Still The Boss: Bruce Springsteen Relaunches E Street Band Tour After Health Issues

The Boss is back. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band returned to the stage last night for the first time in six months after the legendary musician cut the 2023 tour short while he underwent treatment for peptic ulcer disease.

Last night’s concert at the Footprint Center in Phoenix was one of 29 shows postponed under doctor’s orders. The Boss’ first visit to the Phoenix area since 2016 was originally scheduled for November 30, 2023. Springsteen and his 18-piece ensemble made it up to fans by performing 29 songs over the course of the nearly three-hour concert.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s setlist in Phoenix kept in the same format as 2023 dates. Nineteen of the 29 songs were played at over 50 of the band’s 66 shows last year. However, The Boss had a twist in store as he came out of the gates with “Lonesome Day” and “Night,” cuts off 2002’s The Rising and 1975’s Born To Run performed just four and six times respectively in 2023. Staple “No Surrender” followed along with the evening’s biggest surprise, The River (1978) standout “Two Hearts,” previously trotted out for the first time since 2017 at the last concert Bruce played before postponing the tour.

The powerhouse crew went on to provide a career-spanning mix of material heavy on fan-favorites including “Promised Land,” “Mary’s Place,” “Backstreets,” “Badlands” and “Thunder Road.” Springsteen’s latest album, the 2022 covers collection Only The Strong Survive, was represented by takes on the Commodores’ “Night Shift” and Ben E. King’s “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied).” The only notable exclusion was “Kitty’s Back” as the third track from 1973’s The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle appeared in all 2023 setlists.

Springsteen and the E Street Band loaded the lengthy encore with one classic after another. “Born To Run” began the bonus section of the evening ahead of “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight).” The Boss then looked to 1984’s Born In The U.S.A. for “Glory Days” and “Dancing In The Dark” before telling the tale of the E Street Band via “10th Avenue Freeze-Out.”

The 74-year-old musician took one sign request in Phoenix. Springsteen pointed out a teenager in the crowd with a sign noting it was his first show and asking for “Twist & Shout.” The Boss took the sign and complied as he led the group through The Isley Brothers-popularized song last played by the E Street Band in America eight years prior.

Bruce Springsteen addressed his illness before the “I’ll See You In My Dreams” finale. The Boss apologized for the postponement and told the crowd he had a “motherfucker of a bellyache.” Springsteen and the E Street Band continue the tour on Friday in Las Vegas.

Watch a selection of fan-shot videos from last night’s show below:

Setlist (via BruceBase)

Set: 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, Nightshift, Mary’s Place, Last Man Standing, Backstreets, Because The Night, She’s The One, Wrecking Ball, The Rising, Badlands, Thunder Road

Encore: Born To Run, Rosalita (Come Out Tonight), Glory Days, Dancing In The Dark, Tenth Avenue-Freezeout, Twist And Shout, I’ll See You In My Dreams