It’s been a hot minute since I’ve stepped into a big arena to see a proper certified legend. There’s a unique buzz that comes from seeing an iconic, beloved, household name in the flesh. It’s the kind of experience that will have you bragging “I’ve actually seen them live!“, whenever the opportunity presents itself, for the rest of your days. It’s a rush that I’ve been craving of late, and I’ll be damned if Bruce Springsteen doesn’t fit the bill perfectly. My appreciation for his work has grown slowly but steadily over the years, as I’ve begun to grasp how foundational his influence is for so many acts I adore, but delving into his prolific back catalogue will only get you so far. For decades now, Bruce and the E Street Band have set the standard for live shows with their marathon 3 hour sets, and finally experiencing that first-hand felt like undertaking some rock and roll rite of passage. I had no clue where that journey would take me, no clue of the scale of the buzz around these shows, all I knew for certain was that I’d sure be getting my money’s worth.     

The trains to and from Manchester were half full with fans sporting Springsteen shirts from past tours, and practically every shop I set foot in when I made it to the city was playing his music. Even though it was his third show in the city, it still felt like an event. One that brought people together, chatting about a shared love of The Boss on the way to the venue. There was certainly plenty of time to chat on the way to the new Co-op Live Arena; I had several “plan your visit” emails saying that it was just a 25 minute walk from the station (down some path that didn’t actually exist), when in reality the shortest route was more like 45 minutes. Its uncomfortable seats also provided little respite after the lengthy trek. Credit where it’s due though, there were abundant amenities, the sound was superb, the staff immensely helpful, and even from way up in the gods I had a great view of what was about to unfold. 

The dilemma often felt when buying tickets to see legacy acts, is weighing up the fact that this might well be the last chance you’ll get to see them, with the notion that their glory days are long behind them and you should lower your expectations accordingly. From the moment The Boss took to the stage, the arena humming with calls of “Bruuuuuce”, to his final wave goodbye hours later, he sounded as good as he ever has. His energy, his stage presence, the light-hearted camaraderie with the E Street Band – it felt like I was watching someone a good 20 years younger. Bruce has absolutely still got it. Thanks to those infectious high spirits, I didn’t even care that I didn’t know as many songs as I thought I would. It was one of those shows that instilled a joy of discovery in me, revelling in hearing some deep cuts for the first time. You got the feeling it was one of those shows where every song was someone‘s favourite, such was the devotion and exuberance of the crowd. 

Time hasn’t neither dulled his talents, nor his convictions. Practically every word out of his mouth between songs (when not thanking the crowd or hyping up the band) was spent calling out the rising authoritarianism back home in the states. The clamping down on free speech at universities, the rolling back of civil liberties, deportations without due process, pandering to dictators, policy targeting the poorest and most vulnerable in society – all of it addressed in no uncertain terms, with true passion and eloquence. I’ve gotten so used to being let down by acts who sing socially conscious songs, only to have their own shitty politics then contradict the message. I walked away with such a deepened respect for Springsteen, and just how consistent and outspoken he was. Whether it was Celtic rocker ‘Death To My Hometown’ calling out corporate greed, ‘Rainmaker’ telling a familiar tale of demagogues preying on ignorance, the heavy stomp of ‘Murder Incorporated’ addressing rampant gun violence, or the gospel infused ‘My City Of Ruins’ instilling a sense of hope and defiance with its calls of “rise up”. Championing the same causes, hammering home the same messages, as he has done for the past 50 years. I felt honoured to see the real deal in action.

All of that came long before the opening drum fill of ‘Badlands’, greeted by the biggest cheer of the night, saw the E Street Band kick off the final run of wall to wall hits. Steven Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren trading solos, and Jake Clemons on sax doing The Big Man proud, as the band rattled through the highlights of Born In The USA and Born To Run. Bruce himself venturing out amongst the crowd for ‘Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out’, before being the last man standing on stage after the final thank you’s and farewells, as he took the time to hug every single band member in turn as they left. 

I’ve been to a lot of supposedly “sold out” shows in my time, but I don’t think I’ve seen an arena quite as full to capacity as this before. A bum in every seat. By the end, every last person singing along to songs about longing to escape, about barely hanging on to the hope of brighter days, which felt just as potent and relatable as the day they were written. It was anthemic in the truest sense of the word, bringing people together, lifting them up, giving them something to stand for. I wasn’t expecting the show to feel so important, so relevant. I wasn’t expecting to walk away feeling so emotional and inspired. I left that arena a different person to the one that went in. This wasn’t the last gasp of a fading legend. To say there’s life in the old dog yet would be a severe understatement. Springsteen’s star burns as bright as ever, and I feel immensely lucky to have caught some of that glow first-hand.