und hier der dritte Abend, mit noch mehr Überraschungen:
October 3 / Detroit, MI / Cobo Arena
Notes: Stringent union rules in the Motor City had the show running at a faster clip, and it was over well before midnight; but still a two-hour set for Bruce and the E Streeters, who played from 9:42 – 11:35. Three main changes in their set, with „The Ties That Bind“ replacing „Lonesome Day,“ „Darkness on the Edge of Town“ in the „Lost in the Flood“/“River“ slot, and „Travelin' Band“ the CCR song of choice to kick off the encore. In addition to the post-„Mary's Place“ PSA, and the pre-recorded interview clips that run between acts (featuring Bruce, Max, and other VFC artists), Bruce makes some state-specific comments before „Johnny 99“: „Michigan has been particularly hard-hit. 140,000 manufacturing jobs gone. 7,500 citizens serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. We salute them and honor their service, and want them home as soon as possible.“
The encore each night has included all the performers– enlivened, it oughtta be said, by Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), holding his own among legends — and tonight the stage was even more packed by the end. Special guests the Dixie Chicks showed up for the final song, fresh from their Fox Theater gig. Bruce asked, „You girls haven't started any trouble, have you?“ That show closer, „People Have the Power,“ was written by Patti Smith while she was living in Detroit, inspired by a Diego Rivera mural at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
For R.E.M set watchers („We drew straws,“ says Bruce, „and you're gonna hear beauty before age tonight“), this show finally brought „Exhuming McCarthy“ — and as Document fans, we're holding out hope for „Finest Worksong“ with Bruce before tour's end. Tonight, Springsteen joined them again for „Bad Day“ and „Man on the Moon,“ trading verses on the latter.
Setlist: Bad Day (with REM)/Man on the Moon (with REM)//The Star-Spangled Banner/Born in the U.S.A./Badlands/No Surrender/The Ties That Bind/Darkness on the Edge of Town/Johnny 99/Youngstown/Centerfield (with Fogerty)/Deja Vu All Over Again (with Fogerty)/Fortunate Son (with Fogerty)/The Promised Land (with Fogerty)/The Rising/Because the Night (with Stipe)/Mary's Place/Born to Run (with Mills and Buck)//Travelin' Band (with Fogerty)/(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding (with all)/People Have the Power (with all, plus the Dixie Chicks)
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