Bruce Springsteen returned home to New Jersey for a three-night stint at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. No frills, just hits.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were moving and grooving without stopping all Sunday night.
At 73 years young, Springsteen still does not miss a beat. Together with the legendary E Street band, their third MetLife Stadium show strayed away from their anticipated 2023 tour setlist to cater to his hometown crowd. Audiences heard the tour debut of The River's "Two Hearts," along with "Atlantic City" and the "Detroit Medley." Bruce even showing off his guitar skills are still fresh soloing on the fifth song, "Prove It All Night."
Throughout the night, the band played with their trademark vigor while the crowd swayed and threw their hands and beers up in the air. featured iconic members such as 'Little Steven,' Max Weinberg, Gary Tallent, Nils Lofgren, Jake Clemons (the late Clarence Clemons' nephew), and 'The Professor.' However, there was one notable absence: Springsteen's wife, Patti Scialfa. The night culminated in an extraordinary display of synergy when Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt shared the microphone multiple times, showcasing their and palpable connection.
The encore kicked off with the crowd erupting within the first seconds of "Jungleland." After a few more hits, Bruce continued jumping around the stage and walking into the audience and even used a car wash sponge to cool off and hydrate after the stomping hit, "Dancing in the Dark."
In typical Bruce Springsteen fashion, he stared into the crowd and reminisced about being young and fearless and how his late former bandmate George, made him realize, "how important it is to seize this day and to be good to the good ones you love." He also paid tribute to past members Danny Federici and saxophone legend Clarence Clemons as their photos passed on the big screen during the Born to Run favorite, "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out."
Concluding the show, Springsteen saved a special moment for the locals by delivering the beloved and fitting choice of Tom Waits' "Jersey Girl." This track had made its appearance only twice on this tour, both times exclusively during stops in Jersey.
LONG STORY SHORT: Through the many decades Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have performed together, Sunday night's MetLife show showed their musical connection is unrivaled and seemingly unchanged. They put on a classic rock and roll stadium show, with no frills and all hits.
Find more videos of the night on The MIC's YouTube Channel
Lonesome Day
Night
No Surrender
Two Hearts
Prove It All Night
Something in the Night
Letter to You
The Promised Land
Spirit in the Night
Kitty's Back
Nightshift
Atlantic City
Mary's Place
Last Man Standing
Backstreets
Because the Night
She's the One
Wrecking Ball
The Rising
Badlands
Thunder Road
Encore
Jungleland
Born to Run
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
Detroit Medley
Dancing in the Dark
Tenth Avenue Freeze Out
Jersey Girl