München 23.07.2023 #SpringsteenTour2023

The Olympic Stadium in Munich was built already in 1972 to host the Summer Olympic Games. The characteristic curved tent roof construction is still very impressive and it is one of the city’s landmarks.

By the way, did you know that Crown Prince Carl Gustaf (the current Swedish king Carl XVI Gustaf), met his future wife during the opening of the mentioned Olympic Games? The story goes like this: Silvia Sommerlath was leading a marketing campaign for the city of Munich wearing sky-blue dirndl to promote Bavarian cultural identify during the opening of the games. As she was working she realised that someone was looking at her through binoculars only a few feet away. That someone was the Swedish Crown Prince and that’s when it apparently said “click” and the rest is history. 🙂

Last time Oliver and I visited the arena was in June 2022 and we saw the Rolling Stones. Back then we were caught in a thunder storm about two hours before the show started. The concert yesterday had steadier weather conditions. It was warm and sunny and we could really enjoy the festive setting outside the arena. There were lots of food stalls and many people had arrived early to enjoy food and beer before the show.

When entering the arena to access FOS1 you had to carefully walk down the many steps of the steep stand to the right side/behind the stage – quite tricky but with a nice view. We walked towards our usual spot back in the pit, but realised just some minutes before the show that it was too crowded for us to feel comfortable so we moved to the right where there was more room.

At 6:56 pm the concert kicked off with an energetic No Surrender. With a 25-songs long setlist it was the shortest show of the tour so far, but the setlist included some small changes since the last shows. Trapped and Johnny 99 were back, Thunder Road and Mary’s Place were out. There is always new goofiness happening during Glory Days. This time when Bruce said that it was time to go home, Stevie said: “Why? Do you have a Schnitzel waiting you? Or maybe two?” Bruce nodded for one, but shook his head for two and then they started singing again.

The highlights for me were Johnny 99 and Backstreets. I love the ending of Johnny 99, where Bruce and the whole horn section gather on the small front platform dancing and playing. Backstreets is a song that, during this tour, has turned to be one of my favourite songs. It keeps growing and it has become a song that forever will signify this summer and this tour for me.