Who Is Bruce Springsteen Preaching To?

"We are here in celebration and defense of our American ideas. Democracy, our Constitution, and our sacred American promise. The America that I love. The America that I've written about for 50 years has been a beacon of hope and liberty, all around the world, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless, and treasonous administration. Tonight, we ask all of you to join with us in choosing hope over fear; democracy over authoritarianism; the rule of law over lawlessness; ethics over unbridled corruption; resistance over complacency; truth over lies; unity over division; and peace over war."

"The band launches into a spirited performance of Edwin Starr's classic Vietnam protest song "War." Then segues into "Born in the U.S.A." Then segues into "Death to My Hometown." And that triumvirate kicks off Springsteen's Land of Hope & Dreams American Tour, which he heralds as "in celebration and defense of America." As Springsteen's latest folk song is "Streets of Minneapolis," about the tragic deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, it's fitting that the tour opened in Minnesota."

"Springsteen is decked in a pinstripe shirt and a tie beneath a vest and slim jeans and has traded his once-standard rocker boots for a pair of big-soled running shoes. He's backed by a 19-member version of the E Street Band, whose ranks tonight include guitarist Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, a catalyst for this tour."

"In that inaugural show, Springsteen delivered anti-authoritarian screeds that provoked 45/47 into a predictable tirade on Truth Social: Bad, and very boring singer, Bruce Spring"

Springsteen appeared at a sold-out Phoenix arena with a 19-member E Street Band, including Tom Morello, and began the show with a political monologue. He framed the tour as a celebration and defense of American ideas, citing democracy, the Constitution, and an American promise. He described the current administration as corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless, and treasonous, and called for choosing hope over fear and democracy over authoritarianism. The band performed Edwin Starr’s “War,” followed by “Born in the U.S.A.” and “Death to My Hometown.” The tour began in Minnesota with “Streets of Minneapolis,” tied to the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and included anti-authoritarian remarks that drew predictable backlash online.

Read at Esquire