It’s been six years since Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band launched into a significant tour.
Judging by the primary present Wednesday evening in Tampa, Florida, you’d by no means realize it. The Boss and his band served discover they’re again.
At just below three hours, it wasn’t fairly one of many marathon performances the 73-year-old Springsteen is greatest recognized for. But kicking off with “No Surrender” and ending with a solo acoustic “I’ll See You In My Dreams,” Springsteen was in positive voice, and his huge band matched his vitality.
There have been 19 musicians on the Amalie Arena stage at varied factors through the present, together with the core of Springsteen’s spouse, singer Patti Scialfa, bandana-wearing guitarist Stevie Van Zandt, fellow guitarist Nils Lofgren, drummer Max Weinberg, bassist Garry Tallent and keyboardist Roy Bittan.
Missing in fact was the unique “Big Man,” sax participant Clarence Clemons, who died in 2011. But his nephew Jake Clemons did not miss a beat and ripped off some beautiful solos all through the evening. He was backed by a brass part that rounded out the large sound.
The 28 songs included favorites like “Born To Run,” “Glory Days,” “Rosalita,” “Promised Land” and “Backstreets.” Yet six songs got here from Springsteen’s 2020 album “Letter To You,” and left unplayed no less than for this efficiency was the traditional “Thunder Road.”
There was just one track from “The River,” which his 2017 tour performed in its entirety. That was the exuberant “Out In The Street.” And the closing acoustic track “Dreams” was a staple of his “Springsteen On Broadway” performances.
Springsteen’s devoted followers ate all of it up, with 20,000 folks within the enviornment standing for nearly your complete present. For them, a efficiency by the Boss is a form of non secular expertise that merely have to be sought out.
“This is a ray of light. This is something we’ve been waiting for,” stated Billy Himmelrich, who came visiting from Delray Beach.
His spouse, Shelly, took it a step additional: “I listen to his music all the time. In a way, he’s my spiritual leader.”
Springsteen did not have a complete lot to say to his followers, ripping as a substitute via track after track with little banter. But he did acknowledge his age — and theirs, too.
“At 15, it’s all tomorrows. And at 73, it’s a whole lot of yesterdays,” Springsteen stated. “That’s why you’ve got to make the most of right now.”
And Springsteen delivered. His vitality was as excessive as ever, venturing into the gang and even conducting the brass part at one level. He shredded quite a few guitar solos, and nearly each track appeared epic, like a few dozen encores strung collectively.
It’s clear he and the band simply wish to play. Fifty years after his first two albums have been launched — and earlier than “Born To Run” made him a famous person — Springsteen could not soar as excessive, however when he raises his arms, everybody else should as effectively.
Springsteen would not should “Prove It All Night,” however that is what he does. He’s offered round 140 million albums, gained 20 Grammys, an Oscar and a Tony award. Few artists can match these accomplishments.
And now it is on to the remainder of the 31-date U.S. tour, which ends with a homecoming April 14 in New Jersey. From there, it is off to Europe, beginning with an April 28 present in Barcelona, Spain.
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