Bryan Patrick/Sacramento Bee
While my colleague Chris Macias very effectively summed up Friday night’s jumping Bruce Springsteen show at Arco, I’d like to add a couple of observations.
The band opened in a smoking groove with “Spirit in the Night,” and it was obvious that Bruce was feeling good and feeling it from the crowd, as well. He kept up the pace throughout, and the songs from his latest record, “Magic,” sounded terrific live. Of the older material, it was especially cool to hear “Because the Night,” along with the three tunes from “Darkness at the Edge of Town”: “Candy’s Room,” “The Promised Land” and the set-closing “Badlands.”
Lots of Little Steven, which was welcome - featured as he was on “Badlands,” “Ramrod” and “Murder Incorporated.” The three guitars, including Nils Lofgren, were nicely integrated, with all of them getting appropriate solo space. Clarence Clemons didn’t seem to be moving well, but his sound was as definitive as ever.
It was great to see Springsteen winging it through the set, changing out previously selected songs for others he felt fit the loose, energetic mood of the night.
We also got a great encore set with one more song than he usually plays - “Rosalita”!
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