DANCING IN THE FORUM BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND FRIENDS ROCK INGLEWOOD WITH EFFORTLESS FIRE.

Byline: Fred Shuster Music Critic 

BRUCE Springsteen's traveling medicine show and rock 'n' soul revue hit town Saturday and the faithful received one of his most powerful shows in memory.

It was a return to the Forum, the earthy Inglewood sports arena eclipsed a few years ago by downtown's posh Staples Center. The place never felt more comfortable -- or intimate.

As Springsteen himself noted from the stage where he's made roof-raising stops since the late '70s, the old blue-collar venue offered no skyboxes but plenty of beer and ``all the elements of big time rock 'n' roll.''

A sea of standing fans, some of whom had waited in line since daylight to grab general-admission spots on the floor, roared approval. And these weren't teenagers.

The nearly 3-hour, 23-song rumination on love, loss and faith opened with ``The Rising,'' the title track of Springsteen's current album of songs inspired by the events of Sept. 11. Fronting the always dependable E Street Band, the rocker never preached, allowing the subtle lyrics of such somber songs as ``You're Missing'' and ``Into the Fire'' to hit their mark.

Moments of reflection and joyous celebration alternated and sometimes merged. During a mournful ``Lonesome Day,'' you couldn't help get chills when Springsteen, his wife Patti Scialfa and guitarist Steven Van Zandt gathered at one microphone to belt out an uplifting final chorus. Equally effective was a simple, glorious duet with Scialfa on ``Empty Sky,'' another recent song of great personal loss. Boss and wife harmonized at the mic, lips inches apart.

You'd have to go all the way back to the ``Born in the U.S.A.'' trek to recall a Springsteen tour where new songs were so enthusiastically accepted night after night.

Among the most stirring tunes was ``You're Missing,'' with its almost unbearable recital of small domestic details now imbued with terrible meaning (``Pictures on the nightstand/TV's on in the den/Your house is waiting/For you to walk in'').

As the song played, a fan near the stage waved a small American flag.

Springsteen stirred deep emotion without resorting to what is becoming a common dramatic device at music shows -- a rolling list of victims' names. Think about it, Bono.

Yet, despite a sorrowful undercurrent, there was plenty of exhilaration. ``Waitin' on a Sunny Day'' was a house-lights-up sing-along that had every head in the place bobbing. Older Springsteen faves like ``Badlands,'' ``Prove It All Night'' and even the first encore's '80s chestnut ``Dancing in the Dark,'' given new life as a full-throttle rocker Saturday, drew the audience to its feet.

Members of the E Street Band earned their backstage buffet. Much-loved sidekick Clarence Clemons -- intro'd by the Boss as ``honorary Governor of the entire state of California ... if there's any justice in the world!'' -- evoked cheers each time he picked up his gleaming saxophone.

The muscular rhythm section, anchored by drummer Max Weinberg, bassist Garry Tallent, keyboardist Danny Federici and Van Zandt, was a thing of crisp, punchy beauty.

But aside from tour violinist Soozie Tyrell's occasionally overripe contributions (Paginini and Federici just don't mix), there were few solos in this seemingly egoless ensemble. Lead guitarist Nils Lofgren, known for jaw-dropping fretwork, mostly stuck to strumming, offering only the most subtle fills when needed.

There was also humor. Springsteen got laughs when he responded to a fan's shout for Silvio Dante, the character Van Zandt plays on ``The Sopranos.''

An amused Boss, who once lived in Los Angeles, responded in a patient tone: ``Silvio is a TV personality. This is Little Steven. I know it gets blurry out here.''

Another time, he asked the crowd for quiet, adding, ``You can do it. Give it a try. I'm patient.'' And during band introductions, his sexy give-and-take with his red-haired wife was charming.

This was one for the books. Springsteen and company may return in the new year. Buy your tickets early.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

Bruce Springsteen, left, Patti Scialfa and Steven Van Zandt hit the mike for a song Saturday night in the Forum at Inglewood.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer Box:

This the set list from Bruce Springsteen's show Saturday at the Forum.