Before any music started at First Avenue, the legendary venue in Minneapolis, the crowd fervently chanted “fuck ICE.” This was a Tom Morello concert, but more than just music, attendees were united under the theme: “a concert of solidarity & resistance to defend Minnesota.” This event was a precursor to a larger protest happening nearby and aimed to support the families of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The atmosphere was charged, and excitement reached a peak when Morello introduced surprise guest Bruce Springsteen.
Just two days after debuting his protest song “Streets of Minneapolis,” which specifically addresses the killings of Good and Pretti by immigration agents during the Trump era, Springsteen took to the stage at the iconic venue made famous by Prince. Once the audience settled down, he spoke about the song’s quick production before performing it publicly for the first time.
“I wrote this song, recorded it the next day, and sent it to Tom Morello,” he shared. “I told him, ‘It’s a bit soapbox-y.’ He replied, ‘Bruce, sometimes you have to kick them in the teeth.’” He dedicated his performance to “the people of Minneapolis, the people of Minnesota, and the people of our good country, the United States.”
Springsteen’s solo acoustic rendition was stripped back compared to the studio version, allowing the raw emotion of the moment to shine through. The legendary rock star appeared in a city marked by turmoil, singing about the lives lost in their community. Amidst a leadership vacuum at the top, he pointedly addressed those responsible. The crowd cheered when he mentioned “Alex Pretti and Renee Good,” and as he finished, a chant of “ICE out now!” arose, encouraged by Springsteen himself.
This remarkable moment set the tone for the rest of the concert, but Morello and his band ramped up the energy again. Joined by Springsteen, they exchanged verses and guitar solos on “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” a song they’ve performed together several times. During a solo, Morello even turned his guitar to display the message “arrest the president,” eliciting laughter from Bruce as they fed off the crowd’s enthusiasm.
All performers returned to close the show with John Lennon’s “Power to the People.” Morello proclaimed they had just experienced the greatest brunch-hour concert in history, as Springsteen, Morello, and the others celebrated onstage while “Let’s Go Crazy” blared from the speakers.
The entire afternoon revolved around themes of protest and resistance, featuring Morello’s powerful anthems and impassioned speeches. He stated, “Minneapolis is an inspiration to the whole nation. You’ve heroically stood up against ICE, Trump, and the rising wave of state terror. None are coming to save us but ourselves, and you are paving the way.” With fervent energy, Morello later acknowledged the audience as “those outside agitators” who would stir up trouble, confirming the event not only as a concert but as a rallying point for communal resistance.
