Springsteen lights up Jersey shore on 'Today'

ASBURY PARK, N.J. -- The sun was shining. The surfers were riding the waves. The beach and boardwalk were packed. Matt and Katie were in bare feet. The Boss was in his element. \nAnd his fans -- some 10,000 of them -- were in hog heaven. \nGlory days, indeed: Bruce Springsteen headlined a "Today" show broadcast Tuesday from the hard-luck Jersey shore city where he made his name, performing live on a program that showcased some of his home state's greatest hits. \nSpringsteen, 52, played an acoustic set in Convention Hall to warm up, then returned with his nine-member band for a miniconcert that was carried live on "Today." \nThe appearance coincided with the release of "The Rising," the new CD from Springsteen and his E Street Band. \nThrongs of die-hard Springsteen fans flocked to the boardwalk, some lining up more than a day early for the nationally televised three-hour show, which began at 7 a.m. \nAmong them was Gary Horst, 46, of Richmond, Va., who draped a fading blue 27-year-old "Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band" T-shirt over a boardwalk railing in hopes of catching "Today" cameras. \n"I drove up for the chance to see Bruce, in Asbury Park, on the 'Today' show. How much better can it get?"\nThe show, co-hosted by Katie Couric, Matt Lauer and weatherman Al Roker, included a taped interview with Springsteen and live segments on the beach that focused on surfing, sand-sculpting and cooking New Jersey-style. \nAtlantic City firefighter John Gowdy, a renowned sand sculptor, demonstrated his craft on a 12-foot tall sandcastle he had already erected on the beach, complete with "Today" logo. \nAuthor-chef Chris Styler of South Orange showed off New Jersey cuisine. His creations included grilled bluefish, grilled corn and Jersey tomato salad. \nThe show also spotlighted new efforts to breathe life into Asbury Park and its decrepit waterfront,which are the focus of a $1.2 billion redevelopment plan. \nAbout two dozen boats, surfers and personal watercraft users took in the scene from the ocean, about 100 yards from shore. \nThe beach crowds cheered and waved signs whenever a camera pointed in their direction. "They're a very easygoing crowd," said police Capt. Mark Kinmon. "We haven't had any troubles."\nThere was some good-natured mischief, though. \nCouric, reading her script to herself as she awaited the end of a commercial break, was hit on the back of the head with a beach ball thrown from the crowd. Hands on hips, she whirled around, glaring at the crowd in mock anger. \nWhile Couric, Lauer and Roker were on the beach, Springsteen was inside Convention Hall warming up. The 2,500-seat arena, which has no air conditioning, was sweltering hot, but fans gladly endured the discomfort to hear a solo Springsteen play acoustic versions of two oldies and a new song: "Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street," "For You" and "Waitin' on a Sunny Day." \nLater, with the band in tow and the cameras on, he played a 33-minute set that, except for "Glory Days," was all material from the new record. \nThe event and the thousands of fans who came for it transformed the Asbury Park waterfront into a bustling concert scene. \nA Howard Johnson's cafe on the boardwalk closed for eating, instead serving drinks through a window. "Too many people. We couldn't handle it," said bartender Tommy Anderson. \nThe cafe served 20,000 people -- total -- on Monday and Tuesday, he said.\n\n