I Recorded A Video of Bruce Springsteen Snubbing Chris Christie At A Springsteen Concert

First, yes, I'm aware a lot of people have stolen this video from me. But, what can you do? Anyway, here's the story.

On Thursday night, I saw Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band for the first time on this current tour, which was at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. I've seen him, I think, 34 times now live. (I've seen him perform at a couple of events that wouldn't be considered full concerts, so I don't count those. Also I went to his house once.) The show, as usual, was great. Springsteen is 76 years old and still delivers an intensity that performers much younger than him can't seem to replicate. His 2023 tour was good, but the theme was about his friends dying and Bruce seemed, for the first time ever, somewhat fragile. Plus, that was the tour he had health issues that caused the postponement of quite a few shows.

Springsteen's hatred of the current administration and its policies have rejuvenated him. He is a man on a mission and he looks and sounds better than he did in 2023.

Our seats were in the first row, right behind the stage. These are, secretly, always the best value at a Springsteen show. The seats are very close. And Bruce is, still, all over the stage, so this isn't a situation where you're watching a band from behind the whole time.

During the show, my friend Brandon leans over and tells me, "I do have one complaint about these seats. I can't stop looking at Chris Christie."

I look down and there's Chris Christie, standing and dancing, from my viewpoint, just to the left of the stage. Springsteen is not a fan of the former governor of New Jersey, even though Christie often tells anyone who will listen that they are cool now. Christie is a legit Springsteen fanatic. I truly don't know how he reconciles his love for a performer who, openly, makes it clear he does not like him. This is exactly why, when I was given the chance to interview Springsteen at his house, I initially said no. I get so much joy from a Springsteen show, if anything during the interview went wrong, this would destroy me. (I did eventually decide to go to Springsteen's house for the interview, which I wrote about here.)

Brandon was right. Chris Christie was distracting! There he was, dancing to "Murder Incorporated."

When Bruce was performing more politically charged songs, like "American Skin," Christie would be checking his phone. Bruce knew Chris Christie was there. During multiple songs, Bruce would be on the far end of the stage, right in front of Christie, never once acknowledging Christie's presence. I'd guess, at times, they were about 10 feet from each other. If I noticed Christie from where I was sitting, there's just no way Bruce didn't see him. Actually impossible.

I saw what would become the eventual Chris Christie snub coming from a mile away...

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