Bruce Springsteen: Glastonbury Festival - Pyramid Stage

Sunday 28th June 2009

This is a Crackerjack review of Bruce Springsteen. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.

Crackerjack rating: 9 / 10.

“It’s Boss time” yelled guitarist Steven Van Zandt, and he wasn’t wrong. Bruce Springsteen may never have heard of Glastonbury before being asked to play but Glastonbury was very, very excited about seeing him. There can’t have ever been a bigger crowd for a headliner at the festival and the atmosphere was electric.

Springsteen is the master of the big gig, making stadiums feel like small and sweaty rock ‘n’ roll clubs, but the sheer size must have impressed even him and he had a huge grin on his face as he looked out at the masses.  He was also ridiculously keen to race down to the front and get up close and personal with the fans in the front few rows; at times seeming in real danger of being dragged out into the crowd – presumably never to be seen again. By the end of the gig, most of his E Street Band were at it, with Springsteen and loyal sidekick Nils Lofgren leaning over the railings and laughing like little kids.

For a man of nearly 60, Springsteen looks remarkable and the energy he put into his shows is incredible. In fact, this was a short night for him at just a scheduled two-and-a-bit hours plus an extra three-quarters of an hour after curfew for good measure.

The trick to winning over a festival crowd, many of whom might only know a few of your songs, is to stick to the hits. And although there were plenty of those, this wasn’t the most festival-friendly set he could have played, but the sheer power and showmanship on display more than made up for that.

Badlands was full-throttle rock with huge saxophone from Clarence Clemons, dressed like he was ready for a prize fight, which in many ways he was; new song Outlaw Pete is very impressive on record but had been given a big dose of steroids here; and The Ghost Of Tom Joad started with wheezy accordion and ended with fist-pumping rock.

And when most bands would have been enjoying the backstage hospitality, Springsteen really hit his stride. Because The Night is a bit cheesy but worked a treat, No Surrender saw him joined by the lead singer of fellow New Jersey rockers The Gaslight Anthem, whom Springsteen had made a surprise appearance with earlier in the day, and The River had grown men weeping into their cider (although that may have been the drink).

There were plenty of chants for Born In The USA but, apart from the occasional acoustic version, he hasn’t played that for years. But he did power through Born To Run, Thunder Road, Glory Days and Dancing In The Dark.

Bruce Springsteen may never had heard of Glastonbury, it’s unlikely he’ll ever forget it.

PAUL DALLISON

This is a Crackerjack review of Bruce Springsteen. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.