"Here he comes.......Here he come.......Here he comes......"

"DANNY'S BACK IN TOWN.....HERE HE COMES NOW....DANNY'S BACK IN......ALLLLLLRIGHT!!!!"

March 20 / Indianapolis, IN / Conseco Fieldhouse

Notes: Before opening with "Night," Bruce Springsteen introduced "the biggest little bar band in the world!" And tonight, they got bigger by one. Not Patti Scialfa back from tending the home fires, not yet... but the long-awaited return of Danny Federici. The first half of the show had its highlights: Bruce saying "Let me see that sign!" and using it to call "Prove It All Night" as an audible, the tour debut of "Rendezvous" as another request-by-sign. But when Danny emerged for "The Promised Land," it was a game-changing moment.

"We've got a special treat tonight," Springsteen told the crowd after "Livin' in the Future," "Danny Federici is with us!" Coming out for his first performance with the band since Boston in November, Danny gave Charlie Giordano a hug before reclaiming his old spot on the organ riser (Giordano subtly disappeared). Conferring with Danny after "The Promised Land," Bruce then stepped to the mic and said, "He's gonna make me go old school on you!" as Danny ripped into "Spirit in the Night." By this point, they were flying. And finally -- "We can't let him leave without doing this one!" -- it was "Fourth of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)," with Danny strapping on the accordion. In a seamless transition, Charlie came back in on "Devil's Arcade," taking over for the five-pack. But in the encore, Danny was back again for the rest of the show. "We're all gonna do this one and dedicate this one to Dan," Bruce said, as they began the encore with "Backstreets." That went into a phenomenal "Kitty's Back," of course another great chance for the Phantom to shine.

Now, the thing is, it's unclear how much of the crowd appreciated the gift that was Danny's presence tonight. With only 10,000 fans filling an 18,000 seater, the energy wasn't exactly through the roof as it was, and there was the sense that many in the building weren't quite attuned to what was happening. But the emotions onstage were unmistakable. During "Kitty's Back," the huge smile on Clarence's face as he watched Danny play said it all. To cap off the night, all three keyboard players were there for "American Land," Charlie coming back out to join Roy for the dual accordions, and Danny at his station on the organ. Welcome back, Dan. Hope you'll make a habit of it.

Oh, and I can't forget to mention Hannah, the little girl whom Bruce brought onstage to dance with him not once but twice on "Dancing in the Dark." A tradition worth reviving, and it don't get much cuter.