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With six different songs from the first night, Springsteen came back to the arena with the full E Street Band, including Patti Scialfa. Three tour premieres: «Tunnel of Love», «Spirit in the Night» and, as first encore, an audible «Thunder Road» (in the place of both «Girls» and «Thundercrack»). But it wasn’t just another tiring version of «Thunder Road». According to attendees, it was played with energy and dedicated to the young people in the audience (contrary to previous US tours, there seems to be quite a number of young new fans at these shows).

The handwritten set list (See) included «Darkness on the Edge of Town» and «I’ll Work For Your Love» (would have been a first), though they were dropped in favor of «Candy’s Room» and «Darlington County».

See full set list.

See official video: Livin’ in the Future (New York 17.10.2007)

Photo: copyright Edgar Aguilera. Madison Square Garden, NY 18.10.2007

Patti was absent last night, which meant Soozie took her spot on the stage and sang «Magic» with Bruce. «Patti sends her regards… it’s a kids thing, that’s all I can tell you» joked Bruce. Second tour appearances of «Your Own Worst Enemy», «Backstreets» and «Cadillac Ranch». Not bad at all for a first night! Chicago, watch out tonight!

See complete set list.

The first night at the glorious Madison Square Garden featured an intense concert. No tour premieres, but a hot show that’s getting better and better each night. Celebrities in the audience included James ‘Tony Soprano’ Gandolfini, Bono, Jesse Malin and The Killers. Bruce remembered his 1973 shows at Max’s Kansas City where he used to close the shows with «Thundercrack».

See complete set list.

This week’s Rolling Stone features Bruce on the cover. «Bruce Springsteen’s Restless Heart», shows the cover. Inside there’s an interview with the artist, done by Joe Levy in Asbury Park (read).

«Lately, I’ve had a little romance with my oldest stuff» he says. «There was a lot of freeness in it. When you start and when you finish — that’s when the pressure is off. In the beginning, you’re too unknown, you’re not really competing with people. And at this point, I’m not competing with 50 Cent or trying to get on MTV. I’m playing for myself and my band and my audience.»

In the UK, MOJO magazine has given 5 stars to the album Magic, reviewed by Keith Cameron. The magazine considers the new record «an instant classic«.