The Sound of Springsteen at Lighthouse, Poole Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Helen O
Growing up in the ’80s, I was surrounded by the music of Bruce Springsteen, so I couldn’t wait to head to Lighthouse, Poole this evening, where The Sound of Springsteen rock ’n’ rolled in for one night only as part of their UK tour.
We took our seats in the Stalls of the Concert Hall—a brilliant performance space for a show like this. With a fabulous view of the stage, comfy seats, and plenty of legroom, it was the perfect setting to soak in the atmosphere.
Springsteen has released no fewer than 21 studio albums spanning six decades, with most featuring the legendary E Street Band, who’ve backed him since 1972. I’ve never seen the real Bruce Springsteen perform, even though he’s still touring, but The Sound of Springsteen truly are the next best thing.
Formed in 2017, the band features the incredible voice of Sam Confrey as ‘The Boss’ himself, performing alongside a talented group of musicians and backing vocalists. Each member has been carefully chosen for their unique abilities and undeniable love of music—which shone through this evening as they brought Springsteen’s iconic sound to life. It was clear they’ve studied his work with meticulous detail.
From the moment they burst onto the stage, the energy was high and atmosphere electric. Taking the audience on a musical journey through Springsteen’s incredible back catalogue, showcasing not only those fan favourites among his hits, such as Born to Run, Hungry Heart, Glory Days and of course, my favourite Dancing in the Dark, but also delivering some special hits for the ‘Uber-fans’.
I was so impressed, not only with Sam Confrey’s high-octane lead vocals, which echoed the sound of Springsteen himself, with his unmistakably raw, soulful and gravelly tones, not to mention some impeccable harmonica playing!
As for the supporting 6-piece band – they were all exceptionally talented musicians in their own right, reproducing the sound of all Springsteen’s hits in all their iconic glory. But a special mention needs to go to Richard on the saxophone; I’ve never seen a sax take such centre-stage before and his solo parts were nothing short of epic!
We really enjoyed the repartee between the band and the audience, which made us laugh on several occasions. You can tell how well the band get on and how much they enjoy performing together.
My favourite part of the show was the finale, which featured all of the (in my opinion) big Springsteen hits, culminating with ‘Born In The USA’, by which time the entire audience was on their feet dancing. I was only disappointed that we didn’t hear Streets of Philadelphia in all of its glory, other than the brief intro we were treated to, at the start of the show.
The show ran for about 2 and a half hours, including a 20 minute interval, which was enough time to grab a drink and take a comfort break, ready to enjoy the second half. With ticket prices from £29.50, I think that is pretty reasonable for a performance of this calibre; thoroughly enjoyable and the energy from The Sound of Springsteen never waned from the moment they first appeared, to the very finale. A great night out!
I would absolutely recommend this show to any fans of ‘The Boss’, it was a perfect salute to this rock n roll legend.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: Ticket price from: £29.50
Buy tickets here: www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
The Sound of Springsteen were appearing at Lighthouse Poole for one night only, as part of their UK tour. Tour dates can be found here: sospringsteen.co.uk
Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG