As I plow ahead through a difficult time, I find myself turning to some of my favorite music for a certain comfort. And I find that no one over the years has raised my spirits more than Bruce Springsteen. His albums are great, but his material really comes alive in concert. There are a bunch of great live shows available at Amazon, and of course the internet is a font of (ahem) unauthorized audience recordings. I wish (and given the world, the wish may come true some day) that Bruce would follow the lead of bands like The Who and Crowded House and release all his performances to an eager world, but barring that, we get to dream...
From the recent array of tour songs, it feels like Springsteen's mood mirrors mine... he's been mixing his great new material with a whole bunch of oldies, both from the catalog and very early tours. Looking back, enjoying what was, but still looking forward.
Crazed fans are pointing to the show below as one of the best of Springsteen's entire career, and I have to say, it's right up there. If you're a Springsteen fan, the set-list will give you chills. The resurrection of "Drive All Night" (one of my all time favorite Springsteen moody-building-ballads), incredibly rare covers like "Mountain Of Love" and "Then She Missed Me" (I don't think he's done either since 1975) and "Little Queenie"... St. Louis got mighty lucky last August.
Some are afraid the "closing night" quality of this tour suggests it could be the last for Springsteen and the E Street Band. I selfishly sure hope not. I have enjoyed his work for 35 years now and I'm fully prepared to enjoy another 35. I have no doubt he has more surprises up his endlessly talented sleeve...
Anyway, here's the set-list out of a fan's dreams...
August 23, 2008
St. Louis, Missouri
Scottrade Center
Then She Kissed Me [Tour Premiere—Crystals cover. First since 1975]
Radio Nowhere { lyrics }
Out In The Street { lyrics }
Adam Raised A Cain { lyrics }
Spirit In The Night { lyrics }
Rendezvous { lyrics }
For You { lyrics }
Mountain Of Love [Tour Premiere—Harold Dorman/Johnny Rivers cover. First since 1975]
Backstreets { lyrics }
Gypsy Biker { lyrics }
Because The Night { lyrics }
She's The One { lyrics }
Livin' In The Future { lyrics }
Cover Me { lyrics }
Mary's Place { lyrics }
Drive All Night { lyrics }
The Rising { lyrics }
Last To Die { lyrics }
Long Walk Home { lyrics }
Badlands { lyrics }
Girls In Their Summer Clothes { lyrics }
Jungleland { lyrics }
Detroit Medley
Born To Run { lyrics }
Dancing In The Dark { lyrics }
Rosalita { lyrics }
American Land { lyrics }
Thunder Road { lyrics }
Little Queenie [Tour Premiere—Chuck Berry cover. Ultra rare]
Twist And Shout
