Nils Lofgren says that Bruce Springsteen’s constantly changing setlists surprise audiences — but also brings the band closer together. Lofgren, who joined the E Street Band in 1984 after Steve Van Zandt left to pursue a solo career, had to learn dozens of songs before his first gig and knows what it’s like to be the new guy on stage.

Lofgren told oregonlive.com that he was recently able to help out substitute keyboardist Charlie Giordano at the last minute when Springsteen switched up the night’s setlist, explaining that knowing that Giordano didn’t know the song, he leapt into action running backstage, “(My part didn’t come in) for probably 45 seconds. I grabbed a set list, asked a tech for a Sharpie, wrote out chords for the bridge and stuck it in front of Charlie. Charlie’s a great musician, but when we got to the bridge, he didn’t have to fake it, which we’ve all done. In the spirit of being a great band, you help each other out.”

He went on to say, “Bruce writes the set list — last night he wrote it three different times. I learned to read Bruce: When he’s talking to Steve after a song and they’re laughing, I know they’re just laughing. If he’s talking to Steve and he’s not laughing, I know that he’s changing something.”

Charlie Giordano is filling in for Danny Federici who is sitting out of the band’s current leg while he receives treatment for melanoma. Giordano has recently toured with Springsteen as part of his Seeger Sessions Band.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performs on Friday (April 4th) in Sacramento, California at the Arco Arena.

This entry was posted Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008 and was filed under Jungle News, Rock Artists. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.