One of the saddest ways life bullies us is by making us watch some of our favourites like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band grow old – right before our eyes. Even though Bruce has cleared the air on a potential “Farewell Tour,” we see clearly that we might never get to experience a Bruce and the E Street Band, like we currently do in the “Springsteen and E Street Band Tour” – due to old age.
The 74-year-old rockstar had to postpone several shows due to an illness that is greatly attributed to his age. Bruce has been active in the music industry since 1964, and we still enjoy his music to date. Speak about dropping timeless tracks and Bruce’s songs like “Born to Run,” “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” and “The River” come to mind.
The rockstar has been extremely entertaining with the “Springsteen and E Street Band Tour,” his 17th tour which he started on the 1st of February, 2023. Even though most of the shows had to be postponed to later dates, with some reaching 2025, we still have a couple to enjoy before 2024 runs out and you’re better off getting Bruce Springsteen tickets through a ticket marketplace.
In a bid to ensure that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s legacies live on forever, by the time they take a bow, we’ll be sharing here with you, 9 moments, truly special from the “Springsteen and E Street Band Tour.”
Trending on Billboard
The Pittsburgh concerts marked the beginning of a kind of make-up tour for the E Street Band, returning for shows that were delayed in the spring and fall of 2023 due to health issues, including a severe peptic ulcer that Springsteen bluntly called “a mother***er” during the opening performance.
On Sunday, before wrapping up with a solo acoustic version of “I’ll See You in My Dreams,” Springsteen addressed the packed crowd at PPG, saying, “I hope our postponements didn’t inconvenience you too much. It’s just wonderful to be back here. You’re an incredible audience for us. Thank you so much.”
This Pittsburgh stint was a rare two-night stand in North American arenas for Springsteen on this tour, though he’ll do the same in Toronto on November 3 and 6.
The tour’s current leg concludes on November 22 in Vancouver, with additional European shows scheduled for next May, June, and July. The gaps between these dates have sparked speculation that more shows might be added.
E Street Band member Steven Van Zandt fueled this speculation when he mentioned to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette before the concerts, “Just between us… I don’t see any end in sight. We’re better than ever; you’ll see what I mean this week. These five-year farewell tours some bands do are really funny. We’re not even thinking about our first farewell tour for another decade.”
And if Springsteen and the band continue to create magical moments like these, fans would likely hope they keep going for many more years.
Shaking Things Up
After receiving some criticism for the repetitive setlists during the first leg of the tour, Springsteen has mixed things up, especially during the European shows.
This newfound variety was evident on the second night in Pittsburgh, which featured nine different songs compared to the previous night, including seven of the first nine tracks. The evening kicked off with two songs from “Candy’s Room,” “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” and “Adam Raised a Cain,” later followed by the title track.
A lively, revival-style rendition of “Spirit in the Night,” with Springsteen and saxophonist Jake Clemons sharing the spotlight at the front of the stage, was a highlight. Also notable was “If I Was a Priest,” performed for only the sixth time on this tour. “Death to My Hometown” served as a thoughtful nod to Pittsburgh’s Rust Belt past and its ongoing revival. Another late-show surprise was “I’m on Fire,” though it seemingly took the place of “Rosalita,” which has been a regular encore favourite.
On That Note
Instead of leaving the stage after “Thunder Road,” Springsteen and the band continued directly into their usual encore set, performing “Born to Run,” “Glory Days” (where the high school baseball friend now throws a “spitball” instead of a “speedball”), “Dancing in the Dark,” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” before.
A Surprise Guest
On Sunday, Pittsburgh rocker and longtime Springsteen friend Joe Grushecky was in the audience with his family and later joined the E Street Band on stage. He played acoustic guitar and sang backing vocals during an encore performance of the Isley Brothers’ “Twist & Shout,” sharing a microphone with Van Zandt and bassist Garry Tallent.
At one point during the song, Springsteen joked with the crowd, saying they looked “a little tired” and ready to head home. He then turned to Grushecky and asked, “Is this how a Pittsburgh crowd looks when they’re worn out, or when they’re ready to rock all night?” Grushecky responded, “I don’t think they’re ready to go home yet. I think they’re ready to rock!”
Over the years, Springsteen and Grushecky have collaborated frequently, with Springsteen producing Grushecky and the Houserockers’ 1995 album “American Babylon” and making a guest appearance on Grushecky’s 2006 solo album “A Good Life.”
A Touching Tribute
Following a social media post acknowledging the August 9 passing of journalist and author Charles Cross, co-founder of the Backstreets fan magazine, Springsteen dedicated a song to him during the concert. He told the audience, “This is for a friend of ours, Charles Cross, the founder of Backstreets magazine. His exceptional writing, influence, and his role in connecting our band with our fans will be deeply missed. This is for Charles.” Springsteen then lifted his guitar high above his head in a gesture towards the sky, paying homage to his friend.
Generosity on Display
On Sunday, Springsteen was not just generous with his music but with his mementoes as well. During the closing harmonica solo of “The Promised Land,” he played directly to a young fan perched on her father’s shoulders near the stage, and afterwards, he gifted her the harmonica. He also handed out two other harmonicas to fans after performances of “She’s the One” and “Thunder Road” and shared a handful of guitar picks towards the end of “Darlington County.”
Guitar Heroes of E Street
As usual, Springsteen took on most of the guitar solos during the show but also passed the spotlight to the talented guitarists sharing the stage with him. Van Zandt delivered a blistering solo at the end of “If I Was the Priest,” while Nils Lofgren unleashed impressive six-string performances during “Youngstown” and “Because the Night.”
Into The Audience
Springsteen made one trip into the audience on Sunday, walking to a platform in the middle of the venue during “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.” While there, he interacted with fans, shaking hands and even accepting a drink, all while continuing to perform. This moment also served as a tribute to the late E Street members Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici, with their images displayed on the video screens.
Our Mortality
Springsteen has been delivering a poignant speech before “Last Man Standing” throughout the tour, reflecting on the passing of his longtime friend and ’60s bandmate George Theiss and acknowledging that he is the last surviving member of the Castiles.
The speech remains deeply touching and inspirational, even bringing some to tears. He shared, “As you grow older, death brings a certain clarity. Its lasting gift is a broadened perspective on living each day fully… And the grief we experience when our loved ones pass is the price we pay for having loved deeply.”
Song Selection
For those keeping track, the albums “Born to Run” and “Darkness on the Edge of Town” were the most featured, with five songs each, followed closely by “Born in the U.S.A.” and “Letter to You” with four tracks each. Overall, Springsteen performed songs from 11 of his 21 albums, including his cover of the Commodores’ “Nightshift” from his latest album, “Only the Strong Survive” (2022).
