2021-08-20 St. James Theatre, New York City, NY

Scheduled: 20:00 Local Start Time ??:?? / End Time ??:??

Info & Setlist | Venue

Patti Scialfa is absent for the first time on the 2021 run, due to Covid precautions. When it was time to introduce Patti's segment of the show, Bruce explained her absence and said that he was going to "break his own rule" and let the audience sing with him, leading into a singalong version of "Fire". He skipped "Tougher Than The Rest" altogether, for a slightly shortened 14-song setlist.

Bruce Springsteen

Roulette99

When it was time for Patti's segment of the show, Bruce announced that she was not there and taking Covid precautions or under Covid protocol, I forget what he said exactly. He said that since she was not there to sing the next song with him, he was going to "break his own rule" and let us (audience) sing with him. It was a lot of fun, he just went with it and even with all of us masked up, we managed to do our part. :D He skipped "Tougher than the Rest," Wonder how many shows she will miss and if he will keep doing the singalong.

Stan Goldstein

No Patti at the show tonight. Bruce said she was taking “Covid precautions.” I saw the show July 1 and now tonight. Some quick hits: Some of the stories have been revised a bit. Bruce was in a great mood, very emotional not just about losing people in his life but reflecting on his great career and how he's grateful that we've been on this ride with him. After he said Patti would not be there, he said, “I'm going to break my own rule” and let us (audience) sing with him. He had the house lights turned on a bit and we all sang along on "Fire." He waited for us to do the "Romeo and Juliet" part. It was a lot of fun. No “Tougher Than the Rest” and no bonus song as he did when Patti wasn't there at the Walter Kerr Theatre shows in 2017-2018. So only 14 songs instead of the normal 15. But his stories were longer and the show ran about 2:25. A couple funny moments about his age. Bruce talked about how when he took guitar lessons at age 7 from Mike Diehl, that Mike was 70, but "That's not that old," he said with a smile. He says he used to like being up all night and sleeping late, and now because of his age he's up early in the morning and "I'm up about five times during the night. Jesus Christ!!" meaning he's running to the bathroom. During "Dancing in the Dark" when he got to the line about "You sit around getting older" he then stopped and acted as though his back and everything else was hurting. Still real funny when he talks about is DWI arrest. Says "It's the United States against Bruce Springsteen! That means every man, woman, child and even dog is against you!" He once again emphasized "sways" during "Thunder Road," stopping and repeating it. During "Tenth Avenue Freeze-out" when he mentioned the E Street Band toward the end he said "and you will be seeing them again!" It hit me during Bruce's into to "Dancing in the Dark" how he's really reflecting on life, career and even mortality. How we have to realize how special every day is. He mentioned how he is honored to have us there to listen to his music and be a part of his life. "I'm happy that you can listen to my songs while vacuuming and doing the laundry." No handshakes at the end but he did take a little bit longer walking from one end to the other. No mention of Jessica winning the Silver Medal.
Only 10 more shows on this leg of the show. By all means see it. Just another wonderful treat this man continues to give us. Do not pass up this opportunity. As Seals and Crofts once sang, "We many never pass this way again."

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