New for 2023: Review for 1978; audio for 1995; new entry for 2022
1972: Bruce and the as-yet-unnamed E Street Band play their fifth night of a six-night, two-shows-nightly stand at Kenny’s Castaways in New York City.
1978: Bruce and the E Street Band play the Dallas Convention Center Arena on the Darkness Tour.
1980: Today is an emotional day for Bruce–John Lennon was murdered the night before, and Bruce has to muster up the composure and presence to perform. He opens his River Tour show in Philadelphia with a tribute to Lennon and goes on to play an intense show that features the tour premiere of both “Rendezvous” and–fittingly–“Twist and Shout.” This is a show worth listening to.
1984: The Born in the U.S.A. Tour stops at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, where “Detroit Medley” features a one-off “Wabash Cannonball.” A young Steve Earle is in attendance at this show and is inspired by Bruce’s performance to write “Guitar Town.”
1995: At Night Two at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia on the Ghost of Tom Joad Tour, Bruce plays a tour one-off of “Blinded by the Light.” Just as the night before, the show is recorded, and parts of it will be broadcast the following week on the Columbia Records Radio Hour.
1998: From Stockholm to Paris: Bruce appears on French TV show Nulle Part Ailleurs, granting an interview and performing “Born in the U.S.A.” Also on this date: Tracks is certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
2002: Bruce and the E Street Band bring the Rising Tour to the brand-new Carolina Center in Columbia, South Carolina, where Bruce tour premieres “My Love Will Not Let You Down,” “Growin’ Up,” and “This Hard Land.”
2011: Bruce joins Gaslight Anthem on stage at Asbury Park’s Convention Hall for “American Slang.”
2015: Bruce phones SiriusXM for an E Street Radio interview to promote his new box set and upcoming tour for the The Ties That Bind: The River Collection box set.
2017: Springsteen on Broadway continues its theatrical run at the Walter Kerr Theater in New York City.
2019: Bruce joins Sting, John Mellencamp, James Taylor, Bob Geldof, The Eurythmics, and more at the 30th anniversary benefit concert for the Rainforest Foundation at the Beacon Theater in New York City. Bruce plays three songs, including duets with John Mellencamp on “Pink Houses” and “Glory Days,” plus an all-star encore of “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
2020: Bruce and the E Street Band rehearse for their upcoming Saturday Night Live appearance at Bruce’s home studio in Colts Neck.
2022: Bruce appears on NPR’s World Cafe to promote his new album, Only the Strong Survive.
