A brilliance on the edge of town…
Sunday 29th May 2016
Croke Park, Dublin
On Sunday night in Croke Park, Bruce Springsteen transferred the old hallowed venue, in turns into an old time revivalist meeting, a circus big top, Blind Date, a confessional, an amateur talent night (with a special children’s section) and one huge street party.
At the start of his second song The Boss asked “are you ready to testify?” Three hours later after a pulsating and totally engaging show, there wasn’t a sinner in the house, who wasn’t prepared to be a witness for Bruce as the best performer on the planet right now.
This was never going to be a neutral considered piece, I have seen Springsteen on numerous occasions in the past, and as they say, he has never failed to deliver.
But Sunday’s night performance was different. My location, a football pitch away from the stage, in the lower reaches of the Hogan stand, did not augur well, for the night’s entertainment. Yet the distance afforded me the opportunity of seeing a master showman at work.
The evening began unusually with Springsteen playing ‘Incident On 57th Street’ unaccompanied on the piano before the party really got started with ‘Spirit In The Night’ introduced with the fervour of an old-time preacher in the deep south. And then we were off.
Over three hours of hit after glorious classic. Is this man really 66? Someone needs to check his birth certificate. Springsteen worked the fans like he was running for president, with a number of sorties into the adoring crowd, shaking hands, usually accompanied by Jake Clemons, on Saxophone, no longer the heir apparent to his Uncle Clarence’s throne, but the real deal himself.
Highlights? Too numerous to mention. Every time one felt he had reached the peak for the night, he topped it. Slow poignant numbers, ‘Independence Day’, and particularly ‘The River’, were treated with great enthusiasm by the crowd. A blinding ‘Murder Incorporated’ followed ‘Waiting For A Sunny Day’, accompanied by a young 7-8 year old had everyone smiling, followed by guest for the night Bono, who received a tumultuous welcome from his hometown fans (although he drew a few dissenting voices too.) But even his appearance was put in place by a searing (pirouetting!) guitar solo on the same song by Nils Lofgren.
From this height, How can he possibly crank the atmosphere up any further? Not a problem when your back catalogue includes ‘Born In The USA’ and ‘Born To Run’, which he played in quick succession. Half the woman and quite a few men implored The Boss that he should dance with them, during the knockabout fun that was ‘Dancing In The Dark’. A terrific ‘Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out’, paused to reflect and remember two past members of the band, Danny Federici and the aforementioned Clarence Clemons who passed away in 2008 and 20011 respectively.
The tour was Advertised as ‘The River 2016′ and indeed, he played 10 songs from the double album, in his 31 song setlist. Only four songs played tonight were recorded after this album which may be a little surprising to some.
The immaculate E-Street Band all seemed to enjoy the evening, as if not to do so might be a disciplinary matter resulting in an appearance before The Boss!
After a beautiful acoustic ‘Thunder Road’ as an encore, it was over. It seems a habit that after a Springsteen gig everyone checks their watches or iPhones, as it is nowadays, to make sure he had played his three hours. Downsides were precious few. The sound at times in the stand was a bit muffled, and some people baulked at the €35 price for a t-shirt, and the price of the tickets themselves.
But this was The Boss’s 12th Irish tour since he first played Slane 31 years ago, and as he left the stage, he shouted, “Remember the E street band loves you”!
Based on tonight, the sentiment is clearly very much reciprocated.