The best concert of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

It was the evening of August 30, 2008, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band they went on stage to perform at Veterans Park in Milwaukee (Wisconsin), it was a tour date in support of the album “Magic” (read the review here) but also coincided with Harleyfest 2008, the party for the 105th anniversary of the legendary Harley-Davidson motorcycle company, which was founded in Milwaukee back in 1903 by William Harley and the Davidson brothers.

“Magic”the fifteenth studio album by the New Jersey musician, was released in October 2007. It is a historic album for the Boss, it was the last album recorded with all the historic members of the And Street Bandin fact the keyboard player Danny Federicia cancer patient, died on April 17, 2008 at the age of 58, during the promotional tour of “Magic”. Even the saxophonist Clarence ClemonYes, the Big Man, wasn't doing very well, he had serious mobility problems and, only a few years later, on 18 June 2011, a stroke took him away at the age of 69.

Of that live show at the end of August 2008 in Milwaukee in his memoir published in 2009, entitled in the Italian version 'Big Man – True stories and incredible tales', Clarence Clemons states that that concert, in front of an audience made up almost entirely of motorcyclists, was the best concert ever Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Even if there is no shortage of sad and melancholy reflection due to the then recent death of Danny Federici“every time this band finishes a tour there are no guarantees that they will ever get on stage together again.”

Adding further: “Max (Weinberg, the drummer of the E Street Band, ed.) almost always wears a lumbar support to support his bad back. Clarence is held together by bolts, wires and electrodes, and is full of plastic and metal in places where the bone used to be. He needs new knees.”

As James Pettifer pointed out in his essay 'Meet You in Atlantic City' (in Italian, 'Bruce Springsteen & Atlantic City'), that concert was held emotionally because of the anniversary of the founding of Harley-Davidson . 'There were thousands of motorcycles in the city, all of which had finished their journey back to Milwaukee, where they were made. Homecoming, and what it means to come home, is a recurring Springsteen theme. The motorbikes had made it concrete'. Danny, Clarence, a hug wherever you are.

Tracklist:

Gypsy Biker

Out on the Street

Radio Nowhere

The Promised Land

Spirit in the Night

Wooly Bully (Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs cover)

Darlington County

You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)

Darkness on the Edge of Town

Youngstown

Murder Incorporated

She's the One

Livin' in the Future

Mary's Place

Working on the Highway

Racing in the Street

The Rising

Last to Die

Long Walk Home

Badlands

Seven Nights to Rock (Moon Mullican cover)

Encore:

4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)

Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

Glory Days

Born to Run

Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)

Bobby Jean

American Land

Thunder Rd

Dancing in the Dark

Born to Be Wild (cover by Mars Bonfire)