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Bruce Springsteen isn’t just a great rock star – he is also a great songwriter. Known affectionately as ‘The Boss’, the New Jersey-born musician makes compassionate, galvanising rock music that captures fundamental truths about American working-class life. At the same time, his socially conscious anthems hold such global appeal that he is now one of the highest-grossing touring acts ever. Whether you’re a longtime stan or a more recent convert, seeing him live is a bucket list experience you won’t want to miss out on.
What to expect
Everything about a Springsteen concert is epic. Typically, The Boss cranks out bangers for up to three hours, joined onstage by more than a dozen musicians. On his latest tour, he’s flanked as ever by the legendary E Street Band, whose longtime members include guitarist Steven Van Zandt, drummer Max Weinberg and pianist/organist Roy ‘The Professor’ Bittan. Look out, too, for singer-songwriter Patti Scialfa, Springsteen’s wife, who may well join him for a duet or two.
Bruce is known for being able to conjure up intimacy in even the stateliest of venues: no small feat when you’re playing to 60,000-odd fans a night. Though his setlist may vary from show to show, every Springsteen gig contains moments of joy, catharsis, reflection, melancholy and above all togetherness. Just remember to stick around for the second encore because Bruce never gives you just one.
His best moments
Rocking the Wall, 1988
Around 16 months before the Berlin Wall came down, Springsteen played a landmark gig in East Berlin. Broadcast on TV and attended by 300,000 in person, it featured an impassioned plea for freedom. “I’m not here for or against any government. I’ve come to play rock ‘n’ roll for you in the hope that one day all the barriers will be torn down,” he told the crowd. It’s been hailed as one of the most important rock concerts ever because of the way it helped to promote anti-wall sentiment among East Berlin’s disenfranchised youth.
Glastonbury, 2009
Springsteen’s Saturday night headline set was his first ever appearance at the UK’s top festival. He more than rose to the occasion, delivering a near-three-hour masterclass packed with deep cuts and fan favourites. He even gave an impromptu performance of ‘Because The Night’ – the 1978 Patti Smith hit he co-wrote – after spotting it on a fan’s banner.
Springsteen on Broadway, 2017-2018, 2021
Springsteen reshaped his legacy in real time at this enormously successful New York concert residency. Performing solo, he interspersed stripped-down versions of his most iconic and autobiographical songs with poignant spoken word recollections from his life and career. The result wasn’t just a Tony Award-winning hot ticket, but also a reminder that our man can make any stage his own.
His biggest bangers
‘Born To Run’, 1975
The Boss’s signature song is also the one he has played live more than any other. Powered by a full-throttle rock arrangement complete with an ace Clarence Clemons sax solo, it’s an anthemic celebration of freedom and living the American dream. Fittingly enough, it became Springsteen’s first Billboard Hot 100 hit, setting his own rock star dream in motion.
‘Dancing In The Dark’, 1984
Remarkably, Springsteen’s biggest ever hit was written overnight and somewhat under duress. After producer Jon Landau told him his upcoming album needed a surefire winner, Bruce poured his creative frustration into this synth-rock stomper with a storming chorus. The hints of weariness in his lyrics (“This gun’s for hire”) only add to its universal appeal.
‘Born In The U.S.A.’, 1984
This swaggering slab of heartland rock is a protest song in disguise. Far from being a tub-thumping patriotic anthem, it’s actually an anti-war lament told from the viewpoint of a disillusioned Vietnam veteran. When Springsteen sings “nowhere to run, ain’t got nowhere to go,” it’s a subtly self-referential framing of the protagonist’s shattered dreams.
Setlist study
When Springsteen’s current tour began last year, he surprised fans by sticking for the most part to a fixed nightly setlist. However, he’s been mixing things up more at his 2024 shows, so you can expect a few surprises alongside his seasoned stadium anthems. The Boss has 21 studio albums to draw from, including 2022’s soulful covers collection ‘Only The Strong Survive’, so his well is never going to run dry.
Where to see him next
JULY 2024
25, 27 – Wembley Stadium, London
Last summer, Springsteen was ranked as the second most in-demand artist in the UK on viagogo after Beyoncé, for his iconic two dates at BST Festival, Hyde Park. 2024 looks no different as Springsteen kicked off his tour’s European leg in Cardiff earlier this month – and the response was rapturous. In July, he’ll be playing his first dates at London’s Wembley Stadium in eight years.
Tickets for all three gigs are in hot demand, but the Wembley Stadium performances are Bruce’s most in-demand shows in Europe this year.. According to viagogo data, Fans from 49 countries have bought tickets for the Wembley shows, proving that The Boss is worth travelling for.
The post 100 artists to see before you die: Bruce Springsteen appeared first on NME.
