Notes: Opening night of the Born to Run tour, and (probably) first concert with Miami Steve Van Zandt. Premieres of 10th Avenue Freeze Out and Sha La La.
Notes: A fan present reports, during the sound check Bruce fell off the stage into the orchestra pit, everybody worried but he popped up & Clarence picked him back up on stage. This was the first show with a full time Miami Steve on guitar or so was announced by Bruce. The whole show Bruce joked about Miami Steve screwing up on lyrics, songs and dance steps.
Notes: The above-mentioned 16-song setlist is the complete performance and is culled from an audience tape of average quality that runs fast. This show includes a couple of rarities – firstly, one of only two known renditions of “Gimme That Wine” (previously played on 10/03/74) – secondly, the first circulating in concert performance of “Funk Song”, an early Springsteen-composed instrumental that had been a staple of The Bruce Springsteen Band in 1971-72 (no live renditions from that era are circulating but a rehearsal take from early 1972 is). Interestingly “Funk Song” would be performed on two other known occasions during the following two weeks (29/07/75 and 08/08/75), but seemingly never again after that. A BRUCEBASE reader who attended this concert comments: “it was outdoors in a natural amphitheatre. The show didn’t start until just before sunset, so we were treated to this amazing changing backdrop, from full light at the outset, through a spectacular, fiery sunset and then ending up in darkness with Bruce’s typical great use of stage lighting. Bruce broke a guitar string and he didn't have any backup. That's what caused the band to perform "Gimme That Wine". While the band played it Bruce re-strung his own guitar on stage. Miami Steve performed the soundcheck and the first half of the show without anything on his head - don't believe that's happened since!”
25-Jul-1975 Kutztown,PA Kutztown State College,USA
