Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band rocked Wembley Stadium for over three hours during the first of two huge shows. “You think you can outlast us?!” Bruce shouted to the crowd, laughing. “We’ve been doing this for 50 years!” he roared. And he’s right—2025 will be 50 years since his famous album “Born To Run” came out and the E Street Band became the group most fans know today. Two original members, Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici, are no longer with us, but Jake Clemons and Charlie Giordano have stepped in and are awesome musicians too.
This giant tour started in 2023, and Bruce has been sticking to a plan for his shows. He’s not taking as many song requests from the crowd or switching up the songs as much as he used to. At first, the concerts mixed old hits with newer songs from his 2020 album “Letter To You,” which talks about losing people, growing older, and staying strong. The shows didn’t have a lot of unplanned moments like a jazz concert might, but they still felt exciting, like anything could happen. That wild energy calmed down a bit after 2023.
Now, the setlist has more songs and isn’t as strict, though some super fans who travel to every show might wish for more rare songs. The last part of the concert, made for everyone in the crowd, stays the same every night. Even so, a Bruce Springsteen show is always amazing—he gives it his all with tons of energy and heart.
What’s cool now is how Bruce mixes new and old songs to show how his ideas have grown over the years. He also loves chatting with the fans up front. At Thursday’s show, one fan held a sign that said, “My boyfriend will propose if he gets your harmonica.” Bruce tossed it to them—what a moment! In the middle of the show, he tells a story about his first band, The Castiles, from 1965, and talks about losing his friend George Theiss, the last bandmate from that group. Then he plays “Last Man Standing” all by himself, and the huge stadium gets so quiet you could hear a whisper. It’s a sad but powerful song, and then the band comes back to play “Backstreets,” a fan favorite that’s super emotional and makes you wonder about its story.
Lately, Bruce’s shows have been about his own life in a way that lots of people can relate to, but he hasn’t sung much about big world issues or politics. That changed a bit after some big news in the U.S., like an attack on Donald Trump and Joe Biden stepping out of the election. At Thursday’s show, Bruce played older songs—like “Reason To Believe,” “Youngstown,” and “Long Walk Home”—that fit today’s world. “Reason To Believe” sounded rough and strong, “Youngstown” was loud and angry about tough times, and “Long Walk Home” felt like a hope for better days. Bruce called it “a prayer for my country,” and it had a fresh sound with horns and singers.
The concerts feel like a big mix of memories from past tours. Some songs take you back to 2012, others to 2003 or 2007. Thursday’s show had newer songs like “Letter To You” and “Ghosts,” but by Saturday, Bruce switched to older classics like “Candy’s Room” and “Adam Raised A Cain,” plus crowd-pleasers like “Darlington County.” He’s still the boss on stage, leading the band with big moves and walking into Ему crowd.
The E Street Band shines too. Drummer Max Weinberg and new percussionist Anthony Almonte have a fun duel during “E Street Shuffle.” Jake Clemons brings his uncle Clarence’s spirit with his saxophone, and Bruce gives him big hugs. Guitarist Nils Lofgren gets to show off on “Youngstown” and “Because The Night.” Steve Van Zandt shares the microphone with Bruce for silly, fun moments. The backup singers step up for a smooth song called “Night Shift,” which fits the show’s theme of remembering lost friends.
The end of the show is packed with huge hits like “The Rising,” “Born To Run,” and “Dancing In The Dark.” The lights come on for the encore, making everyone in the 90,000-person crowd feel like one big family. Saturday’s show felt like a big party, especially when Bruce’s wife, Patti Scialfa, joined him for “Tougher Than The Rest.” Thursday’s show was more serious, with beautiful moments like “Racing In The Street” and “Land of Hope and Dreams.”
Both nights end with Bruce playing “I’ll See You In My Dreams” alone, a quiet song about saying goodbye to friends. It’s a reminder that even though Bruce is still full of energy, these shows won’t last forever. But on Saturday, he grinned and said, “We’re not quitting either!” and promised, “We’ll be seein’ ya,” leaving everyone excited for what’s next!
