1978 - Brucebase Wiki

1978

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1978-03-00 - RECORD PLANT, NEW YORK CITY, NY

FASTER AND LOUDER

Springsteen, who spent the last half of March, and early April, mixing Darkness On The Edge Of Town, drops by adjoining studio A at the Record Plant, where New York proto-punk band The Dictators were working on their third album, Bloodbrothers. While both bands were hanging out in the studio's common area, "Handsome Dick" Manitoba and Clarence Clemons discussed their admiration for each other's work. "When I told Clarence I didn't know he was a Dictators fan," he looked at me and said, "The Big Man knows about the universe!" Manitoba recalled. Bruce was a big fan of the influential punk band’s first two albums, wearing a Dictators t-shirt on stage and dedicating "Born To Run" to them. So when it turned out the bands were recording in the same building, Bruce stopped by for a visit and ended up on vinyl. The mutual affection shared by both parties was no fluke. During the mid-'70s, Springsteen spent many nights in New York City, frequenting The Bottom Line, CBGBs, and Cafe Wha?, where he met and hung out with musicians and songwriters of all types. He loved the punk scene, though it was not the type of music he wrote or performed. He was even referred to as a "punkish performer," and Henry Edwards wrote in 1976, "Springsteen writes and sings songs of epic length about New Jersey teen punks and their wasted lives."

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-03-17 - TRAX, NEW YORK CITY, NY

WEREWOLVES OF LONDON

Springsteen, along with James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, J.D. Souther, Dickey Betts (of the Allman Brothers Band) and legendary promoter Bill Graham attend a performance by Warren Zevon at this tiny club, then located at 100 West 72nd Street. Zevon had just begun his Excitable Boy tour, and this show (which didn't start until 3am and lasted for nearly two hours) may have been of an invitation-only or promotional nature. At some point during the show some of the attending musicians/celebrities took the stage as a troupe to perform the "werewolf howls" background vocals on "Werewolves Of London". Springsteen was definitely present but there are conflicting accounts if Bruce was part of the on-stage troupe or not. Springsteen also performed at another Zevon concert three months later on June 23).

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-05-00 - THE BOTTOM LINE, NEW YORK CITY, NY

Bruce is in the audience at a Lou Reed show at the Bottom Line. Reed mentions (and greets) Springsteen during his lengthy monologue in "Walk On The Wild Side": "Hi, Bruce. Springsteen is all right by the way. He gets my seal of approval. I think he's groovy. You notice the way the critics turned on him, like after they were on him, right?" It's hard to be certain, but Reed seems to invite Bruce on stage to perform his spoken parts on the song "Street Hassle", which Bruce contributed uncredited on the album of the same title. However Bruce appears to turn down the invitation - you can hear an exchange in the audience during the song (at 6.26), along with what sounds like Springsteen's voice. Lou Reed's live album Take No Prisoners is a compilation of ten songs from shows at the Bottom Line, recorded between May 17 and 21, 1978.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-05-19 - PARAMOUNT THEATRE, ASBURY PARK, NJ

ADAM RAISED A CAIN / FIRE / SPANISH EYES / THE BROKENHEARTED / THE WAY / CANDY'S ROOM / PARADISE BY THE "C" / TALK TO ME / HEARTS OF STONE / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THE PROMISED LAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / PARADISE BY THE "C" / KING TUT / BADLANDS / NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / FAME (instrumental) / THE PROMISE / IT'S MY LIFE / PARADISE BY THE "C" / BADLANDS / NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / FOR YOU / THUNDER ROAD / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / THE PROMISED LAND / RACING IN THE STREET / (I CAN'T GET NO) SATISFACTION (instrumental) / HEART FULL OF SOUL / WHOLE LOTTA LOVE (instrumental) / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / FIRE / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / piano instrumental / THE PROMISE

Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour rehearsals with no members of the public present. These are predominantly full versions with some minor stylistic differences. "The Promise" is the full E Street Band arrangement only played live like this on opening night of the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour, in 2010 in Asbury Park, and in 2012 in Washington, DC (though all circulating studio takes from the '70s also featured the band). The first take of "Prove It All Night" includes the piano and guitar introduction used on the tour. A brief rendition of the song "King Tut" is performed (often mistakenly identified as "Wooly Bully"). Apparently, the performance of "King Tut" results from an episode they saw of Saturday Night Live with comedian Steve Martin on April 22, 1978. Martin opened the show with the song, in an elaborate production number. The response to the song was so great Martin released a single in July that made the Top 10. "Whole Lotta Love" is a brief performance comprising the instrumental midsection of the Led Zeppelin classic. "The Way", which was dropped from the album in late April along with "Spanish Eyes" and "The Brokenhearted," were Darkness sessions songs all released in later years, but not performed on the subsequent tour.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

Start of the "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" tour

May 23, 1978 - January 1, 1979 (111 shows played)

THE E STREET BAND
Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar, harmonica)
Roy Bittan (piano, keyboards)
Clarence Clemons (tenor, baritone, and soprano saxophones, backing vocals, percussion)
Danny Federici (organ, accordion, glockenspiel, piano)
Garry Tallent (bass, percussion)
Steven Van Zandt (guitar, backing vocals)
Max Weinberg (drums)

^{See also Tour Statistics for show listing and songs performed.}

1978-05-23 - SHEA'S BUFFALO THEATRE, BUFFALO, NY

Soundcheck: IS THAT ALL TO THE BALL (MR. HALL) - MY GIRL JOSEPHINE - BADLANDS RIFF / THUNDER ROAD / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IS THAT ALL TO THE BALL (MR. HALL) / FIRE / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / FOR YOU / THUNDER ROAD / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / CANDY'S ROOM / THE PROMISED LAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / STREETS OF FIRE / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN

Opening night of the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour. Includes the only ever live performance of "The Promise" with the full E Street Band until the Asbury Park Carousel web broadcast in 2010. This 22-song set features the world premieres of eight songs from Darkness On The Edge Of Town, the entire album aside from "Factory" and "Something In The Night" (which had made its debut in 1976). "Prove It All Night" has a piano and guitar solo introduction that will develop and expand throughout the tour, becoming a concert (and career) highlight. The "Backstreets" interlude continues to evolve and the middle section contains the 'Sad Eyes' segment for the first time. The monologue would vary throughout the tour, and often include lyrics also found in "Drive All Night". Two more new songs feature in the second set, the world premiere "Paradise By The "C"" and the live premiere of the Darkness On The Edge Of Town outtake "Fire". A contributor to the Greasy Lake website recalls that Bruce read the lyrics to these two songs from sheets of paper. According to Billboard, opening night was a sellout, with an attendance of 3,187 and gross receipts of $23,200. The soundcheck includes extensive workouts of Billy Lee Riley's 1958 rockabilly cut "Is That All To The Ball (Mr. Hall)".

1978-05-24 - PALACE THEATRE, ALBANY, NY

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / FOR YOU / THUNDER ROAD / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / CANDY'S ROOM / THE PROMISED LAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / FIRE / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT

Night two of the tour features a similar setlist to the tour opener, with "Streets Of Fire" and "You Can't Sit Down" dropped and several songs moved around in the set. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Mickey's Monkey" for the first time. "The Promise" remains in the set, but is a solo piano rendition this time. It won't be until 2010 that the full-band version is played again. The stunning solo piano version will remain a fairly regular encore highlight throughout June before dropping out of the set for good in mid-July.

1978-05-26 - SPECTRUM, PHILADELPHIA, PA

Soundcheck: THUNDER ROAD (instrumental) / UNIDENTIFIED / BADLANDS (instrumental) / NIGHT (instrumental) / NIGHT (instrumental) / UNIDENTIFIED / PARADISE BY THE "C" / UNIDENTIFIED INSTRUMENTAL / THE PROMISED LAND (instrumental) / SHE'S THE ONE / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / FOR YOU / CANDY'S ROOM / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / THE PROMISED LAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN

The set includes the first "Growin' Up" (without a story) and "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City" of the tour. The "Mona" intro includes some guitar riffing straight out of The Yardbirds' "Train Kept A-Rollin'". "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of The Miracles' "Mickey's Monkey". "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" is dropped for the first time on the tour. See our Gallery tab for Peter Howes'/AsburyBrucePhotos' great pictures.

1978-05-27 - SPECTRUM, PHILADELPHIA, PA

Soundcheck: JUNGLELAND / LUCILLE (instrumental) / FIRE / LUCILLE / BADLANDS

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN

"Jungleland" makes its tour debut, replacing "The Promised Land" as the first-set closer. Four shows into the tour the setlist begins to develop into the familiar Darkness Tour song order, with the first in-order appearance of the "five-pack" of "The Promised Land", "Prove It All Night", "Racing In The Street", "Thunder Road" and "Jungleland". "Growin' Up" includes a brief spoken interlude - "when we woke up…somehow we were in Philadelphia!" "Backstreets" is dedicated to Frank Stefanko. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Mickey's Monkey". "Candy's Room" is dropped for the first time on the tour.

1978-05-29 - MUSIC HALL, BOSTON, MA

Soundcheck: POINT BLANK (see notes) / BADLANDS (several times)

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN
^{Setlist may be incomplete or incorrect.}

Opening night of three shows over three nights in Boston. The audience tape begins with "Prove It All Night" in progress, so the first five songs from the start of the set listed are either from recollections of those present or a review in The Boston Globe, and may not be accurate. Based on other setlists it's likely that "For You" was played after "Something In The Night". "Racing In The Street" segues directly into "Thunder Road" from this show onwards. "Growin' Up" features a story about a gypsy woman, with Bruce singing a line from the Curtis Mayfield tune of that name. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Mickey's Monkey". See our Gallery tab to view Cliff Breining's great shot of the Boston Music Hall marquee, and our News tab for a newspaper review of the show. According to a review in The Boston Globe, the J. Geils Band attended this first show, and met Bruce during the intermission where he invited them back to the hotel after the show. This is presumably the first time Bruce met Peter Wolf. In addition, the review states there was a five-hour soundcheck/rehearsal before the show as Bruce was not satisfied with the sound in the Music Hall. It also states that "Badlands" was played several times. In a telephone interview with WBCN Boston's Mark Parenteau on September 26, 1978, Bruce revealed that "Point Blank" was musically composed during soundcheck before one of the three shows at the Music Hall. The lyrics were written on the road after the Boston stand, and the song was premiered at The Roxy on July 7. This soundcheck could have taken place before any of the three Boston gigs, and maybe over more than one soundcheck session.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-05-30 - MUSIC HALL, BOSTON, MA

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / CANDY'S ROOM / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT

Tour debut of "Because The Night". "Growin' Up" includes a short version of the spaceman story - "stop that man with the gold guitar!" "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes an instrumental snippet of "Hernando's Hideaway" as an introduction and a snippet of "Mickey's Monkey" in the midsection.

1978-05-31 - MUSIC HALL, BOSTON, MA

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

21-song set features the first "Quarter To Three" of the tour. "Growin' Up" includes the spaceman story.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN ^{(June 2)}

1978-06-02 - HALSEY FIELD HOUSE, U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY, ANNAPOLIS, MD

NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / SEA CRUISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT
^{Incomplete setlist.}

This is Springsteen's second appearance at the Academy after he previously played here on May 28, 1976. Unfortunately the only known audio source is incomplete but includes the listed setlist up to and including "Backstreets". The last four tracks noted here were apparently also played, including a repeat performance of "Sea Cruise" that is unique to the 1976 and 1978 Naval Academy shows alongside one further performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado on August 16, 1981. A midshipman threw his hat on stage during "Sea Cruise" - Bruce grabbed it and wore it during the song. "Growin' Up" features the spaceman story. Although "Badlands" is absent from the circulating tape (which fades in during the introduction to "Night") and an attendee recalls that "Night" opened the show, it is most likely that "Badlands" opened the set, as usual. The same attendee confirms that "Born To Run" appeared in the encores.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-06-03 - NASSAU VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM, UNIONDALE, NY

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / QUARTER TO THREE

First appearance of "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" for the 1978 tour. "Growin' Up" features the spaceman story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of The Miracles' "Mickey's Monkey".

