At 74 years old, Bruce Springsteen has absolutely nothing left to prove. And yet, when he and the E Street Band took the stage at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, in April 2024, it was clear from the very first chord that he still approaches every show like it might be his last. No teleprompter can teach that kind of fire. This wasn’t nostalgia—it was defiance, joy, and purpose all rolled into one long, sweat-drenched evening of rock and soul revival.
The Nationwide crowd was loud and loyal, the kind of audience that’s been with Bruce for decades—parents and grown kids, first-timers and old diehards in denim jackets. From the second the lights dimmed, the roar was deafening. The E Street Band—revved up, polished, and as powerful as ever—burst into motion with “Youngstown,” making its tour debut and played for the first time since 2017. Springsteen sang it with a rough-edged tenderness that hit especially hard in an Ohio arena. The steel town anthem felt perfectly placed here, a nod to the working-class roots that have defined both his music and much of the Midwest itself.
The Setlist
Setlist:
Youngstown
Lonesome Day
Prove It All Night
No Surrender
Ghosts
Letter to You
The Promised Land
Spirit in the Night
Hungry Heart
Trapped (Jimmy Cliff cover)
Streets of Fire
I’m Goin’ Down
Nightshift (Commodores cover)
Racing in the Street
Last Man Standing (acoustic, with Barry Danielian on trumpet)
Backstreets
Because the Night (Patti Smith Group cover)
She’s the One
Wrecking Ball
The Rising
Badlands
Thunder Road
Encore:
Born to Run
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
Bobby Jean
Dancing in the Dark
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Detroit Medley
Twist and Shout (The Top Notes cover)
Encore 2:
I’ll See You in My Dreams (solo acoustic)
A Masterclass in Flow and Feel
After the hauntingly powerful opener, “Lonesome Day” arrived like a shot of optimism. Bruce was in his classic stance—legs apart, Telecaster slung low, voice clear as ever. “Prove It All Night” brought the fire, with The E Street Band locking in behind him like a freight train. The chemistry between Bruce and guitarist Steve Van Zandt remains one of the great joys in rock—every glance and grin between them carries decades of friendship and shared stages.
By “No Surrender,” the place was electric. The crowd sang every word back, fists raised, and Bruce was smiling ear to ear. “We learned more from a three-minute record, baby…” He let the audience finish it for him, just soaking in the moment.
The set’s early stretch showed that even with a massive catalog, Bruce can blend eras seamlessly. “Ghosts” and “Letter to You” from his 2020 album of the same name stood shoulder to shoulder with the classics. The newer songs—about memory, mortality, and keeping the fire burning—felt right at home among the anthems. “Ghosts” in particular hit like a love letter to every bandmate, roadie, and fan who’s ever been part of this journey.
“The Promised Land” was pure Americana triumph, harmonica wailing, Max Weinberg pounding out that familiar heartbeat rhythm, and the crowd clapping along. But it was “Spirit in the Night” that truly turned the night loose. Bruce, as always, became part storyteller, part showman—wandering the stage, getting close to fans, laughing, and mugging between verses.
Then came “Hungry Heart,” and as is tradition, Bruce held the mic out and let the crowd take the first verse. The audience, in perfect unison, sang it loud enough to drown out the band for a few bars. You could see Bruce’s grin from the rafters.
Deep Cuts, Surprises, and Soul
One of the great things about seeing Springsteen in 2024 is that he still likes to keep his setlists unpredictable. In Columbus, he threw in several rare gems. “Trapped”—a Jimmy Cliff cover that’s long been a fan favorite—was one of the night’s most powerful performances. The call-and-response chorus turned the arena into a gospel tent, with Bruce and the crowd trading lines in a moment of pure communion.
Then came “Streets of Fire”—its first appearance since 2016. The dark, smoldering ballad reminded everyone just how deep Springsteen’s bench really is. His voice, still full of grit and warmth, made it feel like a forgotten treasure pulled from the vaults just for this show.
“I’m Goin’ Down” made a playful return to the setlist too, dedicated to a fan named Ted. It was one of the lighter moments of the night, the kind that reminded everyone that Springsteen concerts are supposed to be fun. He even gave a wink and a “this one’s for you, buddy” before launching into that bouncy ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ favorite.
The soulful mid-section of the show included “Nightshift,” the Commodores cover that’s become a standout in this tour’s rotation. Bruce channeled his inner R&B crooner while the E Street horns gave it a smoky, late-night vibe. His respect for soul music has always been genuine, and this performance underlined that connection.
Then came a request from the crowd that turned into one of the evening’s high points: “Racing in the Street.” The sign was held up from the pit, and Bruce nodded before launching into it. The slow burn of Roy Bittan’s piano, the emotional weight in Bruce’s voice—it was heartbreakingly beautiful. It’s one of those songs that has only grown more poignant with time.
