Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band kicked off the most recent leg of their River tour last night in The Boss’ home state of New Jersey at East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium, their first of three shows at the venue this month. The night included an extended set and encore that featured a string section and plenty of nods to the location of the evening.

Starting off with a “New York Serenade” that introduced the string section, Springsteen and company would soon jump into some tracks from The River, along with a surprise requested “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Another New Jersey shoutout came later in the set in the form of “My Hometown (which followed “Death to My Hometown,” played a few songs earlier).

The eight-song encore rounded out the night with some Springsteen hits like “Born to Run,” “Dancing in the Dark” and “Rosalita,” along with a cover of The Isley Brothers’ “Shout” and a final homage to the surroundings, a closer of Tom Waits’ “Jersey Girl.”

Watch video clips from the night above and below. Springsteen and his band return to the MetLife Stadium stage tomorrow, August 25.

Bruce Springsteen
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

New York City Serenade*, Wrecking Ball, Badlands, Something in the Night, The Ties That Bind, Sherry Darling, Spirit in the Night, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Independence Day, Hungry Heart, Out in the Street, Growin’ Up, You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch), Death to My Hometown, Mansion on the Hill, Jack of All Trades, My Hometown, The River, American Skin (41 Shots), The Promised Land, Working on the Highway, Darlington County
Because the Night, She’s the One, Brilliant Disguise, The Rising, Land of Hope and Dreams

Enc: Jungleland, Born to Run, Dancing in the Dark, Rosalita (Come Out Tonight), Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, Shout, Bobby Jean, Jersey Girl

Notes: *w/ string section

Source: setlist.fm