Bruce Springsteen gave DC a night built on hope and defiance

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It rained heavily in Washington last night, even at Nationals Park. But the crowd of 40,000 fans didn’t let it dampen their spirits! They made do with trash bag ponchos and continued to sing along with Bruce.

Bruce Springsteen didn’t play “Atlantic City” or any songs from his 1982 album, Nebraska, during the second-to-last concert of his 2026 Land of Hope and Dreams tour. While those songs’ serious mood might feel fitting for today, Springsteen chose not to include them in the show.

He was definitely rebellious, fueled by anger and fear. Yet, he also felt invigorated and hopeful. As usual, he was ready to give a high-energy, three-hour rock and roll performance loud enough to reach the most influential building in the world.

At the start of the show, the 76-year-old walked down to greet the audience and announced he was in the nation’s capital to use the strength of art, music, and rock & roll to help a country in need of healing.

Bruce Springsteen delivers his message and his songs loud and clear in Washington DC

This concert was meant to be the last stop on a tour that started in Minneapolis. Because of scheduling problems, a Philadelphia show had to be rescheduled earlier this month, so Bruce and the E Street Band are heading back up Interstate 95 for the true final performance this Saturday. Choosing Washington, D.C. as the final location was a deliberate decision, but performing near the Liberty Bell feels especially appropriate.

Bruce and his band performed four cover songs. One was “Because the Night,” which he wrote with Patti Smith in 1978. The other three songs highlight how this tour differs from his concerts two years prior.

In 2024, Bruce’s performances often featured both tender songs like the Commodores’ “Nightshift” and energetic closers like “Twist and Shout.” However, this particular show started with a powerful statement: “War,” Edwin Starr’s famous protest song from the Vietnam War era.

After a few songs, he powerfully performed The Clash’s defiant anthem, “Clampdown.” He ended the night with Bob Dylan’s timeless plea for kindness and understanding, “Chimes of Freedom.”

Despite a generally rebellious attitude, the show was full of hope and energetic rock music that cheered everyone up. The crowd sang along to every word of the first verse and chorus of “Hungry Heart,” and Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Van Zandt shared a happy duet of “Two Hearts.” There was also a lot of fantastic guitar playing throughout the night.

Bruce and Stevie are great musicians, but when the E Street Band is playing at its best, Nils Lofgren often takes the lead on guitar. He was fantastic on songs like “Youngstown” and “Because the Night,” and even played pedal steel guitar on “The Rising.”

Bruce was joined on stage by Tom Morello, guitarist from Rage Against the Machine, who recently participated in protests in Minneapolis. Morello played the entire set, adding his own vocals to “Clampdown” and delivering a haunting guitar solo during “Ghost of Tom Joad.”

The show started amazing! After playing early surprises like covers of “War” and “Clampdown,” Bruce launched into all the classics – we got “Born to Run” and “No Surrender” pretty early on. Then, he paused to talk about what was happening in Minneapolis, which felt really important.

He then performed “Streets of Minneapolis,” a song he’d written for Renee Good and Alex Pretti, starting solo before being joined by the full band. The performance culminated with images of Good and Pretti displayed on the large video screens on either side of the stage.

After playing a few songs, he performed “American Skin (41 Shots),” a moving tribute to Amadou Diallo, who was fatally shot by police in 1999. He didn’t say anything before or after the song, but its meaning was unmistakable.

Bruce gave all members of his big band plenty of chances to show off their talent during the show. This performance included a five-person horn section and a five-person choir. Normally, the E Street Band has nine members, but with Tom Morello joining them, there were a total of twenty people on stage.

Besides playing guitar, Soozie Tyrell, a veteran violinist and fiddler, had significant parts in the Celtic-influenced songs “Death to My Hometown” and “American Land.” When she wasn’t playing violin, she joined the band as an extra guitarist.

Max Weinberg, known for his energetic drumming, powerfully played during Bruce Springsteen’s performance of “Born in the USA.” He was frequently joined by choir member Anthony Almonte, who also played drums, adding to the song’s impact.

Charles Giordano played the accordion during the Irish songs and also provided keyboard support alongside the incredibly talented Roy Bittan. The horn section then had a chance to shine on “My City of Ruins” from the album The Rising.

Throughout the performance, Jake Clemons – nephew of the famous Clarence Clemons – played the saxophone with incredible emotion. His sound was so reminiscent of his uncle that it felt like the legendary “Big Man” was still there on stage.

The song “Tenth Avenue Freezeout,” usually played near the end of the show, is a tribute to Clarence Clemons. During Wednesday’s performance, screens showed classic photos of Clemons, nicknamed “Scooter” and “The Big Man,” from earlier years.

Bruce delivered a high-energy performance, playing hit after hit. He also spoke directly to the audience a few times, sharing strong political opinions – something not all concertgoers appreciate. However, at Nationals Park, it was difficult to find anyone who disagreed with what he said.

It was amazing! When Bruce asked them to turn up the volume so we could really hear the chants and singing with the White House so close, the whole crowd just exploded with sound. Everyone got way louder!

Overall, the night lived up to the tour’s name, feeling both passionate and optimistic. Plus, Bruce surprised the audience with an announcement.

During the concert, between his main set and the encore, Bruce announced a new festival called Power to the People, happening October 3rd in the DC area. He, along with the Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews Band, and Dropkick Murphys, will perform. Rage Against the Machine is also part of the lineup, with Tom Morello taking the lead in organizing the event.

The event’s location and initial lineup were announced on Thursday morning. It will be held at Merriweather Post Pavilion near Washington, D.C., and feature performers like Jack Black, Joan Baez, Cypress Hill, Killer Mike, Brittany Howard, and the Linda Lindas.

Music truly shone on Wednesday night, and its impact will undoubtedly last for years to come, much like the enduring legacy of the E Street Band. And that’s because


Everything eventually ends, that’s just how life is. But perhaps what’s lost can be found again. Let’s make some signs and gather together – I’m planning a meetup at Merriweather this fall.

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2026-05-28 16:01