1978-06-05 - SPORTS ARENA, TOLEDO, OH

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN / QUARTER TO THREE
^{Incomplete setlist.}

16-song setlist sourced from an incomplete audience tape and an attendee recollection that "Adam Raised A Cain" was also played. Four to six songs are probably missing from the first half of the second set. A review in the Toledo Blade does not mention any other songs.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-06-06 - INDIANA CONVENTION CENTER, INDIANAPOLIS, IN

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE
^{Incomplete setlist.}

Listed partial setlist constructed from the recollections of those present and a review in the Indianapolis News. Famous show when three (or two, recollections vary) female dancers from a nearby strip club called 'The Red Garter' joined Bruce and the E Street Band onstage during the encore – an incident that Springsteen alluded to 18 years later during a November 21, 1996 solo gig in Indianapolis. An attendee confirms the strippers story, noting that Bruce introduced them as "some friends that Clarence made this afternoon". Apparently Bruce was surprised when they appeared - "I don't think he was expecting them to actually come on stage from the wings." The attendee also notes that Springsteen opened with "Badlands". The story was also mentioned in the Indianapolis News review, which notes that the crowd did not seem as excited about the girls as it was about Springsteen. The Friddles (a.k.a. Bob) has written to Brucebase with more detail: "After leaving the stage after their last set to thunderous applause, they returned for an encore and I believe there were three young ladies in long dresses and high heels came out with them, who were introduced as friends they met at the Red Garter Lounge (which we knew was a "Gentlemen's club" in Indy). The girls starting dancing as the band performed, then to my amazement, they proceeded to wriggle out of their dresses and continue dancing and singing with the band in only their skimpy bras, garters, panties and high heels – I was amazed! The crowd went wild!" In October 2010 during his "Big Band" tour show in Indianapolis Max Weinberg also talked about this event. On the day of the concert the soundcheck finished early and the band headed off to 'The Red Garter' for an afternoon's relaxation. Clarence ("a man of varied interests" according to Max) befriended the strippers, invited them to the show (unbeknownst to the band) and finally invited them on stage for a memorable "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out". During the concert in Indianapolis in March 20, 2008 Springsteen again mentioned The Red Garter, expressing surprise that the club is still in existence. Total ticket sales for the show were 2,014, with gross receipts of $15,105.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-06-08 - DANE COUNTY MEMORIAL COLISEUM, MADISON, WI

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

"Growin' Up" features the spaceman story. "The Promise" is dropped from the set for the first confirmed time on the tour, although most likely this is not the first Darkness show at which it was not performed.

1978-06-09 - MECCA ARENA, MILWAUKEE, WI

Soundcheck: LET'S LIVE FOR TODAY

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

"Darkness On The Edge Of Town" returns to the set, now in the first set where it will remain for the rest of the tour. It replaces "Something In The Night", which is dropped for the first confirmed time on the tour. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes an instrumental snippet of "Hernando's Hideaway" as an introduction. "Growin' Up" features the spaceman story. An attendee who snuck into the arena before the show recalls that "Let's Live For Today" was soundchecked. The song was originally recorded by English band The Rokes in 1966, and later popularised by The Grass Roots in 1967. As far as we know, it has never been played in concert. Total ticket sales for the show were 4,739, with gross receipts of $33,420.

1978-06-10 - METROPOLITAN SPORTS CENTER, BLOOMINGTON, MN

"Growin' Up" features the spaceman story and "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features an extended mariachi-style introduction. Total ticket sales for the show were 6,428, with gross receipts of $44,966. The listed twenty song setlist is taken from an incomplete audience tape of the show combined with an attendee recollection that's deemed reliable, and is likely to represent the complete show.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-06-12 - MARY E. SAWYER AUDITORIUM, LA CROSSE, WI

Show cancelled for unknown reason.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-06-13 - HANCHER AUDITORIUM, UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, IOWA CITY, IA

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / QUARTER TO THREE

The complete 21-song setlist listed is courtesy of Brucebase reader Chris, who made a note of the setlist the day after the show. "The Promise" returns to the set. Chris also writes: "I remember when Bruce was standing on the speakers about ten feet off the floor during "Quarter To Three". He was shouting "I'm Just A Prisoner.." before collapsing on the stage. Clarence revived him with a sponge, and he got up after about a minute and finished singing "…Of Rock 'n' Roll!". During "Spirit In The Night" he did his usual routine and went into the crowd, this time he went further than normal with Clarence trailing behind him playing his sax and Bruce singing the lyrics. He got close to me, and I got a chance to touch him when he was singing the line "me and Crazy Janey". I was so excited! When the silent part ended; he jumped back up and with Clarence right behind him, they ran back through the crowd onto the stage." Another fan present was Jeff, who writes "The set list was very similar to Kansas City later in the month. Only concert I have still ever attended where NOBODY was selling tickets outside, all the people outside were trying to buy!" "Racing In The Street" and "Jungleland" are mentioned in a very positive review in The Daily Iowan. A contributor to the Greasy Lake website notes "…he was standing on top of the speakers and he jumped down like a giant cat. And I remember him out in the audience… grabbing a reporter's pad and telling him he better be writing a good review." "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" is dropped for the first time on the tour. Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 2,568 and gross receipts of $20,177.

1978-06-14 - CIVIC AUDITORIUM MUSIC HALL, OMAHA, NE

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

"Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes the "Come A Little Bit Closer" introduction. Bruce's second show in Omaha, he last played at the same venue in September 30, 1975. The Music Hall is a small ~2,500 seat hall with a main floor and balcony seating, adjacent to the Civic Auditorium in downtown Omaha. Springsteen and the Band would not play in Omaha again until an appearance at the Qwest Center on March 14, 2008. Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 2,518 and gross receipts of $18,455.

1978-06-16 - MEMORIAL HALL, KANSAS CITY, KS

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

21-song set includes great versions of "Adam Raised A Cain" and "Quarter To Three". Total ticket sales for the show were 2,777, with gross receipts of $20,828.

1978-06-17 - KIEL AUDITORIUM, ST. LOUIS, MO

BADLANDS / THUNDER ROAD / QUARTER TO THREE
^{Incomplete setlist.}

Held in the 10,000 seat Kiel Auditorium, and one of the few gigs on the Darkness Tour with a disappointing turnout – over 5,000 tickets remained unsold. Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 4,516 and gross receipts of $33,612. A Brucebase reader comments: "I remember when the lights came up at the encores that I was stunned that there were only a few rows of the upper level filled - for what was the most amazing show I'd ever seen." A review in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch recalls "Badlands" and "Thunder Road" as being played. A contributor to the Greasy Lake website mentions that "Quarter To Three" was played. In a 1978 magazine interview Clarence Clemons mentioned this gig as one of his favorites of the tour. When Springsteen and The E Street Band returned to St. Louis on November 25, they performed in the much more intimate 3,500 seat Kiel Opera House. Michael Stipe is believed to have attended this show or the later Opera House show, noting that it changed his life.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-06-20 - RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE, MORRISON, CO

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / I FOUGHT THE LAW / QUARTER TO THREE

Outdoor performance at the stunning Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Bruce's first appearance at the famous venue - he would return to play two shows here in 1981 - and his first ever performance in Colorado. Encores include the year's first "I Fought The Law", played just eight times this tour. "Growin' Up" includes the spaceman story.

1978-06-22 - SALT PALACE ASSEMBLY HALL, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

Tentative show date, likely never formally booked, but advertised (as "tentative") in the May 24, 1978 edition of Student Life, a Utah State University newspaper.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-06-23 - PARAMOUNT THEATRE, PORTLAND, OR

I'LL SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD

As he had done a couple of months earlier in New York City, Springsteen makes an unannounced guest appearance at a Warren Zevon gig – this time playing guitar, harmonica and sharing vocals on a wild, extended version of "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead", Warren's final encore of the evening. Jim, sent his recollections of the evening to Brucebase: "The house was about half-full. Zevon was fairly popular at that time, with college kids and so forth. My good friend and I were set to see Bruce (for the first time!) the following night, but we had tickets to see Zevon too. We took our spots about fifteen rows out from the stage in the Paramount Theatre. As we sat down, we couldn't help but notice four, or five guys behind us. They seemed familiar, but were dressed differently from the Oregon fans. Oh well, I really didn't give it much thought… Zevon came on. He was horrible. This was during a period of his career when he was drinking too much. It was pretty evident throughout the show that he was a wreck. The show was low energy, and just not good. Nobody got up, not even to bring him back out after the set was done. However, as the obligatory "give us an encore" applause continued Zevon and band came back out. Still no standing ovation. Then…. from stage right, this figure appears. He comes bopping out onto the stage- he's wearing the newsboy hat, he's got on a black jacket and has an Esquire slung around his shoulder. The place went CRAZY! It was Bruce!! All at once the roof went off - everyone was standing and screaming, and the half-full venue now seemed to be jam packed. Zevon launched into "Sleep When I'm Dead." Bruce joined in and handled the harmonica parts and some stinging guitar riffs. It was amazing. This made the evening worthwhile. Oh, and those guys sitting behind us? Now I recognized them! It was Miami Steve, Garry, Roy and probably Danny (memory is a bit hazy after all these years, no Clarence though)."

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-06-24 - PARAMOUNT THEATRE, PORTLAND, OR

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

"The Promised Land" features a completely out of tune guitar solo. Another great version of "Adam Raised A Cain". "Growin' Up" includes the story of Bruce meeting Clarence. Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 2,504 and gross receipts of $19,627.

1978-06-25 - PARAMOUNT NORTHWEST THEATRE, SEATTLE, WA

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / I FOUGHT THE LAW / QUARTER TO THREE

"Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features an extended mariachi-style introduction. Highlight is an outstanding version of "The Promise". Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 2,976 (a sellout) and gross receipts of $22,677.

1978-06-26 - QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE, VANCOUVER, BC

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

Setlist from a newspaper review of the concert. The first ever Springsteen concert in British Columbia features the first ever performances in Canada of "Badlands", "Darkness On The Edge Of Town", "The Promised Land", "Prove It All Night", "Racing In The Street", "Paradise By The "C"", "Fire", "Adam Raised A Cain", and "The Promise".

1978-06-29 - SAN JOSE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, SAN JOSE, CA

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / THUNDER ROAD / FIRE / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE
^{Incomplete setlist.}

A contributor to the Greasy Lake website recalls "an intimate gathering (Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 2,463, a sellout) of enthusiastic Springsteen fans were treated to a high-energy show, the highlight coming about three-quarters of the way through when Bruce got on Clarence's shoulders and the two of them waded into the audience." The concert culminated with Bruce and Clarence dancing on the speakers flanking the stage before Springsteen collapsed, playing dead at the microphone. Several of the songs listed are per the contemporary diary of an attendee, a review in the Stanford Daily, or both. See our Gallery tab for some magnificent photos from Jack Bogdanski and Karl Buhler.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-06-30 - BERKELEY COMMUNITY THEATRE, BERKELEY, CA

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

"Prove It All Night" features Bruce's cab driver story also heard (and seen) on August 15 in Largo, MD. "For You" is the full-band version. "Growin' Up" features the "let it rock" story. Billboard magazine reported that the attendance was 3,475, a sellout. The show grossed $23,959.

1978-07-01 - BERKELEY COMMUNITY THEATRE, BERKELEY, CA

Soundcheck: NEW YORK CITY SERENADE (snippet) / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT (intro)

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Bruce's mother, father and youngest sister Pam are in the audience. The show was sold-out, with Billboard magazine reporting an attendance of 3,483 and gross receipts of $24,018. In Rolling Stone (August 24, 1978, RS272), Dave Marsh described Springsteen staying up all night mixing tapes recorded at his last concert, which is this very show: "Jon Landau, Bruce and I disappear into Springsteen's room to play the Berkeley concert mixes. There are two mixes of an eight-minute rendition of "Prove It All Night" that shatters the LP version, and one mix of an unnamed, shorter instrumental, often called "Paradise By The "C"", which opens the second half of his concerts. Even on a small cassette player, it's clear that something considerable is going on."

1978-07-03 - WARNORS THEATRE, FRESNO, CA

Cancelled show due to too few tickets sold, never rescheduled. As far as we can find, this gig was only advertised once in the local press, just three days before the show was scheduled to take place. The cancellation was announced the day after.

