Guitar-touting rock and roll was just the tonic for Springsteen fans at Mareel on Saturday.
Delighted punters pulled on their dancing shoes and left their wellies at home – shaking off the weather blues from the recent cold snap.
Support from local rockers No Sweat certainly warmed up the crowd with the gravelly vocals of David Nicolson kicking off a great evening of old-school rock music.
Guitarists Neil Scollay and Brian Nicholson, brought plenty of hearty guitar riffs to proceedings and Nicholson’s expert slide guitar playing was a joy to listen to.
With a rumble of drums, The Springsteen Sessions grabbed everyone’s attention as they took to the stage.
Fist pumping their way through Born in the USA, the band soon had the crowd singing along at the top of their lungs.
And while the Glaswegian chatter from lead singer Dougie Robertson punctuated the set list, the delivery of hits was something even “The Boss” would applaud.
Taken on their own merits, The Springsteen Sessions, are clearly a collection of talented musicians.
None more so than saxophonist and guitar player Tom Brogan – who swapped with ease between the two instruments, with equal prowess.
His raspy sax playing provided the soulful sound which has become synonymous with Springsteen and his band.
A quick-fire introduction including Tenth Avenue Freeze-out and Land of Hope and Dreams gave way to the pounding drums of Badlands.
As the gig went on and the beer was flowing, Robertson announced “this one’s for the girls” before beginning the band’s rendition of I’m On Fire – an admirable attempt, but lacking the emotional pull of Springsteen’s original.
The River however, could not be faulted, and as the band stepped it up a gear, so did the audience – with one fan dancing away in delight on a chair.
Robertson beckoned the crowd forward to dance and join in the party, and they happily obliged.
“You guys are brilliant; you’re a better singer than I am. I think my job’s on the line,” he joked.
Whistles, whoops and claps accompanied the band off stage as the crowd shouted for a Springsteen-style encore.
Requests were taken from the audience and the dancing continued as the band played the classics Dancing in the Dark and Glory Days.
While it may not be the real thing, it wasn’t far off.
The quality of the songs alone promised a good night out and The Springsteen Sessions certainly gave it their all.
A trip down memory lane for many, and an enjoyable one at that.