1999-09-25 First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA

Scheduled: 19:30 Local Start Time ??:?? / End Time ??:??

Info & Setlist | Venue

Another incredible show. Sources say that the soundcheck and show was in part filmed. Surprise opener "Incident On 57th Street" is a tour premiere, last played in 1980. Set also includes "New York City Serenade" and the final tour performances of "Streets Of Philadelphia" and "Raise Your Hand". "Atlantic City" returns to the set after a short break; it was last played on July 24. "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" includes "It's All Right", "The Monkey Time", "Take Me To The River", "Red Headed Woman", and "My Girl". "Light Of Day" includes "You Can't Sit Down" and "I've Been Everywhere". Ali Weinberg features on keyboards on "Raise Your Hand". Unusually, this show's setlist features no songs from the Born In The U.S.A. album.

Ali Weinberg (Guest)

Intro to “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”
“Is there anybody alive out there? (crowd cheers) is there anybody alive out there? (crowd cheers) you’re gonna have to prove it to me now (crowd cheers)…”

Middle of “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out”
“I need a volunteer (crowd cheers) you there (crowd cheers) thank you, baby…Max! (crowd cheers) had to do it two times tonight…
(sings bits of “It's Alright” and “Take Me to the River”)…that’s right…that’s where I wanna go…I want to go to the riverside…I wanna go to the river of life…and the river of love…and the river of sanctification…the river of resurrection…the river of transformation …I want to go to the river tonight, the river of happiness and of sexual healing (crowd cheers) but I can’t get there by myself, I want to go to the river tonight and I want you to go with me (crowd cheers) because I need to go with you…because you can’t get there by yourself…sometimes you think you can but in the end…in the end there’s no getting there by yourself…I found myself as a young man standing before a dark grove of trees…and I was frightened to pass through those trees even though I knew that the river of life, the river of a meaningful life was waiting just on the other side… the river of faith and cold beer at a reasonable price (crowd cheers) but I was paralyzed, my legs felt like stone, my arms felt like lead and I’d been standing there a long time…but I couldn’t pass through those trees, I didn’t have the courage to face that life that was waiting on the other side – are you listening to me? (crowd cheers) and I felt like I was about to give it up…and that I’d never have those things waiting on the other side of those trees, I was losing faith…when I saw a light slightly into the forest, I tiptoed further in, there was a gypsy woman sitting by an Airstream trailer with a crystal ball, I told her my problems…she looked into the palm of my hand and she said “Well, listen, Mr. independence, you’ve got to have help, you’ve got to have companionship…you need a band, Son!” (crowd cheers) and so I’d like to introduce tonight the dean of the university of musical perversity, the Secretary of intelligence, Professor Roy Bittan on the piano (crowd cheers) with me at the riverside…I’d like to introduce the Secretary of faith and friendship, keeper of all things righteous on E Street, Little Steven Van Zandt on the guitar (crowd cheers) stand with me, brother, at the riverside, I wanna introduce the foundation of the E Street nation, Southern man, Mr. Garry W. Tallent on the bass (crowd cheers) with me at the riverside, the Secretary of syncopation, the President of, of, of percussion, the Minister of the mighty beat, Mighty Max Weinberg on the drums (crowd cheers) with me at the riverside, I wanna introduce the Secretary of heart and spirit, Godfather of the guitar, Mr. Nils Lofgren (crowd cheers) standing with me at the riverside…I wanna introduce my brother, the Minister of Mystery and the keeper of all things unfathomable here on E Street, Phantom Dan Federici (crowd cheers) standing with me at the riverside…but you can’t get there, you got to have love in your life…I wanna say brunettes are fine, blondes are fun but when it comes to getting a dirty job done, it takes a (crowd: “Red headed woman”) yeah, man, I’m searching for a (crowd: “Red headed woman”) I’ve got to find myself a (crowd: “Red headed woman”) yeah, now I’m looking for a (crowd: “Red headed woman”) I got to find myself a (crowd: “Red headed woman”) I’d like to introduce the First Lady of love, the Secretary of sweet harmony, Miss Patti Scialfa on the guitar and vocals (crowd cheers) Yeah, I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day…now when it’s cold outside, I’ve got the month of May…well, now, I guess you’ll say what can make me feel this way, my girl…talking ‘bout my girl (crowd: “My girl”) thank you, baby (crowd cheers) now I’d made it, I could see the riverbanks before and there were people with their
hands in the air standing all around (crowd cheers) but there was still something missing…something essential…something fundamental…something very big (crowd cheers) I’d like to introduce to you the Minister of soul, th e Secretary of brotherhood, the Emperor of E Street, do I have to say his name? (crowd cheers) do I have to say his name? (crowd cheers) say who? (crowd: “Clarence”) say who? (crowd: “Clarence”) say who? (crowd: “Clarence”) say who? (crowd: “Clarence”) say who? (crowd: “Clarence”) say who? (crowd: “Clarence”) say who? (crowd: “Clarence”) say who? (crowd: “Clarence”) say who? (crowd: “Clarence”) say who? (crowd: “Clarence”)…”

