The show opened with “We Take Care of Our Own”, moving “Badlands” to the third slot, followed by “No Surrender”. Just 4 songs and the audience was in awe, ready to rock, sweaty (it was also a very hot and humid day in Las Palmas), jumping, singing, dancing… the usual big party stadium show. Though most of the show was of the festive, participative kind, there were moments to dig into the older stuff, with some hot versions of “Seeds”, “Prove it All Night” (with Steve doing the final guitar solo -probably for the first time ever-, and it was smoking and very much in the ’78 style) and the tour premiere of “Two Hearts”, played after a sign request from a couple of Maine citizens that were at the show. For “Working on the Highway” (another tour premiere) Bruce walked down to sing it in the small stage. He stayed there for the next song, “Shackled and Drawn”, and was joined by Cindy Mizelle for a little singin’ and dancin’.

As the show progressed the new audience got more and more into it, had a blast with the “Apollo Medley” and Bruce’s runs to the side ramps and the other side of the pit area. No crowdsurfing in Europe, but tons of audience interaction and close encounters, wich was received with awe and huge roars. “The River” was a clear highlight, done perfectly, almost note by note to the album’s version. Setlist-wise there’s not much else to say, and though this may not be the dreamed set list for most veterans (it certainly wasn’t mine), one has to acknowledge the performance of each and every song was brilliant, and both the audience and Bruce were on fire. And despite our complaints sometimes, the Las Palmas audience literally loved the “The Rising/Lonesome Day” segment. The main set finished with a fantastic version of “Land of Hope and Dreams”, which seems to have taken the place of “Thunder Road”.

“Born in the USA” (another sign request, and the first encore) was a blast. It was strong, huge, overwhelming, though I’m still wondering why he had to sacrifice “Rocky Ground” when he could have done both and no harm would be done (and it was so very welcome in Seville).

Next on: Barcelona, where he’ll play two nights in a row and, certainly, there’ll be lots of new songs to talk about.

See complete set list.

Photo: Sal Trepat/Point Blank

Destacan los 4 estrenos de gira que se han podido escuchar hoy: “Two Hearts”, “The River” (espléndida, fiel al original), “Working on the Highway” y una aplastante “Born in the USA”. El público canario ha descubierto hoy en su mayoría lo que es un concierto de Bruce Springsteen, y han vibrado, saltado y cantado sin cesar, especialmente en la recta final, con una trepidante racha de éxitos que ha traido la locura colectiva al estadio de Gran Canaria.

Ver set list completo.

+ Con / with Michelle Moore

Though the set list included “The E Street Shuffle” and “The Promise”, Bruce decided to play more recognizable songs. But that’s a good indication that he wants to keep playing some of his oldest songs. Some of the song intros were in spanish. Before “Jack of All Trades” he said in Spanish: “I dedicate this song to the people of the 15-M movement and all the people struggling in the south of Spain”. The 15-M movement started a year ago in Spain and was a precursor the Occupy movement in the US.

The mix of old and new stuff worked well in a stadium setting and pleased everyone, and though there was as much as 4 songs from Born in the USA, other albums had also a good representation (2 songs off The River, 3 off Darkness and Born to Run). Some of the highlights included “The Ties That Bind”, “Trapped” (sign request from a 14-year old fan), and the tremendous duo formed by “Candy’s Room” and “She’s the One”. “Because the Night” featured the classic Nils Lofgren guitar solo, and the audience gave a huge roar of approval.

Patti was absent on this show. Of note: Michelle More was on stage not only for “Rocky Ground” but also during the “Apollo Medley” and the closing “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”. “I’m Goin’ Down” (another request) had its tour premiere (and featured some extended guitar work by Stevie at the end of the song). Though Bruce went a couple of times to the small stage in the back of the pit, there was no crowdsurfing at this show. It was a very very hot night (with a temperature of around 105 F), particularly in the overcrowded pit, but Bruce worked his ass off nonetheless.

See complete set list

More info (in spanish):
Bruce ruge contra la crisis, by Fernando Navarro (El Pais)
Un indignado Springsteen revienta Sevilla, by Marcos Ruz (Público)

photos: Salvador Trepat & Alfonso Adánez

El público vibró desde el inicio, y no paró de saltar y cantar durante las siguientes tres horas. Springsteen recurrió a todas sus bazas: carreras por el escenario, acercamiento constante a las primeras filas y pasarelas laterales, y muchos éxitos reconocibles que funcionan con precisión ante un público masivo y dispuesto a participar: “Out in the Street”, “Darlington County”, “Bobby Jean”, “Dancing in the Dark” o la infalible “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day”.

Si algo domina Bruce es el escenario, y alterna éxitos con canciones nuevas, y lo adereza con joyas de tiempos pretéritos que los fans veteranos saborean. La mezcla surge efecto: quien quiere fiesta la tiene, y quien quiere disfrutar del talento de una banda tan inmensa como la E Street Band también lo consigue. Así llegaron con frecuencia momentos de gran intensidad emocional: “The Ties That Bind”, el primer guiño al pasado -magnífica-, “Trapped”, a petición de un fan de 14 años que logró que Springsteen viera su cartel, una hiper-electrificada “Candy’s Room” enlazada con “She’s the One” (E Street Band en su forma más apoteósica). Más adelante “Because the Night” encendió Sevilla, con Nils Lofgren sacando oro de su guitarra en un solo eterno y mágico, y el público cantando el estribillo como si fuera la canción más conocida de Springsteen.