1978-07-04 - KMET STUDIO, LOS ANGELES, CA

Bruce, Jon Landau and Dave Marsh turn up together at the studios of KMET – resulting in a lengthy, live on-air Springsteen show hosted by DJ Mary Turner. Springsteen-Landau arrived bearing audio treats – the show is highlighted by the debut public airing of two live recordings ("Prove It All Night" and "Paradise By The "C"") fresh from the gig in Berkeley (July 1). Many topics are discussed, from what Asbury Park is like on the 4th, how the change in drinking age to age 18 saved him and the band in the local bars, The Bruce Springsteen Band doing "You Mean So Much To Me", Ronnie Spector, how the album version of "Something In The Night" came from their first session when they recorded thirteen songs, the asylum gig when he was 16 and the patient who introduced the band for almost 20 minutes, the Sing Sing prison gig (December 7, 1972) where they had no vocal mics and they had to play all instrumentals but were dying until "a black cat" got up on stage and played a little soprano sax and then everyone went nuts, Appel trying to get Bruce to sing at the '73 Super Bowl, Bruce tells a story about his dad taking him to Tijuana & getting their picture taken on a Zebra - but it was really a painted donkey, "Because The Night", Patti Smith & how that happened, Bruce talks about Asbury Park characters and that he made names up, fireworks over the ocean - which leads to playing the album track, "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)", and Turner asks about the song, "Independence Day" - somehow she had heard about it already. After playing "Racing In The Street", Bruce admits he got it wrong when the song opens and he sings: "I got a sixty-nine Chevy with a 396 / Fuelie heads and a Hurst on the floor." He had recently been approached by Richie Schultz, a Grand National car driver, and was told that "Fuelie heads will not fit on a 396!" They will fit a 283. Bruce says, "This depresses me!". Bruce muses on changing it to "a 283" at shows but then says something like, "My job is to write the songs. I don't have to fix them" and then laughs. Bruce then tells that he sold his '57 Chevy with the flames and got a '60 convertible midnight blue Corvette. They finish up with his thoughts about the time it took to do Darkness & the lawsuit. Bruce says they recorded about thirty songs for the album. Mary Turner then gets in her final question: "Did you really find the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car?" The interview ends with the live debut of "Paradise By The "C"" from the July 1 Berkeley show. Bruce was clearly taken by Mary, even going so far as to ask her out on a date and dedicating "The Promised Land" to her the next night at the Forum on July 5: "this is for, uh…this is for Mary down at KMET, see, you guys, you guys can't see what she looks like, she's real pretty and I asked her for a date last night, I don't know if she's gonna go out with me or not, this is for her."

Several hours after this interview Bruce, Clarence, Garry and a couple of members of their tour entourage sneak up on the roof of a building on Sunset Strip and spray paint the huge billboard advertisement promoting the Darkness On The Edge Of Town album.

1978-07-05 - THE FORUM, INGLEWOOD, CA

Soundcheck: RAVE ON

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

A report from the tour at this time from Dave Marsh had Bruce soundchecking "Rave On" which appeared in the main set on the next date. An interview was carried out for "Eyewitness News" by reporter J.J. Jackson with Bruce backstage after this show, ten minutes of which were later broadcast (Springsteen's first television appearance) on July 7. Total ticket sales for the show were 12,723, with gross receipts of $101,472.

1978-07-06 - SUNDANCE SALOON, CALABASAS, CA

CAROL

Springsteen and actor Gary Busey (of The Buddy Holly Story movie fame) join obscure Oklahoma-based country rock outfit The Old Dog Band for a song. One of the band members was Gary Busey's brother. Busey would later join Bruce on stage for several songs at the Spectrum in Philadelphia (see August 18 and August 19 listings). At the August 19 show Bruce says he and his sister Pam went to see The Buddy Holly Story while he was in Los Angeles.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-07-07 - THE ROXY THEATRE, WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA

RAVE ON / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / CANDY'S ROOM / FOR YOU / POINT BLANK / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BACKSTREETS / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / INDEPENDENCE DAY / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / RAISE YOUR HAND / TWIST AND SHOUT

Broadcast on KMET-FM radio. Remarkable setlist includes the premieres of "Point Blank", "Rave On" and "Heartbreak Hotel". Another live debut "Independence Day" is performed solo on piano for only time on the tour. "Point Blank" features different lyrics to later versions and is played slightly differently. Also includes the first known tour performances of both "Twist And Shout" and "Raise Your Hand". "Night" is dropped for the first confirmed time on the tour. This show is widely seen as one of the great Springsteen shows of all time.

1978-07-08 - ARIZONA VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM, PHOENIX, AZ

"Growin' Up" features the "let it rock" story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes the "Come A Little Bit Closer" introduction. Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 7,783 and gross receipts of $56,059.

1978-07-09 - WNEW STUDIO, NEW YORK CITY, NY

Springsteen is interviewed by WNEW-FM DJ Dave Herman for King Biscuit Flower Hour, a weekly syndicated program heard across the United States (as was the case a few days earlier at KMET-FM in Los Angeles). Being interviewed by friendly Dave Herman, Bruce opens up about a lot of the Darkness issues Herman asks about. During the interview, Herman poses questions to Bruce about being the person or the product - Bruce talks about having more money than you can spend, then come the distractions, what he wanted to be, the Billboard Incident, how "The Boss" got started, whether he has any kind of life outside of music, how he cares about his fans, how The E Street Band got together - Bruce tells a great bit about Garry getting into the band, if he's having a good time and the Phoenix show - Bruce tells about young girl who kissed him so hard that she almost knocked out his front tooth, the age he decided to get into rock 'n' roll, the Born To Run hype and feeling things slipping away, the Darkness album being something new or a continuation, how Bruce and Landau hooked up, Born To Run recording issues, Born To Run and Darkness - time to do them, how he feels about Darkness - Bruce says, "I like it … in general, I think it's an honest record", number of songs done - again, Bruce says "about 30", hardest track to get down - Bruce agrees with "Badlands" & adds, "It was hard to sing … I had the word, 'Badlands' and chord changes and we go into the studio and lay the track down … And I go home. I play the tape and I'd write the words but I wouldn't do it out loud, I'd write them in my head. So, I go into the studio and I'd try to sing it and I realized what I'd written was like, it was hard to breathe and sing it all at once, so that was hard to sing", about being a rock 'n' roll star - Bruce hopes it doesn't mean a day will come when he can't get down into the crowd, and problems he's faced due to popularity - Bruce talks about the conflict between wanting to reach out but then feeling like you got to pull back but "the main thing is to cut down on the distance … to get as close as possible to the audience … the whole concept is the people come and they're at the show, well, they're not at the show, they're in the show, you know, I'm not only in the show, I'm at the show … I'm not explaining it well … it's a paradox … the more popular you are, the further people have to sit away to see you but you're reaching more people … what are you gonna do … you gotta work it out somehow." Somewhere in all that, they're talking about the music business and its challenges and Bruce coins the term, "Capital Generator" and what that feels like. Bruce uses this term, "Capital Generator" in the opening segment right after "Paradise By The "C"", through "Incident On 57th Street" and before "Racing In The Street" gets played in a great summation of all that came before the Darkness Tour in response to Dave Herman's opening: "What's Up?" Live recordings of "Prove It All Night" and "Paradise By The "C"" from the Berkeley July 1 gig are broadcast as part of Bruce's interview appearance at the station.

1978-07-09 - SAN DIEGO SPORTS ARENA, SAN DIEGO, CA

BADLANDS / I FOUGHT THE LAW / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / CANDY'S ROOM / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / STREETS OF FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Set includes the third performance of "I Fought The Law" of the tour and the first appearance of "Streets Of Fire" since opening night in Buffalo. First known version of "She's The One" to include "Not Fade Away" and "Gloria", which replace "Mona", dropped for the first confirmed time on the tour. "Growin' Up" features the "let it rock" story. Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 6,339 and gross receipts of $40,082.

1978-07-12 - DALLAS CONVENTION CENTER ARENA, DALLAS, TX

Originally scheduled for the main 10,000 seat Convention Center Arena but due to poor advanced ticket sales it was shifted to its 1,700 seat Theater. When the Band returned to Dallas in December they would play the larger Arena.

1978-07-12 - DALLAS CONVENTION CENTER THEATER, DALLAS, TX

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

"Growin' Up" includes the "let it rock" story. Set closer "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes the "Come A Little Bit Closer" introduction. After a short intermission Bruce returned to the stage alone for a solo piano performance of "The Promise", after which the band returned. "Quarter To Three" was played as confirmed by someone who attended but does not appear on the circulating tape. The complete setlist and a positive review are listed in a review in the Fort Worth Star. As had been the case during every Texas tour since 1974, Springsteen proved very popular in Houston and Austin - but for some strange reason had trouble selling seats in Dallas. This show had originally been scheduled for the main 10,000 seat Convention Center Arena but due to poor advanced ticket sales it was shifted to its 1,700 seat Theater. When the Band returned to Dallas in December they would play the larger Arena. A Brucebase reader who attended recallss "Concert-goers had to exchange their tickets, so there was a delay in starting the show. People were starting to get impatient and began rhythmic hand clapping and foot stomping. The MC made one announcement, but it didn't let up. All of a sudden out comes Bruce, who said something like "O.K. you guys! Hang on for a little longer until we get everyone in. We have a long show ahead of us tonight!"" In the event, Billboard magazine reported a sellout attendance of 1,761 and gross receipts of $12,327. An online report that Springsteen played a solo piano "Independence Day" at this show is not accurate.

1978-07-14 - SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, SAN ANTONIO, TX

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / CANDY'S ROOM / FOR YOU / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / THE FEVER / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Bruce's first and only performance in San Antonio, TX. Attendance was only 3,000 out of the 5,000 seats available according to a review in the Austin American-Statesman. Springsteen gives the crowd a choice of either "Candy's Room" or "For You" - he plays both. First known version of "The Fever" since 1974, played in response to calls from the crowd according to The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise, which also states that he told the crowd "don't tell anyone we did it." "Growin' Up" features the spaceman story. Prior to the show Springsteen was interviewed over the telephone by KLBJ-FM's Steve Smith.

1978-07-15 - KILT STUDIO, HOUSTON, TX

Springsteen drops into the KILT-FM studio in the afternoon for a 30-minute chat with DJ Ed Beauchamp which was broadcast live. This interview (which isn't widely circulating) includes a confirmation by Bruce that his performance of "The Fever" the previous night in San Antonio was his first since the Liberty Hall show of March 10, 1974.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-07-15 - SAM HOUSTON COLISEUM, HOUSTON, TX

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE FEVER / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

It was previously thought that this show had the last known version of "The Promise" for 21 years but new information suggests that that title belongs to the July 21, 1978 show. "Growin' Up" features the story about meeting Clarence and "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Macho Man" during the band introductions. Bruce conducts a 15-minute interview with DJ Ed Beauchamp after the show and this is broadcast on KILT-FM. Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 9,012 and gross receipts of $66,999.

1978-07-16 - MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, NEW ORLEANS, LA

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / HONKY TONK / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / THE FEVER / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

An attendee recalls that "the show started about forty minutes late because the stage motor burned out and they couldn't move the stage back so some people didn't have seats. They were offered their money back but wanted to stay. Bruce came out and apologized for the delay and said he and the band would try to make up for it with the show. THEY DID! To this day, still the best I ever saw." Show includes a tour one-off, instrumental version of the song "Honky Tonk" which was originally a #2 record for Bill Doggett in 1956. According to historian Priore, this was the first rock 'n' roll instrumental hit, and the Beach Boys were the first, and one of the only, surf bands to cover it. "Growin' Up" features the goddamn guitar story. "Fire" is dropped for the first confirmed time on the tour. A newspaper review of the August shows in New York City states that "Heartbreak Hotel" was played tonight: "You never see the same show twice. He's got a limitless repertoire. When he played New Orleans, something happened with the sound system. So they all got out from behind their instruments and they all sang "Heartbreak Hotel" spontaneously." Unfortunately this event cannot be corroborated by the audience recording. Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 5,000 (a sellout) and gross receipts of $35,644.

1978-07-18 - JACKSON MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, JACKSON, MS

Some, or all, of "Prove It All Night" was videotaped for local news, sadly no recordings of this broadcast are known. "Racing In The Street" features an unusual intro story about a Camaro driver. "Growin' Up" features the goddamn guitar story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features an extended mariachi-style introduction and a snippet of "Macho Man" after Clarence's introduction. Billboard reported an attendance of 2,283 and gross receipts of $17,123.

