The Boss is back in town

American rocker Bruce Springsteen may be well into his sixth decade, but he showed no signs of slowing down at the Birmingham NEC Arena.

Abandoning the E Street Band and his 30-year back catalogue, Bruce Springsteen, now 57, took to the stage with a 17-piece “unplugged” band of acoustic guitars, fiddles, piano, pedal steel guitar and a brass band section ranging from tin whistles to a tuba.

This Seeger Sessions Band has backed Springsteen on his latest tour and album - a collection of American folk and country standards inspired by legendary protest singer Peter Seeger, now 87.

But last night’s performance was far from some quiet affair. Springsteen and his band turned the concert into an on-stage hoe-down, encouraging the huge audience to sing along at every opportunity.

Simon Penfold’s review:

What can you say about a man who winds up his show with Froggy Went A Courtin’? The fact that the song had the whole Arena on its feet and singing along speaks volumes for the renewed power of this 56-year-old rock icon. I fully expected to hate this show.

Springsteen’s latest venture is a rediscovery of the work of US protest singer Pete Seeger, along with a selection of traditional US folk and country tunes, spirituals and hymns.

I feared the worst. The rock star of my teens had grown up and decided to take himself seriously as a musical artiste. He had suffered for his art and now it was our turn.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. From the very start the 17-piece backing band, including fiddles, banjo, honky tonk piano and even a tuba, combines with Springsteen to rock you back on your heels with the sheer attack and brio they bring to these old standards.

From the start - Springsteen’s own Blinded By The Light, followed by John Henry and Old Dan Tucker - they grabbed the audience and didn’t let go.

Apart from the occasional song such as Bobby Jean from Born in the USA, Springsteen largely ignored his extensive back catalogue. No-one cared. They were too busy waving their arms and tapping their feet.