Bruce still Boss with Magic and Thunder.

Byline: GAVIN MARTIN At the opening of Bruce Springsteen's European tour

ANTICIPATION was at fever pitch for the return of the man they still call the Boss.

And rightly so. From the first song, The Promised Land, he turned 35,000-capacity RDS stadium into a small club. Roaming the stage, he blew harmonica towards a sea of outstretched hands.

Springsteen remains the consummate rock and roll performer. In the two hour-plus show with the E Street Band he delivered a grand slam allthrills no-frills display.

With last year's album Magic receiving some of his best reviews, his renewed confidence and energy was pervasive.

"Here's to the end of eight years of bad, bad magic," he told the Dublin crowd introducing the title track.

Although showing little signs of ageing, maturity suits Springsteen. His voice richer and stronger, he is able to combine knockabout rock with political concerns about the erosion of US freedoms in a sprightly Livin' in the Future.

And despite the death from cancer of founding E Street member Danny Federici, the band is still one of the seven wonders of rock.

Easily living up to their boast in the piano-pounding Prove It All Night, they also provided guitar fireworks with Sopranos star Steve Van Zandt and classy Nils Lofgren.

And the continuity that runs through Springsteen's songwriting was made clear with new songs beside the old favourites.

Reason to Believe, Born to Run and Thunder Road sound better than ever.

By staying true to original principles he still inspires uncommon devotion.

Next week thousands will gather in London, Manchester and Cardiff. A master class in stadium rock awaits.

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ORIGINAL Springsteen on stage