Intro to “Sherry Darling”
“A little last taste of summer for you right there (crowd cheers) what’s that tempo, Max? (Max shows the tempo with drum sticks)…”

Intro to “Streets of Philadelphia”
“Ooh, thank you (crowd cheers) little light there (?) up front, up front…yeah, gonna do this for, we have some friends of ours with us in the building tonight, they’re the Kensington Welfare Rights Union…and, uh, they’re a multi-racial organization made up by and for poor and homeless people and if you believe that we all have a right to a home and a living wage, healthcare for every family and the children (crowd cheers) and if you believe that now in the coming century with the economy booming that America has a historic opportunity and an obligation to live up to its promise of equal opportunity and economic justice for all (crowd cheers) so the Kensington Welfare Rights Union are based right here in Philadelphia, they’re an organization that works towards those goals, in October they’ll be conducting a March of the Americas, marching from Washington to the United Nations in New York to press for the human rights to food and housing, education and living wage, an economic human rights’ campaign…they’ll be in the lobby when you leave, please stop by and check out what they’re doing, they could use your support and your help, thank you, this is for them (crowd cheers)…”

Middle of “Light of Day”
“Philadelphia, PA (crowd cheers) it’s our last night in the City of Brotherly Love, I did say Philadelphia (crowd cheers) we’ve come thousands of miles to be here tonight…but everywhere we’ve gone, I’ve seen people lost in confusion…I’ve seen people lost…in the wilderness…I’ve seen people lost…in bitterness…I’ve seen people lost…in faithlessness…I’ve seen people in this city lost…in their cheesesteaks…I’ve seen Mummers lost…in parade…I’ve seen Shriners lost…in them little bitty cars (?) and I want you to know that we’re here tonight on a search-and-rescue mission…we’re here tonight on a search-and-rescue mission…if your soul, if your soul’s got bad credit, it’s good here…if your heart, if your heart’s running on empty, gonna fill it up…if your spirit’s bankrupt, if it’s bankrupt, I’m gonna lift that debt up off you…I’m here tonight to re-educate you, to resuscitate you, to regenerate you, to re-confiscate you, to re-indoctrinate you, to re-sexualate you, to rededicate you, to recombobulate you, to re-liberate you with the power, with the glory, with the power, with the glory, with the power, with the glory, with the ministry of rock’n’roll! (crowd cheers) that’s right!…with the power, with the glory, with the power, with the majesty, with the mystery, with the ministry of rock’n’roll! (crowd cheers) that’s right! (crowd cheers) now, unlike my competitors, unlike my competitors, I shall not, I will not, I shall not promise you life everlasting…but I can promise you life… right now! (crowd cheers) and all you gotta do is raise your hand and say “I” (crowd and Bruce start going “I, I, I”)…”

Intro to “Raise Your Hand”
“One more for Philly! (crowd cheers)(?) come on, Steve…key of D …key of D…”

Middle of “Raise Your Hand”
“We want to thank you, Philly, for six fabulous nights, if you had a good time, just raise your hand…”

^{Compiled by : Johanna Pirttijärvi.}

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I Heard the Voices of Friends Vanished and Gone

For those of us fortunate enough to have seen many Bruce Springsteen concerts and multiple tours, particular shows stand out for any number of reasons, from the people with whom we attended to favorite songs that made the setlist that night. But the most indelible memories often come down to a special, unexpected moment.

