'Bruce Springsteen is one of the last great showmen of his era'

It takes a perverse sense of logic to serenade a crowd with Santa Claus Is Coming To Town in May, but Bruce Springsteen isn't one for strict convention, seasonal or otherwise. The opening night of his UK tour saw him raise the spirits of a damp and drizzly Manchester with an unexpected rendition of the Christmas novelty number, little over 15 minutes into his mammoth three-hour set.

He really needn't have bothered. Springsteen's ace card is his everyman appeal, a performer with a natural rapport with his audience and an undeniable knack for an air-punching chorus. It's a feelgood quality that feels utterly free of contrivance. For all his squillions of record sales, the live arena is where he and his band truly excel.

He didn't need much of an excuse on this occasion, going off on a prolonged walkabout into the throng during a pumping Hungry Heart, glad-handing the punters like a returning king. "Manchester we've got a crush on you!" he yelled, grinning from one ear to the other as he returned to the stage.