1978-07-19 - ELLIS AUDITORIUM, MEMPHIS, TN

BADLANDS / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / RACING IN THE STREET / JUNGLELAND / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / THE PROMISE
^{Setlist incomplete and potentially out of order.}

Ellis Auditorium consists of two halls; this concert took place in the larger 4,500 seat Dixon-Myers Hall, which however was only about 2/3 sold. The songs listed are mentioned in newspaper reviews, one of which specifically mentions "Badlands" as the show opener. Live premiere of "Factory", the last song from the Darkness On The Edge Of Town album to be played live.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-07-21 - NASHVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, NASHVILLE, TN

BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / FOR YOU / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT
^{Incomplete setlist.}

Springsteen performs with a sore throat, an ailment that would lead to the postponement or cancellation of four shows. "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City" is played by request (it may have been in the second set or as an encore as suggested in a review). A review in the Kingsport Times-News states that "Growin' Up," "Backstreets," "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)," and "The Promise" were played. "Setlist is incomplete (likely missing "Quarter To Three") and likely not in order. After the show, Bruce is interviewed by The Tennessean for an article that is published July 30.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-07-22 - BOUTWELL MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, BIRMINGHAM, AL

Postponed show (due to illness), rescheduled and played on September 29.

1978-07-23 - FOX THEATRE, ATLANTA, GA

Postponed show (due to illness), rescheduled and played on September 30.

1978-07-25 - CIVIC AUDITORIUM, JACKSONVILLE, FL

Cancelled, never re-scheduled. Although noted in a pre-tour itinerary in Rolling Stone magazine, no contract for this show was signed, no local newspaper advertisements were placed and no tickets ever went on sale. The early abandonment of this proposed gig had nothing to do with Springsteen’s throat infection and postponement-rescheduling of the concert in Atlanta two nights earlier (see that listing).

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-07-26 - LAKELAND CIVIC CENTER, LAKELAND, FL

Cancelled show, never re-scheduled. Although noted in a pre-tour itinerary in Rolling Stone magazine, no contract for this show was signed, no local newspaper advertisements were placed and no tickets ever went on sale. The early abandonment of this proposed gig had nothing to do with Springsteen’s throat infection and postponement-rescheduling of the concert in Atlanta three nights earlier.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-07-28 - JAI ALAI FRONTON, MIAMI, FL

SUMMERTIME BLUES / BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / I FOUGHT THE LAW / FOR YOU / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Bruce and the band return to the stage after a week off. Set opens with the first known version of "Summertime Blues", and the last appearance of the tour for "Night". Only the second confirmed occasion for the tour that "Badlands" did not open - 1950s covers such as "Summertime Blues" would continue to be a fixture in the opening slot for the next month and a half, and sporadically after that for the remainder of the year. Bruce mentions that he considered Heartbreak Hotel for the title of the album but decided against it because he "didn't have the guts." "Growin' Up" features the spaceman story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes Roy playing a bit of classical piano and "Macho Man" during the band introductions. "Adam Raised A Cain" is dropped for the first confirmed time on the tour.

1978-07-29 - BAYFRONT CENTER ARENA, ST. PETERSBURG, FL

OH, BOY! / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / AROUND AND AROUND / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Set features the debut of "Oh, Boy!" to open the show, the tour's second "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)", and the first confirmed Springsteen performance of Chuck Berry's "Around And Around". Bruce says they played the latter song at the Student Prince in Asbury Park - this was probably in 1971 with the Bruce Springsteen Band. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes the "Come A Little Bit Closer" introduction and Roy playing a bit of classical piano during the band introductions. "For You" is dropped for the first confirmed time on the tour. Newspaper reviews talk of 2,000 unsold tickets for this show.

1978-07-31 - TOWNSHIP AUDITORIUM, COLUMBIA, SC

RAVE ON / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

The listed 20-song setlist is courtesy of a detailed review in the Gamecock, student newspaper of the University of South Carolina, and Brucebase reader Chris, who made a note of the setlist after the show. This is highly likely to represent the complete set. "Rave On" opens for the second time. Just the one change from the previous show in St. Petersburg, with "Heartbreak Hotel" replacing "Around And Around". Chris says that "Adam Raised A Cain" was played, but that can't be confirmed by the newspaper review.

1978-08-01 - GAILLARD MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, CHARLESTON, SC

SUMMERTIME BLUES / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / THE FEVER / SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / I FOUGHT THE LAW / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Listed setlist is courtesy of Brucebase reader Chris, who made a note of the set after the show, and is highly likely to represent the complete set. If accurate, the 24-song set is likely to be one of the longest of the tour to-date. However, there is some uncertainty as to the accuracy of this information, due to the show length and rarity of some songs. Bruce opens the show with the "Summertime Blues" into "Badlands" combination. Set also includes the third "Streets Of Fire" of the tour, the fourth "The Fever" and the fifth "I Fought The Law". The first known E Street performance of "Sweet Little Sixteen" since the band performed backing duties for Chuck Berry in 1973.

1978-08-02 - CHARLOTTE COLISEUM, CHARLOTTE, NC

LUCILLE / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / AROUND AND AROUND / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

The show opened with Little Richard's "Lucille" into "Badlands". This is the song's only known stand-alone performance for the tour. Chuck Berry's "Around And Around" makes its second and final known tour appearance; other than club performances, it is not played again until 2002, in Albany, NY. A review from the Charlotte News mentions "Spirit In The Night" and "Prove It All Night" as being played. The remainder of the setlist is drawn from contemporary notes kept by an attendee, with parts also corroborated by other eyewitnesses, including one attendee who recalls that "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" was played, and dedicated to her.. Another attendee recalls: "He opened with "Lucille" and the show was taped directly from the board as I was sitting on a stool with the sound crew at the board and could actually see the cassette going."

1978-08-04 - CHARLESTON CIVIC CENTER, CHARLESTON, WV

OH, BOY! / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / SHERRY DARLING / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Bruce's only confirmed appearance in West Virginia. Set includes the third and last known version of "Oh, Boy!" and the premiere of "Sherry Darling" with some of the early lyrics found in the Darkness outtakes of the song. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Macho Man" after Clarence's introduction.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-08-05 - LOUISVILLE GARDENS, LOUISVILLE, KY

BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / SHERRY DARLING / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / THE PROMISE / QUARTER TO THREE

To start the show Bruce announces "They're Off!" in recognition of the Kentucky Derby and after Clarence plays the brief "Call To The Post"/"Boots and Saddles" intro. "Growin' Up" includes the teenage werewolf story. Bruce loses his place during "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)", which results in an unusual instrumental break until he picks up the song again; the song also contains a snippet of "Macho Man" after Clarence's introduction. A detailed review in the Lexington Herald confirm that the set included "The Promise" and show-closer "Quarter To Three", both of which are missing from the circulating audio. "The Promise" will not be played again until 1999. This information gives us what is, in all likelihood, the complete setlist. It is reported in a review that Bruce was treated for an ear infection before the show. Following this gig Springsteen gives a backstage interview to journalist David White, which was first broadcast on September 3 on Radio Station 2SM in Sydney, Australia as part of an in-house produced "Bruce Springsteen Story" history-music-interview Special (it included the live "Prove It All Night" promo audio from the Berkeley July 1 show). Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 4,000 (a sellout) and gross receipts of $28,328.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-08-07 - WINGS STADIUM, KALAMAZOO, MI

SUMMERTIME BLUES / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / SHERRY DARLING / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN’ UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT
^{Setlist incomplete and may be incorrect.}

Nearly every gig on the Darkness Tour was a sell out or a virtual sell out. There were only three or four exceptions and this show was the most glaring one - with just 3,000 of the 6,500 tickets sold. The majority of the setlist listed here is taken from a partial audience recording, taped on a 8-track recorder, the rest from the recollections of those present. Several songs are still missing, however. We have independent reports that "Prove It All Night" was particularly spectacular, with one attendee blown away by the power of Springsteen's opening chord of the guitar introduction, as it ricocheted off the back of the stadium. At the conclusion of the song, Bruce noted that the guitar was particularly loud, A brief review, which incorporates an interesting post-concert backstage chat with Bruce, mentions "Growin' Up" (with the 'Let It Rock’ story) as having been performed. No other titles are articulated. Contributors to the Greasy Lake website recall that "Spirit In The Night" and "Sherry Darling" were played. Bruce was on a guaranteed performance fee but mentions in the interview that he is going to compensate the show's promoter for the financial loss sustained. Setlists and/or audio long-circulating and alleged to be from this gig are in fact slight permutations of the audio from the November 25 show in St, Louis, MO. Consequently Kalamazoo’s seemingly strange setlist (for the mid-tour period) as reported elsewhere is incorrect and "The Ties That Bind" did not make its world debut at this August 7 show.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-08-08 - RYERSON THEATRE, RYERSON UNIVERSITY, TORONTO, ON

Cancelled concert (probably prior to any public announcement of its booking), never re-scheduled. In August 1978 Ryerson University was known as Ryerson Polytechnical Institute and this gig, noted in some in-house CBS Tour Itinerary documentation, was planned for the school’s 1,200 seat Ryerson Theatre. Reason for the cancellation is unknown.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-08-09 - THE AGORA, CLEVELAND, OH

Soundcheck: SUMMERTIME BLUES

SUMMERTIME BLUES / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / SHERRY DARLING / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / RAISE YOUR HAND / TWIST AND SHOUT

Free concert to celebrate the tenth anniversary of WMMS, although the anniversary was somewhat artificial - it actually marked the change of call letters from WHK-FM to WMMS. The radio station drew postcards to give away almost 1200 tickets to the show. Broadcast by WMMS and simulcast by WABX in Detroit, WDVE in Pittsburgh, WEBN in Cincinnati, WLVO in Columbus, OH, WXRT in Chicago, KSHE in St. Louis and KQRS in Minneapolis with a total audience for the broadcast estimated at three million. Denny Sanders was the on-air DJ, while Kid Leo introduced Bruce on stage: "Round for round, pound for pound, there ain't no finer band around, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band!" It's interesting to note that this show was later mastered by Bruce's management and given to KSAN in San Francisco who broadcast it as a replacement for a scheduled Winterland rebroadcast some time in 1979, WPLJ-FM in New York City for a broadcast on Easter Sunday of 1979 and WWDC 101 in Washington D.C. on November 5. The song order of the WNEW-FM broadcast was adjusted, and the tape was edited to remove references to Cleveland. WMMS themselves also rebroadcast the entire gig on November 5. The 22-song set opens with "Summertime Blues" and closes with "Twist And Shout", performed some time after the radio broadcast had concluded. "Backstreets" is dedicated to Jim Kluter and Joe Juhasz, two of the 'Cleveland Boys', a group of hardcore fans that first met Bruce in Asbury Park in 1976, joining him for a benefit softball game. It's Jim and Joe's voices that you can hear along with Bruce's singing "explode into rock 'n' roll bands" during "Jungleland". Clarence's intro during "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" contains a snippet of The Village People's hit "Macho Man".

1978-08-10 - ROCHESTER COMMUNITY WAR MEMORIAL, ROCHESTER, NY

SUMMERTIME BLUES / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN / PARADISE BY THE "C" / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / SHERRY DARLING / MONA - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Similar set to Cleveland, "Sweet Little Sixteen" opens the second set, and "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" moves from it's slot in the encores. "Growin' Up" features the teenage werewolf story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Macho Man" during the band introductions. Final encore song is "Quarter To Three". Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 5,984 and gross receipts of $42,729.

1978-08-12 - AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER, AUGUSTA, ME

SUMMERTIME BLUES / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / SHERRY DARLING / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / RAISE YOUR HAND / QUARTER TO THREE
^{Setlist likely incomplete.}

Listed songs are culled from attendee recollections of the show, and a review in the Bangor Daily News from August 14, 1978. It's highly likely that "Because The Night" was played after "Born To Run". The attendee also notes that during a great version of "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)", Bruce was acting up running around before running to the microphone and announcing "someone stop me… before I hurt myself" and collapsing to the stage. Clarence rushes over to play sax over him and a few girls rush the stage and huddle around him until he revives and they are whisked away and he continues. "Growin' Up" features a mid-song story with him being chased by armed forces and "Backstreets" features Bruce referencing the singer Steve Lawrence and singing a Lawrence song "Pretty Blue Eyes" before going back to "…hiding on the backstreets". The back of the stage area of this 8,700 seat venue was curtained off and consequently the seating was reduced to 6,000 for this show. Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 5,892 and gross receipts of $48,780.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-08-14 - HAMPTON ROADS COLISEUM, HAMPTON, VA

HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FOR YOU / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

First known "High School Confidential" is played to start off the show. Set also includes the first "For You" of August and another outing for "Sweet Little Sixteen". "Growin' Up" features the teenage werewolf story. Bruce sings a line of "Pretty Flamingo" during "Backstreets". "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes an instrumental snippet of "Macho Man" during Clarence's introduction.

