Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – Mt Smart Stadium February 25, 2017

 

Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band have been on the road for over 40 years. Their concerts are legendary, both for their length and the amount of energy expended on stage. For those who may feel that they missed out on the act in their prime (Bruce is 67, several members have passed away), I’ve got news for you. After witnessing last night’s tour-ending show at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium, I can say without reservation that Bruce and the band are in their prime right now.

It was 40 years ago this month when I first saw Springsteen live. Going into the venue back in 1977, I was a sceptic, but after just a few moments of seeing and hearing what he and the band were capable on stage, I became a believer. Since then, I’ve seen them a couple more times in the 1980s, but this was the first time in about 30 years.

Of course I was expecting a professional, high-energy show, but with Bruce pushing 70 and most of the others likewise, I figured things would be a bit toned-down.

I was wrong.

But it wasn’t just the energy level that makes Springsteen such a captivating performer; it’s the depth of his songwriting and the quality of his vocal performance that makes him even better than he was 30 years ago.

So, here he is on stage at Mt Smart, wearing a classic red flannel work shirt, ready to get down to business. Its 7:25 and Bruce kicks things off with a guitar riff, when the rest of the band joins in, Springsteen’s guitar riff morphs into a Rolling Stones swagger and bam!, we’re off and running with Darlington County, from Born In The USA, a song about driving on the 4^th of July, working on the county line and a pretty girl…in other words, classic Springsteen.

The first part of the show had a rock & roll party atmosphere to it with crowd favourites like Glory Days, Prove It All Night, Out In The Street and Hungry Heart.

Bruce and Little Steven mugged for the video cameras during Glory Days and traded blistering guitar solos during Prove It All Night. Johnny 99 showed of Roy Bittan’s piano chops and Hungry Heart had every one on their feet singing along.

For any other performer, that would have been a show right there, but these guys were just getting warmed up.

After Hungry Heart, Bruce shifted gears with My City Of Ruins. As he explained, it was originally written about his adopted hometown of Asbury Park, New Jersey, but over the years its meaning has grown. What was really notable was Springsteen’s intense, soulful vocal. I swear if I closed my eyes, I could have been listening to Sam Cooke…it was that good.

After Wrecking Ball, came another highlight, the desolate wailing harmonica that signals the beginning of The River, possibly my favourite Springsteen song. I must have heard the tune hundreds of times but this performance on this night was as moving and as affecting as the first time I heard it, 35 years ago.

Considering the number of times that Springsteen as sung the song, it is truly incredible that he is still able to dig into that emotional well and come up with such a passionate reading.

Then there were songs like American Skin (41 Shots) that show off Bruce’s social conscience…another example of how he is at his peak now.

An intense Candy’s Room segued into Because The Night, bridged by Max Weinberg’s stunning drumming. And Because The Night was another highlight, again thanks to Bruce’s incredible vocal along with Nils Lofgren’s twirling, dizzying guitar solo.

By now we were back to celebratory mode and the regular set closed out with Rosalita in all its glory.

Of course there was more.

After a brief word endorsing Auckland City Mission we were transported to the Backstreets and another mighty guitar solo from Springsteen himself. Then, like a flurry of knockout punches…Born To Run, Dancing In The Dark and Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out…incredible!

By now the end was near, although after almost three hours Bruce looked to have barely broken a sweat.

The Isley Brothers’ old chestnut Shout kept the party going. And for anyone who wonders how and why Springsteen continues to put on these marathon displays…he answered that question in one sentence…”I’m just a prisoner of rock and roll!” he shouted with glee, “I can’t stop!”.

Indeed he couldn’t.

After Bobby Jean, Bruce and the band left the stage, but Bruce returned, alone, for one more song, a stunning acoustic version of Thunder Road that summed up everything that had gone on before.

Yes, Bruce and the E Street Band are at the peak of their powers. How long they are able to continue is anyone’s guess, but I’m guessing we haven’t seen the last of them.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by David Watson:

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band set list:

1. Darlington County
2. Working On A Highway
3. Glory Days
4. Johnny 99
5. Prove It All Night
6. My Love Will Not Let You Down
7. Out In The Street
8. Hungry Heart
9. My City Of Ruins
10. Wrecking Ball
11. The River
12. Youngstown
13. American Skin (41 Shots)
14. The Promised Land
15. Candy’s Room
16. Because The Night
17. The Rising
18. Badlands
19. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
20. Backstreets
21. Born To Run
22. Dancing In The Dark
23. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
24. Shout
25. Bobby Jean
26. Thunder Road