Springsteen in Adelaide - Show 2

Even in the air-conditioned entertainment centre there was no escaping the record-breaking heat in Adelaide that had the coolest band on the planet sweating through their short stay in the city.

Never one to miss a tribute to the locals, Springsteen again led his band on to the stage with an exclamation about how fucking hot it was, before launching into (Love Is Like a) Heat Wave with the full band front and centre.

The high temperature was was a strong theme of the show as Springsteen went into the 'cool' of Jackson Cage's night.

The tour debut of songs didn't stop there as Roy Bittan's intro into Backstreets was welcomed with a roar of approval, sending set list watchers everywhere into a enviable meltdown.

Springsteen powered through the 'salt-infested summer' with a loud, heavy guitar that at times displaced Bittan's crucial notes on the piano, but the crowd didn't fail in picking up the song for its finale.

Any questions about why Springsteen's guitar was so damn loud through the song were immediately answered when he burst into an explosive version of Cover Me.

If Springsteen did feel frustrated from the overwhelming heat in Adelaide it was here where he let it out, engaging in an incredible axe battle with Nils Lofgren. Both lead guitarists revelled in competing against each other with Springsteen even trying a little spin in response to Lofgren's killer blow of his wild guitar cyclone.

If there was one moment from Adelaide that was not-to-be missed, Cover Me was it.

The Tom Morello fired High Hopes and Just Like Fire Would kept the energy burning before Springsteen's Hungry Heart crowd surf ended with a collection of request sign for Better Days. 

A storming band version of the song that often appears in the crowd but rarely on stage.

A request for The Promised Land was also answered before Morello again got to shine with his solo on American Skin (41 Shots).

A few fans have said they would be happy to see this song dropped from the set lists but watching Morello at work as Jake Clemons' sax brings the track to his climax was incredibly powerful on the night and shouldn't be disregarded.

Neither should his role in the band - no matter how scene stealing the brilliant Ghost Of Tom Joad is, Morello is proving every night he has so much more to offer as part of the E Street Band. 

Other requests on the night were Springsteen's self-confessed favourite Long Walk Home, and the arm-stretching Raise Your Hand. 

The latter starting with Springsteen having a fit of laughter after jumping on Bittan's piano and 'breaking' the keyboard.

This came midway through an encore that included a debut for Hunter Of The Invisible Game and Jungleland.

You could clearly see Springsteen telling Clemons his plans for his uncle's signature tune just before the encore and taking on the spotlight for the incredible solo brought home just how much the Big Man is missed and just how determined the nephew is to keep his memory alive.

If fans didn't shed a few tears during the sax solo then they probably had a knot twisting in their stomach as Clemons hit the moving, provoking notes.

The song will never be the same without Clarence on board, but is still a thrill to see live. With Stevie Van Zandt also busting out a guitar solo effortlessly.

It was a cover of John Fogerty's Rockin' All Over The World that saw the band finish the job in Adelaide, as the behind-closed-doors soundcheck of AC/DC's You Shook Me All Night Long overhead in the line before entry, failed to materialise for the audience.

Before ending the fifth show in a row with an acoustic Thunder Road, Springsteen gave another solo performance of I'll Work For Your Love, bringing to a close two incredible nights, while leaving plenty of options for the weekend's stadium shows in Melbourne.

Set List

1. (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave
2. Jackson Cage
3. She's The One
4. Backstreets
5. Cover Me
6. High Hopes
7. Just Like Fire Would
8. Hungry Heart
9. Better Days (sign request)
10. The Promised Land (sign request)
11. The River
12. American Skin (41 Shots)
13. Long Walk Home (sign request)
14. Pay Me My Money Down
15. Shackled And Drawn
16. Radio Nowhere
17. Lonesome Day
18. Ghost Of Tom Joad
19. Badlands
20. Hunter Of Invisible Game 
21. Jungleland
22. Born To Run
23. Raise Your Hand (sign request)
24. Dancing In The Dark
25. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
26. Rockin' All Over The World
27. I'll Work For Your Love (solo acoustic)
28. Thunder Road (solo acoustic)

Run time: 3 hours 8 mins. 

Tour so far: 142 songs in 5 shows, 81 different.

Springsteen & I - Movie Review

Finally, after months and months of anticipation, the fan-made documentary Springsteen & I made it to Australian shores.

(And finally, after a few days to collect my thoughts on the movie, I’ve got round to writing my review.)

I didn't make the movie, but I did make the poster... (above the 'E' in the third 'THE'...)

As a movie fan, and occasional entertainment reviewer, Springsteen & I is an excellent documentary.

Letting fans tell stories in their own words, with their own experiences captured on video, not only brought out a unique glimpse of Springsteen and the influence of his music, it also made for a more personal approach that would have been missing in a collection of interviews.

It showed Springsteen fans at their best, their funniest, and in terms of the emotional guy driving in the car, at their most unintentionally hilarious and moving at the same time.

Instant highlights are no doubt the story of the Manchester couple where the husband – a Karl Pilkington-alike Brit - gives his thoughts about being dragged around Europe by his Bruce-loving wife, and the Philly Elvis who for a brief moment threatened to steal the show from Bruce.

Together with snippets of classic footage of Springsteen – the Growin’ Up footage a personal favourite as it was the acoustic version of this on Tracks which first hooked me to the music of Springsteen - the film is a gripping insight into the world of a Springsteen fan.

However, as entertaining and unique a film project as it is, for those Springsteen fans that have sweated in the sun with a number on the back of their hand and waited days for a front row position at an E Street Band concert, it merely scratches the surface of life as a Bruce Bud.

There’s barely a mention of people who have spent decades following him around to more than a hundred concerts, and no details of the effort, exhaustion and subsequent reward of a dozen roll calls to get that great spot to strum the guitar during Born To Run.

And there’s no insight either into the comradery and kinship that forms while waiting to see a Springsteen show and the bonds forged by strangers who strike up a conversation based on how they had a mutual understanding of why they’ve given up their time for an experience that ‘other people don’t get because they just haven’t seen him live’.

I have no doubt that all of these points could have been addressed through fan submissions to the film makers. And also that there are countless stories that Springsteen fans thought would have deserved more to be included than the female truck driver in America or the woman in the woods who struggled to stay in shot and at times raised a few Blair Witch Project flashbacks.

For the Springsteen fans looking for their story to be told, or their experiences to be played out on screen whether through their own submission or by that of a seasoned blood brother, the movie may be below what was expected.

But at the same time there is some merit from not going too deep into the world of the proud Springsteen fan.

If there’s one thing the movie does well it’s that it shows the influence of the man and his work for people who aren’t able to hit every show on country’s tour.

The couple dancing in the kitchen to Radio Nowhere who have never been able to make a show was another poignant entry. And I bet every Bruce Bud who has seen anything from one to 100 shows would have been up for buying them a ticket to the next concert they stand in line for.

Meanwhile, in true Springsteen fan style, the movie and its selection of entries – which no doubt would have relied heavily on the visual and sound quality of submissions – shares many qualities of a live E Street Band show.

It will no doubt convert newcomers into picking up a classic album or considering getting a ticket for the next tour.

And in the style of Springsteenradio.com, E Street Radio and the countless Facebook groups, blogs and websites for Bruce bootlegs, just like the incredible versions of live songs we get, the stories that didn’t get told in the movie, will be out there and will be shared by Springsteen fans.

Springsteen & I offers a brief glimpse into the world of Springsteen fans.

But as many Bruce Buds will tell you, it’s no substitute for standing your ground front of the line waiting for the real thing.

What did you make of the movie? Let me know below....