Before Springsteen and the E Street Band treated those of us in Sunderland to a rain soaked performance so frenzied that it led to the postponement and rescheduling of shows in Marseille, Prague and Milan (more on this later), there was the matter of two more shows in Ireland, with a first return to Cork since July 2013 following a fantastic night in Kilkenny. And wouldn’t you know it, it was a rainy affair on this night, too! Six days later, Springsteen would waste no time in making the rain a key component of the show inside the Stadium of Light, but did he do the same here? Let’s find out!
As Springsteen and the E Street Band stepped onstage in the Páirc Uí Chaoimh they did so with “Youngstown” pencilled in to open as it did on the final night of the first North American leg, but with the rain so heavy that Bruce altered his attire to include a 2016-esque scarf around his neck, he called an audible to kick off a show of several surprises. “Who’ll Stop the Rain?” is a famed cover in the live canon and it was so great to see it return after seven years in these appropriate circumstances. Even better, it sounded excellent! As to whether Bruce had recovered from illness post-Belfast is unclear given his vocal exhaustion after the Sunderland show, but he nonetheless gave this song the intensity it has always deserved – lyric deliveries such as “wrapped in golden chains!” and “I want to know!” highlighted this – with the E Street Horns adding an extra force by way of their punching riffs alongside him, complementing the tenderly potent violin from Soozie Tyrell all the while. There are many fantastic ways to start a show, and spontaneity through a tour premiere stands very close to the top.
The show’s original opener followed, and the full band arrangement of the Joad track saw Bruce’s intensity maintained as he delivered many mighty declarations of the title – his last being the stand out – and it also saw a similarly emphatic kick-in from the E Street Band after a semi-solo start. Of course, it was Nils Lofgren’s whirlwind solo that stole the show during this one, but it wasn’t fully solo as the way he combined with the heated drumming of Max Weinberg made for an even more sensational finale. The scorching start to the show continued with “Seeds” for a very solid, socio-political trio and it really seemed as if Bruce was exploring what he was vocally capable of here. There was gravel in his voice for this one, but it was simply perfect for the lyrics he was singing, fuelling a sweltering, Horns heavy performance, and a performance that was again highlighted by the ferocious instrumentals of Bruce, Nils and Max.
That exciting, varied opening led into resounding renditions of the sentimental staples that befit the tour’s overarching themes of life, loss and legacy. “Lonesome Day,” “Ghosts” and “Letter To You” were as passionate as ever – listen out for the hearty audience reaction to “I took all the sunshine and rain” in the latter – and they had a strong impact on further rousing the audience while also apprising them of the finite time left for moments like this. An intense rendition of “The Promised Land” really took that to an apex as one of the most powerful live tracks for over forty-five years, instilling a career-spanning sense of joy across the Páirc Uí Chaoimh, and that joy was amplified of course by “Hungry Heart” next, a performance that saw Jake Clemons flourish in particular with excellent saxophone work. The bubbly River rouser was then complemented by a barnstorming “Light of Day” that brought sensational efforts from Bruce, Max, Garry Tallent and the Horns for a damn good rocker. The declaration of “weellllllllll I got thrown out of work…!” here was massive, a further typification of the energy being put into it. Then came a more sobering “Atlantic City,” one that was anchored by a vivid Bruce vocal and captivating efforts from Little Steven Van Zandt on backing vocals and the mandolin, but once this had bubbled enough, it certainly exploded into another thundering performance.
“Darlington County” brought some needed lightheartedness after the rearranged Nebraska track, buoyed on by youthful audience participation for an extra communal experience, but it was about to get a lot more carefree on this night in Cork. As the U.S.A. crowdpleaser was wrapping up, a sign caught Bruce’s eye, and although it was two hundred and twenty-two days before Christmas, it was time for some classic E Street ridiculousness. “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” In May. It was eight years ago now in Manchester (also in May) when this song last popped up thanks to a creative Santa costume design, and it had been two years then since it last featured in the finale of the High Hopes Tour. That show in Uncasville was also in May, so there’s much precedent for it being played at this time of year, and we were really overdue. On one hand, it’s easy to criticise this song’s place in the set when thinking of other songs that could have featured in a show that is still quite tightly set, but on the other hand it amplified the feeling of excitement created by that “Who’ll Stop the Rain?” audible at the top of the show. If Bruce is happy to bring out “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” complete with delectable Horns and “Have you been good?!” interrogatives in May 2024, then the chances of all those other songs we’d like to see played have skyrocketed. Moments like this are what it’s all about!