“Last Man Standing,” performed acoustically with Barry Danielian on trumpet, provided a quiet, reflective moment. Bruce introduced it by talking about The Castiles, his first band, and about losing friends over the years. “Death gives life meaning,” he said softly, before delivering the song with a vulnerability that hushed the entire arena.
The Home Stretch: Fire, Fury, and Faith
After the stillness came the storm. “Backstreets” hit like a gut punch—long, raw, emotional. Bruce still sings it like he’s living it. Then the energy surged again with “Because the Night.” Patti Smith may have co-written it, but in Bruce’s hands, it remains a barnburner. Nils Lofgren tore into the solo like a man possessed, spinning around in circles with his guitar, and the crowd went wild.
“She’s the One” was next, and it was pure, primal rock—harmonica howls, slashing guitars, and Max’s drumming driving it all forward. By “Wrecking Ball,” the show felt like a rallying cry, a declaration of survival. Bruce shouted the lyrics like a man still swinging after fifty years in the fight.
“The Rising” brought the communal spirit back into focus. That song still carries so much emotional weight, and in Columbus, it felt especially timely—a song about hope in the face of loss, resilience after darkness.
Then came the grand run of classics: “Badlands” and “Thunder Road.” The crowd roared every word, the arena lights shimmering like a summer night boardwalk. Bruce held that final note of “Thunder Road” and grinned, sweat pouring down, clearly feeding off every ounce of energy in the room.
The Encores
The first encore began with “Born to Run.” What else could it be? The lights came up, house lights blazing, fans jumping and clapping as Bruce sprinted to the edge of the stage. It was one of those spine-tingling moments that remind you why Springsteen is the standard against which live shows are measured.
Then came “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)”—always a joyful chaos of horns, dancing, and audience participation. Bruce played ringleader, the band members laughing and trading solos, the arena a sea of raised hands and smiling faces.
“Bobby Jean” brought the nostalgia, a bittersweet reflection on friendship and time. “Dancing in the Dark” followed, with Bruce pulling fans onstage to dance—an old tradition that still makes everyone feel like they’re part of the show. By now, he’d already been onstage for over two and a half hours, and yet his energy never dipped.
The introductions that followed were warm and generous—Max “the Mighty One” Weinberg, Garry Tallent, Nils, Steve, Roy, Jake Clemons on saxophone, and the powerful E Street horns. Each received a roar of appreciation.
“Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” kept the celebration rolling, with video tributes to Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici flashing on the big screens. When Bruce sang, “When the change was made uptown,” and those old images appeared, you could feel a wave of emotion move through the crowd.
Then, because it wouldn’t be a true Springsteen finale without a little extra, he ripped into the “Detroit Medley”—that old-school rock ’n’ roll whirlwind of “Devil With the Blue Dress” and “Good Golly Miss Molly.” The arena was bouncing like it was 1984 all over again.
Finally, “Twist and Shout” closed the main set, The E Street Band swinging like a bar band at full throttle. The crowd danced, sang, and screamed until Bruce waved goodnight… but of course, he wasn’t done just yet.
He returned alone, acoustic guitar in hand, for “I’ll See You in My Dreams.” The arena fell silent. After three hours of thunder and electricity, the quiet strumming and the song’s reflective message—about love, memory, and reunion—felt like a benediction. It was classic Springsteen: raw, real, and deeply human.
The Legend Lives On
What’s most astonishing about Bruce Springsteen in 2024 isn’t just that he can still play three-hour shows without missing a beat—it’s that he still means every word. His concerts aren’t nostalgic spectacles; they’re living, breathing celebrations of work, love, loss, and survival. Each song, whether new or fifty years old, feels urgent.
The E Street Band remains one of the tightest, most powerful ensembles in music. Weinberg’s drums hit like cannon fire, Roy Bittan’s piano still sparkles with elegance, and Jake Clemons carries his uncle Clarence’s spirit with grace and power. The horns, the harmonies, the grit—it all feels timeless.
At Nationwide Arena, Bruce wasn’t just playing to an audience—he was communing with them. The connection between performer and crowd, that mutual exchange of energy, is something few artists ever achieve.
The Final Word
When the house lights came up and fans slowly filed out, many still humming “Thunder Road,” one truth lingered: Bruce Springsteen remains the greatest live performer on the planet. No pyrotechnics, no gimmicks—just heart, sweat, and songs that have carried generations through joy and pain alike.
Three hours after he took the stage, he left Columbus with a message that’s echoed through his entire career: life is short, the road is long, and the only thing that matters is how much love and truth you can pour into the time you’re given.
Springsteen gave every ounce of himself that night at Nationwide Arena. And for those lucky enough to be there, it wasn’t just a concert—it was a reminder of what rock and roll can still be when it’s done with faith, fire, and absolute conviction.