Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Play First NYC Concert in 7 Years

Share This:

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Madison Square Garden, April 1, 2023 (Photo: Rob DeMartin; used with permission)

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band played their first of their five concerts in the New York City area this spring on Saturday night (April 1, 2023). The performance, at Madison Square Garden, represented the band’s first New York City show since August 2016. Among the A-List guests was Paul McCartney, who was photographed enjoying the show while inside the World’s Most Famous Arena. All five concerts were immediate sell-outs and prices on re-sale ticket sites were charging a premium. In the interim since he had appeared locally with the E Street Band, Springsteen had played dozens of concerts during his solo Broadway series.

The latest tour began on Feb. 1; its run of U.S. arenas continues through April 14. After a two-week break, it resumes on April 28 for several dozen European stadium dates through the end of July. The band returns to the States on Aug. 9 to begin a stadium tour. Yet another leg begins in November of North American arenas.

At their return to the Garden, the crowd was treated to a 27-song set with minimal changes to the one that opened the tour. Such war horses as “Prove It All Night,” “Badlands,” “Born To Run,” and “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight),” were featured, along with some of Springsteen’s newer material, including “Nightshift” from his 2022 soul covers album, Only the Strong Survive. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the tour debut of “Jungleland,” from his 1975 breakthrough, Born To Run., that featured a wicked guitar solo from sidekick Steven Van Zandt, and a solid sax solo from Clarence Clemons’ nephew, Jake. (Watch it below.)

The audience bellowed “Bruuuuce” in anticipation as the E Streeters took the stage. “New York City!”… the Boss said as he took the stage and the band opened with “No Surrender” from 1984’s Born in the U.S.A.

Five and six songs in came “The Promised Land” and “Out in the Street”

The encores began with the return of “Jungleland” to the set, with his loyal fans singing along

Two more favorites from the album followed.

Paul McCartney was seen rocking to “Glory Days,” a few seats away from New York Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist.

Video sent to me me of @PaulMcCartney @HLundqvist @MichaelJFoxOrg @nflcommish rocking @TheGarden at the @springsteen #estreetband show tonight! #Springsteen #Springnuts pic.twitter.com/WeXMI9Ws2Z

— Spring-Nuts (@SpringNuts_) April 2, 2023