Set: Badlands / Radio Nowhere / Outlaw Pete / No Surrender / Out In The Streets / Working On A Dream / Seeds / Johnny 99 / The Ghost Of Tom Joad / Raise Your Hand / Good Lovin’ / Prove It All Night / The E Street Shuffle / Waiting On A Sunny Day / The Promised Land / I’m On Fire / Kingdom Of Days / Lonesome Day / The Rising / Born To Run

Encore: Hard Times / Tenth Avenue Freezeout / Land Of Hope And Dreams / American Land / Bobby Jean / Rosalita

When The Boss tells you he’s gonna build a house combining all that’s good and all that needs fixing in the world these days, he certainly delivers. I could wax for paragraphs about all the accolades he and the E Street Band have earned themselves over the years and through my own eyes and ears. Instead, I’ll share a few of my highlights and encourage you to do the same. I’ve included links to three proper reviews below if that’s more your thing. Now, here’s what made the night special for me:

No Surrender Most recently known as a political campaign anthem, I still remember the days of my youth blasting this loudly on a boombox running on “D” batteries, trying to figure out how I was gonna win a little league game. It’s a tune that transports me right back to those days, obviously the meaning is deeper, but it’s all interpretive and that’s where it takes me.

Out In The Streets I feel in love with this song last summer when the Boss rolled through Milwaukee for the 105th anniversary of Harley-Davidson. I had my girl and my best friend in the crowd with me that night. The lyrics to this song stay in my head for days after just one listen. Love it.

The Ghost Of Tom Joad If anyone had any reservations about Nils Lofgren’s guitar playing ability, those were put to bed immediately at the conclusion of this song. I’ve seen him throw his weight around, but never like his performance during this song last night.

Good Lovin’ The Young Rascals may have made this song a hit in 1966, but the Grateful Dead introduced me to the song and made it a favorite. It was the first of three songs played by audience request via posters plucked by the Boss himself. He claimed this was their first time playing it live, but it sounded like they’d been doing it for years.

I’m On Fire Easily one of my top five songs as a youngster. I watched the video for this song hundreds of times. I knew every word to this song by age 7 and, as a child, had a tape of only this song, on repeat, through both sides of a cassette.

Born To Run

Bobby Jean I honestly thought the show was over when they wrapped up “American Land,” but it wasn’t quittin’ time yet. Another old favorite, which, on the way out of the venue people were saying had only been played sparingly this tour.

Rosalita One of my favorite Springsteen jams. Full of energy and people absolutely in love with the night despite being rocked for nearly three hours. I love when shows end on a high energy number and this was the absolute perfect song to say goodnight to. It was the only song I said I wanted to hear, I had to wait to the end to hear it, but that was just about perfect.

Once again, I have to thank my Dad for being my concert going companion, but most of all for raising me on Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. Another great night, one I’ll never forget.

Review: A new vibe for Bruce Springsteen at the Xcel Energy Center
Review: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band @ Xcel Energy Center
Review: Energetic Boss channels youthful vibe