The Boss played ‘elegiac’ gig for Obama’s White House staffers
Bruce Springsteen loves President Obama as much as he hates Donald Trump — so he played a set of some of his most famous hits at the White House this month as a “thank you” to the president’s staffers.
“Bruce opened with a very brief note of thanks to the President and the staff who were being honored before launching into ‘Working on the Highway,’” reported Backstreets, a magazine and website that chronicles The Boss’ career.
Springsteen played “an incredible ‘Growin’ Up,’ for a lively start, but not much of the set was so upbeat, with haunting readings of songs like ‘My Hometown,’ ‘My Father’s House,’ and ‘Devils & Dust,’” Backstreet said.
“The mood in the room the whole night — both reception and concert — was not exactly somber, but it wasn’t festive, either. It was elegiac, I’d say. There was a clear sense of something ending.”
The 15-song setlist ran the gamut of Springsteen’s hits over the years, and also included “Thunder Road,” “Born in the USA” and “Dancing in the Dark.”
Following the concert, Obama thanked Springsteen.
“He’s been with us for some time now, performing his craft to show his support,” he said.