BRUCE @ THE SPECTRUM: NIGHT TWO SETLIST, NIGHT ONE PICTURES AND SETLIST > 102.9 WMGK - Philadelphia's Classic Rock > 102.9 WMGK

BRUCE @ THE SPECTRUM: NIGHT TWO SETLIST, NIGHT ONE PICTURES AND SETLIST

Posted on April 28, 2009 | Views: 464

2009-4-29, (Final Night at) The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA

Badlands (Out of the gate strong)

The Ties That Bind (a staple on 1980’s River tour, sounded great tonight!)

Outlaw Pete

Spirit In The Night (The only song from Greetings to make it into the show either night, The Big Man in fine form on this one)

Working On A Dream

Seeds (Smoldering and more impressive tonight than on night #1)

Johnny 99

The Ghost Of Tom Joad

Raise Your Hand (once again Bruce rummaged through the pit area for fan’s “request signs” during the extended intro for this one. He seemed to grab up a bunch at first, then focused on a couple that maybe he hoped to find. First he flashes a sign that asks if the band can be stumped, The Boss cringes then tears up the sign and throws it back before flashing the next sign. The next song was also a sign request on Tuesday night, a sound check song on Wednesday, and in the show by request on Wednesday night.)

London Calling (title track of The Clash’s landmark 1980 album. Bruce’s version was one of the most invigorating moments of a high energy show)

Red-Haired Woman (This was a sweet duet with Patti, who returned to action tonight after taking time off to recover from a horse riding spill. A little John and June Carter Cash vibe to it.)

Thundercrack (Bruce pulls out two signs asking for this old E Street show stopper, saying, “This one takes us back to the Main Point. Let’s see if we can do it.”)

Hungry Heart (Another request song, and a fave, but tonight Bruce crawls to the hockey boards to find his mom Adele, who he gets to lead the sing-a-long. His aunts are also in the house.)

Promised Land

Streets Of Philadelphia (An emotional highlight for the connection between the city, the singer, and the song.)

Kingdom Of Days

The Rising

Born To Run (One last time, at top volume, whoa oh oh oh-ing to the final note. This song was always always always a major part of every E Street Band show at The Spectrum, through the decades. The echo still lingers in my head. )

Encore:

Hard Times Come Again No More (I love this addition to the band’s repertoire)

Harry The K Grand Slam call (Bruce says a few words in tribute to Harry Kalas before playing a recording of Harry calling a Bruce Springsteen mock Grand Slam, which Bruce enjoyed thoroughly, ending with, “Hard to believe, Harry!”)

Thunder Road (By this point, it was every voice in the place singing along with Bruce on this one)

10^th Avenue Freeze Out (and this one)

Land Of Hope And Dreams

American Land

Kitty’s Back (The final song of the final show. It was in the plan for Tuesday night, but Rosie closed night #1. Always a big crowd pleaser here, if not in many other places, this one works as a finale on many levels. Still, I would have loved to hear the strains of Jungleland in that hall one more time. Who knows, if rumors are true, maybe I’ll have one more shot at that.)

2009-4-28, The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
Badlands (this tour’s opening salvo)
Out In The Street
Outlaw Pete (a riveting live take on this one from the latest album)
She’s The One (Sweet tonight!)
Working On A Dream (featuring the Right Rev. Springsteen exhorting the crowd voraciously!)
Seeds
Johnny 99
The Ghost Of Tom Joad
At this point, while the band vamped the intro to “Raise Your Hand,” the Eddie Floyd classic, The Boss went to collect “request signs” which he’s been using to get fan input into each night’s set. I noticed him grab one with “Mountain Of Love” on it (he’d done it during sound check that afternoon), and a few more I could not read. With the lights up, Bruce noticed 4 people each holding a letter that looked that like a lit match stick, spelling F-I-R-E.
Fire (a rare treat that was also part of my first E Street Band show on May 26, 1978)
More signs onstage, he grabs another one from the crowd, and then tells the spotlight operator to shine a light on this big white sheet with large black letters, F-E-V-E-R (also overheard being rehearsed pre-show) – Bruce just really knows how to “get to us” in Philly.
The Fever is an always sought after, but rarely openly asked for sip from a special bottle.
Oh yes, among the stack of requests on Max’s drum riser, he grabs the orange one, and yes, an amazing triple indulgence is complete for the kids from Philly. Back to the Main Point, 1973 and forward, “Mountain Of Love” was always a highlight, delivered fresh and raw. The vintage has mellowed a bit, but the wine is still amazing!)
Mountain Of Love
Waiting On A Sunny Day (Bruce finds a couple small children sitting near thesatage, climbs over and lets them lead the sing-along part of this one, including Carly, who we know was at her first concert, because she had told us so live on the air, not an hour earlier. That’s pretty cool.)
Promised Land
The Wrestler
Kingdom Of Days
Radio Nowhere
Lonesome Day
The Rising
Born To Run (sung at full South Philly style throat!)
Encores:
Hard Times Come Again No More (written by the great Stephen Foster) featured stirring solos by violinist Soozie Tyrell, Charles Giordano on accordion, and Clarence blowing sax.
For the second encore tune, Bruce went back to the audience’s signs and plucked out the song that closed my first Springsteen show.
You Can’t Sit Down (a major hit for The Dovells, perpetrated by the kid from Freehold)
10^th Avenue Freeze Out
Land Of Hope And Dreams
American Land
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) (This one could close 100 Spectrum shows and never get old)
Also noted tonight, in addition to Giordano making a smooth transition into his role, was the mid-show change of Weinbergs on drums. Max, soon to be called to Conan’s Tonight Show launch, has turned over the family trust to his son, Jay, who way more than handled the chair. Who says kids never listen to their parents?!? I could make a joke or try to be cute, but Jay Weinberg is no Mini-Max or anything like that. He is a fully formed drummer in his own right, who seems to have inherited his father’s sense of power at the kit. He held his own with one of America’s truly great rock n’ roll units.
My friend George asked me on his way out on Tuesday night, “How can they top that?” The answer lies in the fact that Bruce only gets one more crack at the retiring Spectrum, and if it means playing half the night to do it, you get the sense the band knows they have to send the place off with something special. Looking forward to seeing how they do it, George.