Finally, after two rainy and cold nights, Stockholm's weather showed that it can be sunny, if not so warm, in the first week in June. Stockholms Stadion was sold out for the third straight show, and it seemed that half the audience had crammed itself down in front of the stage. Almost exactly 45 minutes after the scheduled start time, Nils Lofgrin came out playing the Swedish folk song, "Idas Sommarvisa" and after the band filed out, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band began the night's action with "No Surrender", and ended with a sloppy, if not heartfelt, "Twist and Shout".In between was a career spanning three hour set with some surprises ("Fade Away" from "The River" and, according to the bandleader, a rarely done live rendition of "Surprise, Surprise" from "Working On A Dream). Included in the encore set was a world weary take on "Jungleland", that had Clarence Clemons take his stand on the sax solo that has become his signature. Compared to what he was playing in 1975, there was a definite lack of the power he once exuded. However, the horn sound that filled the stadium this night was hauntingly spare, a lonely sound echoing down empty, rain slick, streets in the early morning right before dawn. It emphasized that the story in "Jungleland" has gone from a last ditch desperate attempt gone awry, to become the inevitable outcome of someone who has taken one too many shortcuts.
June 7, 2009 -Stockholm Set List
1. "Idas Sommarvisa" - Swedish Folk Song
2. No Surrender
3. Badlands
4. Night
5. My Lucky Day
6. Outlaw Pete
7. Spirit In The Night
8. Working On A Dream
9. Seeds
10. Johnny 99
11. The River
12. Mony Mony
13. Trapped
14. Fade Away
15. Surprise, Surprise
16. Waitin' On A Sunny Day
17. The Promised Land
18. Working On A Highway
19. Radio Nowhere
20. Lonesome Day
21. The Rising
22. Born To Run
encore
23. Thunder Road
24. Jungleland
25. The American Land
26. Ramrod
27. Dancing In The Dark
28. Twist and Shout
One of the best things about seeing this band once every decade is the impact it makes on you. I cannot emphasize enough how powerful the E Street Band is. I found myself staring in awe at the prowess of their playing and the interaction between members. James Brown was infamous for the control he had on the JB's. I don't know if there are fines handed out for missed cues and wrong notes, but The E Street Band redefines the word tight. And this night they were magic. The E Street Band may be the best rock band assembled ever. They effortlessly support Springsteen in any direction he wants to go. A nod, a smile or a wave of the hand and the band careens off into another orbit. He did it tonight, early in the set, when after "Night", he yelled out "My Lucky Day" and the entire band gave a wry smile. "Here he goes, again" was the silent communication.
After the publicity tsunami and unprecedented public acceptance of "Born in the USA", Springsteen made a purposeful move in disbanding the E Street Band and striking out as a solo artist. The public accepted the solo artist, but rejected the idea of Springsteen playing "Born to Run" with anybody but his Jersey Shore running mates. The band has gone through many permutations, especially over the last couple of years. They now have the children of band members playing in the group. Jay Weinberg sat in for his Dad, Max. He is astonishing. Keyboardist Charlie Giordano, who played with Springsteen in the Seeger Sessions Band in 2006, has taken over for Danny Federici, an original member, who died of cancer in April 2008. Which leads to the question. How long can it go?
It's painful to watch the agonizingly slow walk that Clarence Clemons makes across the stage during the introduction. Will physical problems make this tour his last go round? I mean, it would be hard to adjust to hearing someone else musically respond to "...when the Big Man joined the band..." Yet, watching the sheer joy that this bandleader and his mates seem to share on stage makes it seem that they will go on, "...until the parts breakdown," as Bruce said during his Swedish press conference.
One thing is certain, Bruce Springsteen is a force of nature. He is a sensational rock and roll (if underrated) guitar player. He is a tireless showman who has, over a 40 year career, never mailed it in or taken a night off. He is also a prolific and talented songwriter whose characters and stories not only hold up, but take new dimensions over the years. He is a true rock and roll star who hobnobs with the rich and famous from all the artistic, political and social stratum. I'm not sure if one day we will see him, as we now see the old blues men, sitting in a chair rasping out "The River". It may be that when he can't hold on to the mike stand during "Ramrod", he will hang the Fender up. When ever the end comes, some of us, the ones who grew up on the Jersey boardwalks he describes, will lament that the young man inside of us will be no more.
Photo Credit: Jan Lundahl
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