2003-07-17 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

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

Info & Setlist | Venue

Fairly standard set includes "Jungleland". "Mary's Place" includes "The Monkey Time" and "Baby I've Been Missing You". Final tour performance for "Growin' Up".

Intro to “Empty Sky”
´´Good evening, everyone…..it´s a good night tonight !….gods have smiled on us with this weather (?)….I figured I was gonna be up here sucking some New Jersey humidity but this is (chuckles)….alright, need a little bit of quiet for this next one, thank you…..´´

Intro to “Growin´Up”
´´This is for any old timers out there…..´´

Middle of “Mary´s Place”
´´Are you ready ?….are you ready ?….are you ready ?….are you ready ?….are you ready for a house party ? (cheers) are you ready for a summertime house party ? (cheers)…oh, what do you think, C ?….let´s take a look (?) some…..in the back, I´m not sure….I think, no…..alright, C says….if you´re ready for a summertime house party, two conditions gotta be met…. number one, the music has got to be (Clarence : ´righteous´) righteous !….number two, the music had better be (Clarence : ´righteous´) righteous !….number three, everybody´s got to get their (Clarence : ´Ass´) ass off their seats….all the way from the front all the way to the back, all the way up top, all the way down below, all the way in the middle, way over on the side, way up top now, to the (?) and the front, inside, outside, because I wanna introduce to you right now the greatest little houseband in all the land….that´s right, you´ve got to be standing for on the piano, the illegitimate son of Jerry Lee Lewis and Liberace, the pathological piano-pounding Professor Roy Bittan….on the violin and vocals, out of New York City….oh, Sister Soozie Tyrell….on the guitar, out of Middletown, New Jersey….scene of the first Hulabaloo club in the Uni, in the Garden State….keeper of all that is righteous on E Street, Little Steven….on the bass guitar, straight from the (?) factory in Neptune, New Jersey…. Brother Garry Tallent….on the drums, out of South Orange….the man that brings the power hour after hour night after night, I´m talking about the Minister of the big beat, I´m talking about the Secretary of syncopation, I´m talking about the star of ´Late Night (crowd: ´Television´) Mighty Max Weinberg….on the guitar, one of the greatest guitarists in rock and roll, from Maryland, which is close to New Jersey….Brother Nils Lofgren on the guitar….on the organ, Brother Dan Federici out of Flemington, New Jersey, home of Flemington Furs where we bought our first furcoats for 1900 dollars, Brother Dan Federici…..on the far side of the stage, the First Lady of love, my sweetie baby honey child, out of Deal, New Jersey, Miss Patti Scialfa….yes, baby !….yes it is !….and last but not least….not originally from New Jersey but who´s gonna tell him ? the Emperor of the Garden State…..do I have to say his name ?….Minister of soul, Big Man Clarence Clemons on the saxophone….that´s right, let´s hear it for the heartstopping, pants-dropping, houserocking, earth-shaking, booty-quaking, Viagra-taking, lovemaking, legendary E Street Band….yes it is !….(?) in the house !….´´

Middle of “Ramrod”
´´Big Man moving….Big Man walking….Big Man surfing….Big man having a party….
(….) Hey Steve ! (Steve: ´Yeah, baby ?´) I think it´s quitting time….(Steve: ´Say it ain´t so´) I think it´s time to go….we gotta beat the traffic, baby….I gotta get on the Turnpike…..I need a police escort….back to Jersey Shore….gotta go….quitting time….well, Steve, if, if, if it ain´t quitting time, what I wanna know is what time is it, baby ?….(Steve: ´A little too quiet for New Jersey (cheers) and now I think it´s Boss-time !´)….
(….) Mr. and Mrs.New Jersey, all I wanna know is what time is it ? (crowd: ´Boss-time´)….´´

Intro to “My City of Ruins”
´´Thank you….I wanna thank, wanna thank everyone for coming out to the show tonight, thank you very much….it´s a, uh….it´s a big thrill to be back here on this stage playing for you, I guess 18 years after we were here the last time, it´s, uh….it´s a nice feeling and I just want to, uh, thank all you folks for the the response that we had for these shows here was something that, uh, just, uh, meant a lot to the band and I wanna say we appreciate your support….this is for our friends from the Community Foodbank of New Jersey that are here with us, we´ve worked with them for a long time now and, uh….they work here and they, they distribute to 18 New Jersey counties, 40 % of the people they assist are kids….and, uh, they´re out there helping the strugling citizens of New Jersey, they deserve your time and your support, if you see them on the way out, they´re set up on the boardwalk tonight and, uh, they collect donations and they sign up volunteers (?) put a little time at the foodbank, it´s, uh….good for you….this is for them….the Community Foodbank of New Jersey….and also for our friends from Asbury….´´

