Every Little Thing He Does Is Magic

In introducing the title track from "Magic" at the very much sold out Verizon Center last night, Bruce Springsteen said the tune is about how "the truth gets twisted into lies, and lies get twisted into the truth." In other words: A perfect song for Washington! "Hey," he said, "this is where it all happens."

Springsteen, of course, knows from magic, having spent much of the last 30-plus years bewitching legions of music fans - particularly those of his own generation - with rich, youthful narratives, working-class anthems and trenchant political poetry. That's especially true live, where his work is the stuff of legend.

He and the E Street Band may be well past the days of the marathon concerts that sometimes pushed up against the four-hour mark, but Springsteen remains one of the most potent live performers in popular music - largely because he's among the most committed practitioners of the form, draining all of his creative energy every time he's on stage. He also maintains an unwavering faith in the power of rock 'n' roll; in turn, his own power is undeniable.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/postrock/20...mp;hpid=artslot