There’s something about seeing Bruce Springsteen in New Jersey that just hits different. It’s not just a concert — it’s a pilgrimage. When Bruce and the E Street Band rolled into MetLife Stadium in September 2023, it was less of a tour stop and more of a homecoming. For decades, fans have known that when Springsteen plays Jersey, you don’t get an ordinary show; you get a marathon of sweat, heart, and history. This night was no exception.
The air around East Rutherford was thick with anticipation hours before showtime. Tailgates stretched for blocks, with classic Bruce blaring from portable speakers and die-hards swapping stories about which tours they’d seen and which encore they hoped for. It felt communal, like a reunion of the faithful. By the time the stadium lights dimmed, the energy in the building was already electric — that collective, spine-tingling hum that only a Springsteen crowd can produce.
And then there he was.
The Setlist and the Sprint to Glory
Lonesome Day kicked things off with that familiar surge of optimism that’s defined so much of Springsteen’s post-9/11 material. The band sounded tight — maybe tighter than they’ve ever been. Bruce, now in his seventies, didn’t stroll onto the stage like a man easing into a night of nostalgia; he charged out like someone still trying to prove it all night.
Without a pause, he ripped into Night and No Surrender, the crowd roaring every word. From the first three songs alone, it was clear — this wasn’t going to be a nostalgic stroll through the past. It was a celebration of life, survival, and the endurance of music itself.
By Ghosts, from his 2020 album Letter to You, you could feel the emotional pulse of the night deepen. The song, written about fallen bandmates and the bonds between musicians and fans, hit especially hard here, in Bruce’s home state, surrounded by tens of thousands who’ve grown up with him. When he sang, “I’m alive!” it felt like a declaration — not just from him, but from the crowd, shouting it right back.
Then came the classics. Prove It All Night lit up the arena, and the guitar solo was fierce and focused, just as raw as it was in the 1970s. Darkness on the Edge of Town followed, as haunting and heavy as ever, the kind of performance that reminds you why Springsteen remains one of rock’s greatest storytellers.
“Let’s hear one for the believers!” Bruce shouted before Letter to You, a moment that blended the present with the past — an older man looking back, but still believing in the power of song to connect, to heal, to endure.
The Promised Land was pure catharsis. Fans threw their fists in the air, shouting every line like it still meant salvation. And in that moment, it did.
Deep Cuts and Surprises
Halfway through, the set started to feel like a gift to the die-hards. Spirit in the Night, played for the first time on the tour since 2017, was a highlight that sent the crowd into a frenzy. The song’s mischievous, freewheeling spirit was perfectly matched by Bruce’s grin — that knowing smile that says, “Yeah, I know this one’s for the real fans.”
Then came Kitty’s Back, which turned into an extended jam session. Every member of the E Street Band got a moment to shine — Max Weinberg’s drumming as fierce as ever, Roy Bittan’s piano gliding across the mix, and Jake Clemons (Clarence’s nephew) delivering a sax solo that honored his uncle’s legacy while still being entirely his own.
The Commodores cover “Nightshift” was another standout. It’s been part of the setlist since 2023’s tour kickoff, and it works perfectly — soulful, heartfelt, and steeped in the kind of nostalgia that suits this phase of Bruce’s career. The E Street Band leaned into it, channeling the sound of Motown through the muscle of Jersey rock.
The E Street Shuffle was loose and joyous, like the soundtrack to a block party. The horn section was on fire, each riff bursting like fireworks over the stadium. Then came Mary’s Place, a deep cut that got everyone swaying and singing, its gospel vibe making the entire stadium feel like a Sunday revival.
But it was Last Man Standing, performed acoustically with Barry Danielian on trumpet, that brought the night to its emotional peak. Bruce introduced it by talking about George Theiss — his former bandmate and the inspiration for the song — and how being the last surviving member of your first band changes you. The crowd fell silent. You could’ve heard a pin drop as he strummed the acoustic guitar, his voice cracking just slightly as he sang about memory, loss, and gratitude. It was one of those moments that reminded you why people still call him The Boss.
The Rock and Roll Revival
After that somber interlude, the show roared back to life with Backstreets — a song that still sounds like teenage heartbreak and defiance rolled into one. The middle section, where Bruce delivered a long spoken monologue in past tours, was gone; in its place was something leaner, sharper, and more urgent.
Then came Because the Night, that eternal anthem co-written with Patti Smith. The E Street Band tore through it with unbridled energy, with Nils Lofgren’s solo taking the roof off the place. It was one of those moments where you realize that this band, even decades later, still plays with the hunger of musicians half their age.
She’s the One kept the energy up, the harmonica cutting through the humid Jersey air. Wrecking Ball, written years earlier about the demolition of Giants Stadium, carried new meaning performed right across the parking lot from where the old structure once stood. It was both a lament and a love letter to the Garden State.
The Rising came next, and it felt transcendent — a communal hymn for resilience. Bruce has always been able to find beauty in tragedy, and this song, written after 9/11, remains one of his finest testaments to hope.
When Badlands hit, the place erupted. Every lyric — “I believe in the love that you gave me!” — was screamed by 50,000 voices as fireworks burst overhead. And then, the piano intro to Thunder Road. There are few moments in live music that can match that opening. The crowd knew every syllable, every harmonica note, every emotional rise. It was pure connection — artist and audience, memory and moment — all colliding at once.