Intro to “Land of Hope and Dreams”
´´Thank you….just wanna leave as a footnote: if you´re looking for a destination for one afternoon, it´d be nice if you could make it down through Asbury, there´s a lot ot new shops and, uh, some art galleries opening up and antique stores and, uh…..some nice, there´s some new clubs down there and, uh, my buddy Joe Grushecky´s gonna be playing, I think, it´s Saturday night, Saturday night and uh….there (?) it´s a nice place to stop for a weekend (?) ….uh….before this next song (?) like I was telling the folks the other night that, you know,
people come to my shows with all different kinds of political beliefs and that´s something that, that I like, you know, and we welcome all and, uh, there´s been a lot of questions raised recently about the forthrightness of the government in dealing with the war and I think, uh, I just wanna say that this playing with the truth during wartime´s been a part of both Democratic and Republican administrations in the past and it´s always wrong….it´s, uh, it´s never more so when there are real lives, real lives at stake, the question of whether we were misled into the war in Iraq, I don´t think it´s a Liberal or a Conservative question or a Republican or a Democratic question, it´s an American question and protecting that democracy that we ask our sons and daughters to die for is our sacred trust and demanding accountability is our job as American citizens….that´s the American way so may the truth will out, this is ´Land of Hope and Dreams´….´´

Intro to “Rosalita”
´´I dedicate this to all New Jerseyans….this is for you, baby….´´

