Vol. #242: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Rustbelt Rock Review
By: Z.M. Delgado
Volume #242: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
May 22nd 2026
Rocket Arena
Good morning you crazy Rock N’ Rollers! It is I, Z.M. Delgado, your narrator along the musical journey better known as the Rustbelt Rock Review. This week I got to experience a real treat. A legendary Rocker, with a legacy that spans many, many decades. A performer that has long been attributed to having one of the best live shows in Rock. A man who’s music has now touched multiple generations of fans: The iconic Bruce Springsteen and his incredible E Street Band. This was a bucket list concert for me; a performer I have wanted to see for many years, that I have not had the opportunity to do so… until now.
And so it came to pass that I did get tickets to see Bruce. Many months passed and the event all but fell out of memory, until the day of the show when the reality set in. Then I was racked with excitement and couldn’t wait for show time. The whole affair began around 5pm, when my party headed west towards Cleveland. It was myself, my brothers and our wives who rendezvoused at the Thirsty Parrot prior to the show. Let me give you a little piece of advice: Don’t go to the Thirsty Parrot. Our table was sticky, my drink was warm and the wings were terrible. In short it sucks. The worst part was they were blasting Springsteen’s greatest hits collection. Every song you were hoping to hear LATER was being played right before the show. Now I have a pretty firm rule that I don’t listen to an artist that I’m going to see on the day of the concert. So this was a big no no for me. I did my best to ignore all these things and tried not to let it dampen my mood. Anyways, once we paid our check, we left the Parrot and walked over to the arena.
Eric Stevenson: The Official Tattoo Artist of the Rustbelt Rock Review
The line was long getting in, and security was lame. Eventually we cleared the entrance and then had to battle our way through the crowd to get up to Loudville. While we hustled along the escalators and concourses, the lights fell inside and the crowd burst into cheers. We could hear as Bruce began his set with, not a song but a passionate political speech. While he talked, we raced and we heard him kick off with a cover of “War (What is it good for).” Surrounding The Boss on all sides was the E Street Band. I tried to count how many people he actually had up there with him, but I gave up (according to the interwebs it’s 18, including Bruce). Horns, Keys, Guitars, Percussion, Backing Vocalists… the whole shebang! It was all there; a full ensemble. It is also worth noting that this troop of gifted musicians, currently includes Tom Morello, Guitarist of Rage Against the Machine. (In addition to his six-stringed contributions, Tom would lend vocals at times throughout the set as well.) We found our seats and settled in for the show. They dropped into “Born in the USA,” the arena erupted and we were off and running. What followed was a Rock spectacle unlike anything I have ever seen. The Boss unpacked a diverse setlist of 27 songs spanning roughly three hours. It was constructed from a blend of covers, deep cuts and unforgettable hits. We got The Clash’s “Clamp Down” and an amazing rendition of Patti Smith’s “Because the Night.” From the depths of the catalog they pulled out “Death to my Hometown,” “Two Hearts” & “House of a Thousand Guitars.” And they delighted us with classic hits like “Hungry Heart,” “Badlands” and “The Rising.”
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Throughout the set The Boss would periodically stop to speak to the audience. He would address the challenges our society is facing and appeal to our better natures, to try to do and be better. He begged us to resist the changes that are sweeping our nation and showed us that we are not alone in this fight. The arena exploded when Bruce spoke. His words resonated with the fans, and the arena seemed to vibrate with energy. It was nothing short of electric. He backed up his political commentary with powerful music. Songs like “Streets of Minneapolis” and “American Skin (41 Shots)” shook the hearts of the audience as we felt the weight of these anthems. For me the highlight of the set was an unexpectedly intense version of “The Ghost of Tom Joad.” Driven by accordions this special rendition started soft and built and built. Tom Morello delivered vocals at times and provided a shredding solo that pushed the song over the top. By the time it all climaxed I was out of my seat screaming! It was so incredible, so moving, so overwhelming that I really don’t have the words. Bruce and the band closed out the set with the track that had named the tour, “The Land of Hope and Dreams.” This was another unforgettable song. Sheer waves of Rock N’ Roll force broke against me as I experienced this monster track. It was pure heart and soul. Glorious musical elation. It was Springsteen at his best. At it’s peak, there is a point when Bruce wails “Bells of freedom ringing!” and then the Sax comes in, big time. It is a moment so glorious that it defies explanation. It cannot be described or translated into mere words. It is an instant of pure auditory gold that must be heard, it’s just that simple. When it ended the crowd blew it’s top and the whole building shook. Of course The E Street Band was not quite finished yet. They returned to their positions and performed a further five song encore: “American Land,” “Born to Run,” “Dancing in the Dark,” “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” and finally ending on a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom.” Then it really was over. The Boss and the band took their final bows and headed backstage. Woodie Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land” played over the house speakers as we began the slow shuffle out of the building. Then it was off into the night, to battle traffic and journey home.
The encore. My view from the top.
So there it is, Cleveland. My journey to see The Boss. It was an outstanding night of Rock N’ Roll. I finally was able to witness one of the most legendary Rock shows in history. I can finally say, “I’ve seen Springsteen.” A life goal achieved, a Bucket list evening for sure. I want to highlight one more moment from the show before I go. It was a small thing really, but it stuck with me. It was during “Promised Land” when Bruce noticed a little girl, being held up by her father, her hand extended holding a rose. Bruce bent and took the rose, and held it while he finished the song. Like I said, it was a small thing, but I have no doubt that little girls will never forget the moment when she handed The Boss a flower. It made me realize just what a class act Mr. Springsteen really is. On that note, I will bring this edition to a close. Thank you for Rockin’ and reading! Don’t forget to bang your heads, hoist your horns and always wear your earplugs.
Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt,
-Z.M. Delgado
Rustbelt Rock Review
5/25/2026
Voice of the Underground
