There are rock concerts, and then there are Bruce Springsteen concerts. On Tuesday night in Minneapolis, at the Target Center, The Boss reminded the world exactly which category he belongs to — launching his politically charged Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour with the kind of raw, fiery energy that has defined his career for over five decades. The opening show was streamed live on YouTube for the first two songs, giving fans across the country a taste of what’s to come across 20 dates this spring.

A Prayer, a Promise, and a Battle Cry

Before a single chord rang out, Springsteen set the tone with something unexpected — a moment of quiet sincerity. He opened with what he described as “a prayer for our men and women in service overseas,” a reminder that beneath all the political fury lies a man who genuinely loves his country and the people in it.

But the tenderness didn’t last long. With the crowd electric and the stage alive, Springsteen declared that the mighty E Street Band was there to call upon the righteous power of art, music, and rock and roll in dangerous times. He went on to say the band stood in celebration and defense of American ideals, democracy, the Constitution, and the sacred American promise — adding that the nation is currently being mishandled by what he called a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration.

It was a statement — not just a concert opener.

War Resurrected: A Historic Opener Over Two Decades in the Making

If there was any doubt about the direction of the evening, the opening song erased it entirely. Springsteen and the band launched into Edwin Starr’s iconic anti-war anthem “War” — a song they hadn’t performed live since 2003. Over 23 years of silence, broken in one roaring moment.

Joining them on stage was none other than Tom Morello, the legendary guitarist of Rage Against the Machine, who added a ferocious edge to both “War” and the follow-up, “Born in the U.S.A.” The latter carries fresh resonance — the song was recently featured in an ACLU advertisement addressing President Trump’s push to eliminate birthright citizenship, making its inclusion feel less like a setlist choice and more like a deliberate statement.

Streets of Minneapolis: A Tribute That Hit Close to Home

Perhaps the most emotionally charged moment of the night came when Springsteen performed “Streets of Minneapolis” with the full E Street Band for the very first time. The protest song, released on January 28, 2026, was written in response to the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti — two individuals killed during ICE operations in the city. Performing it in Minneapolis itself, before the very community it was written for, gave the song a weight that no studio recording could fully capture.

The arena, no doubt, felt every word.

A Setlist Built for the Moment

The rest of the evening wove together Springsteen’s rich catalog in a way that felt both timeless and urgently of-the-now. Classics like “Born to Run,” “Hungry Heart,” “Dancing in the Dark,” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” brought the crowd to its feet in the way only Springsteen anthems can. But the night also dug deeper, with performances of “The Promised Land,” “My City of Ruins,” “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” and “Badlands” — songs that feel like they were written for exactly this moment in American history.

A Purple Rain Tribute for Prince

In a moment of genuine warmth and local pride, Springsteen and the band paid tribute to Minneapolis’ most beloved son — Prince. They performed “Purple Rain” for the first time since 2016, filling the arena with a sense of reverence and joy that briefly lifted the night out of its political intensity and into something purely celebratory. It was the kind of heartfelt gesture that reminds you why people have followed this band for decades.

Closing with Dylan: A Night That Ends in Freedom

As the evening wound down, Springsteen reached across rock history one final time, closing the show with Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom” — a song that has become a rallying anthem for those who feel the weight of unjust power. It was the perfect bookend to a night that began with a prayer and ended with a plea for liberty.

What’s Next: The Tour Rolls On

The Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour is just getting started. From Minneapolis, Springsteen and the E Street Band will carry this message of rock, rebellion, and democratic resolve to cities across America — Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia, and finally Washington, D.C., where the tour concludes on May 27 at Nationals Park. Fitting, perhaps, that it ends in the shadow of the Capitol itself.

If Minneapolis was any indication, this isn’t just a concert tour. It’s a movement — set to the soundtrack of The Boss at his most alive.