From the very first song of Sunday’s three hour and 22-minute, 33-song concert in Berlin, Bruce seemed to make a point of constructing a setlist that specifically, albeit subtly commented upon the tragic history and hopeful future of this extraordinary city. One of the MANY benefits of stalking following Bruce around Europe is realizing how much the different cultures of every city and country he plays changes how the same songs resonate on any given night, regardless of whether or not Bruce consciously intends to elicit a multiplicity of reactions.[1] And in Berlin, it felt as if almost every song – specifically in the first, less predictable half of the setlist – spoke to the past and present of this historically-rich metropolis, and the exuberant crowd’s passionate response was hopefully a sign that they understood the message.

Continue reading “BERLIN: You Inherit the Sins, You Inherit the Rock and Roll Flames” →

As scheduled, a few minutes after 7:30pm, Bruce and the Band casually took the stage that had been set up specifically for them at this quasi-festival within the Malieveld, which is basically a giant field in the middle of The Hague in Holland. No music accompanied their frills-less entrance, yet instead of the silence leading to another solo performance by Bruce at the piano, he and the Band simply launched into the now-standard European opening three-pack of “Badlands,” “No Surrender,” and “My Love Will Not Let You Down.” Matching his new vacation tan, Bruce was as laid-back as laid-back can be, at first giving off the impression that this would basically be a warmup show with a predictable, uncreative setlist to get him and the Band back in gear after their week-long break. But if this was indeed their initial plan, three hours and twenty-four minutes and 32 songs later, the 67,500 fans packing the Malieveld to the brim had elevated the night from being just another stop on the tour to one of the best shows so far, with Bruce and the rejuvenated Band not only feeding off their energy but giving them a special setlist to boot.

Continue reading “THE HAGUE: We’re in Love with a Jersey Boy” →

A shorter version of this piece was originally published on Backstreets.com, which you can read here.

Five tour premieres? In Coventry?! Where the hell IS Coventry?!

Bruce and the Band clearly knew, and they showed up big time at the relatively small Ricoh Arena[1] for yet another three-hour and ten-minute, 33-song spectacular. Though that many tour premieres would lead some to assume the setlist was one of the absolute best of the tour, unfortunately the fact that they were all clumped on either end of the show prevented it from scaling those lofty heights, especially since the stretch in between almost derailed the whole evening thanks to a series of brutally predictable setlist decisions. The night was ultimately a tale of two great, expertly paced halves, with a subpar deviation separating the two.

Continue reading “COVENTRY: Saving My Love for This Travelin’ Band” →

 

After the high that was Bruce and the Band’s concerts in Dublin – most probably the consensus picks as the best shows of the entire tour, America included – Glasgow could have gone in one of two directions:

Continue reading “GLASGOW: A ‘River’ That Don’t Know Where It’s Flowing” →

This piece was written for and originally published within the space constraints of Backstreets.com.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band knew exactly where they were from the get-go at their first of six stops in the United Kingdom. Walking on stage – without Patti – inside Etihad Stadium shortly before 7pm, Bruce immediately addressed the slight yet persistent rain that plagued the crowd for most of the day and night: “Hello rainy Manchester…again!” referencing the downpour that accompanied their last show here. Yet Bruce followed up that joke by promising yet again the poor weather would only bolster their performance: “We wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Continue reading “MANCHESTER: Brucey Claus Came to Manchester Town” →

Madrid was a tale told between two tour premieres.

Being the last show in Spain – a country that Bruce loves almost as much as the country loves him – many were expecting a special night, though few could have predicted how that specialness would manifest itself in the setlist. Instead of a plethora of tour premieres like in Portugal, or dipping deep into the well that is The River album,[1] or playing it fast and loose with sign requests, Bruce had a very specific story to tell and message to communicate to his adoring Spanish fans and Basque fans and Catalonian fans and fans from all around the world who had made the trip to Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Simply put, the show was an ode to the power of communal experience in overcoming obstacles that life may present to individuals, a concept that Bruce understands is poignantly conveyed through the Spanish concert experience – as he emotionally demonstrated through the show’s carefully constructed setlist, particularly the two tour premieres of the night.

Continue reading “MADRID: Great Companions for This Part of the Ride” →

An edited version of this piece originally appeared on Backstreets.com, which you can read here.

And THAT’s why you never underestimate a Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band concert.

Many people had pegged their headlining gig at Rock in Rio Lisboa as a lesser stop on the European itinerary because festivals often entail Bruce-illiterate crowds, poor sound, shorter shows, and greatest hits-filled setlists. Though some of these expectations ultimately proved true, no one could have predicted that the Portuguese crowd stretching as far as the eye could see in Parque da Bela Vista would be treated to five – count them, FIVE – tour premieres. Another happy surprise: Bruce fans across the world were also able to enjoy the concert thanks to a top-notch online live stream.

Continue reading “LISBON: Streaming in the U.S.A.” →

Click here for a more conventional, specific recap of the Donostia concert.

At every stadium concert in Europe, two different flags flank each side of the stage high above the crowd. The stage left one is always the American flag, representing where Bruce and the Band were born. The stage right flag, however, changes based on the country in which they’re playing. Here’s the flag that was flown inside of Donostia’s Estadio de Anoeta on Tuesday night:

Continue reading “DONOSTIA Analysis: It’s Basque Time” →

Amidst the beaches and Basques of Donostia – commonly referred to as San Sebastián by those unfamiliar with the difference between the Spanish and the Basques[1] – my favorite treasure found within this small yet beautiful city were unequivocally pinchos. Lining the narrow streets of this glorified village-by-the-sea are quaint little restaurants whose bars are literally overflowing with tiny delicacies. Though most associate this region with Michelin star joints – locals claim they have more of those than any other condensed area in the world – such upscale fare could not satiate this down-and-dirty Bruce fan like the overwhelming number of delectable pinchos beckoning me from the street around every corner.

Continue reading “DONOSTIA Recap: The Pinchos Land” →

Leading up to The River Tour 2016 launching its excursion across Europe in the city of Gaudi, paella, and ceaselessly exuberant Catalonian fans, the concert felt less like merely the first stop of the European leg and more akin to the first show of a new tour. Without the full album, in sequence performance providing the predictable framework for the setlist, those inside Barcelona’s legendary and massive Camp Nou on Saturday night – not to mention everyone else following along at home – were promised a show full of the cherished feeling that has long epitomized a Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band spectacular: spontaneity.

Continue reading “BARCELONA = Bosselona” →