having got caught up in some orrible orrible traffic on the way back....but well worth it for the sight of ol' Sil in the crimbo earmuffs - his face was an absolute picture
off to bed now for the rest of the day....

Great night. Sorry not to respond last night but it was far too late when I got home to be turning on my computer. Highlights/surprises for me were No Surrender, The Promised Land, Racing In The Street and Badlands - which wasn't a surprise but is my all time favourite. To think Steve Van Zandt spent a decade persuading everyone how convincing he is as a ruthless killer, only to don a pair of silly Christmas ear muffs.

Least rock 'n' roll but very pleasurable moment: getting invited to join the fast track queue at the entrance because I have an 02 phone...

How un rock 'n' roll can you get?

It is often said Bruce is the greatest live - but that's because he is. I'm sure I'm not misquoting DH and ME waxing lyrical about the Seeger Session tour stating best shows ever in a podcast last year. Last night was my 15th pilgrimage and it was another night of passion, energy and humour (him, not me). Apart from 2.5 hours Chiswick to Greenwich, which was my fault for ignoring the Jubilee Line and taking the car, it was another stunning show. Has Bruce ever sung more from the heart than on "Devil's Arcade"? Back to the stadiums in the summer. Oh well.

Enjoyed last night as much as any night this year.
They got the sound sorted very quickly, after a dodgy start to Radio Nowhere.
Thought Patti had put a few pounds on, as she strummed the black acoustic during the opening number, then saw from the screens it was Soozie Tyrell. I must get my eyes tested.
Somehow my seats were in a sort of D list celeb area. Amongst those frugging along to the music were Jim Rosenthal, Richard Littlejohn and Greg Dyke.
Bruce and the band were masterful as ever, but as a venue it lacked something. The outdoor gigs I've seen him play at Milton Keynes and Crystal Palace had more atmosphere.

I'm glad you mentioned the sound, Freddie. I too was deeply disappointed by the muddy noise when the gig started (having had my expectations raised by the pristine sound at Lucinda Williams's recent Indigo2 gig), but it did get a lot better. As an indoor venue, the Dome certainly knocks Wembley Arena and Earl's Court into the proverbial cocked hat. Good sight lines, too, and comfy seats (not that I used mine much once Bruce finally came on, half an hour after he was supposed to).

And the music? Awesome as ever. The new songs fitted in well with the classics, for the most part, and Bruce and Steven's savage soloing on Gypsy Biker was spine-tingling. Ditto Roy Bittan's beautiful guitar coda to Racing In The Street.

I did think Clarence Clemons is starting to look a bit old, though. (And fair enough, really - he's 65.) He nailed most of his solos, apart from one where he seemed to miss his cue, but he seems to be a far more peripheral part of the band than he used to be.

That should of course read 'Roy Bittan's beatiful PIANO coda'...

Or even 'BEAUTIFUL' piano coda. Damn this Christmas party season!

http://btxmp3index.freeforums.org/index.php

These are the most organised bootleg collectors I've ever know. It's sorted by Decade and then by tour, with guidelines on the best ones from each.

The big setlist news from last night was that Working On The Highway was down to be The River and was changed and Racing In The Street wasn't on the written list at all and was dropped in as an extra. Longest setlist of the tour, not sure if it was the longest gig. Was on for 2 and a half hours though. Not been to that many gigs compared to some on this site I'm sure but that was hands down the best.

Here's the final song, properly shot, from that night: