His appearance and birth certificate may prove him to be 66 years old, but Bruce Springsteen’s energy is that of a 20-year-old musician in the prime of his or her life.
Bruce often referred to as “The Boss,” is most famous for his work with the E Street Band. Since their origin in 1972, Bruce and the Band have earned themselves one of the best reputations in the music business—that is, they have a hard time leaving the stage!
While his voice may not be on par with that of Billy Joel or Elton John, Bruce’s lyrics and energetic stage presence are what people cling to.
His songs are poetic in nature, dealing most often with the struggles and triumphs of the American working class. Bruce is a family man, and this reflects very much in his songs, for he will time and time again pay homage to his home state of New Jersey.
Bruce’s stage presence is something to admire. He has always been the performer that makes his way across the stage and among the crowd, doing far more than singing—he is an entertainer through and through.
He is also notable for his one-on-one interactions with fans. It has become customary of Bruce to allow fans up on stage with him to dance around and sing along. The relationship he has with his fans is one that results from his continued efforts to make them feel appreciated. Of course, other artists spend time thanking their fans, but very few go to the lengths that Bruce does.
Another small, yet unique thing that Bruce has been known to do is take song requests from his fans. Fans will place a song they’d like Bruce and the Band to play on a poster, and Bruce will select a handful of these posters from the crowd and see the requests through.
In this past year, Springsteen has not missed a beat. He has dedicated his time to playing to thousands of people all over the world, just like he has for years. He opened up the River Tour (album released in October of 1980) on January 16, playing to his fans in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As is common of his concerts, Bruce and the E Street Band played 34 songs, which included the six-song encore.
When he concluded his stay in the Keystone state, Bruce and the Band made their way across the states, making stops in Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, California, Oklahoma, and many others. He took his music overseas starting on May 14, where he and the Band played in Barcelona, Spain. His European stretch lasted until July 31, where he played his final concert abroad in Zurich, Switzerland.
This demanding schedule is something to admire, yet some may also think he’s crazy for doing so much touring at his age. But Bruce refuses to stop.
Upon returning from the three-month stay in Europe, Bruce kick started the remainder of his U.S. tour in none other than his home state of New Jersey.
On August 23, Bruce and the Band took the stage at MetLife Stadium. This performance had all the same markings of a traditional Bruce concert. As was similar to the January 16 performance in Pittsburgh, Bruce and the Band played 33 songs, which lasted three hours and 52 minutes. According to Bruce Springsteen’s official website, this was the longest show recorded in the U.S to date.
However, this date would soon be overshadowed by Bruce’s performance just a week later, where he played for four hours and one minute. Though impressive, this length is still second to the 2012 performance in Helsinki, Finland where “The Boss” played for four hours and six minutes.
He inched closer to this time, though, on September 7 in Philadelphia. Just when the fans thought they had heard the closing song, Bruce and the Band returned to the stage to play another number. When it was all said and done, the concert clocked in at an astounding four hours, three minutes, and 46 seconds.
For those who don’t consider themselves to be Bruce fans, well shame on you, but for those who do and have yet to see him in concert, it would be in your best interest to do so. While his tickets may require a few months of saving, it is sure to be worth it. He is one of the greatest performers we have the chance to witness, so take advantage of it while the opportunity still exists.
