Proving it all Night, Every Night

It was fitting that the music played on the PA as Stockholm fans were filing out of the third show of Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band was by the late James Brown. The legendary Brown was known as the hardest working man in show business. Now, with his passing, the title has been assumed by Bruce Springsteen.

The sweat broke out halfway through "Promised Land," the first song of the night. Looking like he can't do another marathon set, Springsteen draws from some deep reservoir which is tapped by the energy of the crowd. At 63, he's a little chunkier, moves a little slower and has trouble hitting some of his signature notes.

The years slip away as the show continues on. The sheer magnetism of the man as a performer is amazing. The faithful gathered for another sermon from the Revivalist of the Ministry of Rock & Roll. The looks of sheer adoration on the faces  in front of the stage showed the force of his gospel.

I have seen Springsteen in every guise he has ever used. The Castiles played at my high school. I was at the Upstage regularly. I saw gigs at the Student Prince where the band outnumbered the customers. By the way, the wind does blow hard enough to rip off doors of bars in Asbury Park.

In all that time, with all those shows, I have never attended a show that I came away from disappointed. Tonight was no different. He and the E-Street Band, which really should be called the E-Street Orchestra, muscled through another show, one of thousands, with  a power and confidence that is unrivaled by anyone. I'm convinced that no matter how little you like a song on a Springsteen record, played live it becomes a masterpiece thanks to this band. It is too powerful to be corralled by a recording studio. It has to be unleashed live in the arenas of the world. Springsteen has designed this band to fill the largest halls and festivals.

While other bands of the era creek out on stage to play their hits unenthusiastically, like one friend said about Bruce, "He looks really happy up there." After shows like tonight, we're glad he is.

Set List for Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
Third Show Stockholm Wrecking Ball Tour May 11, 2013

The Band came out to the song, "Big Boss Man" done by the Rolling Stones. The show opened with:
1. Promised Land
2. Out in the Street
3. We Take Care of Our Own
4. Wrecking Ball
5. Death to My Hometown
6. Spirit in the Night
7. Born in the USA "Start to Finish"
Born in the U.S.A.
Cover Me
Darlington County
Working on the Highway
Downbound Train
I'm on Fire
No Surrender
Bobby Jean
I'm Goin' Down
Glory Days
Dancing in the Dark
My Hometown
8. Cadillac Ranch
9. Shackled and Drawn
10. Waitin' on a Sunny Day
11. The Rising
12. Radio Nowhere
13. Badlands
14. Thunder Road
(pause)
15. Raise Your Hands (including sponge shower and piano climb)
16. Born to Run
17. Rosalita
18. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out (tribute video collage to Clarence and Danny)
19. Twist and Shout (extended)

Three hours almost to the second.