Thursday, October 18, 2007

Bruce rocks the Garden - Night One



Posted by Stan Goldstein
Newark Star-Ledger
Bruce Blog
October 18, 2007 12:25AM

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's first night at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday was a solid show with a good setlist but no tour debuts.

Show began at 8:22 p.m

The caliope played "Sidewalks of New York" as the band took the stage. The words to the song were put up on the big screen.

1. Radio Nowhere
Bruce yelled to the audience twice "Is there anyone alive out there?" before playing the opener.

2. Ties That Bind
3. Lonesome Day
4. Gypsy Biker
5. Magic
6. Reason to Believe
Bruce likes quiet when he starts to play this song. Ever since last week at the Meadowlands, he "shhhhhhusshhhhhessss" the crowd as they start to clap. He gave two long shussssessss tonight.
Then when Bruce started to play the harmonica he didn't have the bullet microphone so he had to pick it up. A bit of an awkward start.

7. Adam Raised A Cain
Hot version. Candy's Room was the alternate for this song on the handwritten setlist.

8. She's the One
9. Livin' in the Future
Bruce used some of the rap he did back at the 2000 MSG shows when he talked about what's good about New York: "The Statue of Liberty which is technically in New Jersey. New York football, the Giants and the Jets who play in New Jersey. The theme song to New York/New York which was sung by a man from New Jersey!"



10. The Promised Land
11. Brilliant Disguise
This is Patti's spot in the show to sing with Bruce. Whether it's "Town Called Heartbreak" or "Brilliant Disguise" or "Tougher Than the Rest."

After the song Bruce said: "Patti has a new album out. You can get it at the concession stand."
He then joked: "We also have new line of E Street Band sex toys! What we have used, you can now use in the comfort of your own home!"

12. Backstreets
Second time this has been played this tour. Crowd was really into it. Always great to hear this. Brings me back to the 1970s everytime I hear it.

13. Darlington County
14. Devil's Arcade
15. The Rising
16. Last to Die
17. Long Walk Home
18. Badlands

Main set over at 10:02 p.m.

Encores:
19. Girls In Their Summer Clothes.
Bruce said "I wish they could all be New York girls" before playing it.
I wish Bruce would mix up this spot in the setlist. I like this song, but it would be nice to hear something else start the encores every once in awhile.

20. Thundercrack
Bruce said: "This was our show closer when we first played Max's Kansas City (a famous club in Manhattan). It was a 150-seat room and it was us and The Wailers - that was a good bill." Bruce and Nils Lofgren really get into a great guitar jam toward the end of the song. Nils even plays the guitar behind his head!

21. Born to Run
Lights go on, 21,000 people in Madison Square Garden go nuts!

22. Dancin' in the Dark
Bruce swung the guitar around his neck at the end, like he did on this song during The Rising Tour.

23. American Land

Show over at 10:38 p.m.

Spotted at the show: James Gandolfini and Chuck Zito.

I would say Thursday night's Garden show will be a hot one with several differenct songs being played. Maybe Jungleland?

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