Bruce Springsteen and the

Seeger Sessions Band

Birmingham NEC 09/11/05

It hardly seems possible that nearly six months ago I was lining up for my last Springsteen concert at the famous Hammersmith Odeon, this time however I do have a guaranteed seat, not that I'll probably need it!

Some people might find it a little ironic that Bruce Springsteen has turned to folk music to bring stadiums to their knees, and again he is at his crowd shaking best. Finally moving away from the political strenghths of his last few albums, he is now more Bluegrass than Blue Collar.

The almost shy of 20 something band come on one by one bringing the suspence of The Boss coming on stage himself to breaking point. When he enters, the cheers make the roof fly and he goes straight into Blinded by The Light.. Through the night there is an odd occassion of his own work with songs like Bobby Jean but he mostly sticks to his guns and plays protest songs, hymns, spirituals and bluegrass stomps which would give the strongest of legs calf ache. No one could stay still throughout.

Nils Lofgren joins his old friend and band mate on stage half way through the set for a spine tingling version of Pay Me My Money Down, then gracefully leaves as quickly as he came, as he is on a solo tour himself in the UK.

After soulful numbers Bruce tears the place apart with Open All Night and Further On Up The Road, he tells the remaining few who are seated to 'Get their English arses off their English seats and rock the house down'. Once regaining a little more quiet, When The Saints Go Marching In changes from what would be a great football chant to something extremely moving.

His mood is 110% infectious, and in sidelining his own back catalogue he seems to be completely liberated. The night is nearly three hours long and passes by in no time. No-one wants to leave, and after a foot stomping, tub thumping, sore throat giving, knee slapping, thigh whacking version of American Land which sounds like the worlds largest pub lock in song the crowd demand just one more and he seems delighted to oblige with a fantastic version of Froggy Went a-Courtin'.

Once again I am eating humble pie, and I have to admit to this being one of the best live concerts I have seen.

 

 

Set List:

Blinded By The Light
John Henry
Old Dan Tucker
Further on Up The Road
Jesse James
Oh Mary Don't You Weep
Bobby Jean
Erie Canal
My Oklahoma Home
The Ghost of Tom Joad
Mrs McGrath
How Can a Poor Man...
Jacobs Ladder
Long Time Coming
Jesus was an only son
Open All Night
Pay Me My Money Down
My City of Ruins
You Can Look But you better not touch
When The Saints Go Marching In
The Little Light of Mine
American Land
Froggie Went a-Courtin'