Bruce Springsteen returned to Belfast last night for the first time since 2013, giving the show of a lifetime.
It was only last year when Springsteen had to delay multiple shows on the American leg of his 2023 tour, later announcing he had a peptic ulcer so painful he thought he may never sing again. Despite some fears from fans that his retirement was near, once recovered he announced a 2024 world tour at the prime age of seventy-four, putting the retirement rumours to bed in typical rock n roll fashion.
When he eventually took to the stage on the Boucher Road, he did so with a strut and swagger of a man with a newfound lease of life. Opening tunes ‘No Surrender’ and ‘Lonesome Day’ had enough rhythm to get the hips shaking early on, and the show was only ramped up from there on in. Despite being close to his 80s, Springsteen is as reinvigorated as ever, taking the time to dance with audience members and high-five his youngest fans in between songs.
His famous E Street Band hardly gave a moment to breathe in between each song too, bursting into the track ‘Badlands’ like a 100m dash through the 70s, each song wrapping the crowd up in a whirlwind of nostalgia and triumphant noise. The infamous 17-piece-outlet has a reputation for being the greatest band in the world, with each individual member given a moment to shine. Whether it be the exceptional Jake Clemons’ soaring saxophone riffs on ‘Backstreets’ or Nils Jogfren’s electrifying solo on the Patti Smith ‘Because The Night’ cover, the band easily live up to their hype.
First gig of the summer. Bruce Springsteen - what a way to start. ☀️ #belfast pic.twitter.com/6EFbiL0V9f
— Claire Harrison (@ClaireGHarrison) May 9, 2024
At the halfway mark, Springsteen took a moment to tell the story of the first band he joined when he was fifteen, and fifty years later being at the death-bed of childhood friend George Theiss who had invited him into the band. It’s a poignant moment, followed up by a rendition of ‘Last Man Standing’ - a 2020 released track about outliving your oldest friends and the power of music.
That power is felt as ‘Thunder Road’ wraps things up before the encore. It’s hard not to get swept away in the magic of it all, with its iconic piano chords ringing out into the night. Springsteen wasted no time with the encore either, rushing back to the stage to get his biggest hits rolling. ‘Born To Run’ and ‘Dancing In The Dark’ are first on the highlight reel, once again proving the New Jersey man to have the definite American rock songbook.
Springsteen sang the night out with an acoustic version of ‘I’ll See You In My Dreams’, a tribute of remembrance to all those who have passed before him. It’s a recently released bittersweet ballad, featuring lyrics that show Springsteen still has the writing chops of his youth. He closes by thanking all in attendance, and assures that The E Street Band will return.
Much has been made in the buildup about the price of admission, with tickets being sold at the price of £120 on Ticketmaster. The fuss is understandable, as concert fees for any major artist are starting to become unattainable for the average music-lover. However, with this in mind, Springsteen is not a spring chicken anymore. There are only so many chances left to see the king of rock’n’roll live, to dance teary-eyed to classics like ‘She’s The One’. If that price is going to be paid, make sure it is paid to see The Boss and his E Street Band in all of their glory.
To simply call a Springsteen gig a rock concert feels like a disservice; this is live music at its most magical. In just over three hours, the 74 year old manages to sing songs to inspire the living and remember those passed. It seems like the biggest party in the world is wherever Springsteen and his E Street Band are playing.
