US media praise Springsteen´s Vienna show
06.07.2009
American media have praised Bruce Springsteen's gig in Vienna last night (Sun) as one of the best of the current tour. Websites like NJ.com published special reports on yesterday’s Ernst Happel Stadium show which was the longest of the singer’s current "Working on a Dream" tour so far.

Newspapers also commented on the fact that the "Boss", as Springsteen is nicknamed, performed the 1980 classic "Jersey Girl" by Tom Waits for the first time on this tour.

Springsteen only decided to do so spontaneously when he spotted a girl wearing a t-shirt with the song title on it. The New Jersey-based singer was given hardly any other option when the young woman stripped the shirt off which was then handed by fans front to the stage. After performing the song, Springsteen returned the t-shirt personally – accompanied by a hand kiss.

The fact that the concert started with a 40-minute delay came as a surprise since Springsteen is known to start on time to play a three-hour set, with no support act accompanying him and the E Street Band.

But the 40,000 were treated with an incredible 30-song setlist which featured many fan favourites and hits such as "Dancing in the Dark", "Cadillac Ranch" and "The Rising". Springsteen also played a handful of cover versions after personally collecting posters in which fans told them what they wanted to hear. Among the surprise performances were "Rendezvous", "Growin' Up" and Tina Turner’s "Proud Mary". A fantastic version of "Twist & shout" which involved the audience ended the seven-track encore.

The concert also drew several celebrity fans. Former F1 champ Niki Lauda was at the gig despite the fact he was due to attend a live TV debate on national broadcaster ORF from 10pm. Lauda enjoyed the first half of the Springsteen set to rush to the ORF centre in time.

On the afternoon ahead of the show, Springsteen strolled through Vienna’s city centre where he took the time to pose for pictures and to sign autographs. The 59-year-old also stopped at a John Harris fitness centre to work out for two hours. Manager Ernst Minar said: "The man’s as fit as a fiddle!"

Springsteen continues his tour in Herning, Denmark, on Wednesday.

06.07.2009, 17:55 von T. Hochwarter