BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND – GILLETTE STADIUM

By Joe Perusse

Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band – Gillette Stadium 8/24/2023

The final of my Boston area shows was a tough one to attend, the school year had started, so I had to leave after work and get home for work the next day for the first time this summer concert season. It was the Boss, so no sleep would be no problem. I met my sister Claudine and brother in law Billy in Worcester and off to Foxborough we went.

The band entered the stage one by one as each member got a roar from the crowd reaching a crescendo as Springsteen appeared. The Boss asked the masses “Are You Ready Foxborough?” as E Street led off with “No Surrender”. “Ghosts” brought Bruce down to the lower stage as he had the crowd clapping in unison. “Prove It All Night” featured Jake Clemons (Sax) for the first time of many tonight. “Letter to You” preceded “The Promised Land” which again saw Clemons shining.

Bruce hit the low stage to play the harmonica and then gave it to a very happy kid afterwards with an even happier father. Bruce and Clemons stayed down on the low stage for “Out in the Street”. “Darlington County” saw Bruce and Nils Lofgren (Guitar) down in the crowd as everyone sang la la la. “Kitty’s Back” saw solo highlights from Roy Brittan (Piano), Charles Giordano (Organ), Ed Manion (Sax), Curt Ramm (Trumpet), Barry Danielson (Trumpet) and Ozzie Melendez (Trombone). Anthony Almonte (Percussion) soloed on the bongos leading into “Nightshift” a Commodores cover and “Trapped” a Jimmy Cliff cover featuring Bruce singing along with his backing vocalists, Curtis King, Michelle Moore, Lisa Lowell and Ada Dyer.

A drum battle between Max Weinberg and Almonte took place during “The E Street Shuffle”. Bruce headed to the low stage asking if anybody was alive, got the response he was looking for and belted out “Mary’s Place”. Bruce told a story about his first high school band in 1965 and how he wrote “ Last Man Standing” when all the other members besides him passed away. This was performed acoustic with Danielson joining on trumpet.

“Backstreets” brought the crowd back to their feet and “Because the Night”, a Patti Smith Group cover featured a Lofgren solo. The main set closed with “She’s the One”, “Wrecking Ball”, “The Rising”, “Badlands” and “Thunder Road” where Bruce impressed on the harmonica. The band bowed to the crowd in unison but didn’t go anywhere. “Born to Run” led off the first encore followed by “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) featuring Bruce, Steven Van Zandt (Guitar), Lofgren, Clemons and Soozie Tyrell (Violin) on tambourin all down on the low stage.

During “Glory Days” Bruce and Van Zandt played around with Springsteen asking if he wanted to go home. The crowd agreed with Van Zandt that they weren’t done yet. “Dancing in the Dark” was followed by band intros. Gary Tallent (Bass) is the only member I haven’t mentioned yet. He does a stellar job keeping the rhythm going all night.

“Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” featured photos of departed E Street members Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici up on the big screen. This time, after the group bow everyone left the stage except Bruce. He asked the crowd for their support of the Boston area food bank and then the phone lights filled the stadium as he played “I’ll See You in My Dreams” solo, acoustic and with his harmonica.

A satisfied crowd filed out into the night, I’m sure many later having dreams of what a great show Springsteen continues to perform.

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