Simply The Boss...

Last night saw the triumphant return to Glasgow of "The Boss" after an absence of 4 years and it was worth every minute of the wait. Admittedly I had managed to go down to Sunderland to see him last year but there is something special about seeing Springsteen on home turf.

There is a tinge of sadness nowadays at a Springsteen gig with the losses in recent years of the multi talented Danny Federici and, of course, the huge gap left by "The Big Man" himself, Clarence Clemons, although his nephew has done a stellar job taking over sax duties. But the overriding factor at a Springsteen show is the sheer unadulterated joy the band seem to get from playing music, even after almost 3 and a half hours on stage. At one point towards the climax last night Springsteen reminded the audience that he was "sixty fuckin' three". If I have anywhere near that much energy at that age I will be one happy man.

When he last played Glasgow it was a cold, miserable,wet July evening. Last night the weather was glorious and seemed to lift everyone's spirits. Not that they needed lifting much when the first bars of the anthemic "We Take Care Of Our Own" opened the set. It didn't take long before the sign requests started. Tracks 3,4 and 5 all came from signs held aloft by members of the audience. However contrived this may be it is still a unique and essential part of a Springsteen gig. There was also the by now obligatory youngster plucked from the audience to sing "Waitin' On A Sunny Day" with the band and three lucky women got there chance to join Bruce on stage for a magnificent "Dancing In The Dark".

You genuinely got the feeling that Springsteen did not want to leave that Hampden stage and if not for a curfew he would most likely have just kept going. Highlights were too many to mention but special mentions go to "Tougher Than The Rest" and a simply beautiful version of "Atlantic City". It takes some kind of genius to turn some pretty bleak lyrics into something truly joyous and over the space of 3 and a half hours "The Boss" and the ever wonderful E Street Band managed that and so much more.

On the way out  I overheard someone say "you wouldn't get that at a Bon Jovi gig". Never a truer word uttered. Quite simply Springsteen just keeps getting better and better and I for one am counting the days until he takes the to the stage once again in sunny Scotland.

Setlist:

We Take Care of Our Own
The Ties That Bind
Jole Blon
It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City
Radio Nowhere
No Surrender
Wrecking Ball
Death to My Hometown
My City of Ruins
Spirit in the Night
The E Street Shuffle
I'm on Fire
Tougher Than the Rest
Atlantic City
Murder Incorporated
Johnny 99
Open All Night
Darlington County
Shackled and Drawn
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
The Rising
Badlands
Land of Hope and Dreams
* * *
Born to Run
Rosalita
Dancing in the Dark
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out
Twist and Shout
Shout
Thunder Road (solo acoustic)