Bruce Springsteen didn’t just perform a concert on April 16 in Phoenix.
With a preacher’s uplifting exhortation, he delivered a triple-decibel, guitar-fueled political protest against President Donald Trump that often felt akin to a revival.
Springsteen has long shared his political views in his songs, on stage and in interviews, but his Land of Hope and Dreams tour is a powerhouse rebuke to Trump. He opened the show with a prayer for “safe return” of American servicemembers who are now engaged in the president's Middle Eastern conflict.
“The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock and roll in dangerous times,” Springsteen told the crowd in his opening address. “We are here in celebration of and defense of our American ideals, democracy, our Constitution and our sacred American promise.”
“The America that I love, the America that has been a beacon for hope and liberty all around the world, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous administration,” he continued. “Tonight, we ask all of you to join with us in choosing hope over fear, democracy over authoritarianism, the rule of law over lawlessness, ethics over unbridled corruption, resistance over complacency, truth over lies, unity over division and peace over …” — punctuating his speech by leading the E Street Band into an explosive cover of Edwin Starr’s “War.”
Set list
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's Land of Hope and Dreams Tour
Phoenix, Arizona, April 16, 2026
War (Edwin Starr cover) (with Tom Morello)
Born in the U.S.A. (with Tom Morello)
Death to My Hometown (with Tom Morello)
Clampdown (The Clash cover) (with Tom Morello)
No Surrender
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Streets of Minneapolis
The Promised Land
Two Hearts
Hungry Heart
Youngstown
Murder Incorporated
American Skin (41 Shots) (with Tom Morello)
Long Walk Home (with Tom Morello)
House of a Thousand Guitars
My City of Ruins
Because the Night
Wrecking Ball
The Rising
The Ghost of Tom Joad (with Tom Morello)
Badlands (with Tom Morello)
Land of Hope and Dreams (with Tom Morello)
Encore
American Land (with Tom Morello)
Born to Run
Dancing in the Dark
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out (with Tom Morello)
Chimes of Freedom (with Tom Morello)
Last week Bruce Springsteen has joined The Doors drummer John Densmore for a version of ‘Light My Fire’ – check out footage below. NME reports.
On Saturday night (April 18), The Boss made an appearance at the American Music Honors, an annual event organised by the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center and held at New Jersey’s Monmouth University.
Blistering version of @TheDoors Light My Fire by @springsteen @StevieVanZandt @MRibler and the Disciples of Soul tonight at the @SpringsteenCAM American Music Honors. Bruce hitting that Jim Morrison scream in the end and Stevie doing some gorgeous guitar work as The Ribler… pic.twitter.com/pdNFC3meLU
— Spring-Nuts (@SpringNuts_) April 19, 2026
The Doors were among those honoured at the event, and Springsteen joined Densmore, as well as The E Street Band’s Steve Van Zandt and the Disciples Of Soul house band for a rendition of the band’s classic 1967 single.
“There is no one in the room in danger of filling Jim Morrison’s leather pants tonight,” Springsteen quipped to the crowd after taking to the stage.
Densmore and guitarist Robbie Krieger are the only surviving original members of The Doors, and the drummer said at the event: “The Doors played in Asbury Park, and guess who was in the audience – the Boss!”
“Hey, if our music helped Bruce shout out his bride, I’m hip,” he added, referring to Springsteen’s wife Patti Scialfa, who was apparently also at the 1986 gig. “It apparently worked, “Densmore continued. “They’ve been together quite a while. You know, so long that maybe Patty’s the Boss.”
Also at the event, Dr. Dre, Dionne Warwick, Patti Smith, The Band and The E Street Band all picked up American Music Honors. Many of the honorees came together to play Smith’s ‘People Have The Power.
