Requests are becoming a major theme of a Bruce Springsteen concert of late, as exemplified countless times over the last year. As a result, The Boss is usually “forced” to shell out a rarity or two at each date…and sometimes, like at his show in Philadelphia last week, a cover as well.

But this wasn’t any ordinary cover. This was a Clash cover, marking the second time in as many years that Bruce and the E Street Band have offered a rendition of a Joe Strummer classic. This time around, it was “London Calling”, yes the same “London Calling” that Bruce, Steve, Elvis Costello, and Dave Grohl covered at the Grammys shortly after Strummer’s death in 2003. Albeit not as intense or meaningful as that performance, the Philadelphia rendition still brings awe, and some extreme jealousy.

Oh, and take note of the sign: “London Calling: Did it STUMP E Street?”

Ha.

Why couldn’t I have been in Philly?