Wembley Stadium might be hallowed turf in sporting terms, but it’s a venue that can be notoriously challenging for musicians hoping to sound, you know, good. Many an artist has been swallowed up by the venue's unforgiving acoustics, and this evening, once again, the national stadium does its best to rob a performer of clarity of sound. Except, this time Wembley has picked a fight with the wrong person.
Much like time, musical trends and the concept of aging, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band take something that could finish lesser artists, laugh in its face and put on a show so thrilling, so euphoric, so life-affirming that tens of thousands of people are still screaming and braying at an empty stage for more, 20 minutes after the band have departed.
Arriving onstage just after 7pm and staying put for just over 3 hours, Springsteen essentially plays the part of his own support band, opening with a handful of deeper cuts from fan favourite albums The Rising and Darkness on the Edge of Town. The likes of Adam Raised a Cain, Candy’s Room and, particularly, a raucous The Promised Land from the aforementioned Darkness... being chucked out early in the set have hardcore Springsteen fans beside themselves with joy.
