REVIEW: Bruce Springsteen, O2 Arena, London, Wednesday 19th December
Last night a bit of Americana descended on London’s East End in the shape of Bruce Springsteen, who back together again with the E-Street Band after a five-year break, took to the stage to what to the uninitiated sounds like a chorus of boos! Of cause it’s not boos but the sound of 20,00 people all screaming the name ‘Bruuuuuuuce’. This is after all a Bruce Springsteen audience and you’d be hard pushed to find a more partisan crowd for any artist recording at this time.
With the E-Street behind him, including such talents as Nils Lofgren, Steve Van Zandt and crowd-favourite Clarence Clemons, Springsteen tore through track after track, barely stopping long enough to exchange guitars between tracks with a busy roadie and for the next two and a half hours Springsteen delved through a a back catalogue spanning some 35 years interspersing crowd favourites like ‘Because the Night’ and ‘Racing in the Street’ with many tracks taken from his latest album ‘Magic’. In fact, it was five tracks in before he really stopped to address the crowd and introduce the title track to his latest album, ‘Magic’, with a not so subtle swipe at George Bush and his administration explaining the song was ‘…not about magic but tricks’.
These new tracks such as set opener ‘Radio Nowhere’ and ‘Gypsy Biker’ seemed to be made for the arenas and stadiums that this tour will take in over the coming year. Each greeted as warmly as an old friend and sat comfortably with many of the older crowd pleasers.
By the time the set-closing ‘Badlands’ faded away and the band took a bow it was ‘job done’ and they left the arena crowd baying as one for their heroes to return. Which of cause they promptly did, to play a further six tracks (a total of 25 across the evening).
The encore including such crowd-pleasers as ‘Jungleland’, ‘Born to Run’ and ‘Dancing in the Dark’ had everyone to a man on their feet, singing every word, and more than a few dancing like a drunk uncle at a wedding!
The evening came to a seasonal finale with the track ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ and as the house lights were raised to many it felt like Christmas had come early this year and as they drifted into the night and the frost descended they began counting down the days until the ‘Magic’ tour returns to these shores next summer.
Set List
Radio Nowhere
No Surrender
Night
Lonesome Day
Gypsy Biker
Magic
Reason To Believe
Because The Night
She’s The One
Livin’ In The Future
The Promised Land
Waitin’ On A Sunny Day
Working On The Highway
Racing In The Street
Devil’s Arcade
The Rising
Last To Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands
Girls In Their Summer Clothes
Jungleland
Born To Run
Dancing In The Dark
American Land
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Normski, Live Music Correspondent, ShowbizSpy.com.
By Normski, Dec 20 2007 © Copyright 2008 - Showbiz Spy
Category Music Reviews
Having been a huge Bruce fan for around 10 years I was eagerly anticipating my first chance to see the E street band in the flesh. I have all of his live DVD’s and they are terrific but they cannot prepare you for the onsluaght of his live shows. From the first electrifying riff of “Radio Nowhere” to the last notes of the ultimate singalong “Santa Claus is coming to Town” I was transfixed in a state of disbelief as to how good the band are. The crowd around me were going completely crazy but I was spellbound by the magic of it all, like I new I was seeing something really ledgendary and I just wanted to soak it all up.
My favourites were “Jungleland”
“Racing in the Street” and the guitar solo from Nils Lofgren on “Because the Night” was quite simply unbelievable.
Last night I saw a guild of master craftsmen at work and no sadley anything else on offer will seem very second rate by comparison
Comment December 20, 2007
I have been following Bruce Springsteen since 1984 and have seen him live on over 10 occasions and when I believe the performance cannot get any better I am always proved wrong.
The expectation before the band appeared on stage was tangible, the tension almost unbearable but with the arrival of the band followed by the exortation “C’mon, Steve!” the O2 Arena was rocking.
The onstage chemistry between all band members was visible. The strange thing is that the fans do not need Bruce and his band to prove anything to them but the band themselves play as if they are there to perform the best show of their lives for their audience.
Highlights - too many but one must mention the searing guitar solo of Nils Lofgren during Because the Night with Bruce looking on in admiration.
Roy Bittan’s piano playing reached new levels of supremacy and Soozie Tyrell’s violin playing makes you wonder if earlier albums could be have been so much better (is such a thing possible?) had she been with the band?
Clarence Clemons’ saxaphone playing, the thumping drums of Max Weinberg, the intensity of Steve van Zandt, the evocative keyboard playing of Danny Federici and the understated but strong backbone of the bass guitar of Gary Tallent was as tight as any band I have seen.
To see them live is a pleasure and one of those human experiences that leaves you wanting more. And guess what - tickets have been purchased for both May dates in London. Can’t wait !!!
Comment December 20, 2007
I was one of the ardent Bruce fans mentioned above. This concert was every bit as stated and even better. This was an early Christmas present - literally - from my daughter and her husband, and my 9th Bruce Concert - spanning Canada, Uk and Paris (The Rising) - and each one was amazing, but this one has to be the absolute best, it was truly a night to remember, at 58 Bruce is stunning, and unbelievable and is simply the BEST around, no question.
Comment December 21, 2007
Total agreement with all the above. Last time I saw Bruce was at Earls Court in 1999 and I was totally amazed after that gig. This too must be one of the great classics.
Especially impressed by the guitar-violin interplay on ‘Magic’ and the welcome inclusion of ‘Racing in the Streets’. Although I love ‘Jungleland’ was also hoping for ‘Thunder Road; but guess you can’t have everything. The new tracks are instant classics especially ‘Gypsy Biker’ and ‘Last to die’ but loved every moment and also now have a ticket for the Emirates stadium in May.
Comment December 21, 2007
I, like my sister, grew up on Bruce (something I will thank my parents eternally for) and on Wednesday night my Dad & I were treated to one of the nights of our lives. The venue is breathtaking and doubtless added to the ‘magic’ of the night… but Bruce and the Band were just awesome. The set was stunning and as a previous post-er has commented, it ebbed & flowed & blended the old and new seamlessly. At times I became transfixed by the wall of pure, beautiful noise coming at me, wave after wave, not wanting to miss a single nanosecond. Playing like their lives depended on it, there are too many highlights to single out (though for me, Racing in the Street was heavenly). I don’t think my Dad & I will ever forget that night (not withstanding the near deathly 3 hour drive home in thick freezing fog). Mind you, we were playing the Live 75-85 album all the way back and there was definitely plenty of spirit in the night, ensuring we got back safely. The hairs still stand proud on my neck every time my thoughts wander to Wednesday night…. and long may that feeling continue. Thanks Bruce, see you in the summer x.
Comment December 21, 2007
Ever since Nils Lofgren was added to the E Street Band his contributions have been lost amongst a great overall band. With one solo during Because The Night the whole crowd could see what a star he is. I urge anybody to see his solo shows whenever he returns to the UK.
Comment December 22, 2007