Springsteen, E Street Band Kick Off Their Long-Awaited Reunion Tour

The sparkling Palau Sant Jordi arena is a long way from the Jersey Shore, where Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band began their legendary association a quarter-century ago. But for 20,000 fans here Friday, it felt like the promised land.

Kicking off the most anticipated reunion tour in rock since Bob Dylan and the Band reteamed in 1974, Springsteen and the eight-piece group didn’t waste any time demonstrating that they can still make spirits soar. In the tradition of their marathon performances of the 1970s and ‘80s that made them the most dynamic attraction in American rock, the musicians performed 25 songs in a nearly three-hour set that ended just before midnight.

In an era when social commentary in pop music is dominated by rappers, and nostalgia-laden reunions by ‘70s super groups have a certain mercenary air about them, Springsteen reminded critics and his devoted fans that perhaps no one has so artfully combined the roles of town crier and rock ‘n’ roll reveler.

The reunion tour comes at a time when rock is much in need of renewed vitality and self-confidence. The music’s relevance is being questioned more than at any time since the pre-Beatles early 1960s--both because of a discouraging lack of quality among young bands and a corresponding shift of youthful musical allegiance from rock to the more explosive hip-hop world. Rock’s share of the $13.5-billion annual record market has dropped from 42% to 36% in the decade since Springsteen parted ways with his band.

The issue of Springsteen’s own relevance in the rock world is also in question. Will the tour be simply an exercise in nostalgia that attempts to relive the glory days, or will Springsteen and the band be able to come up with new songs and rework old ones in ways that connect with audiences today?

Those questions, however, are lost on the fans who will flock to the shows in Europe and, later this year, in the United States. Indeed, few artists have claimed such rabid devotion.

The fans here were ecstatic. Dozens talked on cellular phones to report on the action to their friends. Others feverishly wrote down song titles and other details so they could rush back to the hotel later and e-mail the news.

Hundreds came here from the United States, other parts of Europe and as far away as Japan in what had the air of a rock pilgrimage. Many of them wore sports caps or other identifiable clothing so they could connect with countrymen. Others were happy to swap stories, language barriers permitting, with other fans about experiences at past Springsteen shows. It wasn’t uncommon to hear fans boast of having seen 20, 30, and even 50 of his concerts.

“Springsteen strikes a chord in all of us,” said Helen Jones, 35, a civil servant from Bath, England, who had seen the singer 50 times before Friday’s show. “The idealism and the darkness. He writes about his experiences and they’re also our experiences.”

One fan from Boston said he and his buddies had a $100 pool on what songs would open and close the show.

The winning entries turned out to be long shots: respectively, “My Love Will Not Let You Down,” an obscure Springsteen song about commitment, and “Land of Hopes and Dreams,” a new tune about life’s victories and defeats.

In between, Springsteen, whose classic style incorporates the celebration of Elvis Presley and the commentary of Bob Dylan, played several of his signature hits, including “Born to Run,” the career-defining 1975 anthem, and “Promised Land,” another expression of unrelenting idealism.

Flanked by guitarists Nils Lofgren and Steve Van Zandt, Springsteen, 49, looked as if he was enjoying the show as much as the fans, whom he twice thanked in Spanish, but mostly addressed in English.

One of the reasons Springsteen’s live shows have been so acclaimed is that he has always found a way to give each tour a well-defined purpose, be it the unbending optimism of the mid-’80s “Born in the USA” tour or the social realism of the “Ghost of Tom Joad” solo shows that began in 1995.

The theme that started to emerge Friday was one of community and rededication, the natural outgrowth of the reunion with the E Street Band, which also includes saxophonist Clarence Clemons, backup singer and guitarist (and Springsteen’s wife) Patti Scialfa, drummer Max Weinberg, keyboardists Roy Bittan and Danny Federici, and bassist Garry Tallent.

Throughout their years together, Springsteen and his band seemed the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll team--not just as musicians but also as comrades on a far deeper level. In many ways the band members were the physical realization of the brotherhood that Springsteen often wrote about.

That’s why fans were jolted when he severed their ties in 1989, an action that seemed to violate his own code of loyalty and commitment. But, after about 15 years, Springsteen was restless artistically, eager to work with new musicians and explore new directions. He always said, however, that he might like to work with the E Street Band again.

Because his album sales dropped dramatically after the split, some see the reunion as an attempt to regain his old popularity. But Springsteen’s motivation wasn’t an issue among some of the fans here. Most were just happy to see the team restored.

If greed were the goal, several pointed out, he would be charging up to $300 for choice seats, the way the Rolling Stones did on their 1998-99 U.S. arena tour.

Although ticket prices and concert dates for the United States haven’t been announced, concert promoter Brian Murphy, who has worked with Springsteen since 1982, predicted that they would be be no higher than $50 or $60.

Demand for the European shows was so strong that the number of dates has been increased from 17 to 28. The first leg of the U.S. portion of the tour runs from mid-July to late September, and could be extended if Springsteen agrees to be the first pop attraction at the new downtown Staples Center, which is scheduled to open in October.