1978-08-15 - CAPITAL CENTRE, LARGO, MD

SUMMERTIME BLUES / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / SHERRY DARLING / SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN / GLORIA - NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

A concert perhaps best known for the outstanding video footage available. "Growin' Up" features the teenage werewolf story. "Backstreets" has some lines from "Pretty Flamingo" in the 'Sad Eyes' section. Tremendous versions of "Quarter To Three" (particularly the video) and "Prove It All Night" with the cab driver intro and an outstanding guitar solo. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Macho Man" during the band introductions. The show features a particularly loose and active Bruce, maybe because the next day he was going home to New Jersey for the first time in a year. The MC that can be heard introducing Springsteen before "Summertime Blues" is the legendary Washington-area DJ Don "Cerphe" Colwell.

1978-08-18 - SPECTRUM, PHILADELPHIA, PA

Soundcheck: THE FEVER (several takes and chatter) / THE HARDER THEY COME (several takes) / SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME

SUMMERTIME BLUES / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / THE FEVER / SHERRY DARLING / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / RAVE ON (with Gary Busey) / QUARTER TO THREE (with Gary Busey)

Gary Busey guests on "Rave On" and "Quarter To Three". "Growin' Up" includes the teenage werewolf story. WIOQ Radio DJ Ed Sciaky interviews Bruce backstage after the show - this is broadcast the very next day, on August 19. Bruce refers to the upcoming interview at the end of "Growin' Up": "as I looked behind me all I could see out in front of all them cops was Ed Sciaky and the Sciak-mobile with a microphone screaming that he wanted an interview". The soundchecked version of Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder They Come" is an astounding, majestic rearrangement of the reggae classic. A high quality recording of this would be a stunner. It won't be until 2012 that Springsteen actually plays "The Harder They Come" in concert, in Austin accompanied by Jimmy Cliff.

1978-08-19 - SPECTRUM, PHILADELPHIA, PA

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / RAVE ON (with Gary Busey) / THE FEVER / SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN / SHERRY DARLING / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Gary Busey guests again on "Rave On", this time opening the second set in place of "Paradise By The "C"", which is dropped for the first confirmed time on the tour. "Good Rockin' Tonight" is played for the first time as well as "The Fever" once again. "Growin' Up" includes the story of Bruce meeting Clarence. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes the "Come A Little Bit Closer" intro. "Quarter To Three" includes "Oh, What A Night" in the midsection.

1978-08-21 - MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK CITY, NY

Soundcheck: JAMBALAYA (ON THE BAYOU) / THUNDER ROAD (instrumental)

SUMMERTIME BLUES / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / THE FEVER / SHERRY DARLING / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Great version of "Heartbreak Hotel" and Bruce dedicates "Sweet Little Sixteen" to his sister Pam, who appears on stage the next night. Bruce raps a few lines from "Maybellene" during the "Growin' Up" story. Bruce is interviewed on WABC TV for ten minutes with J Siegal before the show, and some brief video footage of "Spirit In The Night" exists. Backstreets magazine #59 reports on a soundcheck that includes Hank Williams' "Jambalaya (On The Bayou)" and a fifteen minute instrumental "Thunder Road" while Springsteen circles the arena checking the sound.

1978-08-22 - MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK CITY, NY

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FOR YOU / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / CANDY'S ROOM / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Second show of three at Madison Square Garden opens with "Good Rockin' Tonight and includes the fifth "Streets Of Fire" of the tour in the third spot. "Streets Of Fire" no longer has the slow organ intro from earlier in the tour, and instead segues directly from "Badlands". Set also features Bruce's sister Pam on stage during "Quarter To Three" - see our Gallery tab to view photographs. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a couple lines from Chubby Checker's "Let's Twist Again" in the midsection. "Quarter To Three" includes a few lines from The Dells' "Oh, What A Night".

1978-08-23 - MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK CITY, NY

HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / FOR YOU / CANDY'S ROOM / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / FIRE / SHERRY DARLING / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Final night of three at Madison Square Garden is a 25-song, three hour set that is musically the longest of the tour to-date (July 7 at the Roxy can claim the longest overall after the band returned to the stage for the finale after nearly 15 minutes of applause). "High School Confidential" opens, and the show also includes "Adam Raised A Cain" and the first "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City" for over a month. Bruce's mother Adele takes to the stage to convince him to continue playing during "Quarter To Three": "Here’s my mother….but Mom, I’m tired….but Mom, I can't….I should have never flown you from California." "Factory" is dedicated to Tex Vinyard.

1978-08-25 - NEW HAVEN VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM, NEW HAVEN, CT

Soundcheck: HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FOR YOU / IT'S GONNA WORK OUT FINE / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / SHERRY DARLING / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Show includes the only known '78 tour version of Ike & Tina Turner's "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" in the second set - this song was last played in 1975 and is never played again with the E Street Band - to date anyway. "Growin' Up" features the teenage werewolf story. Following this show, Bruce is interviewed by Bob Harris for the Old Grey Whistle Test UK TV show - see our Media tab to watch the interview. The interview along with a live clip of "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" from the show of July 8 is broadcast on March 27, 1979. Attendance was reported by Billboard magazine to be a sellout 9,586 with gross receipts of $76,841.

1978-08-25 - TOAD'S PLACE, NEW HAVEN, CT

ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / DOUBLE SHOT (OF MY BABY'S LOVE) / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN / PRETTY FLAMINGO

Bruce and Clarence join Beaver Brown. Apparently, the whole band were at the club but they didn't all play. Brucebase reader Phil recalls "Beaver Brown played "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" at every show back then, so they knew it cold. Bruce was psyched and he and John Cafferty kept huddling after each song to figure out what to play next. I think I remember them playing "Midnight Hour", "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)", and "You Can't Sit Down", but it was crazy and we may have had a few beers, there could have been more (or fewer) songs." Bob Harris, of Old Grey Whistle Test fame, recounts this show in his biography The Whispering Years. He recalls the band playing "Pretty Flamingo" and also states that a 'section of the set' was recorded.

1978-08-26 - PROVIDENCE CIVIC CENTER, PROVIDENCE, RI

SUMMERTIME BLUES / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FOR YOU / SHERRY DARLING / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / CANDY'S ROOM / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT

According to sources present, ten minutes after the usual show closing "Quarter To Three", which includes a snippet of the Dells' "Oh, What A Night", Bruce and the band returned to the stage and played a 15-minute version of "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out". This was not captured on the circulating audience tape. "Growin' Up" includes the 'teenage werewolf' story, which features a few rapped lines of "Maybellene". A 15-minute interview with Robin Young is recorded by WBZ TV prior to the show. See our Gallery tab for several fantastic photos courtesy of Peter Howes/AsburyBrucePhotos and a newspaper review. Billboard reported an attendance of 10,500, a sellout. Gross receipts were $82,568.

1978-08-28 - STANLEY THEATRE, PITTSBURGH, PA

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / FACTORY / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / LOST IN THE FLOOD / PARADISE BY THE "C" / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / CANDY'S ROOM / NOT FADE AWAY - MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE
^{Setlist may be incomplete or slightly out of order.}

Listed setlist is culled from reports in the Pittsburgh papers and attendee recollections. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that all but one of the Darkness tracks are performed, "Adam Raised A Cain" being the only absentee. Another Pittsburgh newspaper mentions "Something In The Night" returning for the first time in a couple of months, while the Pittsburgh Press mentions a stunning piano solo rendition of "Lost In The Flood" that opens the second set and played as a special request - and Bruce utilizes his lyrics notebook to ensure he doesn’t mess it up. The song is dedicated to Blaine, who had recently been killed in a motorcycle accident. See our News tab to read reviews from the Beaver County Times and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Quarter To Three" features Bruce and Clarence atop the speaker stacks on opposite sides of the stage, before Bruce climbs on to the Big Man's shoulders. They both continue to play while Clarence walks around. The final encore also includes a stretcher brought on stage by two men dressed in white. Tour premiere of "Lost In The Flood", and first performance of the song since December 27, 1975 in Philadelphia. Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 3,489 (a sellout) and gross receipts of $29,236.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-08-29 - STANLEY THEATRE, PITTSBURGH, PA

HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL / BADLANDS / CANDY'S ROOM / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / (I HEARD THAT) LONESOME WHISTLE / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / THE FEVER / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / SHERRY DARLING / GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Only known Springsteen performance of Hank Williams's "(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle" and the first "It's My Life" for the tour. The only time this tour that any song has split "The Promised Land" and "Prove It All Night", apart from a few dates right at the start of the tour. Second set includes "The Fever" and "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City". "Growin' Up" includes Roy playing a snippet of "Frère Jacques" in the introduction and Bruce telling the "let it rock" story. Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 3,473 and gross receipts of $29,034.

1978-08-30 - RICHFIELD COLISEUM, RICHFIELD, OH

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / IT'S MY LIFE / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / CANDY'S ROOM / THE FEVER / LOST IN THE FLOOD / GROWIN' UP / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

The 24-song set listed is the complete show, courtesy of Brucebase reader Chris, who was present. "Lost In The Flood" makes another rare appearance in its piano-solo incarnation, and "It's My Life" is played again after premiering the previous night. "The Fever" is dedicated to Southside Johnny, who would return the favor later that same night, see the following listing for details. "Backstreets" is dropped for the first confirmed time on the tour. Another reader present comments: "I can tell you he opened with Elvis's "Good Rockin' Tonight", and played almost the same show as the Detroit show right after — "Badlands", "Spirit In The Night", "Streets Of Fire", "Darkness On The Edge Of Town", the "life story" version of "Growin' Up", et al. He did that incredible solo piano version of "Lost In The Flood", a killer "Born To Run". He also played "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" and encored with "Runaround Sue" with all of the house lights on. What a night!" Despite this recollection, "Runaround Sue" was not played, it was in fact "Quarter To Three", perhaps with a few lines from "Runaround Sue" added. Following the show WNEW-TV filmed an interview with Bruce for its PM Magazine program.

1978-08-30 - THE AGORA, CLEVELAND, OH

THE FEVER / I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME / HAVING A PARTY

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes starting their show 3 hours late because their manager and rhythm guitar player Miami Steven Van Zandt played the August 30 gig at the Richfield Coliseum with the E Street Band, then hopped in a car and drove across town to the club, where he was coordinating video and WMMS-FM simulcast. Unknown at the time was that four E Street Band members came with him, including Bruce, but didn't join in until the end of the regular set. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes finished their regular set with "Stagger Lee", joined by Garry Tallent, bass and Clarence Clemons, percussion. Southside stepped aside to let Bruce take lead vocal, with Clarence Clemons taking the backing vocals and Steven Van Zandt on guitar, for the first encore "The Fever". For the second encore "I Don't Want To Go Home" Bruce played guitar and took co-lead vocals. For the final encore "Having A Party" Steven Van Zandt joined on guitar, and Roy Bittan on piano. The show lasted well into the early hours of August 31.

1978-09-01 - MASONIC TEMPLE THEATRE, DETROIT, MI

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / LOST IN THE FLOOD / CANDY'S ROOM / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / CHIMES OF FREEDOM / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Set includes the solo piano version of "Lost In The Flood" which was only played three times on the '78 tour. This was the last known version of the song until the final show of the 2000 New York City stand. Also features the premiere and only tour performance of Dylan's "Chimes Of Freedom", which will be resurrected on later tours. Bruce reads the lyrics from a music stand. "Growin' Up" includes the 'Teenage Werewolf' story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features a whistled intro. Excellent show.

