All this before the nine-piece band took the stage promptly at 7.30pm. Tribute acts always make me apprehensive; until the first guitar lick, the first vocal, it's impossible to know if these guys are going to salute the chosen superstar, or end up slapping him mediocrely in the face.
As Born in the USA filled the theatre I was suddenly and immediately at ease with a sound mix picking up all nine musicians, and a vocalist in Dean Shaw who was so Bruce Springsteen that if you closed your eyes, as we did often, you'd think you were listening to the man himself.
The talent on stage was such that it transcended mimicking the E Street Band, instead enthusing their own personality, wit and musical prowess to make everything they played seem like their own.
As Shaw opened up on Dancing in the Dark I nudged Catheryn to go up and have her Courteney Cox moment dancing with the Boss, but instead we got the lead singer's daughter Olivia joining dad on stage, further personalising the number, and the evening.
There were so many highlights, My Hometown was Palmyised and we lapped it up, and I was up and singing along: "cause tramps like us – baby we were born to run" on the awesome final number.
A joyous, in places breathtaking, experience made possible by eight men and one woman on stage, and their first-class technical crew. A show I'm certain Bruce Springsteen himself was sitting at home in Rumson, New Jersey, enjoying via the live stream.
Palmy is always the lucky city, this time because we got to see these guys live. With the event lasting just under a generous three hours I end with the words of Julia Roberts: I loved it so much I nearly peed my pants.
