The Charlotte show is a story best told in pictures.

I did interview lots of fans, but I gotta say – mostly it was kind of the same old story.  I don’t think I’m a very creative interviewer.

Taking photos is much more fun.

First I was in Fitzgerald’s, a bar down the street from the arena. There was a pre-show gathering there, the bar was blasting Bruce’s music and fans took over the joint.

So, we will start with John. I met him at the bar and he sold me my ticket to Raleigh. He’s from Queens and he’s been following Bruce part-time since 1979 and full-time since 2000. Charlotte was his 80^th show.

These three are friends of John’s from shows. Jennifer, Don and Joe. Shit. I’m not sure I got them in the right order. It might be Jennifer, Joe and Don. (Sorry, you guys!) They’ve seen Bruce a lot. Jennifer over 80 shows, Joe and Don around 120 shows each.

They’re from Jersey. Can you tell?

Why do they like him? “He tells the truth.”

I went to the bar to order a burger (sustenance for the show) and started talking to these two.

Are they the cutest couple, or what? Tom and Theresa Welty from Mound View, MN. All the way to Charlotte for a show.

Hey, Tom and Theresa – did you guys make it in the pit??

Then there was this tennis team:

These guys were really cool and I enjoyed meeting them, although I didn’t know what to ask them. The whole interview things is challenging.

Anyway, they are, from the right: Rik (Netherlands), Matt (England), Henric (Sweden), Stanley (England), and Jack (Australia). They are so cute. Oh my gosh!

It’s their first time seeing Bruce. “Do you know his music?” Not really. But they were excited, and Rik’s PARENTS were sending him to the show for his birthday.

So, guys, how was it?

*************

Then it was time to go stand in the rain in the wristband line. Yeah. Really. Pouring rain. Falling off umbrellas onto the people around the umbrella. A personal waterfall for everyone.

But it was fun. I met Lisa and her family. They were behind me. I love them. I mean it. After 20 minutes, me and Lisa are like BEST FRIENDS! (Right, Lisa? You have to comment here so everyone knows I’m not making this shit up).

Gorgeous family. I gotta say. (Apparently Tom Morello thought so also. But I won’t go into that story.)

Are you still with me?

Lisa met David in Spain. Lisa saw Bruce in Spain. They all love Bruce. We all got in the pit. We were screaming and yelling – yahoo!!!! And then more standing in the rain, waiting to be let inside so we could go into the pit.

So, I talked to this guy. I’m sorry, guy, I didn’t write down your name, and I have CRS. (Do you know what that is? CRS. You know. Can’t Remember Shit) If you find this blog and see yourself here, will you please comment and tell me your name and I’ll edit this post.

We had fun (well, I had fun —I am not sure he was enjoying my company as much as I enjoyed his, but he endured me). We talked about shows. Shows Shows Shows. Dead Shows, Jerry Shows, Bruce Shows. blah blah blah. Then the line moved and we went inside and I never saw him again.

Okay, people. Are you still reading and looking at pictures of people you don’t know? YAY.

It’s fun for me, anyway.

So, this is Ryan. He’s Bruce’s #1 Fan.

I really liked Ryan. He was open and sweet. He is 24 years old. His parents turned him onto Bruce when he was like 8 or 9 and he’s “far surpassed them” in his Bruce Fan-ness. He’s an accountant. Go, Ryan!!

Right before the show started, I took Mitch’s picture. Mitch sounds and looks like someone I would have gone to college with at Stony Brook University on Long Island. He’s not, but shit, he should have been.

And then there was the show. Bruce serenaded us —

pole danced —

And then we went home.

On the way, I took some pictures of my new friends from Spain and San Francisco.

We wandered out in a group and they stopped to look at the Bruce paraphernalia table, because Marta and Magela were going home the next day.

While I was standing there, this sweet family asked me to take their photo with their phone. After I did that, I asked if I could take their photo with MY phone, and put them on my blog? They were rather startled and a bit more impressed than perhaps the situation merited. I love that they said yes, and one of the women held up my “followingbruce” card that I gave them.

Come ON! How can you not love these people. The Martin Family!

Thank you all, fans and friends, for getting excited when I told you about my blog, for willingly letting me take your picture and for the fun of talking Bruce.

Please let me know you stopped by – like this post, leave a comment, email me through the contact form. If you like what you read, please tweet about it, share it on FB, generally send people this way. The more it grows, the more it will grow.

Tomorrow I’m hoping to post a gallery of my somewhat fuzzy but still pretty cool shots of the shows, including some video clips.

Thanks for stopping by. See you in line!