Bruce Springsteen live at Camden Yards review: The Boss never disappoints

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As a lifelong fan who has witnessed the Boss’s magic since his early days, I can confidently say that Bruce Springsteen remains a must-see live show even after half a century of rocking and rolling. The Baltimore concert was an unforgettable experience, filled with nostalgia, new tunes, and the undying energy of the E Street Band.

Approximately halfway through his concert at Baltimore’s Camden Yards on Friday evening, Bruce Springsteen paused the continuous flow of music that had been playing for an hour and a half to share one of the few stories of the night. He spoke about when he was fifteen and his neighborhood friend George Theiss asked him to join his band, the Castiles. “We managed to last three years,” Bruce said, “which is quite good for teenagers.” With a hint of mischief in his eyes, he added, “But us old guys… we’ve been going strong for fifty years! And we’re not planning on stopping anytime soon!

Over forty thousand people, some of whom might never get another chance to witness this again due to the 74-year-old’s age, enthusiastically applauded. As a response, Bruce performed a touching tribute to Theiss and his longtime companions titled “Last Man Standing,” which is found on his 2020 album, Letter to You.

Originally scheduled for 2023, this concert was a postponement due to the rocker having to cancel several shows on his world tour because of a serious stomach ulcer. However, on the night of our meeting, there were barely any indications that time had left its mark on him. I first encountered Bruce 46 years ago in Landover, Maryland during his Darkness tour, which supported his fourth album. The main difference I observed was instead of sprinting across the stage and scaling speakers, he now casually walked around, frequently stepping into the crowd to shake hands with the fans below the stage.

Bruce Springsteen remains a must-see live show

Additionally, he disregarded the young lady carrying a “Courtney Cox 2.0” placard. Regrettably for her, their meeting occurred too soon. This happened during the early part of the evening, and Bruce didn’t perform “Dancing in the Dark” until later, during the encore.

In the past, the E Street Band was like an unstoppable force (juggernaut). Now, it’s more like a massive warship (an aircraft carrier). The majority of its original members are still here, except for Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici who have passed away. However, today’s band has grown to include an additional percussionist, a violin player, a complete horn section, and a choir of four members. In total, there are now 19 musicians in the band, playing together as harmoniously as any trio at the peak of its power.

Bruce generally starts his concerts during this tour with “Seeds,” but he made an exception last Friday. The allure of launching his performance with the opening lyrics, “I’ve got a wife and kid in Baltimore, Jack – I went out for a ride and I never went back” was too strong to resist. After “Hungry Heart”, he played another song from 1980’s album The River, which hadn’t been part of the tour setlist until then – “Sherry Darling.

After that point, it became a musical expedition spanning songs from various stages in life – the old, the mature, and the new. “Lonesome Day” highlighted the orchestral flair of the E Street Band, showcasing Soozie Tyrell’s violin and Ozzie Melendez’s trombone. “Promised Land” offered Bruce a chance to play harmonica, and served as one of many moments where Jack Clemons, nephew of the original E Street sax player Clarence Clemons, demonstrated his talent for blowing the horn in a manner similar to his late uncle.

After that, “Darlington County” was up next – marking the first instance where Bruce moved among the audience (past a sign bearing Courtney Cox’s name). This wouldn’t be the only occasion he would step off the stage.

From his starkest album, Nebraska, came a pair of haunting tracks that followed. That album was entirely solo due to his struggle to blend the band into such intimately personal songs. However, he’s found a way with “Reason to Believe” and undoubtedly has by now. “Atlantic City,” while not as triumphant in its full-band arrangement, was still a minor setback amid an otherwise exceptional performance.

Incidentally, let’s talk about Nils Lofgren, a native of the area roughly thirty miles from Baltimore, in the DC suburbs. In this song titled “Youngstown,” he showcased an incredible guitar solo that was truly impressive. It seems unlikely that his appearance on this specific track is significant, given that he initially gained recognition as a teen playing alongside Neil Young. Later, “Because the Night” would see another spectacular performance from Nils, and towards the end of the show, he added a powerful slide accompaniment to “The Rising.

In nearly every track, at least one band member displayed their skills. The rhythmic battle between original drummer Max Weinberg and Anthony Amonte during “E Street Shuffle” had the audience moving. Roy Bittan’s extended piano solo in “Racing in the Street” felt endless yet never became tiresome.

Jack Clemons, much like his uncle, was consistently captivating, generating an electrifying atmosphere that filled expansive stages – quite an achievement – during songs such as “Bobby Jean” and “10th Avenue Freezeout.” These numbers prominently displayed video snippets of Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici on the enormous screens encompassing the stage. The backup vocalists too had their time to shine, with Curtis King delivering a moving rendition of the Commodores’ “Nightshift,” reminiscent of Walter Orange’s performance.

One song from the 1978 concert on Friday that Bruce performed, titled “She’s the One,” was an impressive display of the entire band’s abilities.

The evening was overflowing with one captivating moment after another. There’s a unique charm in witnessing 40,000 voices echo through the night as they sing together on “Because the Night.” Similarly, the way Bruce’s voice falters during “Backstreets” adds an emotional depth when he momentarily showcases his vulnerable tones, only to regain strength for the climactic final chorus.

During the last song of his main performance, “Thunder Road,” Bruce allowed the audience to take over the vocals. He strolled through the crowd, much like a preacher at a tent revival, touching people as he went. With his hair turning grey at the temples and wearing a white shirt, black vest, and tie, one might confuse him for a country spiritual leader.

The lights came on full blast on the crowd for the encore, which began with “Born to Run,” and then ran through another half dozen old favorites. Bruce finally stripped off that vest before “Dancing in the Dark,” and teed up the final full-band number with some banter that only a couple of Jersey boys could do.

While conversing with his trusted associate, guitarist, and bandleader Stevie Van Zandt, he mused that the crowd seemed to be flagging, perhaps eager to depart. As one might anticipate, the audience responded accordingly. Subsequently, Bruce posed a question – “Do you believe you can endure longer than THE E STREET BAND?” followed by an energetic rendition of “Twist and Shout.

After greeting each band member with a hearty handshake (and giving Jack Clemons an enormous bear hug), Bruce ended the performance on his own, strumming his guitar and harmonica while singing “I’ll See You in My Dreams,” which is the last track from Letter to You.

Approximately three and a half hours had passed since the band began performing. Forty-six years have elapsed since I first witnessed him, yet his brilliance remains sharp rather than faded. The passage of time has merely provided an abundance of fresh tunes for him to perform.

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2024-09-14 17:00