1978-09-02 - PINE KNOB MUSIC THEATRE, CLARKSTON, MI

Springsteen, Ken Calvert (area Promotions Manager for Columbia), as well several others in the Springsteen entourage take the Darkness Tour bus to Pine Knob to catch a Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band concert. Bruce had mentioned to Calvert (who knew Seger) that he wanted to see Michigan’s favorite son in action. This was the first time Seger and Springsteen (mutual admirers of each others work) had ever met. Seger was aware Springsteen was coming and delivered an extraordinary performance. Following the show Springsteen and Seger spent a considerable amount of time backstage chatting, talking shop and singing some impromptu oldies. It has been speculated that Springsteen’s exceptional show and one-off performance of "Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes" the following night in Saginaw was inspired by this night’s events. Bob Seger would join Springsteen onstage for a memorable guest appearance on October 3, 1980 at the University Of Michigan.

1978-09-03 - SAGINAW CIVIC CENTER, SAGINAW, MI

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / IT'S MY LIFE / FACTORY / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / SHERRY DARLING / HANG UP MY ROCK AND ROLL SHOES / CANDY'S ROOM / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / QUARTER TO THREE

Only tour performance of Chuck Willis' 1958 hit "Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes," which would reappear 31 years later on the final night of the Working On A Dream Tour. One of the last performances of "Growin' Up" of this tour - and a great version, Roy plays a snippet of "Frère Jacques" at the beginning. Bruce alters the lyrics in "Racing In The Street" to "summer's hanging on and the time is right." "Because The Night" is dropped for the first time since June. This show is said to be one of the finest of the tour - a performance that often lives in the shadow of the radio broadcasts but is definitely on the same level of the "big 5" despite the limitations of an audience recording. Meanwhile, on this day an interview with Bruce recorded August 6, 1978 is aired on 2SM Sydney, Australia.

1978-09-05 - VETERANS MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, COLUMBUS, OH

SUMMERTIME BLUES / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / IT'S MY LIFE / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / SHERRY DARLING / CANDY'S ROOM / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE
^{Setlist may be incomplete.}

Last "Summertime Blues" for the tour opens a set that also includes another appearance of "It's My Life". "Growin' Up" features the teenage werewolf story. Review in local paper has "Quarter To Three" as last song. The second set cuts in right at the start of "Sherry Darling" on the circulating recording, suggesting that perhaps one or two other songs are missing. Another review in a Columbus local notes that the show was just ten minutes short of three hours, indicating that there is around twenty minutes missing from the circulating recording. This concert was originally scheduled to take place on April 24, 1978, but it was moved after the start of the tour was put back a month or so.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-09-06 - UPTOWN THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

23-song set includes the last "Growin' Up" of the tour, during which Roy plays a snippet of "Frère Jacques" and Bruce tells the "teenage werewolf" story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes the "Come A Little Bit Closer" introduction. Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 4,381 (a sellout) and gross receipts of $34,793.

1978-09-09 - ATHLETIC & CONVOCATION CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME, SOUTH BEND, IN

BADLANDS / CANDY'S ROOM / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / IT'S MY LIFE / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / DOUBLE SHOT (OF MY BABY'S LOVE) / LOUIE LOUIE / FIRE / FOR YOU / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE / TWIST AND SHOUT
^{Setlist may be incomplete.}

Only tour performance of "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" which is excellent, followed by the first Springsteen performance of "Louie Louie". Set opens with "Badlands", the first time since August 5 that Springsteen has not opened with a cover. An excellent review by Stephen Belmont in The Observer, the school's student newspaper, confirms that "Racing In The Street" and "Jungleland" were also played (the latter closing the first set), and it's highly likely that "Thunder Road" was sandwiched between the two. Belmont's description of the events at the end of the show is worth repeating here: "Halfway through "Quarter To Three", the lights went up and some people started to leave. Others couldn't leave. They were hooked, blind drunk on a triple shot of Springsteen rock. They screamed, stammered, and waved their arms, paying no attention to the roadies who had already removed one of the big curtains from behind the stage. Meanwhile, behind the stage friends of mine encountered an exhausted Springsteen. 'They're not going to leave,' said one, 'until you play one more.' And play one more Bruce did. And those who had waited "Twisted and Shouted" for a final, frenzied, fun-filled, fabulous time." Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 5,310 and gross receipts of $38,996.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-09-10 - RIVERFRONT COLISEUM, CINCINNATI, OH

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE
^{Setlist may be incomplete or incorrect.}

A reader contributed his memory of the night and states that he recalls "The Fever" as part of the set, but this is unconfirmed. Set includes the first "Detroit Medley" of the tour. Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 6,630 and gross receipts of $49,090. This particular night was the special broadcast of a two-hour special radio show on King Biscuit Flower Hour (KBFH) which was a series of interviews and mostly album tracks but also included two live cuts from July 1.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-09-12 - ONONDAGA COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, SYRACUSE, NY

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAVE ON / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

23-song set includes "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City" and "Rave On". During "Spirit In The Night" Bruce enters the audience while sitting on Clarence's shoulders and "Quarter To Three" features two bogus doctors carrying Springsteen off stage after he collapses on the piano. See our News tab for more insights from newspaper reviews of the show, including the story of how a group of Colgate University students sneaked into the arena after the show and surprised Bruce in the shower.

1978-09-13 - SPRINGFIELD CIVIC CENTER, SPRINGFIELD, MA

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE

Billboard magazine reported a sellout attendance of 6,664 and gross receipts of $53,217. "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" is missing from the circulating audience recording, but given the edit on the tape and previous setlists it was certainly played between "Spirit In The Night" and "Heartbreak Hotel". A newspaper review in The Comment of Bridgewater State College claims that the set closed with Sam Cooke's "Twistin' The Night Away", but this does not appear on the recording. Based on other setlists around this time "Twist And Shout" is the more likely finale and the author misidentified the song, as he did for one other song in the set. As far as we know, Springsteen has only played "Twistin' The Night Away" once, in 1974, outside of four club appearances at The Stone Pony in the early 2000's.

1978-09-15 - PALLADIUM, NEW YORK CITY, NY

DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / BADLANDS / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / I FOUGHT THE LAW / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / KITTY'S BACK / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

First night of three at the Palladium, two years after Springsteen's stunning six-night stand at the same venue in 1976. Show opens with "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" dedicated to Muhammad Ali, who would defeat Leon Spinks in the Heavyweight Championship fight in New Orleans the same night. The full-band "Darkness On The Edge Of Town has only opened three times - Meadowlands on August 9, 1999 and Dublin on May 27, 2016 are the other two. A solo-acoustic version opened several shows in 1993. The last "Adam Raised A Cain" of the tour is played, as well as the last known version of "Something In The Night" until 1999, and the first known version of "Kitty's Back" since April 1976, played because someone in the crowd was yelling for it so much that Bruce asked the crowd to shut him up. "Because The Night" is dropped from the encores, replaced by "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out". Cliff confirms that "Quarter To Three" was the final song of the night. WPLJ DJ Carol Miller interviews Bruce backstage after the show.

1978-09-16 - PALLADIUM, NEW YORK CITY, NY

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / KITTY'S BACK / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / DETROIT MEDLEY / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN

23-song set includes the first "Point Blank" (with a still-evolving lyrics/arrangement) since July 7. Also last played on July 7 is "Independence Day", which is now performed in with the band. "Because The Night" is moved to the second set from the encores, where it will remain for the rest of the tour. "Backstreets" is dropped, replaced by the tour debut of "Incident On 57th Street". "You Can't Sit Down" returns to the set, last seen at the beginning of June. A news review says that "Meeting Across The River" was played, but Springsteen's comments before the song the following night ("We haven't done this in a long time, we're gonna try…") indicate that this is an error.

1978-09-17 - PALLADIUM, NEW YORK CITY, NY

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER / JUNGLELAND / KITTY'S BACK / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

Final night of three at the Palladium includes the first version of "Meeting Across The River" since 1976 and an excellent version of "Incident On 57th Street", dedicated by Bruce "to the girl who gave me the big bag with all the weird candy in it." Set also notable for two parallel album sequences: "Meeting Across The River" into "Jungleland" and "Incident On 57th Street" into "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)". "Point Blank" retains its spot in the set, and it'll remain ever-present for the remainder of the tour, bar one night in Seattle.

1978-09-19 - CAPITOL THEATRE, PASSAIC, NJ

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER / JUNGLELAND / KITTY'S BACK / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / DETROIT MEDLEY / RAISE YOUR HAND

Springsteen's first appearance in New Jersey of the tour is a magnificent 24-song, three-hour set that was broadcast on WNEW-FM New York and nine other radio stations across the northeast, including WBCN-FM and WCOZ-FM Boston, WIOQ-FM Philadelphia and WIYY-FM Baltimore. The first night of three in Passaic includes great versions of "Because The Night", "Fire", and what many consider to be the finest examples of "Racing In The Street" and "Thunder Road" ever. Essential. The entire show (as well as the following night) was filmed by Performance Video, a division of John Scher's company Monarch Entertainment. Scher, a renowned concert promoter, owned the Capitol Theatre. Following the show, Springsteen is interviewed by WBCN-TV news reporter Felipe Luciano.

1978-09-20 - CAPITOL THEATRE, PASSAIC, NJ

Soundcheck: WEDDING BELLS / THE TIES THAT BIND (instrumental warm up + full take) / GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / (piano instrumental) / THUNDER ROAD (instrumental) / I'M ALIVE / (guitar instrumental) / WHOLE LOTTA LOVE (instrumental) / DON'T BE CRUEL (vocal ad-lib) / I CAN'T HELP IT (IF I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU) / GUESS THINGS HAPPEN THAT WAY (two takes) / HEY, PORTER (vocal ad-lib) / I WALK THE LINE / (I HEARD THAT) LONESOME WHISTLE / (piano instrumental) / GO AWAY (COME CLOSE) (several takes) / HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL / GO AWAY (COME CLOSE) (instrumental) / POINT BLANK (instrumental) / KITTY'S BACK (instrumental)

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / KITTY'S BACK / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / DETROIT MEDLEY / TWIST AND SHOUT

Second night of three at the Capitol Theatre opens with "Good Rockin' Tonight". The sixth "It's My Life" of the tour replaces "Racing In The Street" which is dropped for the first time, and is by request from the crowd. Listen after "It's My Life" for Roy starting the intro to "Racing In The Street," but Bruce deciding to skip it and go right into "Thunder Road". The second set opens with the first "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" of the tour, last played in December 1975. The debut of the extended instrumental introduction to "Point Blank". "Backstreets" is left out and "She's The One" is also dropped for the first confirmed time on the tour. The pairing is replaced with "Kitty's Back" and the third "Incident On 57th Street" of the tour, segueing into "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight".

1978-09-21 - CAPITOL THEATRE, PASSAIC, NJ

HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER / JUNGLELAND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / KITTY'S BACK / THE FEVER / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

Final night of three at the Capitol Theatre opens with "High School Confidential". Springsteen introduces "Sweet Little Sixteen" (played for the seventh and last time this tour) as "a birthday song to myself." Bruce messes up "Racing In The Street", forgetting the lyrics. He later asks the crowd to choose between "The Fever" and "Incident On 57th Street", and the resulting cheers are so close he plays both. Particular highlight is the seven-song stretch beginning with "Candy's Room" that includes a rare transition from "Incident On 57th Street" into "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)". The latter features an instrumental snippet of "Macho Man" after Clarence's introduction. There was no scheduled show for Springsteen’s birthday on September 23, so they celebrated it at this gig – and, to his amazement, Bruce receives a very unique birthday cake onstage, courtesy of the band and crew (see it for yourself on our Gallery tab). The crowd sings "Happy Birthday To You" with a bit of accompaniment by Roy.

1978-09-23 - BOARDWALK, ASBURY PARK, NJ

On his 29th birthday Bruce travels to Asbury Park for an interview with Mike Greenblatt of The Aquarian and photographer Bob Sorce. They wait for him on the boardwalk near The Casino until he turns up some time after 1:30pm, having just got up. After lunch at the Convention Hall Coffee Shop, they move on to the beach before Bruce drives to Freehold and other towns in the area, taking in locations like The Upstage and Tinker West's surfboard factory. The interview was re-produced in Backstreets #31 from Winter 1990.

