Manchester 17.05 2025 #SpringsteenTour2025

The tour has finally begun! For me and Oliver I mean. Manchester 2 was the first of nine shows we’ll see together on this leg of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s Land of Hope and Dreams Tour.

On Friday after work (May 16th) we flew to Manchester. Oliver from Cologne and I from Gothenburg (our usual routine). My flight landed about an hour earlier than his, so I ended up waiting for him by the exit. Once reunited, we walked (and walked) through Terminal 2 to find the train that would take us to Piccadilly Station, where our hotel was located. It felt good to be back on tour, heading toward the first show.

On Saturday morning, we headed out to get a quick look at Manchester, a first for both of us. It was a bit cloudy and chilly at first, but as the sun broke through, it warmed up nicely. We wandered through some shopping streets, but I have to admit, nothing we saw really made much of an impression. Eventually, we ended up in a square where an energy drink company was handing out free samples, so we stopped for a quick drink. Strangely enough, that spot turned out to be the nicest part of our little walk. From where we stood, we could see some old pubs and, in the background, Manchester Cathedral. Later on, we managed to find a café for a much-needed coffee break and, for Oliver, to write some postcards

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Before heading to the venue (Co-op Live) we went back to the hotel for a short nap and to get rid of a few too many layers of clothing. We also grabbed a quick burger at a restaurant by the train station.

Getting to the arena was easy, just a short train ride and we were there. Outside, we ran into some friends we hadn’t seen since the last show at Wembley the year before. Normally, we’re standing at the back of the pit, but this time we had seats. We were in a pretty decent section (section 112). The elevated view was a definite plus. There were no heads blocking the stage, which can sometimes be a problem for me when we are standing. The downside, though, was the limited space. There wasn’t really room to dance or jump around the way I usually do.

Next to me sat a couple who seemed pretty laid-back at first. They stayed seated, and the man treated himself to a steady supply of large beers (he went out twice to get more). But then, all of a sudden, he jumped up, completely fired up. It turned out he was a big Stevie Van Zandt fan, and it was one of Stevie’s guitar solos that set him off. That moment of unexpected enthusiasm made both Oliver and I smile.

The first part of the show had a distinctly political tone. Just like at the opening night on Wednesday, Bruce began with a speech. It was a dark reflection on the current state of America. He spoke about his home country, once a beacon of hope and liberty, now in the hands of what he described as a corrupt and dangerous administration. Then he called on everyone who believes in democracy and the best of the American spirit to stand together and raise their voices against authoritarianism. “Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American spirit to rise with us, raise your voices and stand with us against authoritarianism and let freedom ring,” he said. “This is Land of Hope and Dreams.”

For me, there was a certain tension in the air. I was curious to see whether Bruce would respond directly to Donald Trump’s recent outburst on Truth Social or stick to his own message. In the end, he didn’t mention it by name, but his words, also before My City of Ruins said more than enough.

Compared to the show on Wednesday, there were four changes in the setlist: Out in the Street, Atlantic City, The River, and Ghosts replaced My Love Will Not Let You Down, Darkness on the Edge of Town, My Hometown, and Letter to You. Personally, I was especially glad to hear Rainmaker live for the first time. I really liked the arrangement, and in light of the tour’s themes and Bruce’s words, I suddenly realised what the lyrics were really about. The same thing happened with House of a Thousand Guitars, which was performed as a beautiful stripped down acoustic version. Bruce’s heartfelt speech about speaking up and standing together gave the song a new weight. I don’t think I’d fully grasped its meaning before.

So wake and shake off your troubles my friend
We’ll go where the music never ends
From the stadiums to the small town bars
We’ll light up the house of a thousand guitar

The second part of the show followed a more familiar pattern. The usual staples were played in a row, just as we’ve come to expect. I’ve heard them many times before, but I honestly don’t mind. They bring me joy, and besides, it has been a while. Our last show was in Vancouver back in November.

The Manchester crowd brought good energy. Being part of an audience of 23,500 people waving in unison during Bobby Jean never gets old. This time, I had the chance to see it from a different angle, which made it even more striking. It was a beautiful sight. Belting out the lyrics to Badlands with thousands of others around me was just as uplifting as ever. It’s moments like those that remind me exactly why I keep coming back.

As the show ended, we hung back for a little while, partly to avoid the worst of the crowds, and partly to say hi to a few more friends. When we finally made our way toward the train, there were still some queues, but everything was impressively well-organised. Within 30 minutes, we were on our way back to the centre of Manchester.

One of the things I enjoy most about these trips is travelling with Oliver and discovering new cities together and experiencing music in new surroundings. This weekend added not only another Springsteen show to the list, but also another airport to my personal collection. Next stop for us is Springsteen’s concert in Lille next weekend. Lille is a city neither of us has visited before.

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Setlist

• Land of Hope and Dreams
• Death To My Hometown
• Lonesome Day
• Out in the Street
• Rainmaker
• Atlantic City
• The Promised Land
• Hungry Heart
• The River
• Youngstown
• Murder Incorporated
• Long Walk Home
• House of a Thousand Guitars
• My City of Ruins
• Because the Night
• Human Touch
• Wrecking Ball
• The Rising
• Badlands
• Thunder Road
• Born in the USA
• Born To Run
• Bobby Jean
• Dancing in the Dark
• Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
• Chimes of Freedom