Prior to this show, Bruce hadn’t played “Incident on 57th Street” since December 29, 1980, a gap of nearly 19 years, and a performance that itself proved to be a one-off on the original River tour. Hell, the song only got played five times on the Darkness tour. Three decades later, the Reunion tour became a catalyst for the revival of many dormant classics, none more beloved or longed for than “Incident.”

I can only imagine the tears of joy and quivering chins that sprang forth when Springsteen commenced his sixth and final show in Philadelphia with this magisterial reading of “Incident on 57th Street.” I would have been a puddle, overwhelmed by the caliber of the performance. While he would go on to play the song three additional times on the Reunion tour and revisit it on special occasions ever since, if Philadelphia ‘99 had been the song’s only modern airing, it would be held in the same regard as the officially released one from Nassau ‘80.

Despite a long show the night before at the Spectrum (unfortunately not recorded on multi-track due to the venue change for the rescheduled date), 9/25/99 finds Bruce in particularly strong voice. On “Incident,” he finds a connection to those vintage versions, singing with real passion, taking his time and sending the song soaring. The E Street Band is also up to the task, needing but that day’s soundcheck to nail the epic. The performance of “Incident” is not a recreation (listen to the fresh edge on the guitar tone) but a thrilling revival of one of Bruce’s early classics.

Springsteen’s vocal prowess continues and the versions of “The Ties That Bind” and “Prove It All Night” that follow ring particularly true across the board: singing, playing, intention. There are already great Reunion shows in the Archive Series, but Philadelphia ‘99 will sound fresher than you expect, as new details jump forth. For example, Jon Altschiller’s sonorous stereo mix treats us to a fantastic Stevie and Bruce vocal exchange on “Prove It.”

The show’s first half runs from strength to strength, with peak Reunion takes of “Two Hearts,” “Atlantic City” and “Factory.” “Point Blank” arrives with a captivating organ and saxophone intro in what is its first Reunion tour performance released in the Archive Series. “Point Blank” is not a song you think of as a Clarence Clemons showcase, but his textures start the song on an appropriately unsettling note, and later, Steve’s guitar solo is similarly edged.

“Youngstown,” “Murder Incorporated,” “Badlands,” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-out” (which also bears some tasty fret work from Van Zandt) are strong as they were night after night in 1999, with “Tenth” dropping in on “Red Headed Woman” and a very sweet verse and chorus from The Temptations’ “My Girl.”

The party atmosphere extends with “a little last taste of summer for you,” “Sherry Darling,” another showcase for the musical and vocal chops of the E Street Band who are in collective top form.

The tone shifts movingly with the first full-band performance of “Streets of Philadelphia” in its namesake city. The modern Springsteen masterpiece is beautifully rendered, Van Zandt’s background vocals adding richness.

The evening enters the rarified status of hosting not one but two circa 1973 epics, with “New York City Serenade” (itself only recently revived after a 24-year slumber), delivered in stunning fashion in what might be its strongest ‘99 performance. Each E Streeter wraps themselves in musical glory: Stop it Stevie. Stop it Big Man. Stop it Roy. You’re killing us with your melodic beauty.

The set winds down in largely expected fashion, but Philadelphia ‘99 does add two additional songs to the Reunion tour Archive roster. Clarence Clemons’ great night extends to his most famous saxophone solo in “Jungleland,” which is spot on. I can’t imagine the band has played “Jungleland” better than this in the modern era. The other new addition is the show-closer, “Raise Your Hand,” played as the pure soul classic it is and celebrating the band-fan bond that Philadelphia has offered since the very beginning.

If you’re looking at Philadelphia ‘99 and thinking it is “only” 22 songs long, remember six of those tracks top the ten-minute mark on this night of epic performances. I’ve heard longer Reunion tour shows, but I’ve never heard stronger.

^{By Erik Flannigan via Nugs.net.}

Links:

Bruce Springsteen Drops Philadelphia 1999 Live Album ^{(RollingStone)}

Brucebase Wiki

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I Heard the Voices of Friends Vanished and Gone