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Max Weinberg was back and played drums for the full show in Washington.

Tour debut of The Righteous Brothers’ «Little Latin Lupe Lu» (see their original version), a song Bruce played quite often in 1977/78 (see Bruce’s explosive performance), and «Blinded by the Light», both sign requests. A shorter but intense show that features both «Kitty’s Back» and «Rosalita» during the encores.

Photo: Yolanda Ortega (Philadelphia)

See complete set list.

Radio Nowhere (with Jay Weinberg, Philadelphia)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOA6a3LTGso]

In his first stadium show this year, Bruce Springsteen delivers one of the best and longest shows of the tour. Once again Jay Weinberg sits at the drums for the whole show, as Max is in L.A. preparing for The Tonight Show‘s debut with Conan O’Brien on June 1st.

Jay’s vitality and sheer energy captures the audience since the beginning, with strong performances on songs like «Badlands» or «Radio Nowhere» (now moved to the 4th slot, to better effect on the show). Jay being in the band doesn’t stop Bruce from debuting new songs and taking requests. «Twist and Shout» arrives early, as sixth song of the night, after Bruce picks a great sign from the audience (see the photo). Later, there’s requests for «Trapped» and the tour debut of «Give the Girl a Kiss» (the Darkness outtake released on the Tracks box set, and only performed before at a couple of shows in 1999). «Backstreets» stays in the set list, and a long set of encores, ending with «Rosalita» and «Bobby Jean», extend the show to nearly three hours.

See complete set list.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3tF3Kkx3Js]

«This is a big, big night. For the first time in 35 years, someone else has sat at the drums: Max’s son. We got a new blood brother there«. That’s how Bruce introduced Jay Weinberg last night en Albany. It was Jay’s first full concert with the E Street Band, and he showed he’s ready for the job, drumming with fury and intensity all night long, in songs like «Kitty’s Back» or «Backstreets».

There was no tour premieres or rarities last night, as the set list was, understandably, rather standard. Sign requests included «Thunder Road» and «Mony Mony», previously debuted in Chicago.

See complete set list.

Video: Mony Mony (Chicago):

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr3YeaS0auk]

In the wonderful city of Chicago, Springsteen debuts his version of the sensational «Mony Mony» (by Tommy James & The Shondells –see video of their original 1968 version-), a song that Bruce had previously sung only at small clubs shows in New Jersey or as part of the «Detroit Medley» during The River tour in 1980/81.

Other Chicago highlights include «Spirit in the Night» (as second song of the night, right after «Badlands»), the sign requests («Trapped» and «Candy’s Room»), and a shit hot version of «Jungleland» that gets a large ovation. During the afternoon soundcheck Bruce and the band rehearsed Bob Dylan’s «Like A Rolling Stone», perhaps thinking of the next tour stop? Jay played from «Sunny Day» til the end of the show.

See complete set list.

Video. The full version of «My Generation»:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn6E4vlFhh4]

Jay Weinberg joined the E Street Band at the St. Paul show since the very beginning with «Badlands» and «Radio Nowhere» and up to «Raise Your Hand», in a show with little surprises. «Is the old man in the house?» asked Bruce when Jay left. Max came up to play for the rest of the evening.

The cover song choosen for this show was The Rascals’ «Good Lovin» (see video of the original Rascals performance) It was followed by more sign requests: «Prove it All Night» and «The E Street Shuffle». «The Wrestler» was dropped in favour of «I’m on Fire», and the show ended with both «Bobby Jean» and «Rosalita».

See complete set list.