junio 2008

Things continued to be interesting the next night in Antwerp. This show was originally planned to happen in a big stadium in Brussels. Thank God the Belgian fans didn’t buy as many tickets as predicted, and this forced the show to move indoors. This made quite a difference, in the energy level, the intimacy, the crowd’s feedback, and Bruce’s mood. He came onstage with black bands in his arms while Max was pounding the drums. After the initial spoken introduction Bruce started a frenetic version of «So Young and In Love» that really set the tone for the night. Pure energy. «Radio Nowhere» followed, and then a great «The Ties That Bind», with lots of guitars and the great sax solo from the Big Man. The energy level never dropped for a second for the rest of the night. Add to this a great set list a

nd lots of surprises. Except for the songs off Magic, plus «The Rising» and «Mary’s Place», all the material was vintage 70’s stuff. Just one song from the 80’s: «Glory Days». Bruce revisited his whole career, thus we got a really uptempo, jubilant «Spirit in the Night» that reminded us so much of the Hammersmith’75 video, a really well performed «Trapped», with a great blue spotlight on Bruce that made him look like on The River tour, a nicely done «Sandy» (upon request, he showed the sign) which Bruce introduced saying «thanks for all the condolences for Danny», and laughling «The E Street Band is always ready… most of the time!».

This was followed by a very hot attempt at «Prove it All Night», with smokin’ guitar solos from both Steven and Bruce, a very intense call and response. At the end of the song Bruce picked up a sing that red «Steve Forever». Then announced «we’re gonna play one that we haven’t played in a long time» and asked the videocrew to focus on a huge sign that was holding behind Max and read «Thundercrack». This is the first time he ever played the song in Europe, and it was right perfect, a pure musical joy. Bruce looked real happy tonight, giving the impression that he was enjoying it all tremendously. «Because the Night» came next and featured
the usual out-of-this-world solo from Nils. What can we say? At this point of the show there were no more superlatives left. We were in awe. Such a show. In Europe. In Belgium. In the middle of a huge stadium tour and Bruce delivers such an intense and wonderful show like only those in small arenas in the US last Spring.

After a strong «Mary’s Place» (even this one sound great at this show), Bruce jokingly started washing the floor that he watered so much! Next were these words «Yesterday I was in a square and two girls asked for this», and started a very fun version of «Fire», which was widely sung along. «Point Blank» (another sign request) was next, and it was simply stunning. Perfect sounding, perfectly performed, you could hear every note from the Garry’s beautiful bass lines, like a hear beating.

After «Badlands» and a short break, Bruce & band come back onstage and we got a very familiar drum pounding and «ah… one, ah, two, ah, one, two, three, four». And «I’m a Rocker» begins letting the fans in shock. Very very strong, Bruce really into it, moving around the stage and in front of the audience like crazy. People singing along to this great piece of rock that rarely shows at his concerts. It was a tour premiere, followed by «Born to Run» and then «Thunder Road», really well played. Then «Glory Days» which put everyone on his feet even in the most distant seats and then «American Land». At one point during the encores Bruce took another sign from the audience that read «The Bada Bing Team is Here» and got quite a big laugh from Steven. The sign thing is now out of proportion. There are literally dozens and dozens of signs, and Bruce picks many of them and, as we know, decides to play of them.

Seen in Antwerp, request signs for: Thundercrack, Rave On, Pretty Flamingo, Sandy, Rosie, Brothers Under the Bridges’83, Incident, Rickie Wants a Man of Her Own, Detroit Medley, Little Queenie, Viva Las Vegas, Murder Inc, Loose Ends, Lost in the Flood, Sweet Little Sixteen and Blinded By The Light.

The show lasted 2 hours and 39 minutes, but it will certainly last a lot longer in our memory.

See Hamburg’s complete set list.
See Antwerp’s complete set list.