When I was your age, I got my first guitar....
February 18, 2017 12:01 PM   Subscribe

The Boss (slyt) I realized it wasn’t about how well you played it, it was how good you looked doing it.

Bruce Springsteen is currently on tour and played a show Thursday night in the “Land Down Under.” In between songs he pulled fan, Nathan Testa, on stage with him to play his 1973 hit “Growing Up”. Springsteen announced to the crowd, “You know it all on guitar? You do? Come on up,” before Testa hops on stage to shake Springsteen’s hand. He’s handed an acoustic guitar and he wastes no time getting into it.
Before the song ends Springsteen gives him a few tips on how to look like a rockstar.
posted by shockingbluamp (32 comments total) 28 users marked this as a favorite
 
If you like Springsteen, take an hour or so and listen to his interview on WTF With Marc Maron. One of the better Maron interviews from the past year.
posted by hippybear at 12:11 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]


I'm a big fan of this genre: Star Pulls Fan Onto Stage and Things Go Much Better than Anticipated. Part of what makes this a success (in addition in Nathan's talent and stage presence) is Bruce's generosity. Thanks for sharing.
posted by TheShadowKnows at 12:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]


The only way this could be improved is by Springsteen pulling Courteney Cox onstage, who then pulls the fan onstage.
posted by mushhushshu at 12:27 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]


> I'm a big fan of this genre: Star Pulls Fan Onto Stage and Things Go Much Better than Anticipated.

This will always be that genre's masterpiece.

"Can anybody play the drums? I mean somebody good."
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]


I dunno, man, this one ain't no slouch.
posted by juv3nal at 12:58 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]


Part of what makes this a success (in addition in Nathan's talent and stage presence) is Bruce's generosity.

His sheer, palpable delight in making someone happy is just amazing.

I'm not saying that celebrities should run for President. But if they must...
posted by howfar at 1:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]


Thanks. I needed that today. I loved how much Bruce was enjoying it.
posted by octothorpe at 1:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]


"Can anybody play the drums? I mean somebody good."

I've had a draft post sitting around for a while about the kids Frank Zappa talks about in this clip (if you've ever heard stories about Zappa's auditions, you'll know how crazy that story is). Maybe time to finish that post.
posted by effbot at 1:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]


I'm not saying that celebrities should run for President. But if they must...

Love the idea—I've been a Bruce fan for 40+ years—what he lacks in relevant experience he makes up for in character. Indulged the entertaining fantasy for about a minute before it hit me that he'll be 71 in 2020. Older than Trump, the oldest person ever to be sworn into the office. And this fun post has become another reminder that autumn is closing in fast on my generation.
posted by she's not there at 2:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]


Hey I'm from Brisbane. I didn't go but I've been to that venue many times.

I must admit that it's always been a fantasy of mine to jump up on stage and show off my skills.

Having said that, as a guitar tutor, I have to say that that is terrible advice. The kids that want to play guitar to pose and look cool are the drop outs.

They are cool poses, but competency comes first. I teach my students to watch the metronome and not their hands while they do the exercises I give them. After a while the poses actually come naturally and feel good!

Making a big power stance and going *BRRRROOONK* because your fingering is off really does not make you look cool. You look like a poser.
posted by adept256 at 2:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]


I smiled all the way through this. Especially the selfie at the end.
posted by MexicanYenta at 2:30 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]


Not the first time this has happened. To this kid.
posted by Miss Cellania at 2:31 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]


This may be the high point of Nathan Testa's life, but if you have to top at 15, it doesn't get much toppier than this.
posted by Kattullus at 2:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]


I loved how Bruce threw in his own version of the infamous "I have seen the future of rock and roll, and it's name is..." quote, and added Nathan's name. And I'm not sure if this was in any way intentional, but- when Jake Clemons comes over and leans on Bruce's shoulder, it was just like Bruce and Clarence on the Born to Run cover.

The joy in those ~6 minutes was fantastic to see. Thank you for posting!
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 2:52 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]


"Making a big power stance and going *BRRRROOONK* because your fingering is off really does not make you look cool. You look like a poser."

well...it worked for Bruce anyway
posted by shockingbluamp at 2:53 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]


Having said that, as a guitar tutor, I have to say that that is terrible advice. The kids that want to play guitar to pose and look cool are the drop outs.

