"The Boss" was back, and the sold-out crowd at First Niagara Center couldn't have been more pleased that a four-decade-long music tradition continued Thursday night.
Bruce Springsteen has been trekking to Western New York since the 1970s. One of his earliest local tours was staged at Shea's Buffalo in 1978 to promote his "Darkness on the Edge of Town" album.
Thursday's concert served up a generous dose of music nostalgia. Los Angeles resident Chris Olsen was in the crowd. He he had no qualms traveling a couple thousand miles to a colder climate to see one of his favorite artists.
“I had to break out my winter gear," Olsen told WBFO.
While this was Olsen's first Springsteen concert in Buffalo, he estimates that he has attended more than 50 shows in numerous states. Olsen said the ritual never gets old.
“Every show is unique. Every show is different," he said. "Bruce makes you want to be a better fill in the blank. A better father, a better brother, a better son, a better businessperson, student. You leave his concert motivated and rejuvenated."
Olsen plans on catching the tour in Phoenix and in his Los Angeles hometown. In fact, he plans on catching two shows in L.A.
"Bruce just kind of unites everybody through music," he said.
WBFO's Nick Lippa provided content for this report.