The Encores: A Jersey Fairy Tale
By the time the band left the stage, everyone knew what was coming next. But even after all these years, when Bruce came running back out and slammed into Born to Run, the reaction was still euphoric. It’s not just a song — it’s a way of life, and at MetLife, it might as well be the state anthem. The entire stadium shook, people dancing in the aisles, arms around strangers, screaming “Tramps like us, baby we were born to run!”
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) followed, the perfect burst of wild joy and chaos. The song’s infectious rhythm had everyone bouncing, and Bruce’s playful energy — darting around the stage, grinning ear to ear — made it feel like 1978 all over again.
Then came Seven Nights to Rock, a Moon Mullican cover that’s become one of Bruce’s late-career live staples. It’s a goofy, loose number, the kind of song that reminds you just how much fun rock and roll can still be when it’s played by people who live for it.
Glory Days brought the nostalgia full circle. The big screens showed clips of old footage — young Bruce, Clarence Clemons, Danny Federici — a montage of memories and time. The song’s ironic cheerfulness hit a little deeper these days, with Bruce grinning as he sang about the past slipping away but still worth celebrating.
Then came Dancing in the Dark, still as irresistible as ever. Fans danced, sang, and waved their phones in the air. Bruce called out each member of the E Street Band for introductions — the moment that’s always been about giving credit where it’s due. The crowd roared for everyone: Stevie Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren, Max Weinberg, Roy Bittan, Garry Tallent, Jake Clemons, Soozie Tyrell, Barry Danielian, and the entire horn section. It was a family, and you could feel that warmth in every smile, every note.
And then, the tribute moment. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out. As the song hit its legendary mid-section — “When the change was made uptown and the Big Man joined the band!” — the big screens lit up with images of Danny Federici and Clarence Clemons. The crowd roared, cheered, and some cried. It wasn’t just a remembrance — it was a celebration of their place in this enduring story. Clarence’s spirit, especially, felt right there in the air. Jake’s sax solo was magnificent — not an imitation, but a continuation of the lineage.
For the final encore, Bruce returned alone. Just him, a guitar, and I’ll See You in My Dreams. It was quiet. Reflective. Poignant. After nearly three hours of rock and roll thunder, the night ended on a whisper — a reminder that even though time moves on, the music and the memories remain.
Reflections on the Night
Bruce Springsteen’s 2023 MetLife show was more than a concert. It was an affirmation — of endurance, of community, of the power of rock and roll to keep us alive. At 73, Bruce isn’t slowing down; if anything, he’s distilled his art to its purest essence.
What makes his live shows so unforgettable isn’t just the hits or the musicianship — it’s the sincerity. Every song feels like he’s living it in real-time, every lyric a piece of his soul. When he plays in New Jersey, it’s like watching a hometown hero return to the scene of every triumph and heartbreak.
The E Street Band, as ever, was unstoppable. Max Weinberg’s drumming was thunderous and precise; Roy Bittan’s piano carried the melodies with grace; Stevie Van Zandt’s harmonies and guitar work were as soulful as ever; and Jake Clemons’ saxophone gave everything a renewed sense of continuity. The horns, the backup singers, the crowd — all part of one massive, beating organism.
You could tell this wasn’t just another gig for Bruce. MetLife is home turf — a sacred space where his mythology and his reality converge. Every cheer, every chant of “Bruuuuuce,” every chorus sung by 50,000 fans wasn’t just fandom — it was gratitude. Gratitude for the stories, for the anthems, for the fact that after all these years, he’s still up there, still giving everything he’s got.
Final Thoughts
Walking out of MetLife that night, you couldn’t help but feel a mix of exhaustion and elation. People hugged strangers, still humming Born to Run under their breath. Others lingered in the parking lot, not ready for it to end — because nights like that, you want to hang onto as long as you can.
Springsteen has built a career on making ordinary lives feel epic, on turning heartbreak into poetry, and on showing us that redemption is always just one song away. In 2023, he proved that hasn’t changed one bit.
At a time when rock feels like it’s fading from the mainstream, Bruce reminded everyone what it was — and still can be — about. It’s community. It’s sweat. It’s spirit. It’s truth.
And on that September night in Jersey, The Boss reminded us all that the dream is still alive.
Setlist – Bruce Springsteen at MetLife Stadium, September 2023
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Lonesome Day
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Night
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No Surrender
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Ghosts
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Prove It All Night
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Darkness on the Edge of Town
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Letter to You
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The Promised Land
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Spirit in the Night (tour debut, first time since 2017)
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Kitty’s Back
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Nightshift (Commodores cover)
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The E Street Shuffle
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Mary’s Place
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Last Man Standing (acoustic with Barry Danielian on trumpet)
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Backstreets
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Because the Night (Patti Smith Group cover)
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She’s the One
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Wrecking Ball
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The Rising
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Badlands
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Thunder Road
Encore:
22. Born to Run
23. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
24. Seven Nights to Rock (Moon Mullican cover)
25. Glory Days
26. Dancing in the Dark (followed by band intros)
27. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out (photos of Danny Federici and Clarence Clemons shown)
Encore 2:
28. I’ll See You in My Dreams (solo acoustic)
Three hours. Twenty-eight songs. One legend.
Bruce Springsteen at MetLife 2023 wasn’t just a concert — it was church.