I in no way can be at all objective.

I loved Bruce Springsteen before I went to his “Magic” tour stop at “The X” in St. Paul Last night.

After seeing him and the E Street Band in concert last night, I am in complete and utter worship.

And if Bruce and his merry band of music makers are any indication, they have nearly religious powers. While they can’t heal the lame and make the blind see, they can (and did) make the fat lady next to me boogey her bodacious backside off nearly non-stop and the old lady on the other side of me kick it old school like a teenager.

Such is the musically healing touch of The Boss and his Apostles.

Starting over an hour later than than the posted 7:30 p.m. start time, the now anxious crowd was greeted from the first song with Bruce and the Band taking no prisoners. They were like hockey players on the Minnesota Wild’s home floor, knowing that this was THEIR night to kick major musical ass. They cross checked the audience into the boards of near frenzy at times.

They started big and stayed big for over two and half hours straight, with songs and ovations for those songs fading into other songs and ovations.

When you listen to Springsteen and his mates on your iPod, you know they are tremendous musicians. To see them in person, however, when they decide to get out their axes and hew some major woodpiles, is, well, wow.

I probably said “wow” 15,000 times last night. Lick after lick by Nils Lofgren, Clarence Clemons, Steven Van Zandt, Soozie Tyrell, and The Boss—often played with the abandon of a speeding car on the edge of its tires in a tight curve—just on the verge of going out of control but still under control—you are overwhelmed by their sheer musical virtuosity. These folks—and throw in percussionist Max Weinberg and every other member of the band—are at the height of their musical powers and their musical professions.

On this night, whether it was a new soon-to-be classic like “Radio Nowhere” or a rock classic like “Thunder Road,” these musical warriors came to tear up the Xcel Energy Center without fear, without regret, like there was no tomorrow. To use another sports analogy, they left everything they had on the floor.

As a fan you can’t ask for anything more—total and complete commitment to their art and and their audience, a group of consumate professionals having a blast—all the while spreading their “Magic” across the Twin Cities.

The “Magic” tour might not cause actual magic to occur, but it is as close as we mere mortals can create.

I have worshipped at the Holy House of Bruce and I have been redeemed.

Other reviews:

• Minneapolis Star Tribune: Review: More than 4 months separates Boss’ 2 shows
  

“There was plenty of “Magic,” but those tunes are familiar now. The oldies were heavy on crowd favorites that were heard last time, including “She’s the One” and “Badlands.” “Backstreets” and a requested “Jungleland” were Sunday treats. The music was a balance of pensive and populist, a discussion of dreams and dashed hopes but with a dose of Springsteenian optimism.”

• St. Paul Pioneer Press: Springsteen revs up and reconnects

“At 58, Bruce Springsteen is in the midst of a productive streak that sees the New Jersey native as active as he’s been since the earliest days of his career.

To wit, his fiery Sunday night gig with the E Street Band at the Xcel Energy Center marked his seventh concert in the Twin Cities since 2002, a time in which he’s also issued four studio albums. It’s exceedingly rare to see superstars of Springsteen’s ilk, and age, working so hard.”