Bruce Springsteen took to the stage in Manchester on the opening night of his Land of Home and Dreams tour, as he made his feelings very clear about the political situation in the US
The lights dim and rumbles of ‘Bruce’ echoes throughout the venue. Thousands of fans, both young and old, fill a bustling arena, their screams erupting as a bona fide rock-and-roll legend steps into their presence. It’s clear when The Boss is back in town.
Bruce Springsteen is now 75-years-old. His hair is whiter, his wrinkles more pronounced, his muscles not quite as firm. The days of ripped denim sleeveless shirts and bandanas that adorned thousands of stages and iconic album covers are gone, replaced with a waistcoat and tie.
But what hasn’t faded is the Boss’ resolve to challenge what he perceives as injustices. This rock and roller, who made his name with powerful, impactful and relatable lyrics, isn’t quietly fading into his twilight years, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Because if there’s one thing to glean from the opening night of his 2025 tour, it’s that Bruce Springsteen is irate and frustrated with the state of affairs in his homeland.
On what is a historic night for Manchester’s Co-op Live arena – celebrating its first anniversary this week with its biggest star yet – the capacity crowd quickly grasp what Springsteen is all about.
After announcing the E Street band were set to “call upon the righteous power of music, art and rock and roll in dangerous times”, he addressed the audience: “Good Evening! It’s great to be in Manchester and back in the UK. Welcome to the Land of Hope and Dreams Tour!
“The mighty E St. Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock ‘n roll in dangerous times. In my home, the America I love, the America I’ve written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration.
“Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!” It was fairly obvious whom he was referring to.
The concert then moved forward as Land of Hope and Dreams filled the air – the anthem that gives its name to the 16-date European tour and a powerful, gospel-inspired ballad adored by fans. It reflects the sheer optimism Springsteen implored from the crowd, now echoing through his performance.
His finger pointed emphatically at the crowd, each strum of the guitar seemed to carry extra weight, and with invigorated passion, Springsteen’s voice hammered out the lyrics, full of the distinctive raspy quality that has long characterised his sound. He was unmistakably attempting to make a salient point.
Songs tinged with both fierce defiance and deep concern for his homeland started pouring out, one after another, showcasing that classic Springsteen might through songs like Death to My Hometown, Darkness on the Edge of Town, and Promised Land.
While a few fan favourites are included in the opening set (Hungry Heart and Murder Incorporated always get the crowd going), Springsteen, a committed Democrat known for his liberal political stance throughout his career, is far from finished expressing his deep concern about the USA.
“The last check, the last check on power after the checks and balances of government have failed are the people, you and me,” he said.
“It’s in the union of people around a common set of values now that’s all that stands between a democracy and authoritarianism. At the end of the day, all we’ve got is each other,” before a solo rendition of House of A Thousand Guitars.
“There’s some very weird, strange, and dangerous s**t going on out there right now. In America they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent. This is happening now.”
Springsteen continued: “In America the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death. This is happening now. In my country they’re taking sadistic pleasure in the pain they inflict on loyal American workers.
“They’re rolling back historic civil rights legislation that has led to a more just and plural society. They are abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom.
“They are defunding American universities that won’t bow down to their ideological demands. They are removing residents off American streets and without due process of law, are deporting them to foreign detention centers and prisons. This is all happening now.”
He said: “A majority of our elected representatives have failed to protect the American people from the abuses of an unfit president and a rogue government. They have no concern or idea for what it means to be deeply American.
“The America I’ve sung to you about for 50 years is real and regardless of its faults is a great country with a great people. So we’ll survive this moment.
“Now, I have hope, because I believe in the truth of what the great American writer James Baldwin said, he said ‘in this world there isn’t as much humanity as one would like, but there’s enough’. Let’s pray.”
Not many celebrities could pull off such a political focus, particularly when it concerns a foreign country. However, Springsteen has crafted his rock and roll image and fanbase around his candid, wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve approach, which only garners him more applause from those who fought for tickets to see him.
Admitting pre-show jitters, Springsteen confided: “I’m always a little bit nervous on that first night, even after all this time,” displaying a humble side that accompanied his stellar performance.
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