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Are you alive? yelled Bruce at the beginning of the show. We know for sure he was alive, because what followed next was a truly memorable performance. Both Bruce and the band were in superb shape from the very first note, delivering every song with intensity and passion. You could tell even from the standard songs such as «No Surrender» or «Lonesome Day», which was followed by the highlight of the night: «Streets of Fire» which sounded like a time machine had transported us straight back to the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco on a cold December night in 1978. And from one highlight to another: «Saint in the City» followed by «Prove it all Night», both sounding like an earthquake (including fantastic guitar work) right before a stompin’ «She’s the One». And that wasn’t all yet. There was «Cadillac Ranch» (with the «Wisconsin night» line sung by the whole audience), and there was «Loose Ends» (first encore substituting «Girls») at «Stevie’s request», said Bruce.

Up to that point the show was already a candidate to «best show of the tour» (time will tell), when Bruce brought onstage legendary bass player Richard Davis, who had played on Van Morrison’s memorable album «Astral Weeks». In Bruce’s words:«We had Richard Davis, who played bass on [Van Morrison’s] Astral Weeks, come in — and Astral Weeks was like a religion to us». He plays on the first 3 Springsteen albums. Davis then joined Bruce on standup bass to perform a beautiful version of «Meeting Across the River», which was, as expected, followed by «Jungleland», which was just perfect with Clarence nailing the solo. By the end of the show, «Ramrod» substituted «Dancing in the Dark». The show had up to 4 different set lists with different choices, and even the final set list had last minute changes («My hometown» was an audible, and the various handwritten set lists included songs like «Two Hearts», «Jackson Cage», «Be True», «Racing in the street» and «Rosalita»).

See complete set list.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qROQSCW7qLA]

Tonight’s show in St. Paul (the second in just a few months), featured «Darkness», «Prove it all Night» (in the place of «Because the Night») and a superb «Backstreets». «Jungleland» stays as second encore.

See complete set list .

With a lenght of two hours and forty minutes, the city of Omaha (where Bruce hadn’t played since 1978!) had the luck of getting the longest show of the tour so far, mainly because of the long set of encores, with seven songs.

The encore marathon included «Thunder Road» sung with guest Conor Oberst from Bright Eyes, followed by «Detroit Medley» and «Jungleland», both sign requests from the audience.

See complete set list.

No tour premieres, no new songs, but instead a very solid performance and a strong set list which featured the return of «Adam Raised a Cain», «Incident on 57th Street» and «Ramrod» (an audible after «Born to Run»). The handwritten set list also included «Meeting Across the River» which, sadly, was not performed. The show now is longer than it was, reaching almost 2 hours and a half in lenght. Next: Bruce and band go to Nebraska on Friday.

See complete set list.

See official video from the Hamilton show («Radio Nowhere»).

Prior to this show, Clarence Clemons was in the city on Sunday, and was a guest at Levon Helm’s concert at the Beacon Theatre. Clarence went onstage to play sax during «Tossin’ and Turnin'». There’s also an unconfirmed rumour about Bruce playing on Saturday night with Tim McLoone’s band at a benefit for the Ranney School.

Update 3/11 8pm: Bruce did indeed play last Saturday. See details at the concerts page (thanks to Eugene for the information)

And shake it he did. Just look at the set lists changes: «The Ties That Bind», «Be True», «I’ll Work For Your Love» and two tour debuts: «Buffalo Gals» and «Detroit Medley».

Once again the show starts with 4 songs (incl. «Be True») before «Gypsy Biker», and the «Reason / She’s the One» sandwitch includes 2 songs («Night» and «Because the Night»). Plus… a 7-song encore!»

See complete set list.

Photo: Hartford 28.02.3008 copyright Lance