The Springsteen Thread

[HarmonicGenerator]

6 hours ago, d-d-d-dAz said:

I'm glad I decided to financially cripple myself going to all 5 UK shows, as I don't know if we'll see him back in Europe again. I very much doubt, if we do, it'll be in the normal Bruce way.

I obviously love the man, and the gigs have been phenomenal with each show having a different personality in that very Springsteen way, but I do think in subtle ways (and some unsubtle ways with his grey bonce and hearing aids) his age is starting to show.

It's such a big ask of a 75 year old to do this, nevermind in a few years when we might usually expect another tour.

I’m sure I’ll regret not shelling out for more than two shows on this tour for the same reason. Obviously I hope he’s able to go on for ages at as close to this level as he can, and I’ll be gutted if I never get to see him again after these two, but we’re treating every go-round like it could be the last and enjoying every moment. 

[HarmonicGenerator]

There’s just nothing like seeing Springsteen, is there? We queued from about 12.30 and ended up front and centre, about 12 rows back from the very front. What a show - ‘Youngstown’ into ‘Murder Incorporated’, ‘My City Of Ruins’ into ‘Because the Night’, just incredible. Had goosebumps pretty much the whole 2 3/4 hours. Next stop Liverpool, but if anyone can pop down to Lille on the Eurostar for Tuesday - do it!

What a show.

[d-d-d-dAz]

Everything I've seen from the show looks incredible. He's one of those rare acts that I think gets better the bigger the venue.

How was the stadium divided? Was the floor one section, or was there a front and back?

I've got 'Front Pitch' for Anfield, but have no reference point for how close that actually is or how early I should be queuing from!?

[HarmonicGenerator]

2 hours ago, d-d-d-dAz said:

Everything I've seen from the show looks incredible. He's one of those rare acts that I think gets better the bigger the venue.

How was the stadium divided? Was the floor one section, or was there a front and back?

I've got 'Front Pitch' for Anfield, but have no reference point for how close that actually is or how early I should be queuing from!?

It really was. It was a stadium, but they called it an arena and it had a roof so weather was no issue. First time we’ve had what felt like the full lighting for a show which really added something extra to certain songs.

Re Front and back sections - I’d say they’re about half and half, so you could be in the front section but still halfway back.

General advice on how early seems to be “if you want the first five rows, get there before noon; if you want the first ten, get there before 4pm”. The sides fill up more slowly than the centre - I prefer those because you can get closer, but he doesn’t go over those ways too often and you don’t get to see the whole band on stage.

There is a ridiculous and impenetrable system run by one of the fan clubs where if you get there really early they give you a number, and they arrange it so that people with numbers go in before anyone else. You have to be in the know to know where the numbers are given out and how far ahead to go; there’s no logic to how many numbers they give out either. We’ve tried four times to get a number and no matter how early we arrive they’re all gone - 500 in Edinburgh, 200 in Sunderland because the organisers didn’t want to wait in the rain, 800 yesterday but you had to get there the day before*.

I’m sure it’s possible to get a number and remain a normal gig goer but it seems exclusive to the types who go to 10+ shows every tour. And boy do they like to let you know it. They actually complain that non-numbers are allowed in the front section. But also, if you ask them. they will not tell you how to get a number because that is privileged information and you are a threat to their chances of getting to the front.

In the end it rarely matters, if you’re happy to queue for the afternoon and you have front standing tickets you can still get close to the front - we were 12 rows back in the centre last night and it was a brilliant view. Edinburgh in ‘23 we were three rows from the front, at the side, and he walked over during ‘Promised Land’ and it was one of the best things that’s ever happened.
 

*they don’t stay overnight or anything but you have to go back to the stadium for regular check ins for up to a week before the gig to ensure you keep your number, but there’s no way to know a cut off or how to find out about the check ins.

Don’t stress about the numbers but give yourself a good few hours before gates open and you’ll be good. And if you bring a UKFF specific sign I’ll wave from wherever we end up! So excited to go again.

Edited May 25, 2025 by HarmonicGenerator
SUCH A GOOD SHOW. I loved it so much. I actually teared up a bit when they showed the Clarence footage

[Bettencourt]

Anyone been to Anfield for a gig before? Trying to figure out where I should grab a ticket. 
 

Saw him at the Co-Op in Manchester on the Saturday and enjoyed it so much I’ve decided to book a trip back down the road for the Liverpool gig on the Wednesday. 

[Chili]

He's someone I'd absolutely love to see but I'm generally so broke that it'll never happen which makes reading these reviews and experiences a bit gutting.

[poetofthedeed]

On 5/25/2025 at 12:52 PM, HarmonicGenerator said:

They actually complain that non-numbers are allowed in the front section. But also, if you ask them. they will not tell you how to get a number because that is privileged information and you are a threat to their chances of getting to the front.

