Reasons To Believe

Bruce was in imperial form last Saturday in Belfast. Smiling, rocking and enthusing. He’s played much longer gigs, but this was sweetly paced and emotionally right. He said he liked our ferris wheel, he took us into the darklands of American foreign policy and the hits kept dropping with reliable joy.

The E Street Band was all in black and lined up like an identify parade. Each took a chance to solo and we bellowed for Clarence Clemons, blowing his sax like no other pensioner. Little Steven was gurning and leaning into Bruce’s mic like the best of pals. Nils Lofgren played lead on ‘Because The Night’, a moment to leave you transfixed and tearful. Next thing they’re all wheeling into ‘She’s The One’ and then ‘Promised Land’, which ends on a coda of the Curtis Mayfield tune, ‘People Get Ready’.

The ‘political’ section of the night is well-judged. Flashes of New York, Baghdad and the rubbish experiences of GI Joe. For the encore he revives ‘Kitty’s Back’ from that first album, and we feel honoured. A cowboy hat with Xmas trimming is fetched up for ‘Santa Clause Is Comin’ To Town’ and we go hoarse with the sentiment of it all.

Here’s the playlist:

Radio Nowhere

No Surrender

Lonesome Day

Gypsy Biker

Magic

Reason to Believe

Because the Night

She's the One

Livin' in the Future

The Promised Land / People Get Ready

Waitin' on a Sunny Day

The River

I'll Work for Your Love

Devil's Arcade

The Rising

Last to Die

Long Walk Home

Badlands

(Encore)

Girls In Their Summer Clothes

Kitty's Back

Born to Run

Dancing in the Dark

American Land

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

Stu Bailie presents The Late show on Radio Ulster, every Friday from 10pm until midnight. See his playlist here.