Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band Kick Off Politically Charged American Tour

The Boss and his band open the 'Land of Hope and Dreams' tour with a defiant message and politically-charged setlist.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:35pm

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Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band launched their 'Land of Hope and Dreams' American Tour in Minneapolis on March 31, 2026, opening the show with a call to 'the righteous power of art, of music, of rock and roll in dangerous times.' The politically-charged setlist featured protest anthems like 'War' and 'Born in the U.S.A.', as well as covers of Prince's 'Purple Rain' and Bob Dylan's 'Chimes of Freedom'.

Why it matters

Springsteen has long used his music as a platform to address social and political issues, and this tour is no exception. With America 'in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous administration,' according to the Boss, the tour is seen as a rallying cry for democratic values and a defense of the country's founding ideals.

The details

The show opened with Springsteen delivering 'a prayer for our men and women in service overseas,' before launching into a performance of the Edwin Starr track 'War,' which the band hadn't played live since 2003. That was followed by 'Born in the U.S.A.,' which was recently used in an ACLU ad about President Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship. Both songs featured Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello on guitar.

  • The tour kicked off on March 31, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  • The band performed 'Purple Rain' for the first time since 2016.

The players

Bruce Springsteen

The legendary singer-songwriter and frontman of The E Street Band.

The E Street Band

Springsteen's long-time backing band, known for their powerful live performances.

Tom Morello

The guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, who joined Springsteen and The E Street Band for select songs on the tour.

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What they’re saying

“The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock and roll in dangerous times.”

— Bruce Springsteen

“We are here in celebration and defense of our American ideals, democracy, our Constitution and our sacred American promise.”

— Bruce Springsteen

What’s next

The 'Land of Hope and Dreams' tour is scheduled to continue across the United States throughout 2026, with Springsteen and The E Street Band expected to deliver politically-charged performances at each stop.

The takeaway

Springsteen's 'Land of Hope and Dreams' tour serves as a powerful artistic statement in defense of American democracy and the country's founding principles, at a time when the nation is deeply divided. The Boss and his band are using their platform to rally support for democratic values and call out the perceived failures of the current administration.