15 Songs Bruce Springsteen Has Opened With In Boston Since 2003

The Boss is coming back to Boston. Bruce Springsteen will once again rock the TD Garden stage on Monday, March 20th. Over the past 20 years, Springsteen has played 20 New England area shows including the TD Garden, Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, the Orpheum Theatre and two intimate shows at the Somerville Theater back in early 2003. There are 15 different songs Springsteen has opened with during this time.

In November of 2022, Springsteen released his 21st studio album, Only The Strong Survive. Though this record is a collection of cover songs it offers 15 additional options for Springsteen and the E-Street band to now add into their legendary setlists.

Here is a look at each song Springsteen has started the show with 20 years in Boston.

• “Darkness On The Edge of Town”, February 19th & 20th, 2003 – Somerville Theatre

  The closing track of the 1978 classic, he opened both nights with this when he played the 900-capacity intimate venue.

• “The Promised Land”, August 1, 2003 – Gillette Stadium

  Another dip into the Darkness On The Edge of Town. This was an appropriate greeting with the Patriots in pre-season, kicking off what would be a Super Bowl season.

• “Adam Raised a Cain”, August 2, 2003 – Gillette Stadium

  A hard-driving story gets this Saturday evening, and night number two off to a rocking start. Another song from Darkness on the Edge of Town.

• “Diddy Wah Diddy”, September 6th and 7th, 2003 – Fenway Park

  About a month after playing at the home of the Patriots, Springsteen pays a visit to the Red Sox home. Preceded by an organ version of  “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” by Danny Federici. The Boss comes out swinging the first time he steps up to the Fenway plate.

• “My Beautiful Reward”, May 20, 2005 – Orpheum Theatre

  Consider yourself at the center of Lucky Town if you were at Boston’s Orpheum Theatre this Friday night. The “Devils and Dust” tour was filled with unique moments like this where the wind was at your back.

• “Idiot's Delight”, October 28, 2005 – TD Garden

  A week prior to the Celtics home-openers, a  Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers cover launches what would be a 26-song night.

• “My Beautiful Reward”, October 30, 2005 – TD Garden

  It takes a special kind of artist to have a song flexible enough that it can open both a small-room show and a massive arena. Springsteen is one of those select artists.

• “Radio Nowhere”, November 18th and 19th 2007 – TD Garden

  The boss was feeling the rhythm. The opening track to Springsteen’s 2007 record, Magic, is also the opening song both nights of this tour.

• “Summertime Blues”, August 2, 2008 – Gillette Stadium

  An Eddie Cochran cover starting off this evening in Foxboro is actually quite the cure for any summertime blues.

• “Badlands”, April 21st and 22nd, 2009 – TD Garden

  Well, lights out tonight. Four out of the ten Darkness on the Edge of Town now serve as Boston show openers.

• “We Take Care of Our Own”, March 26, 2012 – TD Garden

  The first single off Wrecking Ball served as the opening song for much of the Wrecking Ball Tour. Over 130 shows across 26 countries were treated to this timely chant.

• “The Promised Land”, August 14, 2012 – Fenway Park

  The first song at the home of the Patriots is also the first song at the home of the Red Sox. The Boss’s first show at Fenway Park salutes the faithful.

• “Thunder Road”, August 15, 2012 – Fenway Park

  Night number two starts off on a more melodic and intimate note. Just a voice and a piano ease a sold-out crowd into a 30-song performance.

• “My Love Will Not Let You Down”, August 18, 2012 – Fenway Park

  And neither will opening with a Born in the U.S.A. outtake that appears on the Tracks box set.

• “Meet Me In The City”, February 4, 2016 – TD Garden

  An appropriate ask from the Boss. This was the opening song the last time Springsteen played the TD Garden.

• “New York City Serenade”, September 14, 2016 – Gillette Stadium

  The opening song the last time Springsteen played in the area, and two days before the Patriots would play their home opener in a Super Bowl winning season.