Making the Boss’ list
Bruce Springsteen will hit Broadway for a two-month run this fall, and we’re already dreaming about which songs he’ll play
B RUCE is back, and this time, he’s cranking it all the way down.
The Boss is embarking on a run of shows at Broadway’s intimate Walter Kerr Theatre — the marquee sign went up on Thursday. From Oct. 3 to Nov. 26, he’ll play five nights a week at the 960seat spot.
It’s “the smallest venue I’ve played in the last 40 years,” Springsteen said, in a statement. “My show is just me, the guitar, the piano and the words and music.”
It would be a great opportunity for Springsteen to delve into some of his lesser-known works, or to put fresh spins on his classics. Here are some tracks we’re hoping to see on his set list. “Born in the USA” (1984)
When Bruce took the early demo of “Born in the USA” to the E Street Band, they turned it into a definitive rock anthem. But in the very-different-sounding — and better — original version, Springsteen used slide guitar to evoke the fury of a forgotten Vietnam vet. It’s hauntingly powerful, and worth revisiting here. “State Trooper” (1982)
This intense standout from “Nebraska” would make for a fitting tribute to Suicide’s Alan Vega, who passed away last year, and whom Springsteen was clearly channeling in the song’s unhinged yelps. “Racing in the Street” (1978)
Despite its piano-led beauty, this song almost always starts the party vibe at Springsteen’s stadium shows. But up close and personal, it would be a show-stealer. “The Ghost of Tom Joad” (1995)
On the moody “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” Springsteen reimagines John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” through the eyes of immigrants crossing the Mexican border — relevant, given the current political conversation. “Youngstown” (1995) On this track, Springsteen inhabits the mind of a frustrated steelworker from Ohio. Even though he barely sings above a whisper, the narrator’s rage is deafening. In 2016, the worker who inspired the song revealed himself to be a Donald Trump supporter. It certainly would be interesting to hear Bruce (who has spoken out several times against the 45th president) give his viewpoint on this during his between-song monologues. “Wreck on the Highway” (1980)
“The River” was the album that sought to capture some of the E Street Band’s live magic, but among all the big, arena-ready songs were some of Bruce’s most affecting ballads. The album’s chilling closer ruminates on death and the fleeting nature of life with an unnerving intensity. At MetLife Stadium, it was the cue to go to the bathroom, but in a small theater, it’s the kind of song that will have you glued to your seat. “Tougher Than the Rest” (1987)
Don’t let the cheesy ’80s synths on the original “Tunnel of Love” version put you off. “Tougher Than the Rest” is one of the most real love songs Bruce ever wrote: naked, honest, and ready to commit to all the emotional rough-and-tumble a genuine relationship will bring. “Growin’ Up” (1973)
Bruce has promised the set will follow “the arc of my life and my work,” so that has to include his prefame years. He was a diamond in the rough on the debut album “Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ” but on songs such as this one, a nostalgic look back on adolescence, Springsteen’s street-wise storytelling had a captivating charm — and still does. “Because the Night” (1978)
Played regularly with a sensational Nils Lofgren guitar solo during the E Street Band’s recent tour, the song (made into a hit by Patti Smith) is just as powerful when played on a piano. Plus, Smith lives in the Rockaways, so you can bet on her taking the A train into the city for a duet during at least one of these shows. “New York City Serenade” (1973)
He’s Jersey’s favorite son, but for two months, he’s gonna be a saint in New York City, and what better way to acknowledge that than this track from “The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle.” “She won’t take the train,” goes the song’s main hook — a sentiment echoed by many longsuffering MTA commuters right about now.