ROB DeMARTIN
Bruce Springsteen performs at the Amalie Arena in Tampa on Feb. 1, 2023.
Performing the third and final Texas show of his 2023 tour, Feb. 16 at the Moody Center in Austin, Bruce Springsteen performed, as his first encore, the tour debut of an old favorite inspired by an actual place in Texas: “Cadillac Ranch.” You can watch the video below.
Nils Lofgren, healthy again after a bout with COVID, was back in the lineup, but Jake Clemons was out, and the E Street Band’s current other saxophonist, Ed Manion, capably took over his parts. “Dear Austin, I’m crushed to not be rocking with you tonight,” wrote Clemons on Twitter. “Give a little extra love to the great @EddieManion and that fantastic horn section and I’ll be back out there soon! BigLove Always.”
It’s really paying off for Springsteen to be touring with a big, 19-piece band. Lofgren, Clemons, Steven Van Zandt, Soozie Tyrell and Patti Scialfa have all missed one or more show, because of COVID or other reasons, and the band hasn’t missed a beat.
The Austin show began with a surprise, as country legend George Strait made an appearance at the start of the show. He and Springsteen walked out together, the two hugged, and then Strait introduced the band to the crowd. You can watch that below as well.
For the second show in a row, Springsteen performed “If I Was the Priest,” not previously played live for more than 50 years.
Springsteen announced this week that the tour will be extended into early December, and include shows at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, Aug. 30 and Sept. 1.
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