From the height of ridiculousness, those onstage shifted into the show’s greatly emotional, central four-pack fronted by a “My City of Ruins” that blended tenderness and immense power. Another example of their incredible ability to swiftly shift themes, this one was about how we reflect and how we recover from the losses we face and it was particularly highlighted by the ultimate “with these hands” sequence. Delivered with such urgency and passion, it followed up the quiet and the words Bruce had spoken in reference to Clarence Clemons, Dan Federici and everyone else physically absent by bringing the performance to a cathartic summit. These themes continued with a strong version of “Nightshift” in which Bruce’s solid vocal combined with even better efforts from Curtis King Jr. and the E Street Choir, and upon the end of this stapled soul cover, Bruce was left at the front of the stage as the last man standing for the song of the same name. Following an introduction about his formative years playing guitar – tuning troubles and all – alongside the usual story about his impactful time in The Castiles and how being the left as the living member of that band has affected him, he delivered a naturally fantastic solo tribute to the memories of his fallen first bandmates. It was conventional reading in contrast to the Kilkenny version and its unique “I’m the last man…” finale, so of course it was as powerful as ever, and with “Backstreets” next its power and emotion was heightened through a magnificent performance of the essential from Born to Run, one given additional weight for first time experiencers in Cork by way of Bruce’s interlude that tied the song with “Last Man Standing,” with references to “I’ll See You in My Dreams” also.
Springsteen and the E Street Band once again shifted themes – after all how could they better the emotion after “Backstreets”? – with the following sequence structured to rouse and rouse those in the house. It certainly engaged the Cork audience too, with “Because the Night” first towering and rallying before a wonderful “She’s the One” fully exhibited the ‘rock show’ that Bruce wanted this tour to be. A fervent “Wrecking Ball” then spoke for what this tour represents, and then it was time for the three live staples that convey what this music is all about. “The Rising” and “Badlands” wowed as dazzlingly intense performances, and “Thunder Road” concluded the main set with much tenderness and heart conveyed. The main set finale may have seen Bruce mix up a couple of lyrics here and there, but those in Cork singing along no doubt got them right to balance things out and enhance that feeling of community in the process – a most important factor in the house each night.
What followed was an encore that further connected everyone inside the Páirc Uí Chaoimh: “Born to Run,” “Bobby Jean,” a rowdy “Dancing in the Dark” (as evident in its “BABY GIMME JUST ONE LOOK!” sequence), a strong “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” and a “Twist and Shout” highlighted by playful “time to go home?!” teasing gave Cork one last taste of everything they were looking for, and one last surprise followed in the form of a special finale. With Shane MacGowan’s widow, Victoria Mary Clarke, in attendance, that interrogative raised above about bettering “Backstreets’” emotion was perhaps answered through “A Rainy Night in Soho.” As Bruce’s vocal had strengthened since Kilkenny, so did the power of this song, but there was equal amounts of sincerity expressed here amidst beautiful work from the E Street Band, complementing the emotion from him that is quite palpable on this recording. A mighty cry of “This is for Shane! And for Ireland!” exemplified as well as enhanced that emotion, and although “I’ll See You in My Dreams” is a perfect closer, on this night there was no song more fitting and fantastic a finale for Cork.
Springsteen and the E Street Band’s extended stay on the Emerald Isle would conclude in Dublin, which I’ll be covering next on this site. Then, with my Sunderland review already published and the shows in Marseille, Prague and Milan postponed and rescheduled to 2025 due to Bruce suffering vocal wear and tear, after that we’ll be into June shows with all eyes on Madrid.
Kieran’s recommended listening from May 16th, 2024 – Cork, IE:
“Who’ll Stop the Rain,” “Youngstown,” “Seeds,” “Ghosts,” “The Promised Land,” “Light of Day,” “Atlantic City,” “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” “My City of Ruins,” “Nightshift,” “Last Man Standing,” “Backstreets,” “Because the Night,” “She’s the One,” “Wrecking Ball,” “The Rising,” “Badlands,” “Thunder Road,” “Glory Days,” “Dancing in the Dark,” “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” “Twist and Shout” and “A Rainy Night in Soho.”
You can download this night in Cork on Springsteen and the E Street Band’s 2024 European leg here.
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