Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - London Calling: Live In Hyde Park

Greatness on the edge of town

The Boss’ previous visit to London in 2008 saw him deliver two muted shows at Arsenal football club’s Emirates Stadium, the volume restrictions of a densely residential area resulting in untypically reserved performances. Happily, the amps were cranked to 11 the following summer and The E Street Band responded with one of their most thrill-packed gigs ever on British soil.

From the opening Clash cover that gives this release its title, to the last hypnotic riff of Dancing In The Dark, Springsteen leads his trusty warhorses through a three-hour career précis in which the most anthemic tracks from the recent Working On A Dream album pepper a set full of classics. Springsteen rarely sticks to obvious hit singles, allowing more space for vintage surprises such as Jungleland, Out In The Street and Bobby Jean – the latter thrown into the mix at the 11th hour after being requested by a fan holding up a placard bearing the song’s name, a now standard “jukebox” element of every show.

The vastness of Hyde Park is only ever evident on wide shots of the 50,000-strong crowd, as Springsteen’s long-serving video team of Thom Zimny and Chris Hilson focus on the action and interplay of what has to be the most intuitive and exciting live band in the world. If you were there on the day, this is a must-have souvenir; if you weren’t, just look at all the fun you missed.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Columbia | 88697724029 (2-DVD)

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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