I think he was sort of kidding when he said that....
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]


Not the first time this has happened. To this kid.
posted by Miss Cellania at 5:31 PM on February 18 [1 favorite +] [!]


Wait, how the hell is that the second time in four years Springsteen pulled the same kid up on stage to perform with him?
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 3:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]


Nathan Testa Nope! Chuck Testa.
posted by emelenjr at 3:56 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]


Wait, how the hell is that the second time in four years Springsteen pulled the same kid up on stage to perform with him

Getting people up on stage is pretty standard for Springsteen and he tours a lot. I do also wonder whether there is a bit of behind the scenes organisation to make these things happen. Just go and talk to the people at the front of the queue and see if any want to get on stage, and maybe ask if they can play any Springsteen songs? Seems like a good way to increase the chances of this sort of thing happening while preserving most of the basic spontaneity of it. There's a huge amount of work, thought and planning that goes into making Springsteen shows the way they are.
posted by howfar at 4:19 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]


I'm assuming there is some behind the scenes orchestrating going on when he pulls people onto the stage during a performance. Imagine how embarrassing it could be for all concerned if the little girl didn't actually know the words to "Waiting on a Sunny Day" or his dance partner couldn't keep a beat or was too nervous to move.
posted by she's not there at 5:46 PM on February 18, 2017


What are the odds?
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 6:40 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]


I dunno, man, this one ain't no slouch.


I love how it looks like Dave Grohl keeps trying to throw the guy cues for when he's supposed to come in, and the dude is like, "C'mon- this is Edmonton. Of course I know the lyrics to Tom Sawyer."
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:38 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]


the dude is like, "C'mon- this is Edmonton. Of course I know the lyrics to Tom Sawyer."

He's even going falsetto in the right places. I'm impressed. Also, Taylor Hawkins is always seems to be having the greatest day of his life when he gets to play Rush.
posted by Ber at 2:22 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]


I'd vote for a Springsteen ticket...
posted by saulgoodman at 3:59 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]


... with Steve Van Zandt as his consigliere/veep.
posted by Paul Slade at 6:16 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]


Just play a Stratocaster and it's almost impossible to look uncool. That Bruce does it with a Tele is the mark of a true professional.

/plays both
posted by spitbull at 8:05 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]


He's not called the boss for nothing. That man is a national treasure.
posted by james33 at 8:36 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]


As a performer who pulls people onstage and likes to imagine that it's relatively random, I have, many many times, pulled the same people up onstage a second time, sometimes years after the first time. It's happened a lot to me. At least 10 times in over 290 shows.
I agree that there's often some behind the scenes negotiating and stuff. But I'm also here to say that it's far less rare than I would have imagined had I not seen it myself.
posted by asavage at 11:00 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]


Imagine how embarrassing it could be for all concerned if the little girl didn't actually know the words to "Waiting on a Sunny Day" or his dance partner couldn't keep a beat or was too nervous to move.

You mean like this?

(The original song has a break in the middle with Merchant and Michael Stipe doing a duet. Obviously, it does not happen here).
posted by JoeZydeco at 12:36 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]


Oh, man, that 10,000 Maniacs video was so painful to watch—I couldn't see it through to the end. I hope that poor fan has recovered from the experience.
posted by she's not there at 4:38 PM on February 19, 2017


awwww- it's dusty in here....
posted by LuckyMonkey21 at 4:39 PM on February 19, 2017


I guess this means there'll be a sitcom about five friends starring Nathan Testa in about 10 years. I kid! I kid because I love.

I was never a Bruce head, but I've warmed to him much more over the past few years. You don't have to be a superfan to see that he's just the coolest guy ever. Like, he surely doesn't have enough time in his day to hang out with all the awesome people who want to hang out with him.

And not to turn this into a Bruce thread, but I love that covers he plays. One of my favorite things he's done, on his 2014 Australian tour he opened his shows with a song from a band from the city they were playing in.

Easybeats - Friday On My Mind (Sydney)
INXS - Don't Change (Sydney)
AC/DC - Highway to Hell (Adelaide)
Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive (Brisbane)

And now I just want to post cool Brooose vids.
posted by rhizome at 8:05 PM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]


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