Of all the gigs I’ve attended in my lifetime (and that’s quite a few) I’ve never looked forward to one with such anticipation as this, my first ever Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band gig. The bands second night at BST Hyde Park.
And boy was that anticipation satisfied.
Bruce and his long time E Street band mates could have done a week or more here to a sell out 65,000 crowd every time and that’s no mean feat in the UK. You could understand that statement if I was talking about the USA where his latest (last?) tour covers the entire Country several times over in many cases.
He is the quintessential American rock n’ roll idol, and has been for decades. His style never changes, his band never changes, his total commitment and enthusiasm never changes and his socially aware, observant and on point lyrics never change. His music inspires people, it’s uplifting, particularly live, but it’s there as a story and a backdrop to the world we live in. It’s always relevant.
And that’s just what the 65,000 people in Hyde Park were ready to listen to. The Boss.
His band walk on stage followed behind by the man himself, ready as always to deliver up three hours of non stop music. His chant, to be heard throughout the gig of “One, two, three, four” sets us off on a ride of euphoria for 28 songs no less. There are nine albums covered here with six songs from Born In The USA and three covers which fit in so well with the running order of songs. Yeah, OK Because The Night was written for Patti Smith’s band and what a solo from Nils Lofgren, no wonder it features at every show.
The energy is full on from the get go, like jumping into an open top 60’s Mustang for a 200 mile road trip and the throttle down all the way. With a total of 48 songs to choose from on this European leg of the tour, expect some diversions en route!! Each nights set slightly differing from the last. With 14 European countries covered and many multi-night stands along the way there was always going to be plenty of variety.
But back in London for the second time, the band are already stirring things up with ‘My Love Will Not Let You Down’, a move away from the core set and then straight in to ‘Death To My Hometown’. Such infectious energy was setting the standard for the whole show and we were absolutely ready to join in.
Our Mustang is twisting and turning through the evening until we are given a bit of a break with the wonderful ‘Nightshift’ and the following nine songs which are at the core of every one of the E Street Band’s European shows. This gives Bruce time to interact with the crowd, posing for selfies, picking out messages from the crowd and generally giving the lucky few a proper view of the man himself. It’s wonderful that even at a show as big as this, there is time for intimacy. Even Nils Lofgren comes down to join the fun.
You’d think that two hours in, energy would flag and the show would start winding up but no, this is Springsteen, he’s still got a total of twelve tracks to choose from for the encore alone. Tonight we are treated to seven of those songs and when you don’t even miss ‘Born In The USA’ until you realise after the show, you know what type of quality back catalogue he has to choose from.
After a near three hour show, the band receive the ecstatic applause of the crowd and disappear to leave Bruce to finish solo with the wonderful ‘I’ll See You In My Dreams’.
This was an utter masterclass from beginning to end from a band at the top of their game. It was fifty years ago, this year, that Springsteen released his debut album. For the sheer entertainment, energy, enthusiasm, desire, love and quality of songs, there is no better show. I won’t see another like it again, and if you missed out, get yourself to the States for the next leg of dates or nor will you!!
Watch the Receap Video of the UK tour below:
