2003-08-13 U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, IL

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

Info & Setlist | Venue

"My Kind of Town", sung by Frank Sinatra and about Chicago, is the night's unique intro music. Final performances of "Working On The Highway" and "Where The Bands Are" for the tour. The lights go out during "Waitin' On A Sunny Day", leading to an extended singalong section. Bruce sings a line of "Dancing In The Street" during "Out In The Street". "Mary's Place" includes "The Monkey Time", "You Sexy Thing", and "Baby I've Been Missing You". "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes the "Come A Little Bit Closer" introduction.

Ken	How does this band continue to perform at such a high level? From "Adam Raised A Cain" to an extended version of "Dancing In The Dark", Bruce and the E Street Band rocked U.S. Cellular Field for over three hours !! Highlights included an extended "Waitin' On A Sunny Day" when the stage lights went out (the band should have just broken into "Dancin' In The Dark") !!! This incident only seemed to loosen up Bruce and the band. Watching them play "Out In The Street", "Backstreets", "Working on the Highway", "Born To Run" and "Rosalita" confirmed what I've always thought — this is the greatest, most cohesive group of musicians I will ever see !!! Long live Bruce and the E Street Band !!!
Jimmy B.	Well, as after any Bruce concert (I have seen 20 over the past 25 years), I am left with a lot of thoughts. First of all, the show in Chicago was excellent. The seating and sound was amazing for a gigantic stadium ("concrete mall" is closer to reality) venue. While on the floor, you thought you were at a large theater, rather than a 50,000 seat arena. No small feat. So, if you're going to a show, hey, get seats in the pit, or anywhere on the floor, because you can hear and see all the action very well. Seats were available all over the place outside by the way. Buyer's market! Anyway (as Bruce would say), it was quite a show. The band and Bruce were as tight and as good as ever. Much more of a rock show than last year's tour. That was probably predictable given the Stadium thing. The highlights, I thought, were actually the Born in the USA songs (one of my least favorite albums); Working on the Highway, electric jug band style, was very hot and sounded fresh and better than ever. It also sounded different and broke the flavor of the show up a bit. Also excellent were versions of Bobby Jean, No Surrender and the final encore of "Dancing in the Dark". All 3 smoked. Personally, the highlight of the evening was without a doubt "Backstreets," (the greatest rock song I've ever heard, ok, ok, I know you have others, but that's mine) Of course, I wish he would play the middle part of the song like he used to ages ago…the song is just so much better with the bridge about the girl on the corner and the agony of lost love and betrayal, and also might end the silly debate on the Circuit about whether Terry is a man or a woman). The mix at the show was pretty good too, although I would have liked a few more Born To Run and Darkness songs, especially the less played ones such as Meeting/Jungleland, Candy's Room, Something in the Night (another of my favorites) but I guess, as always, you can't hear everything. The problem for me about the show though, was that it was too predictable (both in content and order) after last year's show. There was less of The Rising (which is fine with me although some of the songs were very poignant and in my opinion necessary to keep Bruce from being an oldies act), although I still think that "Waitin on a Sunny Day" doesn't cut it as a 21st century sing a long (the modern day Sprit in the Night… please) it's sold as. I would just ditch it. My main beef with the show is that I wanna hear some more remote ones, not the familiar crowd pleasers. Last few tours, all kinds of stuff was pulled out of the closet, NYC Serenade, For You, Sandy, Point Blank, Independence Day, and many others. I prefer a looser and more eclectic show, where anything is possible (The Fever? Frankie? who knows?) But hey, it's still Bruce, and any Bruce is still better than anyone else… by far.
PackerBob	WOW! I have seen Bruce many times, he only get better and better. Waiting in the parking lot before the show, we heard the sound check and we were pumped… Everyone should see this guy at least twice… unbelievable energy and class. One thing that has always separated Bruce and the E-Street is that they have fun at their jobs while other bands act as if it is a job. Chicago should be embarrassed that he only had 1 show…. Hard to believe in a city of 4 million people only one show, what did Boston have 5? Anyway, highlights were Working on the Highway and seven nights to rock…3 1/2 hours of Bruce. If you were their, you know, if not you lost an opportunity to see 'THE MINISTER OF ROCK AND ROLL'.
Alex C.	This was my first show and for all the changes back to the traditional Rising setlist, this was the best show I've seen in my whole 17 years (including a spectacular Paul McCartney in St Louis on John Lennon's birthday last year). Every note he sang, every song, even the selections you could see coming from a mile away, was perfect. I loved the flashlight antics during the extended "Sunny Day" ("We don't need no stinkin' lights!") and was amazed when Bruce hung upside-down from his mike stand. Highlights "Working On The Highway," "Backstreets", "Born To Run," but I lost all control (and my voice singing) when those huge house lights came up for "Rosalita" and "Dancing"; everyone around me was singing and dancing in the aisle. The guy next to me and myself were jumping in sync. I feel pretty lucky to get Rosie and Where The Bands Are at my first show; but I'd still like to hear Promised land, Darkness, Hungry Heart, and Thunder Road at my next.
Tom	I had a great time watching Bruce for the first time since last August in St. Louis. However, I think he needs to choose a different song during which to introduce the band. "Mary's Place" really does not inspire anybody. "Waiting on a Sunny Day" really doesn't work for me either. I guess I'm just hooked on the old stuff. That song, along with "Mary's Place" doesn't have the relevance of the rest of "The Rising". However, when Roy hit the first few bars of "Backstreets," I was right back on top of the world. And "Rosalita" was terrific.
Alex	I've been a fan of Bruce and the Band since "Greetings from Asbury Park NJ." Way back in 1973, it's hard to believe that it's been 30 years and like many, Bruce's music and magic has been the soundtrack of my life. I recently caught 2 Philly shows and my streak of seeing at least one show per tour remains unbroken since the "Born to Run" tour 1975, Saw the Monday Night show with my brother and it had to be one of the Best shows I've ever seen in all my years of attending Bruce concerts, again this man absolutely the most incredible performer ever, he wears the audience. When the Full Moon appeared from behind a mostly cloudy night sky Bruce said he felt like he was turning into a werewolf and began howling at the moon with Steve soon joining in and then 50,000 Philadelphia fans all howling at the moon……an incredibly funny moment. I was lucky enough to have the chance this time around to bring my 12 year old daughter to see the first night in Philly and she "Rocked" she even commented to me "Dad Bruce is the Greatest and this is the Greatest Band in the World !" But the downside here is that forevermore she will judge every band she sees by this standard of excellence and unfortunately they will all fall short……… as for the music and the inspirations, the soulful feeling in every song all I could say is …Bruce… Thanks for all the Love

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