Hours after announcing dates for a North American Summer stadium, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band took the stage at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.Ten songs into the set, Springsteen broke out “If I Was the Priest” for the first time in over 50 years. Check out a stellar fan-shot video of the moment right here.
“I wrote this song,” Springsteen said. “I was 22. Fifty years ago. I still don’t have a clue what the fuck it’s about.”
“If I Was The Priest” pre-dates the formation of the E Street Band. Springsteen played it in February 1972 during an audition for managers Mike Appel and Jim Cretecos and again in May 1972 when he tried out for CBS Records. The surreal song didn’t make the cut for Greetings From Asbury Park, and the last known live performance took place May 2, 1972, at New York’s Gaslight Au Go Go, a gig put together last minute to impress CBS executives.
Bruce Springsteen adds 22 shows (18 cities) to 2023 U.S. tour Summer and Fall. Additional North American shows are set for August, September, November, and December. Check the new dates here
The E Street Band looked a little different Friday night (Feb. 10) when Bruce Springsteen headlined the American Airlines Center in Dallas, /Spin
Three key members were missing, including guitarist Steven Van Zandt and violinist Soozie Tyrell, as well as Springsteen’s wife and band member, Patti Scialfa. COVID was cited as the reason for Van Zandt and Tyrell’s absences.
“We got a few members missing tonight … But goddammit, we’re gonna give Dallas the best show they’ve ever seen,” Springsteen told the audience, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Van Zandt confirmed the news on Twitter, writing, “Thank you all for your best wishes and positive vibes. I’ve got a very mild case and hope to be back for Houston or Austin at the latest.” Those are the next two show dates, scheduled for Feb. 14 and Feb. 16, respectively.
Thank you all for your best wishes and positive vibes. I’ve got a very mild case and hope to be back for Houston or Austin at the latest.
— 🕉🇺🇦Stevie Van Zandt☮️💙 (@StevieVanZandt) February 11, 2023
Kicking off with “No Surrender,” Springsteen and the band played a career-spanning set that mixed greatest hits with material from their most recent album, 2020’s Letter to You. Among the songs performed included “Prove It All Night,” “The Promised Land,” “Candy’s Room,” “The E Street Shuffle,” “Because the Night,” and “The Rising.”
To close the evening, the E Street Band played a seven-song encore featuring “Born to Run,” “Rosalita,” “Dancing in the Dark,” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” before the band gave way to Springsteen for a solo acoustic performance of “I’ll See You in My Dreams.” Watch fan-captured video of the show and see the full setlist below. (Consequence reports)
The last time Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band toured in United States was in Sept. of 2016, as part of the The River tour. At that time, Chicago's United Center was the second stop on his list.
For the 2023 tour, Chicago area fans will have to travel to nearby Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 7 to see Rosalita jump a little higher. (NBC Chicago)
Below the full list of shows planned
Setlist:
No Surrender
Ghosts
Prove It All Night
Letter to You
The Promised Land
Out in the Street
Candy's Room
Kitty's Back
Nightshift
Don't Play That Song (You Lied)
The E Street Shuffle
Johnny 99
Last Man Standing
Backstreets
Because the Night
She's the One
Wrecking Ball
The Rising
Badlands
Thunder Road
Encore:
Detroit Medley
Born to Run
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
Glory Days
Dancing in the Dark
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
I'll See You in My Dreams
next dates
Feb. 14: Houston, TX at the Toyota Center
Feb. 16: Austin, TV at the Moody Center
Feb. 18: Kansas City, MO at the T-Mobile Center
Feb. 21: Tulsa, OK at the BOK Center
Feb. 25: Portland, OR at the Moda Center
Feb. 27: Seattle WA at the Climate Pledge Arena
Mar. 2: Denver, CO at the Ball Arena
Mar. 5: St. Paul, MN at the Xcel Energy Center
Mar. 7: Milwaukee, WI at the Fiserv Forum
Mar. 9: Columbus, OH at the Nationwide Arena
Mar. 12: Uncasville, CT at the Mohegan Sun
Mar. 14: Albany, NY at the MVP Arena
Mar. 16: Philadelphia, PA at the Wells Fargo Center
Mar. 18: State College, PA at the Bryce Jordan Center
Mar. 20: Boston, MA at the TD Garden
Mar. 23: Buffalo, NY at the KeyBank Center
Mar. 25: Greensboro at the Greensboro Coliseum
Mar. 27: Washington D.C. at the Capitol One Arena
Mar. 29: Detroit, MI at the Little Caesars Arena
April 1: New York, NY at Madison Square Garden
April 3: Brooklyn, NY at the Barclays Center
April 5: Cleveland, OH at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
April 7: Baltimore, MD at the Baltimore Arena
April 9, April 11: Belmont Park, NY at the UBS Arena
April 14: Newark, NJ at the Prudential Center
Tickets for the 2023 U.S. arena shows will go on sale over the course of the next two weeks, with the first on-sale beginning Wednesday, July 20 at 10 a.m.
