Full Breakdown
Bruce Springsteen’s MSG Concert Marries Music and Protest
5/13/2026, 1:57:24 AM
Event Overview: Political Show at Madison Square Garden
On May 11, 2026, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band opened the Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour at Madison Square Garden. Guest guitarist-vocalist Tom Morello shouted “Let fury have the hour” during the Clash cover “Clampdown.” Springsteen condemned Donald Trump’s policies and introduced “Streets of Minneapolis,” honoring activists Renée Good and Alex Pretti, prompting “ICE out now” chants.
Key Performers and Guest Artists
Springsteen’s band included Max Weinberg (drums), Garry Tallent (bass), Nils Lofgren (guitar), Roy Bittan (piano) and saxophonist Jake Clemons, with Tom Morello adding vocals and lead guitar. High-profile guests included Patriots owner Robert Kraft, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Jon Bon Jovi and wife Dorothea, actor Tom Hanks, and guitarist Al Di Meola.
Setlist Highlights and Musical Data
The MSG set featured 27 songs, mixing classics, new material and covers. Highlights included The Temptations’ “War,” “Born in the U.S.A.,” “Clampdown,” “Streets of Minneapolis,” “Youngstown,” “Murder Incorporated” (featuring Steve Van Zandt), “American Skin (41 Shots)” and an encore of “Born to Run.” Morello performed on “War,” “Clampdown,” “Streets of Minneapolis,” and “The Ghost of Tom Joad.”
Official Statements and Audience Response
Organizers said the concert raised funds for families of the Minneapolis ICE-protest victims. Guitarist Al Di Meola called Springsteen’s stance “courageous” and resonant with “the majority of Americans.” Audience members shouted “ICE out now,” Tom Hanks posted a video of “Long Walk Home,” and Jon Bon Jovi swayed to “Badlands.”
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
Sources differ on whether “War” opened the set; some list it first, others omit it. The count of songs featuring Morello varies between four and three. No official attendance figure has been released, and Springsteen’s own remarks were not quoted in any source.
Verbatim Quotes
“Only recently, through Tom Morello, did I reconnect with Bruce over his words of concern and outrage that resonated deeply with my own heart and soul -- speaking out against the blatant criminality, brutality and cruelty of this current administration that is putting us in a far worse place as a nation,” — Al Di Meola, Guitarist
“Thank you Bruce for your courage and for taking a stance that I believe resonates with the majority of Americans.” — Al Di Meola
“Watching Bruce, Tom, Stevie Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren and the E Street Band tonight was a spiritual experience for me,” — Al Di Meola
“Absolutely unforgettable. It gave me hope in dark times!” — Al Di Meola
Upcoming Dates
Springsteen will return to MSG on May 16, perform at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on May 14, then travel to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Boston and Washington, DC. The tour concludes on May 30 in Philadelphia, a date added after NBA playoff scheduling displaced the original DC show.
