Bruce Springsteen – Manchester Co-Op Live #3: Live!

By Mike Ainscoe on 22nd May 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – Co-Op Live, Manchester – 20th May 2025

“Nobody wants to f**king go home! F**k it, let’s not go home!”

ROUND THREE

Not surprising. We sort of know the routine now, set by the two previous nights in Manchester’s newest arena. What to expect though is always a tricky business with Bruce.

With City at home for the KDB farewell and Kylie at the AO Arena, Manchester is under siege. Those in the Co-Op Live are (mostly) in place as the clock ticks towards 7:40 when once again the house lights suddenly go out and those in the rear view seats get the sight of the torches leading the jaw-dropping, earth-shaking, heart-pounding etc, mighty E Street Band around the back of the stage to climb the steps and enter the arena.

Last but not least and the usual acclaim comes our hero. Bruce is in a grey shirt tonight rather than the usual white. A good sign. He always plays better in grey. “Are you ready for Round 3?” he asks and the answer is,not surprisingly, in the affirmative. “Me too!” The opening remarks are familiar enough to even those who have but a passing interest in rock music, having flown around the world in record time after last Wednesday’s debut. They’re still delivered, but the venom has become more of a statement of defiance. Reminiscent of his ’85 intros and the “nobody wins unless everybody wins” ilk.

*Murder Inc personifed – the dangerous brothers on the big screen*

CHANGE IN THE AIR

The first half hour sets the tone. Three tour debuts appear in the first five songs. Must be something in the night. Change is in the air. The game’s afoot. Instead of singing about meeting in a land of hope and dreams (we’re already there) we get the call of “Max!!!” and the defiance of No Surrender. Land… comes next, which with Death To My Hometown has made for a formidable pairing right at the start of the show. No point changing them, but with Seeds (and that dynamite moment where the spotlit Bruce gives way to an explosion of light) and the piano intro to Something In The Night there are goosebumps breaking out all around the Co-Op.

The setlist juggling continues early doors. Reason To Believe is rabid. With a primal call and response going on with the Boss, and with Stevie setting up the insistent guitar rhythm on a Brian Jones teardop guitar, Bruce is honking on the harp until he waves an arm and the band crank down on an immense groove. Already obvious is a new and noticeable looseness on the final night compared with the intensity of night #1. Playful even, especially later when we get near quitting time.

IF CARLSBERG DID ROCK BANDS

Possibly the finest rock and roll band in the world, the E Streeters are driven by Max Weinberg who continues to be the engine room of the machine. Often the first point of eye contact as Bruce calls the count in to the next tune. Nils Lofgren again creates the Morello inspired guitar lines in his spotlight solos but tonight Bruce seems all for matching him throwing some classic guitar hero shapes and string bending.

There’s been little/no mention in our match reports yet of long time E St stalwarts Roy Bittan and Garry Tallent. The latter’s eyes shaded by dark glasses have never left Bruce through all three shows. Tonight, perhaps more noticeably from our position, Roy is taking a look around at the expanse of the Manchester crowd. His piano, as it has for most of Bruce’s career. Even during the departure from E Street to ‘the other band’, Roy was by his side. But whether it’s when the E Street Horns and the backing singer take a breather and we get the core band or when the big machine is going full tilt, the intensity never falters. Especially when they hit the triple home runs of Youngstown, Murder Inc and long Walk Home that we picked out of night #2 as a personal highlight.

BY THE END OF THE SET WE LEAVE NO-ONE ALIVE

We’re not missing Bobby Jean tonight as the alternative comes a Bruce cranks out the intro to Glory Days. It’s party time as the riff is relentless to the point of “I forget how the rest of this song goes!” says Bruce, so they simply keep going. “I don’t think it ends!” There’s mucho on the goofing around and the interaction with blood brother Stevie as the foil sees the bandana topped musical maestro switch between gurning some incredible faces and cracking up with laughter. The band is beaming and milking the moment for all its worth. Living up to the promise from Ghosts that “by the end of the set we leave no-one alive!”

Bruce emerges from the Tenth Avenue Freeze Out walkabout with a cap (worn backwards of course) from a delighted punter. More of a keepsake than the £9 beer he chugged on the Saturday night, of which about a quid’s worth went down his front.

The Co-Op residency has been a pleasure to witness. From the brave anger and response to the opening night to the carefree finale tonight, no-one really does want to go home. Even the long walk detour to avoid the rush of City fans can be met with a Springsteen-esque grace.