Bruce Springsteen and E Street relaunch tour in Phoenix: 'Pure joy watching Bruce'

Bruce Springsteen is back, and Jersey fans approve.

Springsteen and the E Street Band received high marks from New Jersey fans at the March 19 tour relaunch show at Footprint Center in Phoenix. The Boss had postponed shows late last year due to his bout with peptic ulcer disease.

“The show was fantastic,” said Mitch Salter of Westfield. “The energy right off the bat was really strong. It wasn't a Jersey crowd, but they were fairly well behaved.”

Springsteen and E Street played 29 songs in about two hours and 45 minutes. The setlist adhered largely to the 2023 tour, with a few changes and a sign request for “Twist and Shout.” The night included the spoken interlude about Springsteen's late Castiles bandmate George Theiss (who grew up in Freehold) prior to “Last Man Standing.”

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play March 19 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play March 19 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

“Amazing!” said Sharon Waters of Bloomfield via email. “Bruce’s voice sounded so strong. He seemed so pumped and it was like he was having the best time. Pure joy watching Bruce having so much fun. It was so wonderful to have Bruce and the whole band back — they were missed.”

The Phoenix show was the first for Springsteen and the E Street Band since Sept. 3, 2023, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

“Bruce looked and sounded great,” said Pete Maimone of North Brunswick via email. “The entire band was as good as ever — very high energy as promised.  There were some setlist changes, but nothing earth-shattering. Everyone around us walked out loving it.”

More: Bruce Springsteen appears on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' says Larry David took 'big risk'

Rocker Alice Cooper liked it, too. He was seated near the stage.

“He was dancing along and he was singing,” Slater said. “He was grooving — he was having fun.”

Cooper met E Street Band members at the show.

“Alice Cooper Told Me I Was Beautiful!” posted E Street Choir member Michelle Moore on Facebook with guitars, smiley face and heart emojis. “WOW What A First Show. We Back.”

More: Springsteen tour relaunches in Phoenix. Fans staying on 'ride as long as it's going'

The band lineup was the same as the 2023 shows. Band member Patti Scialfa, as was the case for most of last year, was not on stage.

Up next is the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Friday, March 22.

Springsteen Phoenix setlist

  • Lonesome Day

  • Night

  • No Surrender

  • Two Hearts

  • Darlington County

  • Ghosts

  • Prove it All Night

  • Darkness on the Edge of Town

  • Letter to You

  • The Promised Land

  • Spirit in the Night

  • Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)

  • Night Shift

  • Mary’s Place

  • Last Man Standing

  • Backstreets

  • Because the Night

  • She’s the One

  • Wrecking Ball

  • The Rising

  • Badlands

  • Thunder Road

  • Born to Run

  • Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)

  • Glory Days

  • Dancing in the Dark

  • Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

  • Twist and Shout

  • I’ll See You in My Dreams

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play March 19 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play March 19 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

 Subscribe to app.com for the latest on the New Jersey music scene.

Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected] 

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Bruce Springsteen tour relaunches in Phoenix: 'Pure joy'