The Boss Returns: Watch Bruce Springsteen Bust Out ‘High Hopes’ Rarity In Madrid

Bruce Springsteen resumed his tour with the E Street Band last night in Madrid, Spain after a three-week break that allowed The Boss to recooperate from vocal issues. Springsteen and his ensemble performed “Frankie Fell In Love” for the first time in over a decade during the 30-song performance at the Estadio Metropolitano.

Last night’s show was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s first of three concerts in Madrid. The Boss had been off the road since his performance in Sunderland, England on May 22 to rest his voice under doctor’s orders. Springsteen was greeted by huge cheers as he took the stage. “Estáis preparados?” the 74-year-old musician shouted a few times before counting off the “Lonesome Day” opener.

Bruce Springsteen seemed in fine voice as he made it through the two-and-a-half hour set. Several songs that haven’t been performed much in 2024 — “Two Hearts,” “Seeds” and “Darkness On The Edge Of Town” — were reeled off consecutively early in the night. The Boss then led his troupe through “Frankie Fell In Love” from the 2014 Springsteen album High Hopes.

“Frankie Fell In Love” was initially recorded by Springsteen during the sessions that yielded his 2009 LP, Working On A Dream, but he didn’t use the song on the album. The New Jersey native re-cut what he described as “a great little Faces-type rock song” in 2013 for inclusion on High Hopes. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played “Frankie Fell In Love” four times in 2014 before shelving the tune until last night.

See Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band dust off “Frankie Fell In Love” below:

Another surprise followed the ensuing “Darlington County,” as The Boss broke out a cover of John Fogerty’s “Rockin’ All Over The World” for the first time since 2016. Springsteen went on to deliver a run of “If I Was The Priest,” “My Hometown” and “The River,” each of which have been infrequently played this year and then devoted the rest of the main set to staples.

Bruce Springsteen’s encore in Madrid was dreamy as it began with “Land of Hope and Dreams” and ended with “I’ll See You In My Dreams.” Fan-favorites “Born To Run,” “Bobby Jean,” “Dancing In The Dark” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” as well as a cover of “Twist & Shout” filled out the rest of the bonus frame.

Watch fan-shot video of the full Bruce Springsteen show in Madrid below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QRRjRgs_2w

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band return to Estadio Metropolitano on Friday, June 14 and Monday, June 17. Official audio of last night’s show is can be pre-ordered via nugs.net with previous 2024 concerts available for streaming. Scroll below for a complete list of tour dates and ticketing links.

Setlist (via Brucebase Wiki)

Set: Lonesome Day, No Surrender, Ghosts, Two Hearts, Seeds, Darkness On The Edge Of Town, Darlington County, Frankie Fell In Love, Rockin’ All Over The World, Hungry Heart, The Promised Land, If I Was The Priest, My Hometown, The River, Nightshift, Last Man Standing, Backstreets, Because The Night, She’s The One, Wrecking Ball, The Rising, Badlands, Thunder Road

Encore: Land Of Hope And Dreams – People Get Ready, Born To Run, Bobby Jean, Dancing In The Dark, Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, Twist And Shout, I’ll See You In My Dreams