Bruce Springsteen is one of the greatest performers of all time, so it’s only natural that he’s getting his own biopic. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, which releases this fall, shows a dark time in the artist’s life and how that impacted his music. Jeremy Allen White plays Bruce Springsteen alongside a cast that includes Stephen Graham, Jeremy Strong, and more. The film will be a deep dive into some of the artist’s lesser-known past, but it won’t be the first of its kind. Based on what’s known about the movie, it makes a perfect pairing with a documentary that’s streaming on Netflix.
Springsteen on Broadway is a recording of the legendary performer’s final shows during his first run on Broadway. The shows were very exclusive, considering the artist performed in one location for about a year with expensive tickets during the show’s first run. The filmed version allows all audiences to see this hidden gem, which includes songs like “Born in the U.S.A.,” “Dancing in the Dark,” “Thunder Road,” and “Born to Run,” among others. What’s even more intriguing than that track selection is the change in style with Springsteen on Broadway, which has Bruce Springsteen sharing stories about his life.
‘Springsteen on Broadway’ Offers a Very Personal Performance
In Springsteen on Broadway, the legendary musician performs some of his essential songs, but it’s quite different from how audiences normally see him in concert. Anyone who’s been to a Bruce Springsteen concert knows how fast-paced it can get, with Springsteen spending very little time introducing his songs. Springsteen on Broadway is the exact opposite of that. In between songs, the artist talks about old memories, which usually reveal insight as to why he wrote each of his songs. Some of these stories overlap with what he writes in his autobiography, Born to Run, although they’re modified for the stage with Springsteen on Broadway.
Audiences will also notice Springsteen isn’t backed by his longtime band, the E Street Band. With the Broadway show, Springsteen is front and center, performing most of the music himself. The only person who joins him onstage is his wife, Patti Scialfa, who provides backing vocals on two songs. The songs take on a softer tone than the usual energy-infused performances seen in concert with the E Street Band. The style of the songs here is fitting because the songs don’t clash with the artist’s talking segments.
The heavy focus on stories in Springsteen on Broadway is welcome because it’s quite rare for the performer. He’s not particularly well-known for opening up about himself. Springsteen on Broadway gives fans the chance to connect with the artist through more than just his music. Although Bruce Springsteen’s normal shows are great, Springsteen on Broadway is also just a little more relaxing, making it the perfect concert film to watch from the comfort of your home.
Performance Is at the Core of Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen is a performer first and foremost. His career was boosted by his incredible concerts, which often lasted for hours. They’re intense musical jam sessions, where the Boss is accompanied by the E Street Band, backup singers, and excited audience members. The music he performs onstage is often better than the tracks he records simply because he’s that good of a performer. Even today, Bruce Springsteen is still performing concerts, despite being 75 years old.
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Springsteen on Broadway shows that he has variety as a performer as well. His skills aren’t limited to just rock and roll concerts, and he doesn’t need to rely on a full band to carry him through a multiple-hour show. His dedication to performing alone multiple nights a week shows his passion for performing music live. To slow his usual style down and add that extra layer of storytelling proves his skills in playing for a live audience. There are plenty of opportunities to see Bruce Springsteen’s typical concerts, but there’s only one way to see something different by the artist, and that’s by watching Springsteen on Broadway on Netflix.
Why You Should Watch Before ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere’
The upcoming music biopic, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, promises to be heavily focused on the artist’s life rather than just his recording process. Springsteen on Broadway is worth watching for that reason alone, as it will help set up some of the memories that are recreated in Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. Audiences might hear stories in Springsteen on Broadway, then see them come to life months later in Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. The stories told in Springsteen on Broadway might also help contextualize some of the scenes in the artist’s upcoming biopic.
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Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is particularly focused on how Springsteen recorded Nebraska, one of his darkest and most somber albums. The musical style of the album pairs neatly with Springsteen on Broadway, considering that Nebraska is the first Springsteen album that did not use the E Street Band. The result is that Nebraska has a dark, self-reflecting tone, which is similar to the tone used throughout Springsteen on Broadway.
Still, that doesn’t mean Springsteen on Broadway will only have somber music, as the trailer already confirms audiences will get to see some rock-and-roll performances, with Jeremy Allen White’s version of the artist performing “Born to Run.” Springsteen on Broadway is now streaming on Netflix, and Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere arrives in theaters October 24.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
