Last night, Bruce Springsteen opened the debut performance of his highly anticipated Springsteen on Broadway residency with a heartfelt tribute to his friend Tom Petty, who had passed away one day prior at age 66.
As audience members reported to the New York Daily News, the two-hour show began on a poignant note as Springsteen, dressed in black jeans and a black t-shirt, dedicated the show to his friend Tom Petty and sent out prayers to the late singer’s family and to his bandmates from Heartbreakers. The singer and bandleader, who has been lauded similarly to Petty for his romanticized musical tellings of the tales of outcasts, misfits, and rebels, also took to Twitter to say a few words about his fallen friend”
Down here on E Street, we’re devastated and heartbroken over the death of Tom Petty. Our hearts go out to his family and bandmates.
— Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) October 3, 2017
I’ve always felt a deep kinship with his music. A great songwriter and performer, whenever we saw each other…
— Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) October 3, 2017
…it was like running into a long lost brother. Our world will be a sadder place without him.
– Bruce Springsteen— Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) October 3, 2017
“Down here on E Street, we’re devastated and heartbroken over the death of Tom Petty. Our hearts go out to his family and bandmates. I’ve always felt a deep kinship with his music. A great songwriter and performer, whenever we saw each other, it was like running into a long lost brother. Our world will be a sadder place without him.”
The performance saw Springsteen open with “Growin’ Up,” the second track from his debut LP, 1973’s Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J., and close with the iconic title track to 1975’s Born to Run. The 15-song set focused primarily on classics (including “Dancing in the Dark,” “Thunder Road,” “Born in the U.S.A.”), with a few deeper cuts sprinkled in (“Long Walk Home,” “Land of Hope and Dreams”). Springsteen has gone on record stating that the setlist will remain the same throughout his extended run of intimate NYC theater shows, which extends into February of 2018.
You can check out a full list of dates via Bruce’s website, although getting tickets may prove tougher than than, as every show is currently sold out, with tickets being sold on the secondary market for several hundred dollars each, despite the best efforts of the performer.
Springsteen on Broadway Set List
1. “Growin’ Up”
2. “My Hometown”
3. “My Father’s House”
4. “The Wish”
5. “Thunder Road”
6. “The Promised Land”
7. “Born in the U.S.A.”
8. “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”
9. “Tougher Than the Rest”
10. “Brilliant Disguise”
11. “The Ghost of Tom Joad”
12. “Long Walk Home”
13. “Dancing in the Dark”
14. “Land of Hope and Dreams”
15. “Born to Run”