'Obnoxious jerk' Bruce Springsteen deepens Donald Trump rift on his final night in Manchester
Bruce Springsteen told a Manchester audience he wants to be an ambassador for America.
As he stood in the spotlight at the Co-op Live venue last night he asked: "Manchester are you ready for round three?"
He then repeated his belief that his country was in "dangerous times" which put at risk its liberty of more than 200 years as his beef with President Donald Trump continued.
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The legendary singer was branded "an obnoxious jerk" and "dried out prune of a rocker" who "should keep his mouth shut" by Trump after he criticised his policies with fiery speeches from the stage in Manchester at his first two shows.
The Boss fired another shot of rhetoric last night, saying: "When the conditions are ripe for a demagogue you can be sure they will turn up."
In his final night in the city on his Land of Hopes and Dreams tour, he said he had spent his life being an ambassador for America but said things were happening which threatened his country's democracy.
He said: "We are persecuting people for using their right to free speech. They are rolling back historic civil rights legislation, defunding universities... this is all happening now."
His conclusion was it was due to an "unfit president".
He added: "They have no idea what it means to be deeply American - the country I have sung about for 50 years."
His set began with a ferocious version of "No Surrender" followed by "Land of Hope and Dreams" in which his vocals roared but never cracked, as if stirred by what was happening in his homeland.
"Death In My Hometown" continued the theme then the surging huge sound of "Seeds" - another tale of economic struggle - exploded with nifty guitar from Nils Lofgren.
There was a rare outing for "Something in The Night" from the classic Darkness on the Edge of Town album.
From the same album he delivered "Promised Land" with a piano break to make even Salford's toughest weep. You could visualise the metaphor of gloom - "a dark cloud rising form the desert floor". But the song, which explores hope, resilience, and the fight for a better life is and was ultimately exhilarating.
From the acoustic "Nebraska" album the track "Reason To Believe" got the full E-Street Band treatment and was transformed into a tour-de-force.
The wonderful "River" ended with an entrancing soft Sprinsteen howl. A scorching "Long Way Home" seemed to again frame his angst towards Trump, and at the end of it he told us: "The last check on power is people - you and me. At the end of the day, we a have got each other."
An acoustic take on the electric rave-up "House of 1000 Guitars" meant the line "The criminal clown has stolen the throne" was crystal clear.
Badlands always triggers a crowd eruption from the pit to the seats far from the stage. Last night was no excpetion. My legs as well as my scalp was tingling - a sensation you are unlikely to feel at a MAGA hoe-down.
The lights went on for thunderous versions of Born In The USA; Glory Days; and Dancing In The Dark - a recipe to unstrap joy - which is what Springsteen sells.
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