Bruce Springsteen performs in Los Angeles

Rock icon Bruce Springsteen was in peak form on the first of a two-night stop at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

Rock icon Bruce Springsteen was in peak form on the first of a two-night stop at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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“We’re here with a mighty purpose in mind!” the 59-year-old Jerseyite
told a sea of cheering onlookers after the first handful of songs.

Bruce Springsteen performs in Los Angeles

Springsteen and E Street Band member Steve Van Zandt join forces on a tune Wednesday night in front of 15,000 fans at the Sports Arena who turned out for the two-hour, 45-minute show.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Bruce Springsteen performs in Los Angeles

Springsteen, who stumped for Barack Obama during the campaign and performed at the Lincoln Memorial for the inaugural festivities, offered a message of hope in the face of hard times Wednesday night at the Sports Arena.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Bruce Springsteen performs in Los Angeles

E Street Band member Clarence Clemons and Springsteen work the crowd.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Bruce Springsteen performs in Los Angeles

Springsteen, who will be 60 in September, is ostensibly touring in support of his latest release, “Working on a Dream,” but his set at the Sports Arena focused less on promoting the album than on shoring up spirits while acknowledging how much work still needs to be done to fulfill the American dream of which he is so protective.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Bruce Springsteen performs in Los Angeles

Springsteen, backed up by E Street’s Van Zandt, tears into a song for the sellout throng.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Bruce Springsteen performs in Los Angeles

Springsteen performed four songs from 1978’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” including the show-opening “Badlands.”  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Bruce Springsteen performs in Los Angeles

Bruce Springsteen, still the showman after 3 1/2 decades of performing in Los Angeles.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Bruce Springsteen performs in Los Angeles

Springsteen, showing off some of his sinewy guitar prowess.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Bruce Springsteen performs in Los Angeles

Springsteen closed the show with the 1973 crowd-pleaser “Rosalita.” He’ll be back at the Sports Arena tonight.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)