Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Hyde Park, London

BRUUUUUUCE! A sea of adoring fans bellowing Springsteen’s name, which sounds a lot like boos, never ceases to amuse. Particularly after a three-hour epic set so seamlessly electrifying that the very idea of so much as a disgruntled heckle would be laughable.

The Boss, a well-earned moniker, is a force of nature on stage — even at 73 — who defies anyone hitherto indifferent to his brand of all-American heartland rock by the sheer vibrancy, passion and showmanship of his live performances.

Tunes about the life of blue collar workers, including Working On The Highway, Badlands and Out In The Street, transform into extended singalong anthems, while the Boss assumes the role of a quasi-conductor to his E Street Band as they jam out on Kitty’s Back.

He even seems to command the weather as the heavens open just as he sings the refrain “let it rain” on Mary’s Place.

There is a corn to Springsteen’s repertoire, but his effortless charm, wry smile and twinkle in the eye tells us he knows it — and is loved all the more.

At one point he basks, smiling serenely, among the crowd in the front row and looks like he’s having so much fun that he’d be quite happy to stay there forever.

It’s one of many memorable audience interactions, which include plenty of high fives and fist bumps, while one lucky girl gets his harmonica at the end of The Promised Land.

He’s an operator who seems permanently in the flow state, and the synergy with his band — not least guitarist Steven Van Zandt and saxophonist Jake Clemons (nephew of the late original member Clarence) — is remarkable.

Springsteen also brings to life his music with huge heart. He dedicates Last Man Standing to his late friend and bandmate George Theiss, who died of cancer in 2018, from The Castiles — the first rock band he joined at 15 before forming the E Street Band.

And with storytelling flair he interweaves a moving tribute to Theiss into Backstreets before putting his hand on his heart saying: “I’m going to carry it right here.”

A jubilant encore sees back to back bangers Born To Run, Bobby Jean, Glory Days, Dancing In The Dark and Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, with more than a few references to his 2012 Hyde Park set when organisers notoriously pulled the plug during a rendition of Twist And Shout with Paul McCartney. Of course, they couldn’t resist playing that song tonight as a dig.

This time around the organisers are different and know better, with BST Hyde Park ensuring a 7pm start so acts well known for their marathon sets get a solid run time before the 10pm curfew.

Striking a poignant note for the finale, the Boss finishes with a tear-jerking acoustic solo of I’ll See You In My Dreams. Fully life-affirmed, the crowds walk off into the night sombre, but elated... and perhaps with the nagging feeling that maybe he should have started at 6pm.

On tour: details: brucespringsteen.net