Bruce Springsteen used to tell a story about a particular post-9/11 encounter when he was in alone in a parking lot and someone yelled, “We need you now!” That, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer said, was the impetus for his 2002 album The Rising.
Fast-forward a generation, and that phrase has a whole new meaning. And Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will lead up to America’s Semiquincentennial on the road.
The Boss on Tuesday posted a video on Instagram announcing a two-month, 20-date U.S. jaunt launching March 31 in, of course, Minneapolis. The Land of Hope & Dreams American Tour will stretch through late May and play arenas across the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave — save for a closing-night stadium show at Nationals Park in the nation’s capital.
“We are living through dark, disturbing and dangerous times, but do not despair — the cavalry is coming,” Springsteen says in the clip (watch it below). “We will be rocking your town in celebration and in defense of America — American democracy, American freedom, our American Constitution and our sacred American Dream — all of which are under attack by our wannabe king and his rogue government in Washington, D.C. Everyone, regardless of where you stand or what you believe in, is welcome, so come on out and join the United Free Republic of E Street Nation for an American spring of rock ‘n’ rebellion.”
The tour will hit Los Angeles for two nights at the Kia Forum on April 7 and 9 and play New York City’s Madison Square Garden on May 11 and 16. It also will stop in metro markets including Portland, OR — another city rife with protests against immigration roundups — San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta and Philadelphia. The full itinerary is below.
The always-political Springsteen made headlines last month when he released “Streets of Minneapolis,” a biting, haunting song dedicated to the memory of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were shot to death during separate anti-ICE protests in the Minnesota city in January. Watch the video here:
Springsteen has been beefing with Donald Trump and his administration, again, in recent weeks, months and years. But that’s nothing new. The political firebrand has been vocal about his opposition to government shenanigans for more than half a century. This tour promises much of the same. Tickets go on sale Friday.
Here is the full schedule for the Land of Hope & Dreams American Tour:
Tuesday, March 31: Target Center, Minneapolis
Friday, April 3: Moda Center, Portland, OR
Tuesday, April 7: Kia Forum, Inglewood, CA
Thursday, April 9: Kia Forum, Inglewood, CA
Monday, April 13: Chase Center, San Francisco
Thursday, April 16: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix
Monday, April 20: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Thursday, April 23: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Sunday, April 26: Moody Center, Austin, Texas
Wednesday, April 29: United Center, Chicago
Saturday, May 2, State Farm Arena, Atlanta
Tuesday, May 5: UBS Arena, Belmont Park, NY
Friday, May 8: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia
Monday, May 11: Madison Square Garden, New York City
Thursday, May 14: Barclays Center, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 16: Madison Square Garden, New York City
Tuesday, May 19: PPG Paints Arena Pittsburgh
Friday, May 22: Rocket Arena, Cleveland
Sunday, May 24: TD Garden, Boston
Wednesday, May 27: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.