News

Bruce Springsteen played in Udine last night, the last of 3 shows in Italy, just before coming to Spain for the last 5 shows in Europe. As in Torino, he surprised with a high intensity performance, with plenty of crowd pleasers, rarities and tour debuts. First off there was a special tarantella performed by the 3 accordions onstage (Nils, Charlie & Roy), that gave way to the first song of the night: «Sherry Darling».

Moments later arrived one of the best songs off the Darkness album, «Something in the Night», plus «Murder Incorporated» in the place of the usual «Seeds». After picking up lots of sign requests during «Raise Your Hand», there were three tour debuts in a row: the rockin’ «Summertime Blues», followed by «Be True», which was followed by a great and unexpected «Streets of Fire» (another gem off Darkness), and then an intense «My Love Will Not Let You Down».

The encores, full of his greatest hits, started off with another request, the tour debut of the electric, full-band version of «Born in the U.S.A.».

See complete set list.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpuUmRgn8-Q]

If set list changes and surprises are an exciting factor at any Springsteen concert, last night’s gig in Torino was mega exciting. Nine set list changes, six tour premieres and an ecstatic performance. «Loose Ends» was the killer show opener, followed by «Badlands» and «Hungry Heart».

The other tour debuts include «Murder Incorporated» , «My Love Will Not Let You Down», «My Hometown» and «Traveling Band», plus the real jewel of the night, the magnificent «Drive All Night» (in a stadium!) that blew everyone’s mind.

Furthermore the show included also «Two Hearts», «American Skin», «Working on the Highway» and «Backstreets», along with most of the tour standards.

While in Italy, Bruce graced the cover of the July issue of Vanity Fair, which includes an interesting interview with Bruce. He says the E Street Band will take a temporary rest after this tour’s over. The long-awaited Darkness boxset is on the works: «that’s something we’re working on», says Bruce. «We take it slow and try to put something together that would be nice for fans». Read more at Backstreets.com

See complete set list

In the land of his mother’s ancestors Bruce Springsteen offered a long show last Sunday, with many details about his italian origins. Bruce came onstage while «Once Upon A Time in the West» came thru the speakers, right before «Badlands» opened the show. Later, «My City of Ruins» made its tour debut and was dedicated to the victims of the L’Aquila eartquake. During the encores, both Adele and Edie Zirilli (Bruce’s mother and aunt, respectively) came onstage to dance at the sounds of «American Land».

The Rome performance included sign-requests for «Pink Cadillac», «Surprise, Surprise», «Prove it All Night» and «You Can’t Sit Down».

See complete set list.

Bruce and the E Street Band performed their only show in France this year, at the Festival des Vieilles Charrues, where they offered their standard set list. Sign requests brought «Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out», «I’m Goin’ Down» and «Because the Night».

Five songs were broadscast live on Radio France («Outlaw Pete», «Out in the Street», «Working on a Dream», «Seeds» and «Johnny 99»).

See complete set list.

Bruce Springsteen will join Paul Simon, CSN&Y;, Simon and Garfunkel and Stevie Wonder at the special Hall of Fame Anniversary concerts that will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York on October 29th and 30th 2009, according to showbiz411.com. Bruce is scheduled to play on Oct.29th.