For more than 30 years, Bruce Springsteen's fervent fans have spread the gospel about the E Street Band's legendary concerts.

"You've got to see the show," they tell the non-converted. "You've got to see it to believe it."

Many bands would crumble under that kind of hype, but Springsteen and Co. have flourished.

At each show, skeptical "newbies" file into the audience at about 8 p.m., then walk out nearly four hours later -- often sweat-soaked and hoarse -- ready to spread the word in a grassroots, viral, peer-to-peer marketing that keeps Madison Avenue scheming and dreaming through martini lunches and surf-and-turf dinners on expense accounts.

"You've got to see the show..."

Though all E Street Band concerts create a sense of occasion, veteran concertgoers know a few secrets. When Springsteen plays more than one night in a city, the setlists and performances tend to be looser and more conducive to "magic" than single-night stands, which usually bring a more standard show.

Though the "skeleton" of the setlist generally stays the same each night in a tour -- with blocks of songs played in the same sequential order -- diehards relish the subtle revisions, many of which are "audibles" called out by Springsteen on the stage while band members scramble to get the right instruments and, at times, the right key.

Springsteen usually issues a handwritten setlist to band and crew about 30 minutes before showtime. As a tour progresses and the band locks into a groove, the setlists become more fluid and audibles more common. He has been known to change the opening song moments before the band hits the stage.

As the end of a tour approaches, all bets are off ... and that prospect has Springsteen diehards salivating about Saturday night.

When Bruce and Co. hit the stage for Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary party at The Roadhouse at the lakefront, it will mark the final show of a tour that began nearly a year ago in support of the album "Magic."

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2 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by alba on Aug. 26, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (report)

I want to get some tickets to this show from scalpers. Does anyone know if you can get into the concert with ONLY the ticket, or do you need to show a 105th Anniversary Ticket too?

Posted by Bobby T on Aug. 26, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (report)

I want to hear "Thundercrack" and "Lost in the Flood." But I want Vini Mad Dog Lopez to guest on drums on them.