Gary US Bonds joins Bruce Springsteen for "Jole Blon" Friday night at MetLife Stadium (Photo by Ron Ring)
Published: Saturday, September 22, 2012, 2:21 AM
Updated: Saturday, September 22, 2012, 9:22 AM
By Stan Goldstein / The Star-Ledger
FUN!
This show was FUN!
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's Friday night show at MetLife Stadium was a huge house party with Bruce being the life of the party for three hours and nine minutes and 28 songs.
I've seen hundreds of Bruce shows since 1976 and it's nights like this one that make you come back for more and more. One of the better shows I've seen and a really unique set list.
How 'bout opening with a song that he has never played live before? One of five tour premieres, including two with Gary US Bonds.
And then getting the double shot of "Incident on 57th Street" into "Rosalita." "Rosalita" closed the main set just as it did in the 1970s and 1980s. I'm not sure if it has closed a main set since then, that will take a little research.
There were 17 different songs played from Wednesday.
Show began at 8:28 p.m.
"Summer Wind" intro
Set list:
1. Living on the Edge of the World (tour premiere, first time ever played live by Bruce)
"Especially for New Jersey!" he said.
An outtake from "The River" sessions, this is from the "Tracks" box set. A rarity and a good one to lead off the show.
At one point, Bruce forgot the words and had to pick up the printed lyrics on the front-stage extension. After it was played he said: "It would have been even better if we got it right!"
2. Out in the Street
3. Night
4. Hungry Heart
No crowd surf but they did have some blocked off areas where Bruce could run to the back of the pit. He was all over the place.
5. No Surrender
6. Lost in the Flood
Very intense. Always nice to hear this one. Great guitar work from Bruce.
7. We Take Care of Our Own
8. Wrecking Ball
9. Death to My Hometown
10. My City of Ruins
Bruce asked "Who's been to Asbury Park lately? It's nice!"
He asked how many people were seeing the E Street Band for the first time, and there was more response than at Wednesday's how. Bruce once again talked about ghosts and the people who are missing from our lives. Tonight's version just seemed more powerful than ones in the past.
11. Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?
Bruce said that he had to watch Roy Bittan on this one because "the Professor sometimes ***** this one up! So I'm keeping an eye on him"
Bruce dropped a lot of "F" bombs tonight.
12. Jole Blon (with Gary US Bonds, tour premiere)
When the real fun started. This has only been played at two E Street Band shows since 1981.
13. This Little Girl (with Gary US Bonds, tour premiere)
Last played at an E Street Band show (also with Gary US Bonds) on July 9, 1981 at the then Brendan Byrne Arena (now Izod Center) at the Meadowlands.
More fun.
14. From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come) tour premiere
Another rarity. liked hearing this. It was last played with the E Street Band on May 30, 2009 in Norway. Added to the fun.
15. Talk To Me
The most fun of the night! Bruce was really hamming it up, making faces into the camera. Talking about all the things you need to do when you get in trouble with "your baby." He was very loose on this.
16. This Depression
Fun stops for a bit. Only third time played. Was in the "Jack of All Trades" normal spot.
17. Shackled and Drawn
18. Mary's Place (tour premiere)
Fun is back! Many felt this was way overplayed past tours, but having not been played since the March 23, 2009 rehearsal show at Asbury Park's Convention Hall, it was good to hear again. Crowd was into it.
19. Waitin' On A Sunny Day
20. Incident on 57th Street
21. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
Are you kidding me??? The ultimate Springsteen back-to-back... Only third time done this way since late 1980. Steve Van Zandt came down to the front extension with Bruce and they had a great time...
The best way to sum up the main set was from a tweet I got from Mitch Powitz:
Mitch Powitz @powitz
@Stan_Goldstein End of Main Set? Sounds like the whole friggin show has been an Encore!
Encores:
22. Rocky Ground
Hadn't heard this in awhile. Really nice.
23. Born To Run
Stadium lights turned on
24. Ramrod
"Let's roadhouse!" Bruce said to Steve.... Did I mention fun? This was more fun.
25. Bobby Jean
Usually not one of my favorites, but it hasn't been overplayed this tour so it was good to hear.
26. Dancing in the Dark
People dancing on stage all over the place including two good friends of mine. My pal Kiley Armstrong of the Associated Press was brought up by Bruce after she had a sign saying "Can I dance with a tech?" So she danced with one of Bruce's techs upfront. Another sign by my friend Danielle DeCarolis read "Can I dance with Kevin Buell (Bruce's guitar tech)" and Bruce brought her onstage but she couldn't find Kevin anywhere so she ended up dancing with Little Steven. There was a guy onstage dancing with Cindy Mizelle and another woman dancing with someone else and Bruce had a dance partner... Okay, this was fun too!
27. Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (With Gary US Bonds)
28. American Land (with Gary US Bonds)
Fireworks set off over the stadium.
Over at 11:37 p.m. for a 3:09 show.
Next show: We're doing it again Saturday night at MetLife Stadium. Can Bruce top this? I don't know but the man rarely disappoints, and this is the night before his 63rd birthday. Will the clock strike midnight?
Report is a little shorter tonight, as I didn't have much time to write. I hope to have a recap after Saturday's show and a wrapup sometime on Sunday.