^{Compiled by : Johanna Pirttijärvi.}

Moosejaw	Well, as I mentioned my my amazing friends who got me in and partied with me last night, I used to feel bad that I didn't have extensive access to Bruce in his earlier years. I no longer feel that way. Last night solidified for me that he gives every ounce of himself and that I am blessed to have experienced him when I have - this is approximately my 50th show. Some tips - don't worry about your seating. In 90% of the seats, you cant see the band anyway - so just take in the energy level wherever you are. If you are lucky enough to have a shot at the pit, which I was, DO NOT pass it up - it is truly an incomparable experience. Also, don't feel bad if you don't have tickets. There are plenty on EBAY and there are a plethora of seats available for face or less right outside !! Try and avoid the side stage seating, as the sightlines are limited. As for the show, he has never been stronger. To consider that he will be back tonight is mind-boggling from a physical perspective. The band was rockin' and, as usual, Max carried the night. Max takes Ramrod to Pluto and back. Worlds Apart was off the charts from an instrumental perspective. Max led that, too. In addition, to get Jungleland, Growin' up and Rosie in the same night just is unparalleled. I am not a DITD fan, but he is so happy to do it that I must say that I'm happy to watch him. DO NOT miss this stint - even in the big venues.
Chris	What a show! I know, everyone says that after every show, right? After closely watching the setlists for most of the Rising tour, I was prepared for a lot of the same. While Bruce still tapped the Rising for 9 songs, the other 15 were all over the map. The weather was amazing, the pre-concert "Meadowlands Boardwalk" was a blast, meeting Whoopi Goldberg in the stands was real cool, blessed with a killer RoyB solo to finish out Ramrod, and then, Rosie came out! What a night! Upcoming setlists are wide open now! Look for more surprises around the corner! Dedicating "Growin' Up" to Eddie Vedder was pretty cool too. Pearl Jam had just ended their tour in NJ. During their last show, Eddie covered "Growin' Up", saying it was one of the first songs that he learned to play.
Tom Cantillon	Night number 2 — intense opening with Night, Candy's Room (out of control) and a blistering Prove it all Night — which Bruce and band most definitely did. Growin' Up was a nice surprise and had the crowd singing along. Jungleland: beneath the stars, Clarence's melodious sax solo, Bruce's poetry, a moment of unmatched poetic perfection. That moment moved my soul and left me glowing. Unbelievable show from start to finish!
Rich Sackmann	I've been to about 25 Springsteen concerts, give or take… This show tonight may top them all. What a freaking show. I've never seen these guys, especially Bruce, play with as much raw emotion and intensity as they did tonight. Absolutely amazing. You can read the setlist elsewhere, but you have to take my word for this. Clarence's solo and Bruce's wailing at the end of Jungleland was pure magic. And I'm surprised no one has mentioned Into the Fire, specifically Bruce nearly breaking down while singing the last verse. It was so good, I don't even want to go tomorrow even though I have GA tickets, if that makes any sense. It was like a freight train runnin' through the middle of my head…. Wish you all could've been there for this one…
Julie	Everytime I think I can't love Bruce anymore than I do already I see or hear something and then i do. I'm nineteen so this was only my fourth Bruce show but i love him more everytime. Born to Run is always awesome to hear, and Rosalita was great. Jungleland, though, was what I will remember most from the 17th, just because there have been so many times when I've been driving around listening to it and the beautiful piano in the beginning and thinking how I'd love to hear it live and thinking I never would. So that was amazing. Overall an awesome show, better than the 15th in my opinion… BRUUUUUCE
Kylie Pucciarello	When Bruce and the band took the stage to the sounds of Frank Sinatra's "Summer Wind," and the cameras following their trek to the stage, we knew Bruce was going to be very loose and that we were in for a great show. Going straight into "The Rising" and "Lonesome Day" without any prior opener, the show was off to a good start. But with the triple-shot of an incredible "Night," a scorching "Candy's Room," and an inspired "Prove it All Night," the show was brought to a whole new level. After the typical yet beautiful duo of "Empty Sky" and "You're Missing," the acoustic guitars were all brought up front for an always fun "Waitin' on a Sunny Day," topped off with that signature knee slide and, yes, hanging upside-down on the microphone stand again. "Growin' Up" was great to hear and done incredible well, including Bruce ending the song the same as is heard on the Live 1975-85 box set, "It was bye-bye New Jersey, we were airborne…" The show progressed the same as Tuesday night, until Soozie Tyrell's violin opened an outstanding version of "Jungleland." Clarence Clemons did a fantastic job on his saxophone solo for the song - truly one of the highlights of the first two nights. The main set ended the same as the show prior, but the encores changed very slightly. "Hungry Heart," Bruce's original sing-a-long song, opened up the first encore, followed by the jaw dropping "Ramrod" and "Born to Run." The second encore began the same way as well, but then the crowd was on edge - would he play Rosalita again? He did, and again it was a complete show-stopper. And followed by the rocking "Dancing in the Dark," Bruce capped yet another great night in New Jersey. But could he top it on Friday?
Max4858	My first Bruce concert was in December, 1975, and until 7/17/03, it was the best concert I've ever experienced. That all changed in Giants Stadium on a beautiful July night. This was my first ever Bruce stadium show, and I didn't know what to expect. Stupid me, I should have known what to expect, after all this was Bruce and the E Street Band in New Jersey. Great versions of The Rising and Lonesome Day to start things off, no surprise there. But then came the surprises. First, an incredible version of Night, a song I had never seen done live before. That segued into an absolutely killer version of Candy's Room, which has always been my favorite from Darkness. Followed by a kick-ass Prove it all Night, and I knew this would be no ordinary show. Empty Sky, You're Missing, and Waiting were all excellent, although the noisy, rude crowd during the slow songs was extremely annoying. And then, out of nowhere, a song "dedicated to the old-timers out there", Growin' Up, which just happens to be my favorite off Greetings, and another song I had never seen done live before. Everyone singing along, absolute bliss. Worlds Apart, Badlands, Mary's Place, all were great. Then came the masterpiece. The violin began, and I, along with about thirty thousand other people, yelled out deliriously "Jungleland". What a performance. From the violin, to Clarence nailing the sax solo, to Bruce's haunting vocal, this might have been the best performance of any Bruce song I've ever seen. No Surrender, Into the Fire, both excellent. And then came my favorite Bruce song of all time, Thunder Road. Are you freaking kidding me, Jungleland, Thunder Road, Growin' Up and Candy's Room all in the same concert, and we haven't even gotten to the encores yet??!! I closed my eyes, and felt like it was 75 all over again, and I was hearing this song for the first time. God, it was wonderful. The encores were almost anti-climatic after that. Almost. Hungry Heart live is a million times better than on The River, Ramrod was awesome, and what more needs to be said about Born to Run live. My City of Ruins and Land of Hope and Dreams are a clue that the concert is on the downside, although I love both songs, and Bruce nailed them both. Of course, Bruce had to tease us and make us think that they were the last tunes of the show. He had me going. And then came Rosie. After hearing this song at every show I saw in the 70's and 80's, I never thought I'd hear it live again. Wrong! The version was somewhat edited from the one we all know, but that didn't detract from it at all. Bruce was clearly enjoying himself, and words can't describe what it's like to hear fifty thousand people singing along to this rock anthem, and of course, all 50K knew every word. What a freaking great song, as if I needed to be reminded. Finally, Dancing in the Dark, a song I had thoroughly come to dislike in the 80's, but have to admit that I enjoyed the new rocked-out version for this tour. What a show! My favorites from 4 different albums, half of the Born to Run album (Bruce's masterpiece, IMHO), and an energy level that was amazing to behold. How old are these guys? I came all the way from Tucson Arizona for this show, and it was worth every mile and every dollar spent. And now, 28 years after seeing The Boss for the first time, I have a new favorite all-time concert. Thanks, Bruce.
Brian Mac	Jungleland and Growin' up were the highlights of the show for me. I was at the Pearl Jam show at PNC two nights earlier when Eddie V. said Growin' up was one of his favorite songs in his youth. It was fun to hear Bruce play it also two night later. It was a beautiful summer night with Sinatra's summer winds playing while Bruce and the band took the stage. My own Jersey girl and I :) had great seats on the side of the stage with plenty of room to dance around. Jungeland was the highlight of the show for me. They played with energy and passion. This was one of my favorite shows of all time.

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