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As expected, the second night at the Meadowlands brought a few surprises and tour debuts, plus an even stronger performance than the night before. The new songs keep shining and sounding powerful, with «Wrecking Ball» and «Easy Money» among the highlights.

Five songs debuted today on the tour: a sensational version of «The Ties That Bind» in the third slot position, with Jake nailing one of the most cherished sax solos. «Candy’s Room» and «Johnny 99» (extended, intense and with great participation from the horn section at the end of the song) took the «E Street Shuffle» slot. Later on «Racing in the Street» featured an extended ending with some marvelous work from Roy Bittan. A stunning classic.

«Ramrod» was the fifth debut tonight: and it rocked. An awesome performance. Other highlights of the night include another River song: «Jackson Cage», which was inmediately followed by «She’s the One», with yet another intense sax solo from Jake Clemons, which received a big roar from the audience.

To complete the set, another surprise: «Trapped» opened the encores, by fan request, and it was truly great. As usual, the show closed with «Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out», only this time the screens showed a film with images of Clarence and Bruce in concert while the band stopped playing and Bruce encouraged the audience to yell and scream, from the small stage in the back of the pit.

Next Friday we’ll be tweeting again live from Madison Square Garden (follow us on Twitter: @ pointblankspain).

Report by Salvador Trepat.
Photos by Edu Beltrán.

See complete set list.

 

The first concert in Springsteen’s homeland included a wonderful tour premiere: 1974’s «So Young and In Love», released in 1998 in the Tracks boxset, and it sounded as cool and fresh as in its 70’s performances in little clubs and theaters (though it was known as «A Love So Fine» back then). Being followed last night with «The E Street Shuffle» it really felt like we had gone back in the past. Old classics like «Badlands», «Born to Run», «Prove it All Night» or the eternal «Thunder Road» sounded fresher and featured some magnificent sax solos from Jake Clemons, who has a very relevant part on this tour and this expanded E Street Band.

Although last night was apparently not a spectacular concert if you only look at the setlist (no major surprises) it was indeed an excellent show with a strong performance, and the band sounded as tight and confident as ever. Nils does a great job throughout the concert, in the background but carrying on his shoulders a good part of the weight of the band, and shining brightly when facing the guitar solo on «Because the Night» (Bruce kept for himself a short but furious guitar attack on «Prove it All Night»). The audience response to the remembrance of gone E Street Band members was just fabulous, both during the roll call on «My City of Ruins» and the silent part of «Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out». The audience noise was just unbelievable last night.

PS: Anyone who wants to get instant news from the show can follow us on Twitter (@pointblankspain) as we’ll be posting from the show tonight.

Report by Salvador Trepat.

See complete set list.