Raise Your Hand: Adventures of an American Springsteen Fan

by Caryn Rose

18 days, five countries, and seven concerts: this was how long-time Springsteen chronicler and veteran Backstreets contributor Caryn Rose spent her summer vacation, running from Paris to Prague to Vienna to London to Dublin, following Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band on tour. Were European Springsteen fans that different from their Stateside counterparts? Were the shows overseas truly better than the ones in the States? Part travelogue and part rock and roll love letter, Rose takes you with her every step of the way: queuing in the rain, sleeping on the sidewalk, and watching Paul Mc Cartney from the front row in London.

Genres: Nonfiction

138 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2012

About the author

Caryn Rose is a longtime music journalist whose work has appeared in NPR, Pitchfork, MTV News, Salon, Billboard, the Village Voice, Vulture, and the Guardian. Her essay on Maybelle Carter was included in Woman Walk the Line.

Reviews

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a Springsteen fan, mostly because I didn't grow up listening to him. But Caryn Rose has made me reconsider. First thing I did after I finished reading the book was go on youtube and look up song after song. I'm also not a concert-goer, preferring solitude so the music can engulf me. But she made me want to go queue up right now! It was fun following Glen and Caryn on their European trip and it was even more fun enjoying the concerts with them.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caryn Rose takes the reader on a wild journey across Europe to see 7 Bruce Springsteen shows in 5 countries in the summer of 2012. Along the way, she meets other die-hard fans who are willing to queue for days in a somewhat complex process of General Admission. The most devoted will be rewarded with first entry onto the field, and the best chance at a spot in the first few rows. Caryn analyzes the setlists of each show and ponders the differences between European and American Springsteen fans. Her writing is warm, funny, and poignant. 5/5 stars for this quick and well-written read.

[Dave Hirsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is for a very specific audience. I enjoyed it as an American Springsteen fan living in Europe. Can't say I agree with all of her conclusions about European fans, but it was a fun read.

[Kevin Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

You guys, this book reeeally bummed me out.

Raise Your Hand is written by what sounds like a fairly cranky lady about her and her "traveling partner" (cause rock and roll isn't about marriage or commitment, man) going to Europe to confirm that she was right all along about European fans being different, but NOT better, than American fans. There was some nice moments of color in describing moments of the European shows, but most of the prose, which was sooo basic it was like reading an 11th grader's college admission essay, was mired by a self-righteousness that unfortunately cast Rose in a negative light and made the whole adventure...depressing. Like depressing the way you get depressed when the 102 year old Mick Jagger grinds against Fergie to prove he's still got (SPOILER ALERT: he don't got it)

So if you wanna really bum yourself out and read a tale of middle-aged people desperately clinging onto the last remaining shards of their youth (highlights include a group of out-of-shape fogies "sprinting" to their rail spots in Hyde Park), then check it out! The concept of the book is not a bad idea, but the book would've been better serviced by a...writer who could...write sentences and paragraphs well, not a jaded blogger with an axe to grind(?) making essentially a glorified tumblr of show reports. As it stands, it's a damning piece of evidence against the majority of Springsteen's U.S. fan base, the cynical baby boomers living their last remaining years on earth not cultivating a life with their families or a community at home but living vicariously through a band. But I guess it's all worth it to be front row? #sad

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of me wonders whether a non-Springsteen fan would enjoy Raise Your Hand. When the author mentions a specific song from The Boss’ oeuvre, being familiar with a fair share of his songs from the breadth of his career rather than just the hits is going to influence how well you “get” what is going on. When Rose says, “I never sing Born In The USA back home because I don’t want anyone to think I am one of those people who doesn’t understand what it’s really about, but it feels different doing it in Europe,” if Born In The USA is all you know and you’re “one of those people,” you won’t understand.

But my contrarian side argues that Raise Your Hand has the same qualities as all good travel memoirs. The author’s impressions of experiences in a place the reader might have never been. That the foreign experience is not only a different place, but also the world of music and that of a diehard Springsteen fan could as easily add to the reader’s experience.

And then you’ve got all the other qualities that make or break a travel memoir for me. Things like what the author learned about the world and themselves through the experience. Sharing vicariously in the experience, both magical moments and logistical difficulties. For me, Raise Your Hand is also an inspiration to keep working toward actually doing a few music-themed travel adventures I’ve considered for myself.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Teemu Toropainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm European Springsteen fan, but could still easily relate to this book and agree with most of the stuff she says in it (I've seen some shows in the US too so I know what she's talking about when she's comparing the audiences). I even saw some of the same shows she did during her tour of Europe. It's good and fast read, but since the subject matter (and possible reading audience) is very limited I can't give a higher rating. I can only recommend this book to hardcore Springsteen fans and for those who want to understand what it's like to follow your musical hero around the globe and line up for concerts for days. Been there, done that. It is worth it but maybe not for everyone.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written short book which I could really relate to even though I'm a European fan and not an American one.

[Alta Cloete · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic read for a Springsteen fan who has also attended some shows in Europe during the Wrecking Ball tour.