Brooooce, Brooooce the crowd cheered as we waited for The Boss to take the stage. 7 PM, exactly as announced, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band ran onto the stage at Murrayfield Stadium to a rapturous reception. Bruce has so much energy. From the very start he plummets into each song and then straight into the next. Jackie and I sat on the disabled platform at the rear of the stadium with a pretty good view of the stage and the screens. Jan, Norm, Laura and Dave were all scattered around the venue, each of us marvelling at the human dynamo that is Bruce Springsteen.
The first hour consists of songs which, to my shame, are not so familiar to me. After all, this guy has a massive 50 year catalogue to draw from. And that is exactly what he does throughout the evening, selecting songs from throughout his career. Bruce and I have travelled some of his long road together. My first experience of Springsteen was at his debut UK concerts in Hammersmith Odeon 1975. Since then I have seen him at Newcastle City Hall, St James’s Park Newcastle, Dublin Point, the O2 Arena London, Hampden Park Glasgow, Leeds Arena and the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Two of those concerts have been immortalised on DVD: the legendary 1975 London shows and the Dublin Seeger Sessions show.
“Darkness on the Edge of Town” takes me back to more familiar territory and then “Kitty’s Back” goes even further back; in fact right back to the very start. Class! Soon we are into “Backstreets” which takes me to 1975 and more familiar material. The rest of the evening passes in a blur. So many great songs and so many memories. “Because The Night” is of course a signature song for Patti Smith, for whom Bruce wrote the tune; but Bruce also does a great version of this classic anthem. “She’s the One” is as great as ever. The set closes with the haunting mouth harp of Bruce leading us into “Thunder Road” which is as haunting as ever. The audience take over and sing the majority of the vocals.
Steve Van Zandt looks as cool as ever. He and Bruce bounce off each other throughout the night, with Steve playing some great guitar.
And then he is gone, briefly. Everyone knew that this could not be the end. “Born in the USA” signals the start of a several song encore. “Born to Run” sounds as fresh as ever, and I am transported back to Hammersmith where a young guy with a woolly hat and a wispy beard performed his songs before me for the first time.
“Glory Days” soon follows, then another classic “Dancing in the Dark”. Back to 1975 and “Tenth Avenue Freeze–Out”, with some great images of the late, sadly missed big man Clarence Clemons, he of the magnificent sax playing in the original E Street Band. Bruce closes the evening, a lone figure on the stage, with “I’ll See You in My Dreams”.
We all file out of the stadium and into the cool Scottish evening. Well organised buses transport us back to our hotel in Rose Street, just off Princes Street and Waverley station. Then, next morning, luckily unaffected by the train strike which was taking place that day, we board our LNER service to Newcastle. All works like magic. A great day with a great performer, songwriter and someone who has so much energy that he can ignite any stadium around the world. Long may you continue to do so Bruce.
Setlist: No Surrender; Ghosts; Prove It All Night; Death to My Hometown; Letter to You; The Promised Land; Out in the Street; Candy’s Room; Darkness on the Edge of Town; Kitty’s Back; Nightshift; Mary’s Place; The E Street Shuffle; Johnny 99; Last Man Standing; Backstreets; Because the Night; She’s the One; Wrecking Ball; The Rising; Badlands; Thunder Road.
Encore: Born in the U.S.A.; Born to Run; Bobby Jean; Glory Days; Dancing in the Dark; Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out; I’ll See You in My Dreams.
Thanks to Jackie for taking the images.
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Bryan on June 4, 2023 at 1:57 pm
One of the last, great American rockers!
Posted by vintagerock on June 4, 2023 at 2:19 pm
Yes Bryan Bruce does indeed rock! Happy days Peter
Posted by nedmalet on June 4, 2023 at 3:16 pm
The Boss. The undisputed master of the stage. Still belting it out. Lucky you. Takes me back to Wembley 4th July, 1985.
Posted by vintagerock on June 4, 2023 at 4:57 pm
Yes he still has 110% energy. He was on fire. Happy days Peter
Posted by John on June 4, 2023 at 5:11 pm
I was at that gig. Pretty good! A week before Live Aid if memory serves.
Posted by john on June 4, 2023 at 3:22 pm
That must have been something to be at the ’75 Hammersmith gig! Keep on rockin’!
Posted by vintagerock on June 4, 2023 at 4:56 pm
Yes it was magic in 1975. I will never forget it. Happy days Peter
Posted by Peter Maggiore on June 4, 2023 at 6:26 pm
Great review Pete. How long was the set? He’s never still doing three hour shows, is he?
Posted by vintagerock on June 5, 2023 at 9:13 am
About 3.25 hours Peter. On 7 PM sharp finish around 10:15 PM. The guy has so much energy best wishes Peter
Posted by Noel Lally on June 4, 2023 at 8:03 pm
Well jel! (hadn’t this till last night), your reviews are always locked forward to and your ticket sourcing ability has me green with envy. Keep them coming and I hope you get a chance to review a Pixies concert, or do you have one in the back catalogue? Stay safe, keep gigging. N
Posted by vintagerock on June 5, 2023 at 9:11 am
Many thanks sadly I have never seen the pixies. I really should do so best wishes Peter
Posted by Noel Lally on June 4, 2023 at 8:09 pm
As an aside, saw the great man at Wembley July 4, 1985, at the Empire Pool (Wembley Arena) for the Seeger Sessions, still without a doubt one of the finest shows I ever saw without knowing any of the songs to be sung (sister is a Bruce super fan insisted) and the Emirates. Never disappoints and puts on great shows for the fans. Fab value, all shows three hours or more with no breaks.
Posted by vintagerock on June 5, 2023 at 9:10 am
Yes I saw the Seeger Sessions concert in Dublin and it was fantastic. Happy days Peter
Posted by Alun Rees on June 5, 2023 at 10:18 am
What a great night….wish I had been there. I still have my T-shirt and, of course, fantastic memories of seeing him on the Amnesty Tour in 1988….
Posted by vintagerock on June 5, 2023 at 11:03 am
A great night ! Yes Bruce is the man! Happy days Peter
Posted by john on June 7, 2023 at 8:50 am
Hi Peter,
Bruce has been my hero for many years. I discovered him late in the day in 1985 with Born in the USA, when I worked in Hull. I soon discovered Born to Run and then Asbury Park and for years when travelling up to Sunderland I used to sing along to The Wild the Innocent and the E street shuffle and Greetings from Asbury Park – Does this Bus stop …… was my favourite and then Darkness on the Edge of Town on the way home at night. So many great songs. He kept me going to work for years! Good times.
Best wishes, John
Posted by vintagerock on June 7, 2023 at 2:59 pm
Hi John yes Bruce is a big hero for me also. You have to admire the energy, the songs and the endurance of an authentic rock icon. Happy days Peter