Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band at the Kia Forum“Do You Have Anything Left?”

Photos & Words by @KevinEstradaPhotography

It’s been 8 years since Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band rolled through Los Angeles, but you would never know it – at 74 years old, Springsteen and his band is still setting the standard for arena rock shows.

Last year, Springsteen was stricken with a severe ulcer disease, causing many dates of the tour, including the two night stand in Los Angeles to be cancelled and rescheduled.  Age may have played a factor in his illness, but Bruce’s final night in Los Angeles had more energy and a longer set than most of his younger contemporaries. 

As the lights went down, the fabulous Kia Forum erupted in deafening moans of “Bruuuuce.” Springsteen & his band kicked the show off with Open All Night (the first time playing this song since 2014), then jumping into Lonesome Day and the iconic, Prove It All Night.

Bruce treated his fans to a few surprises – Fire and Tougher Than The Rest featuring his wife Patti Scialfa on guest vocals.  Next, Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine joined Bruce and The E Street Band as they powered through American Skin and The Ghost Of Tom Joad.

Springsteen’s shows may be simple stage presentations compared to some of the blockbuster tours that travel the world, but the difference is quality and quantity.  Los Angeles was treated to 3 hours and some of the greatest songs ever recorded – Hungry Heart, Because The Night, Thunder Road, Born To Run, Rosalita, Glory Days, Dancing In The Dark.  With an arsenal like this, there is no need for a flashy stage show.

There was a magical moment at one point of the show – the house lights came up, Springsteen took a good look at the sold-out arena and yelled, “Do you have anything left?”  Springsteen definitely has a lot left. 

SET LIST

Open All Night

Lonesome Day

Prove It All Night

Two Hearts

Ghosts

Letter To You

The Promised Land

Death To My Hometown

Tougher Than The Rest

Fire

Hungry Heart

Sherry Darling

Spirit In The Night

My City Of Ruins

Nightshift

Last Man Standing

Backstreets

Because The Night

Wrecking Ball

American Skin

The Ghost Of Tom Joad

The Rising

Badlands

Thunder Road

Born To Run

Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)

Glory Days

Dancing In The Dark

Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

Detroit Medley

I’ll See You In My Dreams