When Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band opened their Land of Hopes and Dreams American Tour in Minneapolis on Tuesday (March 31), it was bound to be an emotionally charged night. Coming two months after ICE agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis within the space of three weeks—which spurred Springsteen to write the protest anthem “Streets of Minneapolis”—and just days after St. Paul, Minnesota, played host to the country’s flagship No Kings Rally, Springsteen’s show contained multitudes. At times, it felt like a salute to the resistance, which has coalesced in the Twin Cities, and a rallying cry to keep the faith in the face of federal aggression and feckless leaders; in other moments, it felt somber, elegiac; and sometimes, it just felt like a damn fine rock concert by one of the art form’s finest practitioners.
Few rock stars have maintained a touring presence at Springsteen’s level of excellence, and no one else of his caliber has been as outspoken about the situation in Minnesota—though shoutout to Tom Morello (who was a special guest during numerous songs on opening night and will play throughout the tour) and Brandi Carlile for holding fundraiser concerts in Minneapolis earlier this year.
If the audience was in awe of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, the Boss seemed equally moved by the Minnesota audience for its ongoing activism. “This is a tour that was not planned,” he told the crowd. “We needed to feel your hope and strength.” While the commander in chief was pointedly never mentioned by name even once throughout the night, Springsteen still tossed a couple of darts in his direction. When referencing school textbooks that try to downplay the reality of slavery in the American South, Springsteen quipped, “You want to talk about snowflakes? We have a president who can’t handle the truth.”
If you’re curious what Springsteen and the E Street Band’s opening night setlist for the Land of Hopes and Dreams Tour was, head here. Check out what locals think of Springsteen’s protest song and anti-ICE activism, click here. Otherwise, read on for the best moments from Springsteen’s tour opener in Minneapolis.
from Billboard https://ift.tt/iQy08fB
