Bruce Springsteen played the first of his three concerts at Dublin's RDS on Friday night, ending fans' seven-year wait to see 'The Boss' back in town.
"It's been a long time coming, but now it’s here And now it’s here"
— Brian Hayes (@BrianHayes757) May 5, 2023
Welcome back to Dublin Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band for night 1/3 at The RDS! 🎸🎷☘️🇮🇪 @springsteen @SpringNuts_ @BruceTourNews @bruce2023tour pic.twitter.com/IjbHjhqPyG
Springsteen, who last played Dublin in May 2016, had the crowd in the palm of his hand from the opening line of opener No Surrender - "Well, we busted out of class" - and they were treated to another everything-and-the-kitchen-sink performance over the next three hours.
The 27-song set from the 73-year-old and the E Street Band drew heavily from the albums Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, Born in the U.S.A., and Letter to You.
#BruceSpringsteen #Dublin #RDS #BornInTheUSA really!!! pic.twitter.com/nAGqgXqiOw
— franck marchat (@FranckMarchat) May 5, 2023
As part of the six-song encore, Springsteen dedicated Land of Hope and Dreams to "my friend Charlie Bird".
What a magical moment for me and my beautiful wife Claire. Bruce was so kind and a fantastic human. I played my voice app and I really believe we connected. I told Bruce Land of Hope and dreams was on my bucket list, and he said he would play it for me. And God he did. I love him pic.twitter.com/kP9KInCUpX
— Charlie Bird (@charliebird49) May 6, 2023
Having proved it all night, Springsteen signed off with the fans still wanting more - they will have the opportunity to savour just that at his other RDS shows on Sunday and Tuesday.
The Setlist:
No Surrender
Ghosts
Prove It All Night
Letter to You
The Promised Land
Out in the Street
Candy's Room
Kitty's Back
Nightshift
Mary's Place
Johnny 99
The E Street Shuffle
Last Man Standing
Backstreets
Because the Night
She's the One
Wrecking Ball
The Rising
Badlands
Thunder Road
Encore:
Land of Hope and Dreams
Born in the U.S.A.
Born to Run
Glory Days
Dancing in the Dark
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
I'll See You in My Dreams
