Springsteen & E Street Band: Madison Square Garden, April 1, 2023

Bruce Springsteen salutes the crowd - April 1, 2023

Inevitably, someone might ask me, approximately: "you just saw him in Detroit on Wednesday, why would you fly to New York to see more? Especially when it's so expensive?" As the hours slipped away on my weather-delayed flight yesterday, I could even entertain a rational point to those questions. Hell, just looking at a setlist that had only 2 changes from the Detroit show 3 days prior, it still might seem fair to ask.Jungleland

Trapped. April 1, 2023

But, you see, there was this show. If you were there, you know. You experienced the crowd. You experienced what seemed to be an extra bounce in everyone's step -- in Bruce's case, literally skipping across the stage at times. You experienced "Jungleland," in which Bruce seemed to conjure up a version of himself not seen or heard in decades, and in which, if you closed your eyes, you heard the ghost of Jake Clemons's uncle, too. You heard and saw Max Weinberg being truly mighty in every way that mattered. And after three hours, as you left the arena, you were still buzzing, because you knew. Whether you are from New York (many, judging by crowd reaction), or from New Jersey (more, again judging by crowd reaction) or somewhere completely different (quite a few, judging by the variety of foreign languages heard in the corridors), you knew: This is why we do what we do.

Let's start with "Jungleland." Yes, it's a single song in a 27-song setlist, a song that Bruce started playing way back in 1974. The main set leading up to that song was crisp, at a level well above the show in Detroit -- not that Detroit was weak. The crowd had continued chanting the "Badlands" melody through the lights going down. Without even attempting to quiet the crowd, Bruce said, "we have something special for New York City!," and had Roy start. Over the next 11 minutes, we were transported to a different reality, sonically and visually. If there was a downside, it was that the monumental performance made the next song, "Thunder Road," feel somehow anti-climactic.

Nightshift. April 1, 2023

The show had many other highlights, both big and subtle: A blazing version of "Trapped" on the bigger side, while on the more subtle side was Bruce repeatedly attempting -- and failing -- to toss a guitar pick to a young fan in a corner section during "Out in the Street." That underscores another observation: Though Springsteen's audience is older overall, there were plenty of younger fans in attendance. The front of the pit section appeared to be entirely young women who jumped around to every rocker and knew the words to all of the songs -- even the ones from "Letter to You." My section behind the stage was shaking, and I was told later that other sections and even the floor were shaking as well. This was one of the best crowds I've experienced at the Garden, including giving Bruce the quiet appreciation he needed for acoustic numbers such as "Last Man Standing."

The show still has room for improvement: Bruce doesn't seem to have figured out how to make best use of the horns and choir. To me, the songs that did not feature either grouping were the best songs of the show. Then there is the setlist, which last night feature more songs from "Born to Run" (six) than from the most recent two albums combined. I hope to hear more of the new albums soon.