Backstreets, schmackstreets.

Long-running Bruce Springsteen fanzine Backstreets called Sunday night’s Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band concert at Scottrade Center a by-the-numbers disappointment. But we’re wondering what show they saw.

The Boss was large and in charge in St. Louis, calling the shots and leading with charisma, just as you’d expect. And the end result was one of the year’s best concerts.

Springsteen and the E Street Band delivered a constantly pulsating, three-hour opus that fully lived up to their long-standing reputation of marathon shows.

The near sold-out concert came complete with a full, front-to-back performance of the classic 1975 album “Born to Run,” a tribute to Chuck Berry in the form of “Roll Over Beethoven,” great solos from Clarence Clemons, Max Weinberg, and Steven Van Zandt, and some crowd-surfing from Springsteen.

“I’m here to fulfill a solemn vow to rock the house,” Springsteen said.

Arriving an acceptable hour late (who expects a Springsteen concert to start on time anyway?), the Garden State’s biggest bundle of 60-year-old energy opened with new song “Wrecking Ball,” a tribute to Giants Stadium that works anywhere.

The high-energy continued early on with selections such as “Seeds,” “Prove It All Night,” “Working on a Dream,” the title track to his latest CD, and “Hungry Heart,” where the crowd surfing in to everyone’s delight.

Springsteen wasted absolutely no time jumping into his adoring fans’ faces. He strolled through the arena floor, a chairless pit full of general admission ticket holders, and onto a small platform before falling backwards during “Hungry Heart.” The crowd gingerly carried him through the air back to the stage.

The “Born to Run” segment came next, and it was a stunner. Springsteen explained as this current tour inches towards its finale, he decided to do something special for fans, and has been performing “Born to Run” from beginning to end.

“It was an important record for us,” Springsteen said, before thunderously pulling out “Born to Run” songs in order, everything from “Thunder Road” to “Backstreets,” “She’s the One” to “Jungleland,” where Clemons’ massive solo came in.

After the segment, he brought forward the original players from the album for a bow.

The rollicking “Working on the Highway,” featuring Springsteen on acoustic guitar, was another highlight, along with “Badlands” and “The Rising.” He pulled forward a young boy from the audience to sing with him on “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day,” and he was anything but shy.

During pop staple “Dancing in the Dark,” Springsteen danced with a few women from the crowd, not unlike the way a then-unknown Courtney Cox did in the ‘80s video of the same name.

Fan interaction continued as he collected a number of fans’ requests, done up as posters and signs, and spotlighted an especially beautifully constructed one with the simple request Bruce Play Piano. Once seated and plugged in, he went solo on “For You,” and it was beautiful. He held the silent crowd in the palm of his hands.

“We always get requests for a Chuck Berry song when we come to St. Louis,” he said while holding up another sign that read “Roll Over Beethoven.” He said he was grateful the fan had the lyrics written out on the flip side of the sign. “Surprise, Surprise” was another request.

By the time he wrapped with “Rosalita,” it was hard to not want more.