Bruce Springsteen Opens Halloween Concert With ‘Ghostbusters Theme’

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kicked off a tour of Canada on Halloween night in Montreal. The Boss had a treat in store for the occasion as he led the ensemble through their debut cover of Ray Parker Jr.’s “Ghostbusters to get the 29-song concert at Centre Bell underway.

Springsteen and the members of the E Street Band took the stage while spooky music played over the P.A. A change was made the lineup from previous legs of the tour as Mark “The Loverman” Pender replaced Curt Ramm on trumpet.

The E Street Choir of Ada Dyer, Curtis King, Lisa Lowell and Michelle Moore took up positions surrounding Springsteen and pulled off choreographed dance moves during the “Ghostbusters” performance. Bruce scream-sang “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts” and delivered the rest of the lyrics to the theme song to the 1984 film with the aid of the choir.

Drummer Max Weinberg propelled the cover, which saw the horns play the song’s signature synth line. Springsteen and the E Street Band played “Ghostbusters” fairly straight and unironically.

Watch Bruce Springsteen’s “Ghostbusters” cover below via audience-captured video:

The rest of Springsteen’s tour opener in Montreal played out in a similar fashion to other stops on a world tour that started on February 1, 2023. “Ghosts,” “Letter To You,” “Nightshift,” “Last Man Standing” and “I’ll See You In My Dreams” were each performed for the first time on Canadian soil last night.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band loaded the beginning of the encore with fan-favorites as they rolled through “Born To Run,” “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight),” “Bobby Jean” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.” The Boss then introduced the members of the massive ensemble before prompting the crowd to give it all they had during a cover of “Twist & Shout.” Finally, Springsteen went solo to end the night with “I’ll See You In My Dreams.”

Watch more fan-shot footage from Springsteen’s visit to Montreal below:

Next up for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are shows in Toronto on Sunday, November 3 and Wednesday, November 6. The Canadian tour ends in Vancouver on November 22.

Setlist (via BruceBase)

Set: Ghostbusters*, Seeds, Lonesome Day, No Surrender, Ghosts, Letter To You, The Promised Land, Hungry Heart, Atlantic City, Youngstown, Long Walk Home, The E Street Shuffle, Nightshift, Racing In The Street, Last Man Standing, Backstreets, Because The Night, She’s The One, Wrecking Ball, The Rising, Badlands

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

* – First Time Played (Ray Parker Jr.)