New for 2024: New entry for 1976 and 2014; review for 1999
1973: Bruce and the as-yet-unnamed E Street Band headline a show for Hobart & William Smith College at the Geneva Theater in Geneva, New York.
1974: Bruce and the E Street Band play a gig at the Julia Sanderson Theater in Springfield, Massachusetts.
1975: Bruce plays his first-ever show in Washington state when the Born to Run Tour stops at the Paramount Theater in Seattle.
1976: Bruce’s scheduled show at the Philadelphia Spectrum is postponed to the following day due to Clarence’s scheduling conflicts.
1978: Bruce and the E Street Band rehearse for the upcoming and final leg of the Darkness Tour at Bruce’s farmhouse in Holmdel.
1983: At The Hit Factory in New York City, Bruce records “Shut Down” and “100 Miles From Jackson.” Neither have ever been released.
1984: The length of Bruce’ concerts have become legendary–so much so that local DJ Rick Dees discovers how easy it is to convince fans that Bruce’s concert at the Sports Arena last night is still going on this morning. Hundreds of listeners frantically call the arena and two dozen fans make the return trip to catch the end of Bruce’s “overnight encore.”
Later that night, Bruce and the band play their second of seven Born in the U.S.A. shows at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, and Bruce slips a little “California Sun” into the “Detroit Medley” for the occasion.
1992: Bruce and his new band bring World Tour 1992 to the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver.
1996: Bruce plays a solo acoustic benefit show for the John Steinbeck Research Center at San Jose State University, featuring an extensive Steinbeck reading before “Across the Border.” Steinbeck’s widow Elaine presents Bruce with a signed copy of The Grapes of Wrath.
1999: Bruce and the reunited E Street Band play their second of three shows at the Oakland Arena.
2007: Night Two in Oakland on the Magic Tour bring tour premieres of “Two Hearts,” “Racing in the Street” and “Working on the Highway.” For more highlights from this show, see my Where the Band Was report.
2009: Bruce’s cousin and assistant tour manager Lenny Sullivan passes away, prompting the last-minute cancellation of Bruce’s show in Kansas City.
2014: Bruce and Jessica are among the list of luminaries attending the opening night of The Last Ship on Broadway.
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.
2020: Promotional appearances for Letter to You continue: Bruce is today’s guest on Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, The Daily Show With Trevor Noah, and Triple M.
