Bruce Springsteen in Naples, May 23: live report

Just when you thought it was just another good concert, Bruce pulls the magical trick that makes it a truly memorable night.

It was a memorable place, that’s for sure: Piazza Plebiscito in Naples is a wonderful square. It was Bruce’s first square concert ever in Europe, and the first open-air date of the European leg of 2013. Moreover, it was an homecoming: the Zerillis, the family of Bruce’s mother, came from Vico Equense, a few KMs from here.

You had all the right ingredients for an epic night. Yet, the concert was far from sellout (less than 20.000 in a place that could go well over 30.000); and the show struggled to take off. Bruce came out earlier in the afternoon, two hours before the regular stage time, for a short acoustic set “per la mia gente” - for my people: “This hard land” and “Growin’ up”

The real show began with a nice intro set: “O’ sole mio”, played by Nils, Charlie and Roy on accordions while the rest of the band took its place and as Bruce pulled up a sun shaped sign from the audience. He launched the band into an unusual opener, perfectly chosen for the occasion: “Long walk home”, followed by “My Love Will Not Let You Down”, “Out in the Street” and “Hungry Heart”. Bruce’s voice sounded a little bit rusty when the show went into the standard sequence from “We take care of our ownt” to “Spirit in the night”.

Then it was time for the first real surprise of the show, yet not the best. Bruce spent a good deal of time collecting signs from the first row  - including the Beatles “I’ve got a feeling” - (“Steve would like that!” - and we too, but unfortunately that didn’t happen) and a photo of the old Zerilli Restaurant (“I could have ended there serving pasta!”). Then the chosen request was for a girl named Rosy who asked for "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) " - “We’ve never ever ever played this in the middle of a show”. Not an unusual song - if seldom played - but in unsual spot. It was followed by a nice “The river” with a wonderful reprise suggested by audience chanting and a “Prove It All Night” with '78 intro.

Then it began to rain - many italian concerts have been wet: Milano 2003 and Florence 2012 were memorable for the rain as well. And all those times Bruce played “Who’ll stop the rain”. But this time it worked: it stopped raining at the end of the song. Yet, the wet part of the show was probably the most fun, with a raucous “Pay me my money down” with all the band following Bruce under the rain.

The last part of the show was “usual” Bruce - that is above average of 99% of live music - but no real highlights, except for a “My hometown” as a first encore, dedicated to Vico Equense.

And then the magic happened.

After a fun and long “Twist and shout”, Bruce litterally accompanied the band off the stage, one by one. Then he remained by himself on the stage, with just an acoustic guitar. He told the audience that many years ago he played in town in a theatre - reffering to “The ghost of Tom Joad” tour -  closing a show with the next song, and he would do the same tonight.  He played “Thunder road” acoustic to an almost muted audience, with his voice echoing on the buildings.

Pure magic in a magical place. It was just for one song only when you expected the whole concert to be like that. Still, that ending made concert  truly memorable.

[Gianni Sibilla (Rockol.com)]


O Sole Mio
Long Walk Home
My Love Will Not Let You Down
Out in the Street
Hungry Heart
We Take Care of Our Own
Wrecking Ball
Death to My Hometown
Spirit in the Night
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
The River
Prove It All Night (with '78 intro)
Radio Nowhere
The Promised Land
Pay Me My Money Down
Shackled and Drawn
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
Who'll Stop the Rain?
The Rising
Badlands
Land of Hope and Dreams

Encore:
My Hometown
Born in the U.S.A.
Born to Run
Dancing in the Dark
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Twist and Shout
Thunder Road (Acoustic)