NJ Music Festivals

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band arrived in Asbury Park and had nothing short of an amazing weekend.

Starting with Saturday night, Bruce Springsteen himself appeared at the Stone Pony, who are celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, to perform with Danny Clinch’s Tangiers Blues Band at the Ocean Ave Stomp late night show.

Bruce joined to play songs like “Boom Boom” by John Lee Hooker, performed with Robert Randolph, “Down the Road a Piece” by Don Raye, performed with Jake Clemons, “Lucille” by Little Richard, “My Babe” by Little Richard, and “Gloria” by Them.

During the show, Noah Kahan, Illiterate Light, Joe P, and Rachel Ana Dobken also made appearances.

Bruce’s headlining set the next day was nothing short of historic as well. But before his set, he appeared during Trey Anastasio’s set on the Surf Stage, who was subheadlining. The two performed Bruce’s “Kitty’s Back” together.

Right after that, Bruce ran over to the Park Stage to join The Gaslight Anthem at the start of their set. The group performed “History Books,” which features Bruce Springsteen, and “American Slang” together, which the two also played together at Convention Hall years ago.

Bruce then hit the Surf Stage again with the E Street Band, going 15 minutes over curfew and playing for a whopping three hours and 15 minutes, by far the longest set in Sea.Hear.Now history.

With a crowd going back all the way to the sound tent at the Sand Stage, everyone was into it, and many are saying it was one of Bruce’s best shows in years.

Many deep cuts were played like “Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?,” “Thundercrack,” “4th of July, Asbury Park,” “Tougher Than the Rest” with Patti Scialfa, and “Meeting Across the River.”

Bruce also debuted his cover of Tom Waits’ “Jersey Girl” for the first time this tour.

Setlist:

1. Lonesome Day
2. Blinded by the Light (tour debut; first time since 2017)
3. Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street? (tour debut; first time since 2017)
4. Growin’ Up
5. The Promised Land
6. Spirit in the Night
7. Thundercrack (tour debut; first time since 2016)
8. The E Street Shuffle
9. 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) [tour debut; first time since 2016]
10. Hungry Heart
11. Local Hero (tour debut)
12. Atlantic City
13. Tougher Than the Rest (with Patti Scialfa)
14. Long Walk Home
15. Racing in the Street
16. Because the Night (Patti Smith cover)
17. She’s the One
18. Wrecking Ball
19. The Rising
20. Badlands
21. Thunder Road
22. Meeting Across the River (tour debut; first time since 2016)
23. Jungleland (tour debut)
24. Born to Run
25. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
26. Bobby Jean
27. Dancing in the Dark
28. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
29. Twist and Shout (The Top Notes cover)
30. Jersey Girl (Tom Waits cover; tour debut)