Bruce Springsteen has not left his crowd-surfing days behind.

The 67-year-old rock legend launched himself into fans at the second of three shows at Perth Arena on Wednesday night.

#NewAmericanResistance: Fans react to Bruce Springsteen in Perth

The Boss leads from the front at Perth Arena

Before going for a crowd-surf during 1980 hit Hungry Heart, the Boss chugged a beer to cries of “Bruuuuuce” — or was that “brews”?

Camera Icon Springsteen downs a brew. Credit: Elle Farcic/The West Australian

After a subdued performance at the first gig, and first since US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Springsteen was in full rock’n’roll mode.

Once again opening with 1973 number New York City Serenade, featuring dazzling piano from Roy Bittan, the E Street Band delivered a gig heavy on guitars and fist-pumping rock anthems, including Thunder Road, Badlands and The Rising.

Camera Icon Bruce Springsteen has not left his crowd-surfing days behind. Credit: Elle Farcic/The West Australian

Early number Prove It All Night was an apt sentiment for the seemingly indefatigable New Jersey rocker, who shook the arena for nearly 2 1/2 hours on Wednesday.

That was shorter than the first show, which weighed in at 30 songs and more than three hours.

However, Springsteen and the E Streeters — especially guitarist and former Sopranos star “Little” Steven Van Zandt, who was a sombre presence on Sunday but back to his exuberant best on Wednesday — gave everything they had, unleashing a set featuring 16 different songs to the first show.

After the political context of Sunday, there was still potency to the soulful My City of Ruins and Wrecking Ball, during which the Boss sang the mantra to “hold tight to your anger”.

Springsteen’s three shows in 2014 raised more than $30,000 for Foodbank WA, and again the socially active musician asked fans to support the charity.

Born in the U.S.A. hit single I’m On Fire was a surprise inclusion, while the finale kicked off with Jungleland, the epic closer to Born to Run featuring towering sax solos from Jake Clemons.

The title track to that 1975 classic album is a perennial of Springsteen’s shows, along with signature songs Dancing in the Dark and Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, plus the cover of the Isley Brothers’ party favourite Shout.

The fans did shout for more, but all 13,500 would have left happy in the knowledge they had just witnessed a five-star performance.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play the third and final show at Perth Arena tonight.

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