Live Springsteen = Pure Joy!
- Cheryl Alterman | The Music Soup Editor
- 17 minutes ago
- 11 min read
Another Bruce show and my face still aches from all the smiling and musical happiness!
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen, otherwise known as, "The Boss", rolled into San Francisco on his "Land of Hopes and Dreams American Tour," Monday April 13, 2026. He played to a sold out Chase Center, with his usual super high energy show. This time he was raging against the maga machine complete with Tom Morello (from the band RAGE). The Chase center was packed. This venue capacity is technically 18,000 but on this night I was told by an employee that for The Boss they even sold obstructed view and other tickets sometimes not available, totalling at nearly 20,000 ish tickets. And for this American tour, he sold a total of 26 million tickets nationwide. As a lifelong Springsteen superfan - he is definitley WORTH seeing at least in your life (or thirty-ish like me). Even if you are not a fan of his music. At a Springsteen show it's about the pure human hope and joy he brings to the stage that is absolutely infectious to all that attend. And if you like pure joy, love, and happiness delivered to you at a high energy rock concert - this IS YOUR SHOW!
He opened the show with the first of several Bruce Talks, with this first one rolling into the opening song "WAR," an Edwin Starr’s anti-Vietnam War protest song best known for its recording by the Temptations. Amongst many things he said that night, the message was clearly laced with opposition to the corrupt trump regime. The foundation of all his messages of the evening was encapsulated by this sentence, “The America that I love, the America I have written about for 50 years that has been a beacon of hope and liberty around the world is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous administration.” He also spoke about this country being built on immigration and that's really how this nation began. He mentioned about being from Italian and Irish roots himself. Throughout the evening he made no secret of all of us being witness to the demise of democracy under this dishonest maga movement. As a legendary lifelong songwriter, Springsteen has built his career on hard work, ethics and love...pretty much completely opposite to the regime we are experiencing in the White House. As a lifelong Bruce fan, it felt like he is not only touring at this time to share his body of music, but also to spread the word that we as a nation must not get complacent in the face of the intense corruption that we are all seeing in plain sight today. We must stand up, unite, protest and speak out against the government of today. He was not mincing words about the incredibly corrupt administration, enriching themselves on our money and the horrific murderers that are ICE agents. Springsteen has always written powerful lyrics speaking out and protesting for what's good and right. Even the anthem, "Born to Run" was a protest about the ill treatment of Vietnam vets. He has never been afraid of speaking out, whether it be within his lyrics or quietly sitting down on the stage and giving what felt like an intimate heart to heart chat about the lawlessness in our government of today. When he did those three Bruce Talks during the evening, it felt like a warm, intimate chat with a good caring friend. He is probably one of the most relatable rock stars we have ever had, and that quality shows up on his 2026 tour in the words and music he shares in these dark times. His most recent single is the one he released about the horrific ICE invasion and murders that went on in Minneapolis. The heartwrenching anthem, “Streets of Minneapolis.” got it's inspiration from the murders of Renée Good (mother of three) and Alex Pretti (VA Nurse), Two residents shot dead, simply attending a peaceful protest in their city. As he performed this song on Monday, photos of the two American citizens appeared onscreen. Springsteen closed the night with a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom.” Before playing the song, he urged the audience to support the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, whose volunteers were all over the lobby in the venue, spreading the word and handing out info.
A bit about how I started loving Bruce in the early days...the fan girl perspective... I've been attending Springsteen shows since before I could drive. My first Bruce show was in the early seventies when nearly no one in LA knew who he was yet. Before "Born to Run" was released. My Bruce journey began in junior high school when a teacher assigned me to a new kid who just arrived from Long Island, New York. We became fast friends, as we immediately connected via our mutual love of music and especially live shows. Within a couple weeks of our new friendship, she introduced me to what would be a lifelong love for this musician from Asbury Park New Jersey, and who would later be known as "the Boss", the one and only Bruce Springsteen!
