Forget Oxegen, We Have Springsteen
Monday, July 13th, 2009
I‘ll be honest, I didn’t really know who Springsteen was. I knew he was a singer and I knew some of his hits, but until last night, I did not know what an absolute phenomenon he is.
For the past week, when I’ve mentioned to people that I’ll be going to see Bruce, I was met with excited and jealous faces. I was assured that he put on a great show, I was assured that I would not be disappointed, I was assured that I’d love him. But those are just words – the three hours of intense, earth pounding rock that clamoured from the stage at the RDS Arena had to be witnessed to truly understand. On Sunday night, 12th July 2009, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band delivered one of the finest shows I’ve ever seen.
I knew Glory Days, I knew Born to Run, I knew Dancing in the Dark, Proud Mary and Radio Nowhere. That’s about it. I was introduced to the incredible Outlaw Pete, Spirit in the Night, Promised Land, American Skin and the epic Jungleland. He played for three hours and the crowd still called for more. He obliged. Finishing the night on his only cover, an anthemic mash-up of Twist & Shout and La Bamba. For this final song, we were all part of the E-Street Band. The sound that ascended to the sky over the RDS was something special.
I am converted to the Church of the Boss.
The Full Setlist
- No Surrender
- Badlands
- Night
- My Lucky Day
- Outlaw Pete
- Hungry Heart
- Working On A Dream
- Seeds
- Johnny 99
- Youngstown
- Darkness On The Edge of Town
- Spirit In The Night
- Sherry Darling
- Proud Mary
- Prove It All Night
- Trapped
- Waiting On A Sunny Day
- Promised Land
- Radio Nowhere
- American Skin (41 Shots)
- Lonesome Day
- The Rising
- Born To Run
- Jungleland
- American Land
- Rosalita
- Glory Days
- Dancing In The Dark
- Twist & Shout
More pics on Flickr.com/photos/darrenbyrne
tagged under: Bruce Springsteen.Clarence Clemons.E-Street Band.gig.Music.Nils Lofgren.Patti Scialfa.RDS.Review.Roy Bittan.The BossABOUT THIS CULCHIE
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See now, I’d be the same – I wouldn’t have been a massive fan but I really regret not buying a ticket for this now – seems to really have been worth the money. Next time Brucie, next time.
Love the photos!
Yea it was a great show altho i prefered it last year. There were so many songs this year that I didnt know. Pity bout the really crap weather too!
Efa: I have to disagree I was there last year, and it wasn’t a tiny little patch. He was electric, from start to extended end.
I’m still totally impressed that he played American Skin.
He’d never played that outside the US before. I feel absolutely priveleged to have seen it live.
Great concert. Still on a buzz.
Love them! Fantastic work Darren. My decision to give away my ticket is suddenly seeming far worse then I had originally feared.
You did WHAT?!
I heard that last nights concert was better than saturday night, the one i was at. I did enjoy it though. He is an amazing performer.
Maybe because last year was my first time to see him perform I was just blown away. I don’t know, I just preferred last years show.
Fantastic setlist that. The previous night was brilliant. Like Efa, I was a Saturdayer and preferred last year’s show. Great photos Darren,
But damn you and Rick getting to see Jungleland. Damn you to hell.
I was there too last night and it was brilliant!! i’m totally in love with him and i WILL be at the next one!! i saw him last year but i think this one was better maybe because i was in the pit. Even the annoying girl who had her back to the stage yapping to her friend the whole time didn’t ruin it for me!!
Sorry Ronan, I did feel for you alright when he started it…
I’ve seen him three times in the last 18 months or so (here, last year and the Christmas before in the Odyssey) and this was *the* best gig I have ever been at, bar none.
Wow.
Sorry Darren, I wanted to point out too that I have no idea how you got shots of this quality standing where we were. Fair play
I heard most of the gig from my kitchen. Sounded great. Three hours is generous. Not many bands will give the audience that much these days.
enjoyed the concert on sunday night, extremely jealous of a certain 2fm DJ (who we will call er lets say Rick), who was in the pit for the concert. Thoroughly enjoyed the night and wondering when is he coming back next.
Nice review Darren. I went to Saturday nights gig and would have went again on Sunday if somebody gave me a ticket, even though I couldn’t afford it. I saw him last year but it was the best gig i’ve ever been to.
Can’t believe you got 41 shots!
Super pics Darren, thanks. I was at both shows, front and centre……if you want the ultimate experience of Bruce live join the queue next time round!!!
)
Thanks for the review, it’s great hearing from the newly converted
(Just one thing……double check your covers count…there were three
Thank you so much, everyone. I really appreciate the response. Overwhelming.
@Efa We only had a light drizzle on Sunday, just for a short time. I’d imagine the heavy rain would take a lot from the gig.
@Christian I think we’ve firmly established now that you are, in fact, an idiot.
@Ronan Yip!
And it rocked.
@Rick I love my zoom lens.
@Holemaster You obviously live close to the RDS? Could you hear it well? I can’t imagine enjoying it as much if I wasn’t in the pit. Even half way down the arena would be a bit too far for me.
@Cathal On the bright side, I did get a great picture of said DJ looking like a drowned trainspotter. I may share it later.
@Jen 41? Pah – those were just the shortlist. I’m very triggerhappy.
@Jenny As I said, I didn’t know many of his songs. What was the cover I missed?
Jenny’s right Darren, Proud Mary is a song by John Fogerty and Creedance Clearwater Revival.