July 16, 2003

THANKS, BOSS: Bruce Springsteen and

THANKS, BOSS: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played an absolutely amazing concert last night at Giants Stadium to kick off their 2003 stadium tour, the highlight of which was a rare performance of the group's 30-year-old first hit, 1973's "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)."
I should've known from the New York Post's Tuesday preview, which predicted "musical surprises," that Rosalita would be making an appearance. But it was by all means the only highlight, as Bruce mixed old and new material in a 27-song, more than 3-hour set before 50,000 fans.
Unlike Bob Dylan, whose voice is now so shot that it's frankly sad to listen to him these days, Bruce remains in top form, able to jump and dance all around stage for hours without so much as a shortness of breath, all the more remarkable considering that he's 53 years old.
Bruce, near the end of the show, even made a poignant if wishy-washy political speech, mentioning that he appreciates that people with varying political views are able to appreciate his music, and opining that for politicians to lie, especially about matters of war, is not a "Republican or Democratic issue." He also expressed support for the Food Bank of New Jersey, as well as for the revitilization of his longtime stomping ground that gave him the title of his debut album- Asbury Park, NJ.

The Setlist:
-Born in the USA
-The Rising
-Lonesome Day
-Promised Land
-My Love Will Not Let You Down
-Darkness on the Edge of Town
-Empty Sky
-You're Missing
-Waiting on a Sunny Day
-Sherry Darling
-Worlds Apart
-Badlands
-Out on the Street
-Mary's Place (w/ band intros)
-The River
-Into the Fire
-No Surrender
-Thunder Road

First Encore:
-Bobby Jean
-Darlington County
-Pink Cadillac (inst. intro)
-Born to Run
-Seven Nights to Rock

Second Encore:
-My City of Ruins
-Land of Hopes and Dreams
-Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
-Dancing in the Dark

As Cusack said in "High Fidelity," thanks, Boss, for one of the best concerts I've ever attended.

CORRECTION: I had said earlier that this week represents Springsteen's first foray into Giants Stadium; he had in fact previously performed five shows there in 1985.

Posted by Stephen Silver at July 16, 2003 05:09 AM
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