On this first live show outing for me and my new friend Pam, our destination was the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. I always seemed to have a knack for navigating my way around live shows from early in life. Back in the day, I had learned that this venue sold their orchestra pit section (first three rows), at the box office on the day of the show at precisely 5pm. Of course to get first row we arrived before 5 to be the first in the queue. When we arrived, there was no one else in sight - at 5pm the box office opened and we purchased two seats, first row, dead center. When we arrived to our seats, I relished in the fact that the mic stand was about two or three feet from my face! The venue was no where near sold out that night. And I didn't know anything about what was about to happen. There was no internet at the time and it seemed that the only people that seemed to know who this guy Bruce Springsteen was, were from the East Coast, but not many in California.
Then, showtime....onto the stage walked this steaming hot, 'regular looking' guy with jeans, a tee shirt and a guitar...and my life changed in that moment! For the next four hours and a half hours I witnessed what I recall to be a 'ball of fire', literally in front of my face. Although I had never heard his music, I remember immediatley connecting to it...and that was it for me...I was a Springsteen fan for life! After the four+ hours, as we were walking out, she and I noticed that I was absolutely soaking wet from head to toe...it was his sweat that was dripping down on me through the whole concert, and I looked as if I had just stepped out of a shower! For me, that was a wonderful memory! I'll never forget his music grabbing me. And being drenched in his sweat was simply an added bonus....especially for this teen aged rock music loving super fan girl...I was fully in!
Now in the present day, 50 years later, (still feeling like a kid but nearly an adult) and still a Springsteen fan. Over the past half of a century I have seen Bruce perform live on both sides of the pond for not all, but nearly every tour he has done. And here I was, 50 years later at the Chase Center. Six of us Springsteen fans headed down to the city on Monday having looked forward to the show for ages. I got to go with some of my favorite people, my dear friends, a family that I adore. My friends Stef and Steve and their teenaged kids Jake and Emily. And one of their friends as well. For Stef and Steve - this was definitely NOT thier first Bruce outing nor was it for their kids. This was Jake and Emily's second Bruce show. They too are Bruce superfans. Sharing this experience with them just added to the sweetness of this special evening. We split up upon entering the venue. They went to their seats and I made my way to the stage - where else? Ha! On this night I stood on the other side of the railings from where I usually stand and tonight I was without my 30 lbs of camera gear that I have when I shoot a show in the photo pit. As this Springsteen tour was not allocating the normal photo credentials for many, if any photographers. Even so, I wasn't going to miss it so I went anyway. I made my way to the audience side of railings and immediatley met a wonderful family from Edinburgh, Scotland. Alice (22 years old) and her Mum and Dad. Alice is in California for school and her parents were visiting her from Edinbrugh on a well timed visit whilst the Boss was in town. Alice was wearing a Springsteen Wrecking Ball tee shirt and during the show I noticed that Alice and her parents knew every single lyric of every song he played! They were so uplifting to be with. It's funny how the universe works sometimes. And what made the evening even sweeter for me....when her dad, Alastair suggested I take his place on the railing because I was having trouble seeing over the head of a tall guy in front of me. Sometimes simply meeting kind people - especially in these days...can really change ones experience. Meeting this Scottish family of Springsteen fans was a lovely bonus to my perfect night of The Boss!
Alice and her family have traveled round Europe attending Springsteen shows. And at this show, she got her third hug in her young life from Bruce! As I was standing next to Alice and this beautiful moment, I had the privilege of filming it - you can see it here.
In 2023 Alice told me that her brother and her sister went with their parents to see Springsteen in Edinburgh. At that show Alice got a hug and her brother got the sticks from the mighty Max Weinberg! Alastair, Alices' dad first saw Bruce in 1981 in Edinburgh. And for the past two decades he and his wife have been raising their kids right and exposing their kids to live music and Bruce in particlar, (like my friends that I came to the show with). Exposing your kids to live music is definitely the right thing to do (IMO)! My young frineds friends Jake and Emily would most definitley agree, as they LOVE Springsteen and their two Bruce concert experiences with their parents! And I have a strong feeling these two will not be their last!
On this night, it was the 75th birthday of the mighty Max Weinberg (E Street Band drummer). Max has been a member of the E Street band since 1974! A thing about me...I believe the drummer is always the most important member of the band. I think a solid beat is the foundation of the music. And Max is one of the best! Another long time E Street member was badass Clarence Clemons, "The Big Man". Clarence was the sax player and he joined the band in 1972. He played with the Boss until his death in 2011. Clarences' nephew Jake Clemons took his uncle's place and he is also a talented musician just like his uncle!
