LeiterSpringsteen.jpg

It didn't make our top-11 list, but it was a lot of fun when Mets pitcher Al Leiter played the tambourine with Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa at the Oct. 3, 2003 show at Shea Stadium in Flushing, N.Y.

(Star-Ledger file photo)

It's quiet in the Bruce Springsteen world.

We have seen pictures of him recently at his daughter Jessica's equestrian shows in Europe, but there's no tour right now and most likely nothing on the horizon until 2016.

There is a rumor of a 30th-plus anniversary box set for "The River" coming out by the end of this year, but nothing solid to report. So what to blog about? Well ... while going through some YouTube clips, I found 11 enjoyable crowd-participation moments since 2009. These are spur-of-the-moment incidents when Bruce brings a fan or fans onstage, and it turns into one of those magical moments that goes viral among Springsteen fans.

The list:

1.

"No Surrender" with the Flores brothers on May 6, 2014 at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston.

According to the report of the show on Backstreets.com "Alex Flores, 28, held up a sign claiming that he 'Busted his lil' brother out of class to sing with the Boss' and asking, 'Can We Sing?' Bruce took the sign and posed, thinking about it for a while before bringing Alex and 16-year-old Tommy on stage with him to center mic. What followed was possibly the most joyous, exuberant version of 'No Surrender' ever, with the Flores brothers nailing every nuance of the song."

2.

"Ramrod" at the Feb. 5, 2014 show at the Perth Arena in Perth, Australia.

This kicks off the encores. Bruce says "one of Stevie's favorites" and recognizes a group of women known as "Stevie's Angels." He's brings them onstage to dance with Steve Van Zandt and to shake their booties.

3.

"All Shook Up" and "Blue Suede Shoes" with the Philly Elvis on Oct. 19, 2009 at the Wachovia Spectrum in Philadelphia.

The highlight of the movie "Springsteen and I" for me was this clip of Nick Ferraro (now known as the Philly Elvis) and his wife Dorothy talking about how Nick got onstage to perform "All Shook Up" and "Blue Suede Shoes" with Bruce and the E Street Band. Ferraro, an excellent Elvis impersonator, wore his Elvis costume to this show and was invited up to sing with Bruce. Ferraro injured his hamstring while doing a kick, but that didn't stop these magical few minutes.

The May 13, 2014 show at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. was "a serious night of audience participation" according to Bruce. There were three outstanding songs with fan interaction from this night to make our list:

4.

"Treat Her Right" on May 13, 2014 at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y.

Bruce pulls out a rare cover of Roy Head's 1965 "Treat Her Right." It's an outstanding version to begin with but cranks up to another level when a young woman, uninvited, joins him onstage to do what Backstreets described as a "sultry '60s go-go shimmy to Bruce's wry amusement."

5.

"Save the Last Dance for Me" on May 13, 2014 at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y.

Bruce reads a touching note from a fan first asking him for a selfie with him responding "NO!" to then asking him to dance with her mom for Mother's Day. He complies and brings the mother up to dance on the classic song by The Drifters.

6.

"Seaside Bar Song" on May 13, 2014 at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y.

Fun clip and one of my favorites. A sign request by three young sisters asks for this 1973 rarity and they want to dance. Bruce is stunned that the girls want to hear this song. "There's three little tweens or whatever they call them," he says. "This song was written in like 1973. It's 10 times older than you are!" He brings them up midway through the song. They're all wearing white "Born to Run" T-shirts and the rest is classic. The dancing with the sisters starts at the 4:35 mark:

7.

"Dancing in the Dark" at the June 30, 2013 Hard Rock Calling show at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London

This one is a family affair as Bruce brings his mother Adele up to dance. Then, with a suggestion from Steve Van Zandt, he brings his sister Pam to play the guitar before a huge festival crowd.

8.

"Dancing in the Dark" on July 24, 2013 at First Direct Arena in Leeds, England.

Bruce has been dancing with a fan during this song since 1984. At this show he brought up a woman to dance with trumpet player Curt Ramm. He then brings up an entire family to dance with him. So much fun as Mom, Dad, four sisters and their friend have the time of their lives.

9.

"Pay Me My Money Down" on May 7, 2013 at the HK Areena in Turku, Finland.

An always fun song was even more fun when Bruce brought every member of the band (except Max Weinberg, Roy Bittan and Everett Bradley) to the front lip of the stage in one big line. Next he brought up seven fans. Bruce took his position at the front and led everyone in a dance line, making an entire lap of the pit.

10.

"Waiting On a Sunny Day" from April 17, 2012 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland

I swore I would not put this song in this list. No way! But out of the dozens of performances with a child singer over the years, this one is really outstanding. This girl matches Bruce step-for-step and he brings her up to the main stage to even do a slide with him. So good, it has to be included.

11.

"Raise Your Hand" on March 28, 2012 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia

Okay, this one didn't take place on the stage, but off the stage, right in the middle of a section of seats off to the side. This happened about six rows in front of where I was sitting with my friend and NJ Advance Media reporter Susan K. Livio. I've seen a lot of cool things at Bruce shows over the years (my first one was in 1976) but this one may be the coolest of them all. Bruce jumped in the audience, went to the side of the stage (Clarence's side, it will always be Clarence's side) and went up about eight rows and proceeded down the aisle. He says "I need a seat" and sits down. He's given a beer by a fan and chugs it.

11a .

And a bonus clip! After this was put up on the internet, someone reminded me of this great moment at the April 8, 2014 show at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati. Bruce played "Growin' Up" for a sign request by a fan for his birthday. Toward the end of the song, Bruce invites the fan up to sing with him.

Ahh, such great memories. Can't wait for more. Let's hope we have more special times with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in 2016.