Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band @ Emirates Stadium 30/05/2008

Had always liked the idea of seeing Bruce and co live, but had never manged it until tonight (last night). As is the way of the world to see the band required a stadium gig, with this one being at the home of Arsenal football club.

I'm not a big fan of stadium gigs, and this didn't change my mind. However, this is not to say it wasn't bloody good. These guys know what they are doing and Bruce knows how to play these size of venues. The sound was a bit hit and miss - or at least the mixing was, with if often hard to make out guitar solos from background and other band noise.

But this sounds like I am moaning. They played a great set, kicking off with Tenth Ave Freeze-Out and Radio Nowhere, with some classics, old and new along the way before Dancing in the Dark, and American Land tied things up two hours and fifty minutes later.

Bruce sem to be enjoying himself, and Little Steven always looks like he is having a ball. Lots of jumping about, audience touching, and a happy smile on the Boss' face helped eventually create an atmosphere worthy of the gig and Springsteen himself.

Highlights? - Quite a few actually: Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, Atlantic City, Because the Night, Working on the Highway, Point Blank, Last to Die, and of course, Born to Run.

It would have been nice to have gotten, 'Night' and 'Jungleland', but all in all (and bar the odd bum note - esp vocally) this is what rock n roll is all about. Wish I was going to Saturday's gig now. Just hope the girlfriend (who is going) doesn't have 'too' good a time!

SET LIST

Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out { lyrics }
Radio Nowhere { lyrics }
The Ties That Bind { lyrics }
Lonesome Day { lyrics }
The Promised Land { lyrics }
Magic { lyrics }
Atlantic City { lyrics }
Reason To Believe { lyrics }
Candy's Room { lyrics }
Prove It All Night { lyrics }
Because The Night { lyrics }
Working On The Highway { lyrics }
Cadillac Ranch { lyrics }
Livin' In The Future { lyrics }
Mary's Place { lyrics }
Waitin' On A Sunny Day { lyrics }
Point Blank { lyrics }
Devil's Arcade { lyrics }
The Rising { lyrics }
Last To Die { lyrics }
Long Walk Home { lyrics }
Badlands { lyrics }

Thunder Road { lyrics }
Born To Run { lyrics }
Glory Days { lyrics }
Rosalita { lyrics }
Dancing In The Dark { lyrics }
American Land { lyrics }