2008-02-28 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT

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

Info & Setlist | Venue

Three tour premieres for the first show of the next leg of the Magic Tour - "So Young And In Love" opens for its first appearance with the E Street Band since 2002 in Miami. "Loose Ends" and "Janey, Don't You Lose Heart" are the other two debuts. "Janey, Don't You Lose Heart" is a duet with Nils for the only time. "Backstreets" is played by sign request. Patti Scialfa is not present.

AdamsCain	I was at the show last night and have to say it was full of energy from the start. So Young and In Love was tremendous with Bruce Revved up and running and bouncing all over the stage. It was a much different show than when he played in Hartford in October. Crowd was up on thier feet from the start and very seldom took a breather. May have had something to do with Patti not there. Bruce said she needed to stay at home and I quote "with 3 teenagers at home now, we live in constant fear of them burning down the house". Highlights for me were So Young and in Love with Bruce doing full leg kicks and hanging on the Mic stand throughout the song and a killer at least 10 plus minute Kitty's Back which is my all time favorite Bruce song since my deceased moms name was Kitty. I had told my wife early in the show that if he played Kitty's Back I would cry and sure enough I let the tears flow. Seemed like someone knew . All in all after seeing 20 shows of his over the past 30 plus years it seems he had some of the old energy back and did not have that somberness he has shown occasionly the last few times I seen him.
Bryan	I didn't think the show was that great. Well, maybe I should say the crowd wasn't that great. There were a few treats from Tracks and Kitty's Back was incredible, but otherwise it was a boilerplate show.
Richie D.	Awesome show. Bruce it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive! Sometimes it's looked like he's been told to tone it down.. cut loose man.. everyone of these shows is more special than 30 years ago. Great show it just kicked ass which is no surprise.
Tom Cantillon	Fellow Bruce nut, Kyle, headed up with me to the show, both of us ticketless, yet we managed to score some decent seats 10 minutes before the show — and what a show! WE WOULD HAVE TRULY REGRETTED NOT SEEING THIS ONE! Opening with So Young & In Love just set the pace and fit in quite nicely with the theme of making those connections: personal, community and to country. I still feel Human Touch and Cover Me would work equally well in the opening slots. A great, heartfelt rendition of Loose Ends was sandwiched between blistering versions of Reason and She's the One. Janey Don't Lose Heart was ok, but it would have been nice to hear something classic like: Fade Away, Stolen Car or Drive all Night. I never cared much for Devil's Arcade and I believe the reason was that Bruce tended to play a rockin' song like You Can Look, Cadillac or Darlington before Devil's and the transition just never worked. Pairing The River and Devil's Arcade definitely worked and gave me a new appreciation of the song as both songs deal with the frustration of dreams being shattered by reality, but the tenacity of the spirit to continue on. If Bruce continues placing a slower, yet equally powerful song before Devil's, the greater the impact. Wreck on the Highway, Something in the Night and Price You Pay would all contribute to that theme. Love Long Walk Home — favorite new song of the show—just uplifting and a powerful reminder of the work that needs to be done here at home. Encore time: AMAZING!! A soulful Backstreets into a jazzy, rockin', blistering Kitty's Back was out of this world and had the audience in a frenzy to hear 2 great classics back to back. And I actually like Born to Run leading into American Land as both address the issue of finding that dream that one can call their own, no matter how many highways one must travel or how much hard work one must commit themselves to in order to find that very personal paradise. Probably best show, or at least second best show of the tour for me. A stellar job by all. Definitely looking forward to the rest of the tour and the promise of things to come.

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