Not everyone gets privately serenaded by Bruce Springsteen when they leave their job, but not everyone worked in the Barack Obama White House, either. The Boss reportedly performed a secret, 15-song acoustic concert for 250 members of Obama's staff last week as a thank you for their work, Rolling Stone reports.
One fan in the audience relayed an account of the concert to Backstreets:
It was a dream of a setlist. Bruce opened with a very brief note of thanks to the president and the staff who were being honored before launching into "Working on the Highway." That opener led into an incredible "Growin' Up" for a lively start, but not much of the set was so upbeat, with haunting readings of songs like "My Hometown," "My Father's House," and "Devils & Dust." The mood in the room the whole night — both reception and concert — was not exactly somber, but it wasn't festive, either. It was elegiac, I'd say. There was a clear sense of something ending, both with the conclusion of an adventure for the staff and the silent presence of the coming political transition. Bruce's demeanor was definitely in line with that overall vibe. [Backstreets]
The president thanked Springsteen after the show: "He's been with us for some time now, performing his craft to show his support," Obama said.
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