America’s working-class hero, Bruce Springsteen, and his band, The E Street Band delivered a stunning performance at Dublin’s Croke Park, marking the end of their Irish tour. Springsteen, alongside his iconic band, played an unforgettable setlist of classics to an exhilarated crowd, returning the artist’s boundless energy with devotion and admiration.
Croke Park, a significant part of Dublin’s Northside, and Springsteen seemed to be an ideal pairing. Both are significant for their own reasons, the former being an established monument standing for decades, and the latter for his undeniable influence over the world of rock music. Springsteen’s formidable presence seems to enhance with age, his energy in his 70s notably remarkable.
No stranger to electrifying performances, the 74-year-old powerhouse enthralled his audience throughout the night. Stories of his committed fitness routine comprising of a solitary daily meal and no eating after 4pm have been widely discussed – and the results were evident as he led The E Street Band in delivering a vibrant performance under the radiant blue sky.
Of course, Springsteen does not work alone – the E Street Band are vital to his success. Including Nils Lofgren and Steve Van Zandt on the guitar, and Jake Clemons, nephew of the late Clarence Clemons, on the sax, they provided an unforgettable night at Croke Park. This marked an exceptional milestone with the sale of Springsteen’s millionth ticket in Ireland since his first performance in Slane back in 1985.
The remarkable show embarked on a journey through Springsteen’s discography, with notable performances from his 2002 album The Rising, the heartfelt Ghosts from his 2020′s Letter To You, and the timeless Born In the USA. This high-energy performance from Springsteen and The E Street Band successfully turned Croke Park into a realm of music-immersed dreams.
In high spirits, Springsteen is seen repetitively rushing the barriers, likened to a character from one of his narrations chasing his dreams in unboundedness. The seemingly mutual joy exemplified through these exchanges is as much as the pleasure he finds in his music. The singer, at one juncture, singles out a young admirer in the front and sings in unison with her. At a later point, he re-emerges wearing a flatcap, distinctly similar to the style worn by the father of Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders.
His communication with the crowd is minimal, with a simple “Good evening Dublin, we are here to energise you,” at the onset. He additionally discloses the presence of the mayor from his birthplace, Freehold, New Jersey.
More than a year has passed since Springsteen performed an impressive concert across the river at the RDS. He was subsequentely diagnosed with a peptic ulcer that led to the cancellation of several months of touring. This setback left Springsteen struggling to sing during its severest phase.
Having returned with a fresh bout of energy, the unease of mortality shadows the Croke Park atmosphere. He voices his belief, “the sorrow we experience is the toll for having loved generously.” This concept of love and loss resurfaces during the encore with a cover of The Pogues’ A Rainy Night in Soho, a tribute to the departed Shane MacGowan.
Despite the undertones of sadness, it is the absolute delight that prevails. The concluding string of songs, performed under the illumination of the stadium lights, sweeps the audience away in a tidal wave of nostalgia. Springsteen’s electrifying interpretation of Born To Run encompasses the American dream; Dancing In The Dark ushers in an overt celebration.
Then, he dives into a monumental cover of Twist and Shout, made prominent by The Beatles. On the edge of his seventies, Springsteen may not have numerous global tours remaining. However, as the chorus reverberates around 80,000 people, it’s impossible to trivialise the enduring affection between the artist and his fans.