2013, Springsteen did a mini tour of Ireland, and I was able to catch 4 out of five shows, I'd heard of the numbers thing, but never paid it much attention, usually rocking up at doors got me into the pit.

On a beautiful summers day I boarded a bus to Belfast, having already seen him in Limerick, On this little run of shows the support was an up and comer by the name of Bruce Springsteen, doing a few acoustic numbers before the main show, so I got there extra early to ensure I didn't miss anything, and ended up about 4 people from the front when it happened.

"Tap on my shoulder" 

Turn Around to see a random American couple

"HI There"

"Howya"

"What number are you"

"sorry?"

American's extend hands in unison to show scribbled numbers.

"O...….K"

"So what number are you"

"I Don't have a number"

At this point they TRY TO WALK PAST ME...…

"Sorry I was here first"

"But we have numbers...…"

"And" 

"We Have Numbers"

At this point Bruce walked on and I stopped giving them attention, they genuinely presumed that scribbled marker on their hand meant they could stand in front of me.

 

 

Flying to Anfield on Wednesday, 15th time seeing Bruce and while I'm not mental about the setlist, the old bastard seems to have a fire inside him.

[poetofthedeed]

17 hours ago, Bettencourt said:

Anyone been to Anfield for a gig before? Trying to figure out where I should grab a ticket. 
 

Saw him at the Co-Op in Manchester on the Saturday and enjoyed it so much I’ve decided to book a trip back down the road for the Liverpool gig on the Wednesday. 

Avoid the Kenny Dalglish stand if you are anyway tall

Upper Main around the halfway if you're sitting.

[HarmonicGenerator]

They’ve had a Springsteen night on BBC2 tonight, worth checking out on iPlayer. New documentary “When Bruce Springsteen Came To Britain” which is a good watch, and they’re currently showing the concert from Hammersmith in 1975.

[d-d-d-dAz]

They played Twist and Shout for the first time last night in France. My optimistic brain is taking that as them rehearsing ahead of doing it with Paul McCartney in Liverpool.

[HarmonicGenerator]

Obviously the numbers thing is a totally crooked gate keeping system, but we managed to get numbers for Anfield tonight so I’ve got no issue with it, what a fine system it is.

[d-d-d-dAz]

Well, I thought that was remarkable.

I enjoyed it as much as the first night of Manchester, if not more, and I was already beginning to think that Manchester show was the best gig I'd ever been to.

The setlist was brilliant last night, the energy stayed high throughout, everyone seemed on good form and Nils, in particular, had his best night of the shows I've seen.

The thing with Springsteen in a stadium is, his big hits come into their own. In Manchester it was some of the other tracks that really pulled focus, but last night I thought Born to Run was something else.

I love Stevie Van Zandt. What a wonderfully odd man.

[HarmonicGenerator]

Stevie went full pirate look last night I thought, loved the massive cutlass earring.

Excellent show - only a couple of changes from Lille but it’s a hell of a setlist so that’s no bad thing. Mrs HG was very happy ‘Atlantic City’ was added in, and ‘Twist and Shout’ of course.

We ended up about three rows from the front. I was almost within arm’s reach during ‘Tenth Avenue Freeze Out’. Don’t think we’ve ever been so close to him!

That’s our lot for this tour. I don’t think there’ll be another next year but I’d be very happy if there was.

[SaitoRyo]

Reading you lot having such a lovely time at the gigs is just getting me more amped up for Prague on the 15th. My mate was at Anfield last night and said it was class, although he was sitting (free ticket off another mate) and would've enjoyed it more standing. 

Out of curiosity, are any of you picking up merch at the gigs? And how much is it setting you back for pints etc. once you're in the stadium/arena? Cheers!

[d-d-d-dAz]

2 minutes ago, SaitoRyo said:

Reading you lot having such a lovely time at the gigs is just getting me more amped up for Prague on the 15th. My mate was at Anfield last night and said it was class, although he was sitting (free ticket off another mate) and would've enjoyed it more standing. 

Out of curiosity, are any of you picking up merch at the gigs? And how much is it setting you back for pints etc. once you're in the stadium/arena? Cheers!

I bought the sweatshirt and the Manchester shirt at the first gig, giddy with excitement, but I'm trying to stop myself now.

£45 for a t-shirt is a bit mad.

There is a really nice range of merch though, more varieties than I've seen at other big gigs.

I never bother with food and drink at a big show though as I'm a tight arse (preferring to save money for tickets and t-shirts, clearly), I absolutely despise queuing for long periods of time and I'm worried about needing the toilet and losing my space.

At Manchester, my ticket came with access to the 'backstage club' which was just a smaller, less crowded version of the normal concessions. It was like £8 a pint and £13 a pizza if memory serves.