Bruce Springsteen is heading back to the Twin Cities area on Saturday, March 28. He is set to appear at a No Kings rally where he will perform his latest protest track, “Streets of Minneapolis.” He released the song in late January following the fatal shooting of American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal ICE agents in the city. Fans might remember he played the song live for the first time just days after its release during a set at the legendary First Avenue club.
The lyrics certainly do not pull any punches. Springsteen directly takes aim at Donald Trump, going as far as to refer to ICE as his private army. The rock legend has been a steady voice of opposition against the president, and he clearly has no plans to quiet down on the road. Earlier this year, he announced that his Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour will officially launch at the Target Center in Minneapolis on March 31.
Speaking to the Minnesota Star Tribune before returning for the rally, Springsteen promised the upcoming shows will dive deep into current events. He said the tour will be highly political and focused on exactly what is unfolding across the nation right now. Starting the run in Minneapolis and St. Paul was a deliberate choice, just as ending it in Washington is.
He noted that the E Street Band has always been built to handle difficult times. He views this as a moment where the band can offer real value and support to the community. He explained that these challenges give the group a strong sense of purpose, and he is building the nightly set lists around those exact ideas.
Springsteen pointed out that he is taking this show on the road during a period when the nation and its fundamental values are facing critical challenges. This echoes what he told Time magazine last autumn. He explained then that he keeps speaking out because so many people have bought into the president’s lies, adding his belief that Trump should be left in the historical trash heap.
So, is the rock icon concerned that his unapologetic political stance might alienate parts of his audience? Not in the slightest. He told the Star Tribune that he simply does not worry about losing fans. He views his job as very straightforward: he does and says exactly what he wants, and the public is free to react however they choose. He accepts those as the rules of the game and is perfectly fine with them. He maintains a deep commitment to the cultural role his band plays, knowing full well that backlash is an inevitable piece of the puzzle. As he put it, he is completely ready for all of that.
When he takes the stage at the No Kings rally in St. Paul, Springsteen will be in good company. He is scheduled to appear alongside Joan Baez, Maggie Rogers, and Jane Fonda.
