Taking his turn on the popular program MTV Unplugged, the Boss stays plugged in for a good part of this performance.  It’s still the small, intimate setting that the show is known for; this is just Springsteen doing it his way.  This was a time when The Boss was at a bit of a crossroads, which becomes apparent.

The performance opens with a solo acoustic performance of Red Headed Woman. After that, his backup band at the time of this performance (not The E-Street Band) joins him.  He was divorced from his first wife, and his soon-to-be second wife, Patti Scialfa, is there with him as well.  The only other familiar face in the band is Roy Bittan.

That said, this performance is still a fine one.  It might not be what we’ve been used to hearing from The Boss or what we expect, but it’s quality.  He takes a few songs and does something different with them. Atlantic City isn’t the traditional “unplugged” version that was on the Nebraska album.  I loved hearing him do Light of Day live.  It’s a song he wrote that gained fame for the performance by Joan Jett in the movie of the same name.  It’s actually quite interesting to hear his electric interpretation of what is one of my favorite songs of his. However, I was disappointed with the slower, more acoustic-flavored version of Thunder Road that just doesn’t cut it for me.

A lot of the songs on Springsteen’s most recent albums at the time of this performance, Human Touch and Lucky Town, aren’t among the fan favorites.  Bruce Springsteen in Concert: MTV Plugged provides a good showcase for them.  There are songs from those albums that he still performs live, but it’s not generally what’s considered to be classic Springsteen.  If you’re looking for classic E-Street Bruce, that’s not what’s here. Still, it’s a good performance and something unique to see.


SET LIST:

Red Headed Woman
Better Days
Local Hero
Atlantic City  
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Man’s Job
Growin’ Up
Human Touch
Lucky Town
I Wish I Were Blind
Thunder Road
Light of Day
The Big Muddy
57 Channels and Nothin’ On
My Beautiful Reward
Glory Days


BONUS PERFORMANCES:

Living Proof
If I Should Fall Behind
Roll The Dice