The Boss’ return to Australian shores for the second time in less than a year was still as anticipated as the first. The touring machine that is Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band lived up to every ticketholders’ expectations and then some, playing a lengthy three hour set making sure we all left without want for much more. Making an effort to keep their setlist fresh, this time around playing in its entirety their 1984 hit album Born In The USA from start to finish.
Opening up the night’s proceedings in a tipping of his hat to Aussie rock, Springsteen took to the stage with Eddie Vedder in tow, who joined him for an impressive rendition of AC/DC’s Highway to Hell. Vedder stayed on to lend his vocals to Darkness On The Edge Of Town, in what set precedent to a night of festive, high energy and often off-the-cuff spontaneity.
Springsteen’s eagerness to please the crowd sees him often handpick song requests from punters waving around signs at his shows, with this one being no exception as he instructed the E Street Band to take on what he deemed to be one of his more obscure songs, Jole Blon.
Springsteen and band carved through the full Born in the USA album, which of course was not short of hits. This brought out lesser performed but thoroughly welcomed versions of I’m on Fire and I’m Going Down to a crowd who, through this mid-set gift, knew what was coming next , yet still lapped it up with an enthusiasm reserved for few bands on the planet, only reinforcing the relevance and longevity of Springsteen’s songwriting on each generation that discovers him.
The Ghost of Tom Joad was a highlight, Tom Morrello completely at home on trademark solos and a guest vocal in the song, and now fitting into the fold beside a returned Steve Van Zandt , made this his moment and the song soared.
Shackled and Drawn, The Rising and Land of Hope and Dreams followed, in a set where songs from Springsteen’s more recent albums were displayed as loudly and proudly as any of his earlier classics, and it is this fact which gives an E Street gig the feeling of being completely in the moment and of the times, and anything but a nostalgia act.
Born To Run, Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) and Tenth Avenue Freeze Out took flight, as the band brought the encore home with high energy classics, the latter paying homage to the late Clarence Clemons and giving nephew Jake his moment to shine on sax, who despite having huge shoes to fill, did an amazing job.
With another tip of the hat, this time to Australia’s Johnny O’keefe, the band brought the party home with Shout!, and just when you thought there could be nothing left to give, Bruce walked out one last time on his own to treat the crowd to a tender and beautiful acoustic version of Thunder Road under a full moon.
Springsteen is as culturally relevant as ever and this is significant in a time where perhaps few of the younger generation could dream of stepping to the mantle with this kind of vigour, and tonight we lap it up, because its rare and more essential than ever.
BY CHIPS LAFFERTY
Photos by Charles Newbury
Loved: The crowd sing-along to Born To Run.
Hated: That the house lights were put on numerous times throughout the evening for no apparent reason.
Drank: Plastic cups full of beer.
