New for 2023: Review for 1978 and 2005; video for 1990; new entry for 2022
1973: Bruce headlines his final show of a three-night stand at My Father’s Place in Roslyn, New York.
1974: Bruce and the E Street Band play a gig at American University in Washington, DC, where Bruce’s cover of “Wear My Ring Around Your Neck” makes its debut.
1978: Bruce opens his Darkness show in Toronto with his first-ever performance of “Ready Teddy.”
1984: When the Born in the U.S.A. Tour stops at Iowa State University at Ames, Bruce debuts a new song–an outtake from Born in the U.S.A. called “Sugarland.”
1990: Bruce plays the first of a pair of unique, remarkable benefit shows for the Christic Institute, a public interest law firm. This is Bruce’s first “official” concert since disbanding the E Street Band. He’s out of his comfort zone, and it shows. His life has changed: he’s firmly attached to Patti now (even if they’re not yet married), he’s a father, and his new life perspective informs the new work that comprises much of the setlist. World premieres abound: “Red Headed Woman,” “57 Channels (And Nothin’ On),” “When the Lights Go Out,” and “Real World” all get their very first airings. Intimate performances of “My Father’s House,” “Brilliant Disguise” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” (which sounds particularly forlorn tonight) take on new life. In the encores, Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne join Bruce for “Highway 61 Revisited” and a gorgeous rendition of “Across the Borderline.” This show is available for purchase as an official archive series installment (get it here) and is essential for any Springsteen fan.
2002: Bruce tour premieres “Cadillac Ranch” and plays a rare solo piano “Incident on 57th Street” at his Rising show in Greensboro, but it’s his fall during “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day” that almost ends up a literal show-stopper. Bruce stopped a serious fall by a deft save using Max’s drum stand, but the mishap was enough to draw blood, shocking fans who watched Bruce just continue on as if nothing had happened.
2005: Bruce opens a two-night solo acoustic stand at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, where “Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?” gets a new arrangement on ukulele.
2007: Bruce hits the beach in Ocean Grove, New Jersey to record the official video for “Girls in Their Summer Clothes.” (Thanks to Stan Goldstein for the pointer to the “behind the scenes” video!)
2010: Bruce releases The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story box set, featuring a new double-album of previously unreleased songs. That evening, he makes a guest appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, masquerading as “1975 Bruce” to perform “Whip My Hair” with Fallon (who is masquerading as Neil Young). Once rid of the disguise, Bruce performs “Because the Night” (with Patti Smith’s lyrics) and “Save My Love,” accompanied by Steve, Roy, and The Roots.
2017: Springsteen on Broadway continues its theatrical run at the Walter Kerr Theater in New York City.
2018: Springsteen on Broadway continues its theatrical run at the Walter Kerr Theater in New York City.
2019: Bruce plays a private benefit show with Bobby Bandiera and his band (and for half the show, Max Weinberg on drums) for Boston College.
2022: On the third night of his Tonight Show “takeover,” Bruce performs “Nightshift” (recorded during his studio appearance two days prior.
