The Boss Knows No Age Gaps

Sure, the crowd was verging on middle age and beyond. But all the teeny-boppers in tube tops, platform shoes and body glitter seemed like they’d be more at home watching pop sensation Britney Spears than Bruce Springsteen, whose concert Sunday night marked the opening of Staples Center. Springsteen’s show, however, was a family affair that drew together teens, twentysomethings, their parents and grandparents. He’s not just the Boss; he’s the Boss of All Ages.

“We grew up on Springsteen,” said Jennifer Meehan, 15, showing off one of her mother’s prized Springsteen albums--not music, but interviews with the singer-songwriter--in the parking lot before the show.

“That is a special record album from 1987,” explained her sister, Amber Ziegler, 20, of Aliso Viejo. “And you thought we only wore vinyl!”

The album was just one item in a trunkload of Bruce memorabilia--photos, key chains, ticket stubs from concerts past--that Pam Meehan brought out for the occasion. “I’ve been to every single show since 1980,” gushed the 38-year-old mother of the two girls. “And my husband, he’s got on a Bruce T-shirt from 1978.”

Nearby, concert-goers from Trabuco Canyon camped out on a blanket on the asphalt waiting for the doors to open.

“We represent three generations of Springsteen fans,” said Maria Batalis, 43.

“I’ve liked Bruce since the early ‘70s,” added her mother, Angela Batalis, 61.

“I used to hate his music when I was little, I think because my mom liked it,” admitted Stephanie Papadakis, 17. “But now I know it’s the only good music.”

Other groups opened the back doors of their SUVs for mellow tailgate parties with micro-brewskis and gourmet sandwiches. What would you expect from a crowd that featured at least one T-shirt with the message “Don’t Drink and Trade”? The men dressed down in Hawaiian shirts with jeans or khakis with that relaxed fit so favored by men of a certain age and girth.

It was a well-behaved crowd, almost too well-behaved. Of course, waiting an hour for the doors to open could kill the most excited buzz.

“Think of all the drinks they could be selling right now,” said an irritated voice in the crowd.

The National League playoff game provided a diversion for some who watched on hand-held televisions or by peering through windows at giant-screen TVs in the ground-level Fox Sports Sky Box restaurant.

Eighth-grader Josh Straigier from Covina had never seen a live concert. With his spiky hair and skater sneakers, the 13-year-old counts alternative bands Limp Bizkit, Blink 182 and Korn as favorites. But his dad, Scott Straigier, 38, wanted to make sure Josh’s first concert was a winner.

Throwing an arm around his son, Straigier said, “It’s all downhill from here.”

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For additional stories about Bruce Springsteen’s concert and Staples Center, please see Calendar and Sports.