Bruce Springsteen just reminded everyone why he remains a consequential rock star — and he didn't need a new album to do it.
At Madison Square Garden Monday night, the 76-year-old and the E Street Band kicked off their Land of Hope and Dreams Tour with intensity that most classic-rock revivals lack. The defining moment came when Springsteen handed a key lyric to guest vocalist Tom Morello during their cover of The Clash's Clampdown. "Let fury have the hour," Morello sang as the band channeled London Calling–era aggression with credibility that caught many off guard.
The chemistry between Springsteen and Morello is immediate. Morello's guitar work on The Ghost of Tom Joad doesn't feel like a novelty — it reads as a natural part of the band's sound. And the E Street Band? Max Weinberg, Garry Tallent, Nils Lofgren, and Roy Bittan — all in their seventies — are playing nearly three-hour sets with an intensity that would tire musicians half their age.
What distinguishes this tour from Springsteen's post-The Rising outings is its political directness. The setlist includes Streets of Minneapolis, a protest anthem that memorializes Renée Good and Alex Pretti — two victims of federal violence. Crowds are shouting "ICE out now" in unison.
Unlike most classic-rock tours that rely on nostalgia, this Springsteen outing engages with the present moment more directly than most touring acts. The message is clear: the music continues, and so does the fight for the America he believes in.
