Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band fans livestreaming new tour shows on Facebook

Chris Jordan, Asbury Park Press
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E Street Nation is working on a stream.

Fans of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are livestreaming the band's current world tour, primarily on Facebook Live. It started with the tour's opening show in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 1. Audrey Hunn, the administrator of the Calling All Bruce Springsteen Fans! Facebook group, did the honors.

“People were writing me and thanking me for doing it,” said Hunn, who intended to just stream the first song or two. “Then I started getting things like ‘thank you from Japan,’ ‘thank you from Australia.’ Then people started writing things like my mom passed away last week, it's been a horrible time and this is the first time I smiled. I'm reading all of this going, 'How do I shut this off?' ”

Bruce Springsteen performs at Atlanta's State Farm Arena Friday, Feb. 3, along with the five-person horn section from the E Street Band: Ozzie Melendez, trombone; Barry Danielian, trumpet; Eddie Manion, sax; Curt Ramm, trumpet; Jake Clemons, sax.
Bruce Springsteen performs at Atlanta's State Farm Arena Friday, Feb. 3, along with the five-person horn section from the E Street Band: Ozzie Melendez, trombone; Barry Danielian, trumpet; Eddie Manion, sax; Curt Ramm, trumpet; Jake Clemons, sax.

Hunn held her phone as steady as she could for two hours and 45 minutes. Her Facebook Live of the show has been viewed more than 25,000 times. The subsequent tour shows in Atlanta and Orlando have also been streamed on Facebook Live. The audio and visual quality varies, with some streams appearing quite shaky.

“The River Tour” in 2016 and '17 was also live steamed by fans, primarily on Periscope — which has been discontinued. Facebook Live offers better quality and interaction with viewers, Hunn said.

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“It's definitely evolved since Periscope for sure,” Hunn said. “We can talk back and forth with each other now.”

Is it prohibited?

“Video and audio recording devices are also prohibited,” states the Amalie Arena in Tampa under terms and conditions for entry, but it doesn't specify about recording with a camera, or livestreaming. A request for comment from Facebook on the issue was not replied to by press time, nor was clarification on how prevalent this is with other music acts on the app.

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A significant amount of fans in the audience took pictures and recorded the show in Tampa.

“I can't say it's allowed, but I haven't seen anything lately saying you can't take pictures or video,” Hunn said.

Official audio of tour shows are available via streaming and other formats from Nugs.net. The Tampa tour opener is currently available.

Next up is the show on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Casino in Hollywood, Fla. Hunn, and E Street fans who will not be there, are looking forward to the stream.

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band tour: Fans streaming shows