Ricoh Arena Rocked By The Boss

Last updated : 21 June 2013 By GP

7.20pm Thursday June 20th and for only the second time in its history Coventry is the best place in the world to be (the first of course being the day Coventry City won the FA Cup).

The Boss strolls on stage for his customary solo number to start proceedings (note to inferior bands there is no need for pyrotechnics to greet this moment, nor did we see giant robots).

On this occasion it was a surprise to hear The Ghost of Tom Joad , a track I don't recall seeing him do live before on an E Street Band gig.

That was the first of 30 numbers in 3 hours and 7 minutes of unsurpassed entertainment proving once again that the E Street Band are quite simply the tightest, most exhilarating and most entertaining band in the world with Jake Clemons proving a magnificent replacement for his late lamented uncle Clarence.

We were treated to a good portion of numbers from the latest album Wreckin' Ball and a mixture of favourites and more obscure tracks, including lesser known numbers from Born To Run which was played in its entirety and dedicated to James Gandolfini, Steve Van Zandt's co star in The Sopranos whose death was announced today.

Amongst the highlights for me was Pay Me Your Money Down which got everybody on their feet, and is a rare inclusion on live sets, Long Time Comin' which has never been performed at an E Street Band gig, as well as the perennial favourites Born To Run, Hungry Heart and Thunder Road.

There were the usual invitations on to the stage and signed requests and we saw no less than three female members of the audience hauled on stage for Dancing In The Dark, including one fan who held up a sign with "I bet I would look good playing your guitar" and was duly invited up to do just that. Springsteen's ability to work the audience and turn the show into a quasi-religious experience remains undiminished as does the sheer energy and exuberance that goes into each show. There simply is nothing on earth as good as an E Street Band gig and I am already looking forward to the Cork and Cardiff gigs which I am also going to on this European leg of the tour.
 
Track List
 
The Ghost of Tom Joad
Long Walk Home
My Love Will Not Let You Down
Two Hearts (Signed Request)
Seeds (Signed Request)
Trapped (SR)
Long Time Comin' (SR)
Wreckin' Ball
Death To My Home Town
Hungry Heart
The River (SR)
Thunder Road
10th Avenue Freezeout
Night
Backstreets
Born To Run
She's The One
Meeting Down The River
Jungleland
Pay Me My Money Down
Shackled and Drawn
Waitin' On A Sunny Day
Lonesome Day
Badlands
We Are Alive
Born In The USA
Bobby Jean
Dancing In The Dark
Raise Your Hand
American Land
 
Start 7.20 Finish 10.27

Pictures

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https://twitter.com/RicohArena/status/347866026312077312/photo/1

https://twitter.com/SecurityMan_Rob/status/347862065492402177/photo/1

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