Bruce Springsteen - Stadium Of Light, Sunderland 22.05.2024

It's been a long time coming, as the lyric of the Springsteen goes. I've been a fan of the man since the early 90's, something that has grown deeper with each passing year, but have somehow managed to miss him in a live setting. Sunderland's Stadium of Light is also somewhere where my dad would often be found on a Saturday, being a season ticket holder for the Black Cats, before he passed away two years ago. Not being a football fan I never went with him to his church but tonight I get to visit this church of rock and roll.

The weather is grim as we take our seats. It's typically been relentlessly raining most of the day but nothing can dampen our spirits come the time the band stride onstage in groups before a roar rises as Bruce walks on last.

The E Street Band power up the start of the set around 7.40 with 'Waiting' On A Sunny Day', a debut for this tour, and a choice that shows that he's got a sense of humour. He's barely part way through the set before he's down the front getting up close and personal with the 45,000 strong throng.

There are so many positives to a show like this. You could see several different shows on the run and there’d be several different songs at each one, keeping the band and the audience fully entertained.

Including Bruce, there are 18 people making up an expanded E Street Band on this tour. There may be no Patty Scialfa on this leg, but many of the core legendary musicians are there. Gary Tallent and Max Weinberg make an impeccable rhythm engine  that drives this musical mayhem machine. You've got “Professor” Roy Bittan handling the keys while regular contributor Soozy Tyrell (she's been helping out for over 30 years now) adds guitar and violin into the mix. Guitars? Hell, you've got Bruce,  Nils Lofgren and Steven Van Zandt covering all those bases. Jake Clemons, the nephew of the late saxophonist Clarence Clemons, follows on his uncle’s shoes showing that talent and charisma run strong in that family. With a horn section, backing singers, percussionist and pianist adding to the throng, you've got yourself a righteous noise right there ladies and gentlemen.

The set is relentless. It's song after song after song with barely a breath caught between each one. Bruce, a sprightly 74 years young, has more energy than anyone I've ever seen. He constantly engages the crowd, interacting with the front rows like his life depended on it. A harmonica is handed to a young woman after he's used it. He points, he gesticulate, he encourages us to ignore the weather and enjoy outdoors. One minute he's stamping impishly in puddles on the stage, the next he's slashing away at his telecaster with a maniacs grin. He's got the best job in the world and, dammit, he certainly knows it.

Song wise, they could play for twice the 3 hour length they do and they still wouldn't be able to fit in everything you would want them to play. There's hits aplenty and deep cuts for everyone. With anthems like 'Hungry Heart' and 'Glory Days', you've got songs to energise the soggy crowd. His cover of the Commodores’ Nightshift is honest and soulful. He can even take the stadiums crowd and make it feel incredibly intimate. 'Last Man Standing' allows Springsteen a moment of reflection, addressing the fact that out of the members of his first teenage band The Castilles, he's now the only one left.

But this is no sombre pity party. 'Wrecking Ball' and 'The Rising' both prove that his relatively newer material can still hang easily with his stone cold classics. A different take on 'Atlantic City' from the 'Nebraska' album, takes your breath away, while 'Badlands' and 'Thunder Road' close out the main set.

The main encore takes place barely a minute or two after the main set with a rapturous 'Born To Run'. Bruce strips off his rain sodden shirt, tie and waistcoat, leaving black jeans and a white tshirt (he's also wearing ox blood red DM's too if you really must know). 'Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out' is a boogie that acts as tribute to the Big Man himself,  Mr Clarence Clemons. The band are having a lot of fun too as The Boss winds up his lieutenant Little Steven, leaving him laughing during songs. Before too long we're enjoying a high energy 'Twist And Shout', something that seems nearly impossible almost 3 hours from the start of the show.

At it’s conclusion, the band take their leave as Bruce shakes hands or hugs each one as the leave. This leaves the stage to just himself, an acoustic guitar and a harmonica for a moving 'I'll See You In My Dreams'. It’s incredibly moving and I feel a lump in my throat as I look around the football ground  wondering exactly which seat my dad would have sat in to watch the football here. It's the perfect thought to go with the sentiment of the song as I stand stunned, moved and thoroughly entertained by the night.

The 28 song set feels like it's gone far too quickly and after a final wave to us all, Springsteen is gone. Looking at things logically, this could be one of his last big trips through Europe (I’d more than happily be wrong about that though) and, if it is, he will have left behind a massive performing legacy that most artists could only dream of. In adverse weather conditions, Springsteen has shone incredibly brightly in the Stadium Of Light. Tonight's show has been a masterclass in musical performance. It shows that the power of music can drive anyone but only a maestro like Bruce Springsteen can turn a stadium concert into something more than just that.

Could this be the best live show I've ever seen? I think it's a very strong possibly that nobody else can better this.

Review - Scott Hamilton

Photos - G's Gig Shots