1978-09-25 - BOSTON GARDEN, BOSTON, MA

GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE
^{Setlist incomplete and may be incorrect.}

No audio from this show is known to exist, so the listed 21-song set is culled from reviews by Steve Morse in the Boston Globe and Jay Clark in the Patriot Ledger. The track listing for the first set is complete and in the correct performance order. Springsteen opened the second set with "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town". There are possibly one or two songs from the second set not listed, as they were not articulated in either review. "Candy's Room") was not mentioned, but is confirmed from other sources. Morse notes the rarely utilized "New York City Serenade" as being performed at the tail end of the show, although fans present state that it was in fact "Incident On 57th Street" that was played. "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" was played because Bruce said he didn't think they would make it back before Christmas time, and "Not Fade Away" - "She's The One" was the choice of the crowd over "Kitty's Back". Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 11,000 (a sellout) and gross receipts of $102,707.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-09-26 - WBCN STUDIO, BOSTON, MA

From his Boston hotel room Springsteen telephones WBCN-FM Radio DJ Mark Parenteau and takes part in a forty-minute live interview.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-09-29 - BOUTWELL MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, BIRMINGHAM, AL

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / THE FEVER / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / DETROIT MEDLEY

Concert re-scheduled from July 22. 23-song set includes the last version of "Paradise By The "C"" for the tour. "Backstreets" returns after three shows out. The show was the subject of two reviews in the October 12 issue of The Alabamian, student newspaper of the University of Montevallo. One review claimed it was an experience that may have changed his life: "I was privileged to witness one of the most amazing spectacles I have ever seen in Birmingham", wrote Paul McDonald. He went on to say "The Bruce Springsteen [concert] that evening was more than a concert." The review also notes that the show began at 8:30pm, and Bruce was in the audience during "Spirit In The Night", climbing up into the upper right seats for the last verse. The set was over three hours (not verified by the audience recording that clocks in at 2:44), finishing with "Detroit Medley" with the houselights up after midnight.

1978-09-30 - FOX THEATRE, ATLANTA, GA

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / NIGHT TRAIN / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / DETROIT MEDLEY / RAISE YOUR HAND

This was a make-up show that had originally been slated for July 23, but which had been postponed (along with three others) due to Bruce coming down with a throat infection. On the audio Bruce can be heard apologizing for being sick and missing the original date. Regional live FM broadcast simulcast by about twenty radio stations throughout the south-eastern United States. The gig contains the only known Springsteen performance of James Brown's "Night Train" (while the stage is cleared of the fake snow that fell during "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town"), and stand-out renditions of "Independence Day" and "Backstreets". Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 3,828 (a sellout) and gross receipts of $32,538.

1978-10-01 - FOX THEATRE, ATLANTA, GA

THE LAST TIME / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER / JUNGLELAND / FOR YOU / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / KITTY'S BACK / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

As far as Bruce knew at the time, this was the final night of the tour, which explains his choice to open the 24-song set with the premiere of the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time", one of only three known versions outside of clubs. It would return for the actual tour-closer in Richfield, OH three months later. In the end, another leg was added following a month's break. The lights were turned off when Bruce and Clarence jumped into the crowd during "Spirit In The Night" before Bruce reappeared standing on chair in the middle of the audience waving a flashlight over his head. Set also includes the last known "It's My Life", and the last "Kitty's Back" of the tour. The latter will not be played again until the Christmas show of December 17, 2000. Final tour performance for "Incident On 57th Street" as well, which transitions straight into "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight". Plenty of dedications; "Incident On 57th Street" for lighting director Marc Brickman, "Meeting Across The River" (one of only five for the tour) for a fan in the crowd that threw Bruce a hat, a rare "For You" for Beth, and "Fire" for Obie. "Thunder Road" (with a distinct piano introduction) is dedicated to a young fan that Bruce met the night before who had just started his own band in high school. The show was added after the first night in Atlanta was rescheduled from June to September. Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 3,822 (a sellout) and gross receipts of $32,487.

1978-10-00 - THE VENUE, LONDON, ENGLAND

It appears that Bruce's people were planning to get him over to Europe in October 1978. In a review of the two Philadelphia shows in May, Melody Maker said, "in the next few months, Springsteen and co. will play 75 concerts before a planned trip to Europe and England in the autumn." Around the same time, Record Mirror said, "it is still widely rumoured that Springsteen will make a UK visit in the autumn, possibly as the opening attraction at a new London nightclub based on New York's Bottom Line" (probably The Venue, which opened on 1 November 1978; Bruce was also rumored to be appearing there with The Who in 1981). Then in July, Sounds ran a news item titled "Springsteen On Edge Of Town" which said that Bruce "is set to make his second visit to Britain in October. No details have yet been finalised, but Sounds understands from American sources that Springsteen's management have earmarked a period in October for British and European dates." After that, the plan seems to be dropped. No dates were ever announced, although an advert surfaced for a show on October 1 in Paris, France.

The US tour was set to end in Boston on September 25, but Bruce got sick in late July and make-up dates were added until October 1. He then took a break for the rest of the month and went back on the road throughout November and December 1978.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-10-17 - THE TROUBADOUR, WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA

MONA / NOT FADE AWAY

With The Knack.

1978-10-17 - SUNSET MARQUIS HOTEL, WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA

RENDEZVOUS (with Bruce Gary)

Bruce apparently went on to jam with The Knack later that night, after his guest appearance at The Troubadour, and may have given them the impetus to later record "Don't Look Back". Some tape exists of this late night session with Bruce teaching The Knack's drummer Bruce Gary how to play "Rendezvous" at his hotel room at The Sunset Marquis.
^{Note: Brucebase is uncertain, and therefore assumes, only Bruce Gary was present in the hotel room and not all members of The Knack.}

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-10-26 - TELEGRAPH HILL STUDIO, HOLMDEL, NJ

THE TIES THAT BIND / THE TIES THAT BIND / THE TIES THAT BIND / TONIGHT / TONIGHT / TONIGHT / TONIGHT / TONIGHT / TONIGHT / WILD KISSES (I'M GONNA TREAT YOU RIGHT)
^{Incomplete setlist.}

After a month's break in the Darkness Tour, and a few days away from the start of the final tour leg, Bruce convenes a band rehearsal in a converted barn on his farmhouse property on Telegraph Hill Road in Holmdel, NJ. This barn, which Bruce had been using for band rehearsals since mid-1976, was nicknamed the "Telegraph Hill Studio", although in reality it was not a studio - there were no high level room acoustics or recording facilities. The rehearsals would have lasted much longer, over a number of days, so the known audio likely represents only a part of a single session on October 26. The audio includes three takes of "The Ties That Bind", six takes of "Tonight", one take of the Buddy Holly-ish "I’m Gonna Treat You Right (Wild Kisses)". As it turned out, "The Ties That Bind" made its public live debut at Princeton a few days later. The well-known rehearsal take of "Janey Needs A Shooter" was previously listed here actually dates from May 1979, please see The River - Studio Sessions page for details on this track.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-11-01 - JADWIN GYMNASIUM, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, PRINCETON, NJ

Soundcheck: ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE TIES THAT BIND / THUNDER ROAD / BADLANDS / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / THE PROMISED LAND

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / THE TIES THAT BIND / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / THE FEVER / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / QUARTER TO THREE

First show of the final leg of the Darkness Tour is a 21-song set that features the premiere of "The Ties That Bind". Bruce alters the lyrics in "Racing In The Street" to "summer's gone and the time is right". A reader present comments "I rank this as one of the all-time greatest Bruce concerts (of the 50+ I have attended and I know I’m just a piker on that standard). The audience jumping and dancing caused the gym floor to vibrate and move up and down". A contributor to the Greasy Lake website also recalls "Amidst the madness, I recall that the Jadwin gym floor was oscillating wildly - from our seats in the north stands it looked like the folks on the floor were standing on the surface of the ocean, rocked by waves." The "urban legend" is that this concert caused structural damage to the facility and that this was the last major rock concert to take place in Jadwin Gym. An article in the college newspaper The Daily Princetonian from November 7 does report damage to the surface of the basketball court (mainly caused by chair legs gouging holes in the hardwood floor), but nothing more substantial, even in the weeks and months after the concert. Myth busted? See our News tab to read a series of clippings from The Daily Princetonian.

1978-11-02 - CAPITAL CENTRE, LARGO, MD

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / THE TIES THAT BIND / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

Bruce and the Band make their second Darkness Tour appearance at the Capital Centre. As at the August 15 show, the legendary Washington-area DJ Don "Cerphe" Colwell introduces Bruce and the band to start the show. A detailed review in The Bullet from the University of Mary Washington confirms that the Capital Centre big screens were on, and cameras were rolling throughout the show. Springsteen's previous performance at this venue was famously professionally-shot and circulated as a bootleg, this one sadly was not bootlegged, and any surviving video footage remains unaccounted for.

1978-11-04 - PATRICK GYMNASIUM, UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT, BURLINGTON, VT

BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / THE TIES THAT BIND / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / FIRE / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE
^{Incomplete setlist.}

Springsteen returns to the University of Vermont for the first time since 1974 – this time the show takes place on campus in the 2,400-seat Patrick Gymnasium. Partial setlist details are culled from a review of the show in the school newspaper and a review in the Burlington Free Press the following day. The show was rated "the best of our four years at UVM" by the student association in the 1979 Ariel yearbook.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-11-05 - UNH FIELDHOUSE, UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, DURHAM, NH

BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / INDEPENDENCE DAY / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / JUNGLELAND / FIRE / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / DETROIT MEDLEY
^{Incomplete setlist.}

There had been tremendous anticipation on campus, the crowd was completely ecstatic and Bruce responded with a scorching performance. Partial setlist details (not necessarily in the correct sequence) are known via an insightful review of the show in the school newspaper the following day, which you can read on our News tab, and from a fan recollection.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-11-07 - BARTON HALL, CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ITHACA, NY

BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / THE TIES THAT BIND / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

The first-ever rock concert at Cornell with a reserved seating policy. A review in The Ithaca Journal states that attendance was around 8,000, which likely means a close to full house. The twenty song setlist listed here is the complete show. Bruce sings a snippet of "(I'm A) Road Runner" in the introduction to "Darkness On The Edge Of Town". "Fire" opens the second set. First known show to include "I Get Mad" in "She's The One". Confusion reigns on the day of the show when a band of merry pranksters went around campus posting leaflets announcing the concert had been cancelled. It hadn't.

1978-11-08 - MONTREAL FORUM, MONTREAL, QC

"I Get Mad" included in "She's The One" again. First ever performances in Canada of "Streets Of Fire", "The Ties That Bind", "Independence Day", "Candy's Room", "Because The Night", and "Point Blank". After the show, Bruce conducts a five minute phone interview with Montreal radio station CHOM.

1978-11-10 - REILLY CENTER, ST. BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY, ST. BONAVENTURE, NY

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / FIRE / SHERRY DARLING / LOUIE LOUIE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE
^{Setlist incomplete and may be incorrect.}

Springsteen's sole performance at this private Franciscan university, played at the 5,500 capacity Reilly Center. The circulating audience tape begins with "Independence Day" so there is some debate as to the identity of the opening songs. The St. Bonaventure 1979 yearbook states that "Badlands" opened, but we have several independent reports that it was, in fact, "Good Rockin' Tonight". We can't be certain, but other setlists around this time suggest that "Streets Of Fire" probably followed "Badlands", and the fourth song is confirmed as "Spirit In The Night", with Bruce out amongst the audience. It's missing from the tape, but in all likelihood "Backstreets" followed "She's The One". Set features a rare performance of "Louie Louie". Final tour performance for "Sherry Darling". "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes the "Come A Little Bit Closer" introduction. The show was featured in an article in the school newspaper, titled "Kinetic Springsteen Rocks RC". Springsteen earned $20,000 for his night's work, and the university grossed just short of $40,000.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-11-12 - RPI FIELD HOUSE, RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, TROY, NY

Soundcheck: BADLANDS / HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL / HANG UP MY ROCK AND ROLL SHOES / HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL / HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / POINT BLANK (instrumental) / APACHE / THE PROMISED LAND

HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / RAVE ON / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

Set opens with "High School Confidential", and "Rave On" opens the second set. Soundcheck features a complete rendition of British band The Shadows’ 1960 instrumental hit "Apache", a song which Springsteen and the band had played in concert at a few club shows in 1973 but are not known to have performed in full since. The show was the subject of a detailed review in The Poly, student newspaper of the university. See our News tab to view.

1978-11-14 - UTICA MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, UTICA, NY

RAVE ON / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / LOUIE LOUIE / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

Last known "Louie Louie" for the tour. "She's The One" includes "Gloria". According to a newspaper review, at one point Bruce was tap dancing on the piano.

