Springsteen - Nov. 8, 2005 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia

This was a different show - not a huge stadium mega-concert, but simply solo Bruce on guitar, piano, organ, and, at one point, ukelele (I Wanna Marry You). The opening song used only harmonica and some kind of foot-powered thumping percussion panel, and the vocals were so distorted as to make the lyrics completely garbled, as if the sound was coming through an old, tinny radio heard from a distance. I had no idea what the song was, and I don't think most of the audience did either. This morning I found out it was Born in the USA. Go figure.

Otherwise, a great show. Different takes on a few songs - Johnny 99 was also fairly unrecognizable, unless you knew the words. It was great to hear the acoustic Atlantic City. This Hard Land was another highlight, along with a rocking Open All Night (quite a few from Nebraska, including Highway Patrolman -- loved hearing that live!).

So it was nice to see this intimate rendition of these great songs. I've been debating if I would have preferred the full band, over-the-top Bruce concert experience vs. this solo act (and since I've never seen Bruce with the full band, it's kind of hard to say). Anyway, setlist follows:

• Born in the U.S.A.
• Devils & Dust
• The Ties That Bind
• Long Time Comin'
• Highway 29
• Fade Away
• Incident on 57th Street
• Johnny 99
• Ain't Got You
• Atlantic City
• Highway Patrolman
• Reno
• Be True
• Drive All Night
• The Rising
• Further On (Up the Road)
• Jesus Was an Only Son
• This Hard Land
• The Hitter
• Matamoros Banks

Encore:

• I Wanna Marry You
• Open All Night
• The Promised Land
• Dream Baby Dream