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Songs You Like More, or Less, Because of Shows/Bootlegs
Having been to 20 shows and having maybe 30 bootlegs, I, like many of you, am quite familiar with the live versions. In fact, for me, my feelings for most songs played with some regularity are based just as much on the live version as the studio version, something I can only say about one other artist (Ani DiFranco, my wife's favorite artist; we have all of her bootlegs (which is like 20) and have been to 11 and 12 shows respectively. Many of her songs are better live). With most artists I've been to few shows and have not really relived the live experience like I do with PJ.
When Vs. came out Rearviewmirror was just another song on the album I did not think about. But when it was played live at my first show (Milwaukee, 1995), that changed. I was immediately pulled in by the energy and to this day wonder why I kind of glossed over that song until that point.
I always liked Release but its role as a frequent show opener probably raises it on my list. Fenway 1, 2016, I'd not been to a PJ show in nearly two years and hearing that song sort of drift in gives me chills. I still love hearing it open on a bootleg.
I warmed up to Long Road very slowly. I heard it at Boston 3, 2003 and don't really recall reacting. But by Fenway 1 2016, it was probably nearing my top 10. I love that Fenway version. I like the 2003 version and other versions I hear live. And the studio version. I think the power behind a couple of the climaxes in 2016 along with the subtle uniqueness of the various performances is responsible for this song now being my third favorite PJ song.
Not the shows so much, but the bootlegs have probably soured me a bit on some of the eight-minute live songs. I never liked Black as much as most of you. Like most of you who are old enough, I was really immersed in Ten when it came out and liked every song. Black was somewhere in the middle. But now, listening to bootlegs so much, it is easily my least favorite eight-minute live song. It's just kinda...boring. And it's on most of the bootlegs.
Anyway, I'd be curious to see how much live vs. studio plays into your feelings about songs...
When Vs. came out Rearviewmirror was just another song on the album I did not think about. But when it was played live at my first show (Milwaukee, 1995), that changed. I was immediately pulled in by the energy and to this day wonder why I kind of glossed over that song until that point.
I always liked Release but its role as a frequent show opener probably raises it on my list. Fenway 1, 2016, I'd not been to a PJ show in nearly two years and hearing that song sort of drift in gives me chills. I still love hearing it open on a bootleg.
I warmed up to Long Road very slowly. I heard it at Boston 3, 2003 and don't really recall reacting. But by Fenway 1 2016, it was probably nearing my top 10. I love that Fenway version. I like the 2003 version and other versions I hear live. And the studio version. I think the power behind a couple of the climaxes in 2016 along with the subtle uniqueness of the various performances is responsible for this song now being my third favorite PJ song.
Not the shows so much, but the bootlegs have probably soured me a bit on some of the eight-minute live songs. I never liked Black as much as most of you. Like most of you who are old enough, I was really immersed in Ten when it came out and liked every song. Black was somewhere in the middle. But now, listening to bootlegs so much, it is easily my least favorite eight-minute live song. It's just kinda...boring. And it's on most of the bootlegs.
Anyway, I'd be curious to see how much live vs. studio plays into your feelings about songs...
1995 Milwaukee 1998 Alpine, Alpine 2003 Albany, Boston, Boston, Boston 2004 Boston, Boston 2006 Hartford, St. Paul (Petty), St. Paul (Petty) 2011 Alpine, Alpine
2013 Wrigley 2014 St. Paul 2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley 2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley 2021 Asbury Park 2022 St Louis 2023 Austin, Austin
2013 Wrigley 2014 St. Paul 2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley 2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley 2021 Asbury Park 2022 St Louis 2023 Austin, Austin
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As for songs that I am not found of live compared to the studio version I would have to say. Indifference. It is a top 10 studio song for me easily and you would think it would have been a hit at my first show in Worcester. Imo it came off really flat and with the lights on it totally took the mood out of the song. It is not a closer and I am not sure why it is in that spot. The lights need to be out and it needs to open the show or the first encore! I would love to hear it again and hope it was just an off version as I think this is one of their best songs in their catalogue.
I would replace your selection/opinion of Black with Even Flow. For me, it’s not necessarily the frequency in which they play it (as Mike’s solos make it interesting each time), more than it is the fact that I’ve gotten tired of the faster live tempo. After a while, it just seems to take away the groove that makes that song so good. If you’ve grown tired of the song on so many boots, than just take a sec to listen to it off of Ten for the first time in a while. You’ll fall in love with it all over again!
It would be INSANELY COOL if at one random concert they did it in the studio tempo, because they haven’t done that in forever.
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One song I never tire of is Rearviewmirror. After the soloing, the slow drift back into "saw things..." is a top-5 moment at each and every show I've seen that song played at.
2013 Wrigley 2014 St. Paul 2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley 2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley 2021 Asbury Park 2022 St Louis 2023 Austin, Austin
I often skip Black and Alive on the boots just because they all basically sound the same, but I still absolutely love them live.
Hamilton 09-15-2011 / London - Canada 07-16-2013 / Buffalo 10-12-2013 / Ottawa 05-08-2016 / Toronto 05-10-2016 / Toronto 05-12-2016
Amsterdam 06-12-2018 / Amsterdam 06-13-2018 / Chicago 08-18-2018 / Boston 09-02-2018 / Boston 09-04-2018 / Quebec City 09-01-2022 / Ottawa 09-03-2022 / Hamilton 09-06-2022 / Toronto 09-08-2022 / New York City 09-11-2022 / Chicago 09-05-2023 / Chicago 09-07-2023 / Austin 09-18-2023 / Austin 09-19-2023
Columbus-2003
Cincinnati-2006
Columbus-2010
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Absolutely love it live
Liking less - Even Flow, Corduroy, Better Man and YL: great tunes, milestone songs etc. but too much too often. Just shelve them for a couple of seasons. PJ should take a leaf out of U2's current playbook where they've committed not to play anything off The Joshua Tree for their current tour, which knocks out a lot of big songs (Streets, With Or Without You etc.) and give long lost gems / fan requests like Acrobat a time in the sun.
Liking more: Lightning Bolt, Life Wasted, 1/2 Full,