Anfield Stadium – Liverpool 4th June 2025
Review / Photography – Stewart Fullerton
Liverpool was recently at the centre of a tragedy when a car drove through Liverpool supporters during their title celebrations, leaving many in hospital, including some children. However, the city was about to bounce back as “The Boss,” the one and only Mr. Bruce Springsteen, was scheduled to perform at the home of Liverpool Football Club, Anfield, and PCN was invited to cover the first of two gigs at the stadium.
The entire city of Liverpool was buzzing for the event, with many passersby wearing Springsteen merchandise. Queues for shuttle buses to Anfield stretched from William Brown Street as far as Old Haymarket; it was insane on the day, and everyone was psyched.
It was 5 PM, and personally, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to get a ride to Anfield due to the large queues. Fortunately, a friendly group allowed me to share their taxi if I chipped in on the fare. I was sorted and on my way to the stadium.
Springsteen came on stage to a sound similar to a home roar when a goal is scored in a football game—rapturous. The city of Liverpool saluted “The Boss” with the biggest welcome you will ever hear at a concert.
Before the gig started, however, Springsteen continued his recent ranting about Donald Trump, which had made headlines, branding him “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous.” This was met with applause from the Liverpool crowd, a city like Glasgow that suffered from right-wing Tory rule, especially during the 1980s when they lost their major industries to Thatcherism.
The music began, and the Anfield crowd cherished every bit of it, from the likes of “No Surrender,” “The River,” and a cover of Patti Smith’s “Because The Night.” “Get your hands up, Liverpool!” Springsteen said during the performance of “Land Of Hope And Dreams.” He also gave a harmonica to a young girl at the front during the performance of “The Promised Land.” The setlist was what was expected from Springsteen: songs about proud, working-class Americans who are constantly seen as down-and-outs and underappreciated.
Save the best for last, as they say, as the hits came after the encore: “Born In The USA,” “Dancing In The Dark,” and, of course, my personal favourite, “Born To Run.” Anfield was absolutely rocking. Springsteen also covered The Beatles’ classic “Twist and Shout” as a tribute to the Liverpool-founded act. The show ended with a Bob Dylan cover of “Chimes of Freedom,” and Springsteen bid his farewells to the ecstatic Liverpool crowd.
Let us remind ourselves here: Springsteen is 75 years old, and he still knows how to put on a concert. He “bossed it” throughout the two-hour set, a formidable performance from start to finish. The reality lived up to the hype; it was sensational.
If you missed out on this one, it is highly recommended that you try your hardest for the second date, as you will have the time of your life. Liverpool was mental on Wednesday night, but it is guaranteed to be carnage on a Saturday night.
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