Bruce Springsteen’s Return to the Kia Forum: A Stand for What’s Right
As the clock approached 10:30 PM on Tuesday night, nearly three hours into a performance at Inglewood’s Kia Forum, Bruce Springsteen revealed to the audience that his presence on stage had come as a surprise to him.
“This is a tour that we never planned,” the 76-year-old rock icon stated. “The E Street Band is here with you tonight because we need to feel your hope and your strength. And we want to bring some hope and bring some strength for you.”
His sincerity resonated with the crowd as he reflected on the political climate. Following a two-year tour that concluded last summer, highlighted by a significant box set release and a Hollywood biopic, many anticipated that Springsteen would take a break to enjoy his accolades. Instead, he felt compelled to perform again, driven by his discontent with the current U.S. administration, which he described as “corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous.”
“If you’re feeling helpless, if you’re feeling hopeless, if you’re feeling betrayed, if you’re feeling frustrated, if you’re feeling angry — I mean, I know I’ve been,” he expressed.
This prompted the swift organization of the Land of Hope & Dreams tour, featuring two months of U.S. concert dates that began in Minneapolis, a city marked by recent tragedies involving federal immigration agents. The tour will conclude on May 27 with a stadium performance in Washington, D.C.
At Tuesday’s concert, Springsteen strongly declared, “The White House — this White House — is destroying the American idea.” His remarks placed him in a unique position among musicians of his stature, as few others speak out as boldly against political issues.
He introduced a new protest song, “Streets of Minneapolis,” with a poignant commentary on the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renée Good. The driving folk-rock tune echoed his sentiments, with lyrics addressing falsehoods propagated by political figures. This sparked a response from former President Trump, who likened Springsteen to a “dried up prune who has suffered greatly from the work of a really bad plastic surgeon.”
Throughout the evening, Springsteen artfully wove his political commentary into the performance. He strategically engaged the audience, leading chants of “ICE out.” The concert served as a platform for fans to voice their frustrations through lively renditions of classics such as “Born in the U.S.A.,” “No Surrender,” and “The Promised Land.”
While the night’s overarching theme was one of outrage, the atmosphere remained joyfully charged, culminating in poignant covers like Edwin Starr’s “War” and The Clash’s “Clampdown.” With Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine joining the ensemble, songs like “Badlands” and “Death to My Hometown” resonated powerfully.
The set list also included “American Skin (41 Shots),” a reflection on racialized police violence, paired with “Long Walk Home,” described by Springsteen as “a prayer for our country.” These selections highlighted the ongoing struggle for a cohesive national identity.
Despite some criticisms regarding an emphasis on recent material, Springsteen showcased his ability to connect with audiences across generations. He acknowledged the need for continuity in his music catalog, even lightening the mood with classics like “Hungry Heart.”
As the concert neared its conclusion, Springsteen honored members of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center in attendance and ended with Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom.”
“These are hard times, but we’ll make it through,” he affirmed. “We’re the Americans. What do they say? Americans do the right thing after they’ve tried everything else.”
His heartfelt expression left a lasting impact as the night drew to a close.
