Bruce Springsteen and Jackson Browne at East Rutherford A Powerful Rendition of Racing in the Street
On October 13, 2004, Bruce Springsteen and Jackson Browne delivered a remarkable live performance of Racing in the Street at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This concert, part of the Vote for Change tour, brought together an extraordinary lineup of artists and showcased some of the most emotionally resonant moments of that tour’s closing night.
The Vote for Change tour was conceived as a series of shows meant to encourage civic participation ahead of the 2004 presidential election in the United States. The tour featured a mix of major rock artists, each contributing their music and presence to what was both a political and cultural event. Springsteen and the E Street Band were central figures in this lineup, and their show on October 13 marked the final stop of the tour, drawing a large and engaged audience at the Meadowlands venue.
Racing in the Street occupies a special place in Springsteen’s catalog. Originally released on the Darkness on the Edge of Town album in 1978, the song explores themes of longing, escape, and quiet desperation. It is one of Springsteen’s most narrative driven pieces, combining vivid lyrical storytelling with a slow, deliberate musical build. Over the years, the song has become a favorite in live settings for its emotional depth and extended musical coda.
At the East Rutherford show, Springsteen and Jackson Browne shared vocal duties on Racing in the Street. Browne’s presence brought an additional layer of introspection to the performance, complementing Springsteen’s own reflective delivery. Audience accounts from the night emphasize how the song’s appearance created a poignant moment in the set. One concert reviewer noted that when Browne joined Springsteen for the song, there was a palpable reaction from the crowd, as if the energy in the arena shifted, underscoring how deeply the performance resonated with concertgoers.
The collaboration between Springsteen and Browne on this song also highlighted the song’s enduring relevance. Both artists are known for their lyrical emphasis on personal and social themes, and their combined interpretation offered a version of the piece that was both faithful to its roots and uniquely shaped by the moment.
Beyond the performance itself, the show at East Rutherford exemplified the broader spirit of the Vote for Change tour. It combined music and message in a way that drew fans not only for the quality of the performances but also for the sense of shared purpose in the room. Racing in the Street stood out that night as a moment of contemplative musical power, one that echoed long after the final chords faded.