1978-11-16 - MAPLE LEAF GARDENS, TORONTO, ON

READY TEDDY / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

Includes the one and only tour performance (and first ever Springsteen performance) of Little Richard's "Ready Teddy" as the show opener. "She's The One" includes "Gloria".

1978-11-17 - MUNN ICE ARENA, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, EAST LANSING, MI

HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

"She's The One" includes "Gloria". Complete setlist is courtesy of Jill Whitworth, who made a note of the setlist after the show. Reviews in The Michigan Daily on November 19 and The Lanthorn, student newspaper of Grand Valley State University, confirm that "High School Confidential" opened the show. See our News tab to read the articles.

1978-11-18 - MILLETT HALL, MIAMI UNIVERSITY, OXFORD, OH

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE
^{Setlist may be incorrect.}

The 22-song setlist is courtesy of Terry via Killing Floor. A single recollection claims that "High School Confidential" was the show opener, but a review in the News Record of the University of Cincinnati clearly states that "Badlands" was the opening number. "She's The One" includes "I Get Mad".

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-11-20 - ASSEMBLY HALL, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHAMPAIGN, IL

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / THE TIES THAT BIND / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

"It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City" opens the second set. "She's The One" includes "Gloria". The show was featured in the 1979 Yearbook of the University Of Illinois - see our News tab to read.

1978-11-21 - MCGAW HALL, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, EVANSTON, IL

RAVE ON / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

Set opens with "Rave On" and the second set kicks off with "The Ties That Bind". "She's The One" includes "I Get Mad".

1978-11-25 - KIEL OPERA HOUSE, ST. LOUIS, MO

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / FOR YOU / THE TIES THAT BIND / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

Billboard magazine reported an attendance of 3,557 (a sellout) and gross receipts of $29,380. "She's The One" includes "I Get Mad".

1978-11-27 - MECCA ARENA, MILWAUKEE, WI

HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / …
^{Incomplete setlist.}

Judging by previous setlists, the encores are likely to be "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", "Detroit Medley" and "Quarter To Three". First appearance of "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" for the Christmas season; it was also played several times at the end of September. "She's The One" includes "I Get Mad". Before the show, Clarence is interviewed over the phone by The Capitol Times.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-11-28 - DANE COUNTY MEMORIAL COLISEUM, MADISON, WI

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND (start cut) / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS
^{Incomplete setlist.}

"She's The One" includes "I Get Mad". A favorable review in the Wisconsin State Journal states that attendance was around 8,000 (out of around 10,200 total seats)

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-11-29 - ST. PAUL CIVIC CENTER, SAINT PAUL, MN

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

"She's The One" includes "I Get Mad". "Backstreets" includes a line of "Pretty Flamingo" in the midsection. According to Steven Van Zandt, a young Prince was among the audience at this show.

1978-12-01 - LLOYD NOBLE CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, NORMAN, OK

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

Set features the longest "Prove It All Night" guitar introduction of the entire tour. "She's The One" includes "I Get Mad". The set also features the first of only two known inclusions of Little Richard's "Lucille" in the "Detroit Medley". Brucebase reader Tony attended this show aged fifteen, and sat dead centre in the second row. He was equipped with a Kodak camera and a cardboard promotional poster issued to record stores with the Darkness album cover on it. Bruce spotted the sign early in the show and later dedicated "Thunder Road" to Tony, which can be heard on the recording. At intermission he took the poster and returned it at the start of the second set, autographed by the entire band.

1978-12-03 - SIU ARENA, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, CARBONDALE, IL

HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / I FOUGHT THE LAW / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

Final tour performance for "High School Confidential" opens. "I Fought The Law was played after Bruce received a cowboy hat from a member of the audience, verified by a photograph of him wearing the hat that was printed in the 1979 edition of the school's yearbook, the Obelisk. Another image shows Bruce wearing sunglasses, perhaps during "Spirit In The Night". "She's The One" includes "I Get Mad", and the set also features the second and final inclusion of Little Richard's "Lucille" in "Detroit Medley". The available recording is missing "Backstreets" and "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)", but a review in the SIU newspaper, the Daily Egyptian, confirms both were played. The review also discusses "The Promise", although without definitively stating that it was played. If it were, that would be surprising, since it hadn't been in the setlist since July. Another review, in the Western Courier of Western Illinois University, ran through the entire set but made no mention of "The Promise".

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-12-05 - LSU ASSEMBLY CENTER, LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, BATON ROUGE, LA

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

The listed setlist is from a fan recollection that is deemed reliable. The majority of this recollection is confirmed via a handwritten list noted on the back of a ticket by a fan that attended the show. The list seems to be missing a few songs, particularly from the start of the second set. Billboard reports ticket sales of 5,337 (a sellout) and gross receipts of $40,027. "She's The One" includes "I Get Mad".

1978-12-07 - SPECIAL EVENTS CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AUSTIN, TX

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / THE FEVER / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - PREACHER'S DAUGHTER - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

Bruce messes up the lyrics to "Thunder Road". Set features a new style to the introduction of "She's The One" with the inclusion of "Preacher's Daughter" for the first time - this is a regular for the next few shows. "I Get Mad" is also included. Show also includes "The Fever". Setlist pieced together from tape and news article sources. See our News and Gallery tabs for the articles and pictures.

1978-12-08 - THE SUMMIT, HOUSTON, TX

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / THE FEVER / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - PREACHER'S DAUGHTER - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN / QUARTER TO THREE

Show includes stand-out versions of many songs, including a searing "Streets Of Fire", "Prove It All Night" (with one of the longest guitar introductions of the entire tour) and Texas favorite "The Fever" with some great interplay between Danny and Clarence. "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City" is dedicated to "all the folks from the Liberty Hall days," referring to Bruce's shows at the famous Houston venue in 1974. Final tour appearance for "You Can't Sit Down". The 100th show of the tour, and one of the few Darkness concerts that does not include the full "Sad Eyes" sequence in "Backstreets". Set includes good versions of "Because The Night" and "Point Blank" - watch for Clarence missing his cue during the former, and Bruce's subsequent reaction. "She's The One" includes "I Get Mad". Billboard reports ticket sales of 12,003 (a sellout) and gross receipts of $98,925.

1978-12-09 - DALLAS CONVENTION CENTER ARENA, DALLAS, TX

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / HEARTBREAK HOTEL / THE FEVER / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / RAISE YOUR HAND / QUARTER TO THREE

"She's The One" includes "I Get Mad". Reviewed by The Dallas Morning News. Billboard reported ticket sales of 6,008 and gross receipts of $44,951.

1978-12-11 - UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, BOULDER, CO

Cancelled (prior to any local promotion or tickets going on sale), never rescheduled. This gig is noted on CBS’s tour itinerary files - yet the University's Archives Department has researched the matter for Brucebase and reports that no Springsteen concert took place, or was even pre-advertised.

^{If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.}

1978-12-13 - TUCSON COMMUNITY CENTER ARENA, TUCSON, AZ

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / THE FEVER / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - PREACHER'S DAUGHTER - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

"She's The One" includes "I Get Mad". Unusually for the tour, there is no full 'Sad Eyes' interlude during "Backstreets". Prior to the show, Bruce conducts a ten-minute interview with KSAN Radio, which is broadcast in the interval of the December 15 show.

1978-12-15 - WINTERLAND BALLROOM, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / THE FEVER / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - PREACHER'S DAUGHTER - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / RAISE YOUR HAND / QUARTER TO THREE

First show of two at the Winterland Ballroom, broadcast live on KSAN-FM radio. Probably the most famous show Bruce will ever do, and often identified as one of the best. The versions of "The Promised Land" and "Prove It All Night" are exceptional and "Backstreets" is better than that. Final tour performance for "Raise Your Hand". "She's The One" includes "I Get Mad". After much controversy about whether "Twist And Shout" was played to close the show long after the show had appeared to end, we have determined that it most likely was not performed on this night based on the available recordings and the vast majority of contemporary and subsequent evidence. A review of the show by Joel Selvin was printed in the San Francisco Chronicle - see our News tab to read it.

1978-12-16 - WINTERLAND BALLROOM, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / THE FEVER / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - PREACHER'S DAUGHTER - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

Tour premiere of "Rendezvous", which Bruce dedicated to Greg Kihn. Bruce forgets the words to "Racing In The Street". "She's The One" includes "Gloria". "Detroit Medley" includes a snippet of "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" in the outro. Billboard magazine reported a total attendance of 10,800 for the two shows at Winterland (both sold-out) and gross receipts of $80,975.

1978-12-18 - PARAMOUNT THEATRE, PORTLAND, OR

Cancelled and rescheduled to the next day. The reason for cancelling is unclear, but poor weather is perhaps the most likely culprit.

1978-12-19 - PARAMOUNT THEATRE, PORTLAND, OR

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / RAVE ON / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - PREACHER'S DAUGHTER - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

This concert was re-scheduled from December 18. "Good Rockin' Tonight" opens for the last time this tour, and the 26-song set features the second "Rendezvous". "She's The One" includes "I Get Mad".

1978-12-20 - SEATTLE CENTER ARENA, SEATTLE, WA

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / PRETTY FLAMINGO / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / THE FEVER / MONA - PREACHER'S DAUGHTER - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE / RAVE ON / TWIST AND SHOUT

Famous concert when Bruce returned to the stage after the house lights went on to perform the last two numbers to a stunned remaining few. The stunning 26-song set clocks in at almost three-and-a-half hours, and was possibly the longest of Springsteen's career at the time. Show includes the first E Street Band version of "Pretty Flamingo" since 1975. "I Get Mad" in "She's The One" is replaced by "Gloria", and "Point Blank" is dropped for the first time since it returned to the set on September 16 in New York.

1978-12-27 - STANLEY THEATRE, PITTSBURGH, PA

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / PRETTY FLAMINGO / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / THE FEVER / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - PREACHER'S DAUGHTER - SHE'S THE ONE / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

"She's The One" includes "I Get Mad". According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the 7,000 tickets for two nights at the Stanley Theatre sold out faster than any other concert in recent memory. The article also mentions that "Adam Raised A Cain" was performed, but this can't be verified by the audience tape. If true it would be a rarity - it hadn't been played for some three months. "Backstreets" was not played at this show.

1978-12-28 - STANLEY THEATRE, PITTSBURGH, PA

RAMROD / BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / THE FEVER / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / POINT BLANK / NOT FADE AWAY - PREACHER'S DAUGHTER - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / RAVE ON / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

First known version (and only tour performance) of "Ramrod", played in an arrangement that's not all that different from all later versions. There are clear variations in the lyrics, however. Set also includes the tour's final performances of "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)", in an unusual slot in the first set, and "Not Fade Away", which returns to the "She's The One" medley after nearly two months. Billboard magazine reported total ticket sales of 6,962 for the two shows at Stanley Theatre (both sold-out) and gross receipts of $58,270.

1978-12-30 - COBO ARENA, DETROIT, MI

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / RAVE ON / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / THE FEVER / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - PREACHER'S DAUGHTER - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE / TWIST AND SHOUT

"She's The One" includes "I Get Mad". A report from a fan present has "Twist And Shout" played with the house lights on at the end of the show, a recollection that is confirmed by another attendee. This would have been the final tour performance of the song. It's not on any audio available though.

1978-12-31 - RICHFIELD COLISEUM, RICHFIELD, OH

BADLANDS / STREETS OF FIRE / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / INDEPENDENCE DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / PRETTY FLAMINGO / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / THE TIES THAT BIND / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / THE FEVER / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / RAVE ON / AULD LANG SYNE / GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT / POINT BLANK / MONA - PREACHER'S DAUGHTER - SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / QUARTER TO THREE

The penultimate show of the tour includes great versions of "Jungleland" and "The Fever" and the last known "Pretty Flamingo" (until 2003). A tour one-off "Auld Lang Syne" is included to celebrate the New Year. "She's The One" includes "I Get Mad". Final tour performances for "Independence Day", "The Ties That Bind", "Good Rockin' Tonight", and "I Get Mad". This is the famous "Firecracker show" where someone threw one on stage which hit Bruce, provoking a rant from Steven Van Zandt. During the next tour Bruce would regularly ask people not to let off firecrackers.

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