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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
David Smyth's rating
Reader rating
Description: The classic US rocker returns with his band playing tracks from new album, Magic.
Phone: 0871220 0260
Website: www.theo2.co.uk
Email: customerservices@theo2.co.uk
Trains: Tube: North Greenwich, BR: Westcombe Park Railway Station 
, Tube / Bus: 108, 129, 161, 188, 422, 472, 486 
Extra info: Telephones, Food, Pub, Air Conditioning
Glory Days: Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band, including Steven Van Zandt, performed plenty of favourites at the O2, to a euphoric reception from the audience
The last couple of times he has played in London have been solo and with an old-time covers band, but Bruce Springsteen knew what his fans really wanted for Christmas this year - a reunion with his rowdy cohorts the E Street Band and a celebratory rendition of Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town in novelty headgear.
During the encore the entire band donned Santa hats, with the Boss in a fur-rimmed cowboy number and guitarist Steven Van Zandt sporting delightful festive ear muffs over his trademark bandana.
It was the grin-inducing climax of an evening that was so focused on singalong crowd participation at one stage the house lights were left on full glare for 10 minutes and the bad dancing of thousands was plain to see.
Gallery: Bruce Springsteen in concert
Springsteen seems to have decided that his status as America's musical conscience has been so depressing throughout the tenure of George W Bush, he might as well have as much fun as possible while waiting impatiently for the next election.
Hence, since 2005's bleak Devils & Dust album, he has recorded good-time standards with his Seeger Sessions Band, and reconvened his original New Jersey foils, the E Street Band, to make an album for only the second time since Born In The USA in 1984.
He still guns for Bush on his latest album, Magic, with a depiction of a liar and trickster on the tense title track, and a clear image of how far wrong he feels his homeland has gone on the hopeful Long Walk Home.
But here he also performed new songs about lighter matters, such as the instantly catchy Girls In Their Summer Clothes.
The large band were in fine form, with fiery solo after solo from lead guitarist Nils Lofgren, lighter touches with violin from Soozie Tyrell, and dapper drummer Max Weinberg staying remarkably unflustered given the energy boiling around him.
Poor saxophonist Clarence Clemons was reduced mostly to limply tapping two tambourines together and wishing there were more sax solos in the new songs, but when he did get to do his thing, as on an epic Jungleland and fist-pumping classic Born To Run, he was formidable.
Other favourites including Dancing In The Dark and Because The Night generated more euphoria.
If Arsenal win the league in May and then get a greatest hits set from this band at their ground, they'll have booked the perfect victory party.
• Emirates Stadium, 30, 31 May, 08705 321 321
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
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Having followed Bruce for 30 years he is back to his rock and roll best. I have seen Keane, Prince, Bryan Adams and the Rolling Stones at the 02 since it opened in june and they all were not a patch on last nights performance. As I always leave a concert by other artists comparing them to Springsteen I have decided to not go to any more concerts. Long live the Boss.
- Paddy Obrien, Oxford
Fantastic, exuberant performance with possibly best Born to Run and Because the Night performances I have seen. GYpsy Biker and Long Walk Home from "Magic" were magnificent..the only let down was the sound Quality in the Upper Tier of O2.
Not sure "Jungleland" works as an encore number. Above all Bruce and his gang give absolutely everything to their performance thus treating their audience with the utmost respect-truly "working for our Love".
- Steve Dean, London
What a legend! Bruce gets better...loved Racing in the Street.
- Gary Ward, London
I was there as I have been for most of his concerts in the UK since 1985.
I sat next to a guy who said it was his first Springsteen concert, I felt insanely jealous of him, he didn't know what to expect. I told him to think of the best concert that he'd ever been to and then times it by 10.
After the concert he disagreed with me, he said it was 100 times better than the best he had ever seen.
Special mention must go to the crowd and the venue. I think they were most up for it Springsteen audience I have seen and he really fed off that.
- Tony Dryer, London, England
