After putting the wraps on The Rising, their first studio album together in nearly two decades, Bruce Springsteen and his cohorts are gearing up for a massive 46-city, 46-show "barnstorming tour" that's expected to see them playing gigs well into 2003.
The first leg kicks off--naturally--in the Boss' native New Jersey on August 7 at the Continental Arena in East Rutherford, loops across the country with stops in such cities as Las Vegas, Portland, Denver, Chicago and the streets of Philadelphia, before winding down October 7 in Buffalo.
The band then heads over to Europe for seven shows before returning to the U.S. for the tour's second leg, which runs until a December 13 concert at the Pepsi Arena in Albany, New York.
After nearly 15 years apart, Springsteen and the E Streeters reunited for a sold-out tour in 1999. Unlike that jaunt, however, the Rising Tour will not play multiple shows in a city.
It's a highly unusual move for a band capable of selling out 10-night stands in massive arenas like Madison Square Garden.
According to Springsteen's manager, Jon Landau, the band's goal is to get out in front of as many people as possible.
"Our approach is to bring the music out to as wide a cross section of the country as we could," Landau told the Associated Press. "So we're taking this barnstorming approach--one city, one show."
The band is also taking a different approach to concert seating for this tour. Taking a cue from U2's recent Elevation Tour, Landau says there will be no seats on the floor to bring "a looseness and excitement" to the show.
For those not born in the U.S.A., Bruce & Co. plan to tour Australia and make a return trip to Europe in 2003, along with multiple-night runs at select venues in the U.S. later next year.
The band will play an invitation-only warm-up gig at Asbury Park's Convention Hall on July 30--the release date for The Rising. Part of the concert will be telecast on NBC's Today Show.
Ticket price information and on sale dates for the tour have yet to be announced.
Here's a complete rundown of the initial itinerary: August 7: East Rutherford, New Jersey--Continental Airlines Arena August 10: Washington, D.C.--MCI Center August 12: New York--Madison Square Garden August 14: Cleveland--Gund Arena August 15: Auburn Hills, Michigan--The Palace at Auburn Hills August 18: Las Vegas--Thomas & Mack Center August 20: Portland, Oregon--Rose Garden Arena August 21: Tacoma, Washington--Tacoma Dome August 24: Inglewood, California--The Forum August 25: Phoenix--America West Arena August 27: San Jose--Compaq Center at San Jose August 30: St. Louis--Savvis Center September 22: Denver--Pepsi Center September 24: Kansas City--Kemper Arena September 25: Chicago--United Center September 27: Milwaukee--Bradley Center September 29: Fargo, North Dakota--Fargodome September 30: St. Paul, Minnesota--Xcel Energy Center October 4: Boston--Fleet Center October 6: Philadelphia-First Union Center October 7: Buffalo--HSBC Arena October 14-27: European leg (seven dates TBA) November 3: Dallas--American Airlines Arena November 4: Houston--Compaq Center November 6: Austin--Frank Erwin Center November 9: Columbus, Ohio--Schottenstein Arena November 10: Indianapolis--Conseco Fieldhouse November 11: Cincinnati--U.S. Bank Arena November 12: Lexington, Kentucky--Ruff Arena November 14: Greensboro, North Carolina--Greensboro Coliseum November 19: Birmingham, Alabama--BICC Concert Hall November 21: Orlando--TD Waterhouse Centre November 23: Miami--American Airlines Arena November 24: Tampa--Ice Palace December 2: Atlanta--Philips Arena December 4: Pittsburgh--Mellon Arena December 5: Toronto--Air Canada Centre December 8: Miami--American Airlines Arena December 9: Columbia, South Carolina--Carolina Coliseum December 13: Albany, New York--Pepsi Arena