Bruce played 27 songs, ending the show at eleven with the Bob Dylan cover, "Chimes of Freedom"...It may have been a tad shorter show than the very young Bruce used to do, which was usually more than four hours...but the exhilaration and joy was the same as ever. Tom Morello from Rise Against the Machine was a big part of the show and when he sang "The Ghost of Tom Joad" with Bruce, it was stunning. Bruce also played "Clampdown" by the Clash with Tom Morello. As well as most of the 28 songs.
The entire E Street Band was on fire. I counted 18 players on stage. Like a little city of musical happiness. As soon as it ended, the crew was tearing down with precision and speed, like I haven't seen. During the show I was looking at the players, thinking to myself, all these wonderful musicians playing before my eyes with smiles on their faces, get to do this every night. They must have so much joy in their hearts that they get to do this for their job. At the end of the show one of the things that Bruce said that stuck with me...he said, "for three hours a night I get to be Bruce Springsteen". I totally get it. He gets to have this much fun, working with people that he loves deeply. and on top of it all, he is making so many people happy with his music. Me being one of them!
Bruce talked to us a lot about how things are not going great in the world today due to the corrupt, racist in the white house who is enriching himself and his family at our expense. My You Tube channel will have all three of those Bruce talks from this show. It's nothing that we all don't already know, live with daily, and dread...but this was BRUCE, the Boss...sharing with his fans that he has this sadness in common. I am also posting the music from the show. So please subscribe and you'll be notified when they post!
And at the end, after playing a plethora of full energy songs, many anthems, he and his 18 peice band all came to the front of the stage to play a song about immigration and spoke about how this country was formed and built on immigration and the beauty of it. The night was touching, with moments of sadness through his honesty and truthful words. He shared his words about being united and emphasizing to stand together and to never give up on love, peace, kindness and democracy. Fifty+ years of songwriting about the everyday people who struggle to work hard. His messages are always to love one another and treat each other with kindness, truth, dignity and respect. Without racism, and bigotry. He spoke of the disappearing of people for no other reason than their skin color. He asked us all to stand up to ICE and never stop the fight. He spoke again about Renee Good and Alex Pretti and to honor and remember them for their courage, bravery and kindness. Emphasizing Renee Goods' last words to her ICE murderer, when she said, "I'm not mad at you" - before he shot her three times in the face. And the moment when Alex Pretti was murdered by ICE agents with 11 gunshots to the back and left for dead on the streets of Minneapolis.
A truly unforgettable evening. Thank you to Bruce Springsteen for being a normal guy, standing up for whats right and never keeping quiet about what is wrong about these dark times that we're living in today. And to Renee Good, mother of three and to Alex Pretti, VA nurse ...We will not forget you. During his five song encore he left us with the encouraging words, “We will make it through this, and there will be a better day. That is one thing I know.” I want to believe these words...and I really sincerely hope he is right. Please take care of each other. Be kind because you never know if someone is going through a rough time. Reconnect with that long lost friend because you never know how great it may turn out. Have gratitude for each day, and hold love and in your heart. Love truly. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. And always remember...time is short and gets shorter every day. Laugh often. And as always...support live music! (And turn up the volume!) With love and peace, The Music Soup xo ❤️🎵📸 Setlist from this show: 1. War (The Temptations 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 (With snippet of "It Takes Two" by Marvin Gaye/Kim Weston)
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 (With speech “This is happening now”)
Because the Night (Patti Smith Group cover)
Wrecking Ball
The Rising
The Ghost of Tom Joad (with Tom Morello)
Badlands (with Tom Morello)
Land of Hope and Dreams (with Tom Morello) (With The Impressions’ “People Get Ready” snippet)
American Land (with Tom Morello)
Born to Run
Dancing in the Dark (With band introductions)
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out (pictures of Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici on screen)
Chimes of Freedom (Bob Dylan cover) (with Tom Morello) Here's a taster of the Boss. SUBSCRIBE for much more.
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Check out and SUBSCRIBE to The Music Soup Videos You Tube channel. ©Cheryl Alterman Photography 2026
©Cheryl Alterman Photography 2026
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