Springsteen gives 'house party'

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Sometimes a wounded world needs a house party.

At an arena within sight of New York City's changed skyline, Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band performed a concert that resisted easy answers, honored the dead of Sept. 11 and ultimately provided a tonic for the living.

Half of the 22-song set came from Springsteen's new album, "The Rising," chiefly inspired by last year's terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

Springsteen never mentioned the day. He didn't have to. Not only does its aftermath dominate his new music, world events lent new resonance to the well-chosen older songs sprinkled throughout the show.

Wednesday night's concert, at the Continental Airlines Arena in Springsteen's home state of New Jersey, opened a 46-city concert tour of North America and Europe.

Standing in near darkness bathed only from a soft light from behind, Springsteen began the night singing "The Rising," with full stage lights coming on when he reached the gospel-like chorus.

Its theme of resurrection was echoed near the show's end, when he sang of heroes ascending the stairs of the World Trade Center on "Into the Fire." During his encore, the audience joined in the chorus of "rise up" on "My City of Ruins."

Springsteen has always stayed away from easy or glib responses to the world, and his song choices Wednesday illustrated the push and pull in his music. A thunderous "Born in the USA," about a Vietnam veteran left behind in the Reagan era, preceded the more hopeful concert-ender, "Land of Hope and Dreams," about an idyllic America where "faith will be rewarded."

"Into the Fire," about hero cops and firefighters, immediately followed the night's most overtly political song, "American Skin (41 Shots)."

A song inspired by the shooting of an unarmed West African immigrant by four New York City police officers might seem out of place in an era of hero worship, until Springsteen repeated a line that has taken on new meaning: "you get killed just for living in your American skin."

It wasn't the only time lyrics from his past took on a different shade, like when he sang "it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive" in "Promised Land."

It's an old song, but it's also as close as you can get to a theme for "The Rising." Springsteen wants his audience to relish life, and fans seemed to follow his lead when the house lights revealed a dancing, waving audience on old favorites, "Born to Run" and "Glory Days."

"Are you ready for a house party?" he asked before singing the new song, "Mary's Place."

Most in his hometown crowd -- Springsteen owns a farm in nearby Monmouth County -- appreciated old touchstones, roaring when Clarence Clemons stepped forward for his first saxophone solo. They also seemed familiar with the new, singing along to the chorus of "Waitin' on a Sunny Day."

"I'm impressed," Springsteen responded. "First time out."

While no longer the lithe athlete who leaped from speaker columns -- back when there were speaker columns -- Springsteen still puts on a high-energy show. Sweat soaked his shirt before he even finished the first song. At two hours, 25 minutes, his set was generous but no longer the marathon of old.

The E Street Band, 10 members strong, can still make a welcome roar, but sometimes the stage seemed crowded. The song "You're Missing" worked best with just Springsteen and new violinist Soozi Tyrell, and lost momentum when the band kicked in.

Tyrell was, in fact, the night's featured instrumentalist, adding a new dimension to the band. Her work was particularly impressive on a plaintive, "Empty Sky."

There was an occasional opening-night glitch, like when Springsteen and his backup singers were on different pages during "The Rising," but nothing close to nervousness for these old pros.

It was music that uplifted, challenged, rocked. His fans couldn't have asked for much more.