Bruce Springsteen in Vancouver: Concert highlights from 1978 to now

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Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band

When: Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Rogers Arena
Tickets/info: Ticketmaster.ca

Bruce Springsteen may be affectionately known as “The Boss” by his Boomer fan base. But he certainly has never had the appeal of a Taylor Swift or even a Coldplay.

At the height of his career, the New Jersey musician couldn’t pack out B.C. Place for one evening, let alone three in a row.

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That doesn’t mean that the 75-year-old rocker hasn’t built a devoted global fan base. Over a career-spanning six decades and 21 studio albums, Springsteen has released albums that ranged from the career-breaking Born To Run to the superstar-making Born In The U.S.A. and many more. As he prepares to play Rogers Arena this Friday, we take a look back at some highlights of his Vancouver concert history.

Because, one thing that this artist is renowned for is marathon high-energy live shows that can turn first-time attendees into lifelong fans. Backed by his legendary E-Street Band, a Springsteen show is a tour across the decades with set lists that never fail to surprise even the most devoted followers with their offbeat choices and unique arrangements.

This coming concert is sure to deliver on that promise once again.

Bruce Springsteen headlines Vancouver

When: June 26, 1978
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Opening song: Badlands

Springsteen’s 1973 debut Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. and followup The Wild, The Innocent & the E Street Shuffle had Rolling Stone writers losing their minds but didn’t have much of an impression on a wider audience. Born to Run changed all that in 1975, but the tour didn’t come to Vancouver. In 1978, the Darkness on the Edge of Town tour included a date at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre where fans were treated to two sets and four encores to total 21 tunes, including the Canadian premiere of the fan fave “Prove It All Night.”

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Born in the USA fan “riot”

When: Oct. 15, 1984
Where: Pacific Coliseum
Opening song: Born in the U.S.A.

Springsteen’s 1984 album Born in the USA is the best-selling of his career and showcased both the singer’s new buff look as well as headlining arenas all over the world. The number of fan entries for a ticket giveaway by CFOX-FM were reported by The Vancouver Sun. Long time guitarist Steven Van Zandt was absent from the shows and replaced by long-serving string man Nils Lofgren. As is often the case in Vancouver from the Rolling Stones to Guns N Roses, unruly fans storming the stage lead to a temporary postponement during the performance. Vancouver Sun critic Dave Margoshes noted that B.C. Place was already booked by the one and only Billy Graham.

The Magic Tour

When: March 31, 2008
Where: GM Place
Opening song: Atlantic City

In a review titled It Was “Reason To Believe,” this critic publicly admitted that his email was stuffed to exploding with fans correcting me that the song the Boss played at 8:52 p.m. in his tune set was not Johnny 99, but Reason to Believe. As punishment, I said I would go home and listen to Nebraska 10 times in a row. I still can’t believe I got the title of the best song on the moody acoustic album wrong. It might be my fave Springsteen tune of all time.

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The Wrecking Ball World Tour

When: Nov. 26, 2012
Where: Rogers Arena
Opening song: Shackled and Drawn

In a preview book review for author Peter Ames Carlin’s biography Bruce, late Province music critic Tom Harrison noted Bruce Springsteen is the Boss for a reason. Running in advance of the Wrecking Ball World Tour date in town, Harrison noted that Springsteen comes across as having “little sense of egomania.” While it’s hard to imagine this being a winning formula for success today, the book reports that it had benefited Springsteen across his entire career.

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Springsteen and E Street Band 2024

When: Nov. 22
Where: Rogers Arena
Opening song: ??

Based on Setlist.fm statistics, the most-played song on this tour is Dancing in the Dark. Looking at the preceding four shows, either She’s the One or Lonesome Day could be likely choices to open the 27 song-long show. Perhaps the most fun will be the cover of the Commodores’ classic groover Nightshift or a rousing take on Harry Reser and His Orchestra’s holiday howler Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town. Frankly, I think it would be more in line with the artist’s blue-collar New Jersey roots to play Spike Jones and His City Slickers’ All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth).

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We all have our dreams.

sderdeyn@postmedia.com

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