Bruce Springsteen Breaks Out ‘Born In The U.S.A.’ Rockers In Madrid

Bruce Springsteen played the final concert of a three-show run at Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain last night that marks The Boss’ return to the road with the E Street Band after his vocal issues brought the tour to a three-week pause. Springsteen played “Cover Me” early in the night and “Working On The Highway” towards the middle of the set, the two songs off his iconic Born In The U.S.A. album which had yet to be performed in 2024.

Born In The U.S.A. celebrated the 40th anniversary of its release on June 4. Bruce Springsteen fit seven of the LP’s 12 songs into last night’s set including the title track, “Cover Me,” “I’m On Fire,” “Working On The Highway,” “Bobby Jean,” “Dancing In The Dark” and “My Hometown.” While “Dancing In The Dark” has been played at all 2024 shows with “No Surrender” and “Bobby Jean” performed 14 and 13 times respectively this year and “Darlington County” and “Glory Days” making nine setlists, the other seven songs have rarely appeared this year.

“Cover Me” was trotted out after the usual “Lonesome Day” opener. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band last played the rocking tune off Born In The U.S.A. over seven years prior on February 4, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. Another surprise came a few songs later when The Boss offered “My Love Will Not Let You Down” for the first time this year. The song released on Springsteen’s Tracks compilation in 1998 was played 11 times in 2023 but had gone missing through the first half of 2024.

Bruce Springsteen’s final tour debut in Madrid was the “Working On The Highway” that filled the 11-slot. The Born In The U.S.A. gem was also performed frequently in 2023 before being shelved to start this year’s tour. A rare “I’m On Fire” came amid the staples that made up the rest of The Boss’ 24-song main set in Madrid.

“Born In The U.S.A.” was played for just the third time this year to start the encore last night. The Boss then reeled off classics “Born To Run,” “Bobby Jean,” “Dancing In The Dark” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” ahead of a cover of “Twist & Shout.” Springsteen capped the show as he has all other performances this tour with a solo acoustic “I’ll See You In My Dreams.”

Watch more fan-shot video from last night’s show below:

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band bring their tour to Barcelona for shows at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday, June 20 and Saturday, June 22. Official audio of last night’s show is currently available for pre-order in physical format via nugs.net with most past 2024 concerts streaming on the service.

Setlist (via Brucebase Wiki)

Set: Lonesome Day, Cover Me, Night, Trapped, Ghosts, My Love Will Not Let You Down, Prove It All Night, Atlantic City, Letter To You, The Promised Land, Working On The Highway, Hungry Heart, My Hometown, The River, Nightshift, Last Man Standing, Backstreets, Because The Night, I’m On Fire, She’s The One, Wrecking Ball, The Rising, Badlands, Thunder Road

Encore: Born In The U.S.A., Born To Run, Bobby Jean, Dancing In The Dark, Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, Twist And Shout, I’ll See You In My Dreams