ABSTRACT
This essay examines the ways in which recording artist Bruce Springsteen has cemented his reputation for performing legendary concerts, marked by a sweeping, multi-faceted scope and audience-inspired improvisation atypical of other rock and roll artists. Much of this can be tied to Springsteen’s concert setlists, specifically the way he meticulously chooses his songs – and the deep well of ideas and resonant emotions that accompanies them – to match the theme of each concert tour. But equally important to the Springsteen concert experience is his almost unparalleled willingness to improvise based on the “feel” of a particular crowd. This essay looks back at Springsteen’s touring career, including longtime Springsteen “setlist watchers,” and goes song by song through a concert setlist as it happened. Springsteen’s attention to theme, his pre-show setlist preparation, and his uncanny ability to “read” the audience and respond accordingly all contribute to a concert experience unmatched by any currently touring rock artist. Whereas most artists simply present their “greatest hits” performed live, Springsteen provides his audience with a thematic, often moving journey.