Del repertorio nuevo destacaron la memorable “My City of Ruins”, donde recordó a los camaradas perdidos, esta vez en castellano: “Esta cancion es sobre aquello que perdemos y lo que queda para siempre. Si nosotros estamos aquí, y vosotros estáis aquí… Ellos están aquí“. Y “Shackled and Drawn”, impactante en directo y con gran participación de la sección de vientos y Cindy Mizelle, tomando protagonismo cantando a duo con Bruce. “Land of Hope and Dreams”, en su nueva versión, fue el broche a una actuación pletórica.

Sin apenas descanso llegan los bises, con “Rocky Ground”, uno de los momentos más brillantes del concierto. Con su sutil trompeta al principio, soul a raudales y la gran Michelle Moore junto a Bruce. A continuación llegan los himnos, con el estreno en la gira de “I’m Goin’ Down” enlazando con “Born to Run”, eterna, incansable, y ese final nostálgico y emotivo con “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”.

Ver set list completo

Más:
Bruce ruge contra la crisis, por Fernando Navarro (El Pais)
Un indignado Springsteen revienta Sevilla, por Marcos Ruz (Público)

fotos: Salvador Trepat y Alfonso Adánez

+ Con / with Michelle Moore

“We Take Care Of Our Own” and “Death to my Hometown” came first, followed by “Rocky Ground”, sung with Michelle Moore, who’ll be also singing on these European dates. The only absence was Patti Scialfa, which apaprently will join the tour next week. Right after performing “Rocky Ground” there were some distant screams suddenly breaking the silence: they came from a large group of fans who were watching the soundcheck from he stadium’s own hotel building, which has windows facing the inside of the stadium.  Bruce joked with them, asked if they wanted to hear any particular songs, and then delivered an inspired version of “Thunder Road”. The horn section’s final solo was impressive, particularly in the emptyness of the stadium, which allowed the sound to be perfect and powerful. Seeing that epic ending from just a few meters away was really something.

“Waitin ‘On A Sunny Day” brought the first contact with the small audience. Bruce jumped down the pit, walked through the back of it, shook hands and even had two journalists sing part of the song.

Then came two surprises: the upbeat “I’m Goin’Down”, followed by a historic moment: Bruce and the E Street Band gifted us with a full band live version of “The Promise”. Something that has only happened four times in public (first show of the ’78 tour, the 2010 carousel show in Asbury Park, the Washington show a few weeks ago, and now in Seville, in this semi-public rehearsal in front of he press).

“Shackled and Drawn”, “The Way You Do The Things You Do” and “We Are Alive” closed the session, and then Bruce sat on the edge of the stage for a 15-minute Q&A with the press, mostly to respond to questions about the current political climate in the US, the huge economic crisis in Spain, the Occupy movement, etc. Sadly, there were almost no questions at all related to his impressive musical career.

Photos copyright S.Trepat / Point Blank.

Durante casi hora y media Springsteen ha repasado parte del repertorio de la gira y ha dedicado una buena porción de tiempo a ensayar los movimientos de la banda en determinadas canciones, a decidir qué músico iría hacía la derecha o hacía la izquierda del escenario, quien se quedaría con él en el centro o qué parte del “Apollo Medley” debe cantar cada uno de los coristas. “We Take Care Of Our Own” y “Death to my Hometown” han abierto fuego, ante la mirada de las numerosas cámaras, mientras los periodistas tomaban notas incesantemente o aprovechaban para mandar minicrónicas via Twitter o tomar fotos con sus smartphones.

Minutos después ha llegado el turno de “Rocky Ground”, con Michelle Moore en el escenario, tal como sucedía en la gira americana. La banda mantiene la misma formación que ha tenido en Estados Unidos, salvo Patti Scialfa, ausente esta tarde. Bruce ha comentado más tarde que Patti estaba en casa cuidando del hijo menor, aun adolescente, y se incorporaría a la gira en breve.

Unos gritos insistentes y lejanos han roto el silencio de repente: se trabaja de un nutrido grupo de fans que jalebaba al artista desde las ventanas del hotel anexo al estadio, y con visión directa al interior del mismo. Bruce ha bromeado con ellos, les ha preguntado si querían oir alguna canción en especial, y les ha dedicado luego una inspirada versión de “Thunder Road”. La sección de metales ha impresionado a más de un reportero. Realmente impone verles soplar con fuerza el épico final de la canción, a pocos metros de distancia, con el estadio vacío y un sonido potentísimo y nítido.

“Waitin’ on A Sunny Day” ha marcado el primer punto de encuentro con el reducido público. Bruce ha saltado a la pista, se ha paseado por la parte trasera del pit y ha saludado y dado la mano a buena parte de los asistentes, mientras continuaba la canción e incluso, a falta de niños, hacía cantar el estribillo a una atrevida periodista. Truco fácil, pero directo, entrañable y resultón, que ha servido para crear simpatía entre los reporteros y cámaras.

A continuación dos sorpresas: la roquera “I’m Goin’Down”, animando el ambiente, seguida de un momento histórico. Bruce y la E Street Band nos han regalado una excelsa versión de “The Promise”. Algo que en su carrera sólo ha ocurrido cuatro veces en público (primer concierto de la gira 78, actuación en el carousel de Asbury Park en 2010, concierto en Washington hace unas pocas semanas, y ahora, en Sevilla, en el ensayo semi-público ante la prensa). Momento único y emotivo. Sorprendentemente, una periodista extranjera pregunta: “¿Thunder Road no la ha tocado ya antes?”. Le aclaramos la duda y lo agradece.

“Shackled and Drawn”, “The Way You Do The Things You Do” y “We are Alive” han cerrado la sesión, tras la cual Bruce se ha sentado al borde del escenario para responder a las preguntas de la prensa. Han sido 15 minutos de preguntas y respuestas, más centradas en política y temas sociales que en música. Mañana más, con el estadio repleto de fans y las expectativas muy altas.

Fotos copyright S.Trepat/Point Blank.