgrace Warning! Please stay! Faith will be my warning! Please stay! I still will stand!

Please stay! There's a freedom front! Oh, well now, train carries snakes and servers This train carries losers and murderers This train carries horse and campers This train is lost souls, I said destroy. Here is broken hearted, he's a train. Here is your sweet souls, departed. Here is the walls, the king's wall, he's a train. Home of art, I said now he's a day, dreams will not be awarded

This day, this day will be rewarded This day, this day will still be said This day, this day will still be said I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this, but I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try.

I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try. Yeah! I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this, but I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try.

I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm going to try. I'm always praying I'm on this train I'm on this train

I'm on this train I'm on this train Oh All you gotta do is... Get on board! Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,