Springsteen displayed neither nervousness nor embarrassment as the attempt unfolded. While the group tried to establish how the number should be played, he asked the audience to sing with them. That participation helped carry the performance as the musicians searched for their footing and gradually pieced the song together.
The uncertainty was particularly striking because Springsteen and the E Street Band generally gave faultless performances. Seeing them submit their unfinished process to public scrutiny showed that experienced performers still require practice; neither the correct key nor the chords arrived automatically. The source also describes the occasion as one that must have created camaraderie among the musicians and crowd.
After the band finally gained control of the number, the rendition became electrifying. What began with uncertain keys and awkward chord changes turned into a lively, entirely improvised Chuck Berry cover—and one of Springsteen’s most entertaining performances.
