A chronicle of Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band preparing for and embarking on their 2023-2024 World Tour. 

Road Diary is the first time that Bruce Springsteen has done a true concert tour movie. I have previously reviewed Western Stars which was a performance of the album of the same name behind closed doors and Bruce Springsteen’s Letter To You which was an album being created in the studio. This time director Thom Zimny follows Bruce and the band on their first tour since the pandemic.

After nearly fifty years touring together a six year gap was a long time, so we get to see the band performing together firstly in a small rehearsal space before heading into a closed out arena. It is fascinating to hear that some of the band members have never met before and whilst the absolute majority of everything shown to us is one where everyone has absolute love and respect for each other we do get the tiniest hint of a clash when Bruce decides they have rehearsed enough whilst Steven Van Zandt thinks it’s too loose. 

This again is a film that fans will love. We get insights into why Bruce picked a specific set list for this tour, how they try to keep things alive and fresh on stage, how Bruce leads the band and how their touring equipment and transport has evolved over five decades. 

Springsteen as is his style speaks candidly and openly about why he does it and the love he has for his peers. 

Fans will love it and make no mistake I am one. I enjoyed watching the Cardiff leg of this tour and this behind the scenes documentary added a little extra insight to how Bruce and the E-Street Band still manage to deliver an exhilarating three hour performance after all these years. 

Anyone looking for real documentary insight though will be left a little wanting as to some extent this is a montage movie with nuggets of information sitting on top of the live album that is now available that accompanies this film.