Halloween: The longest and best PJ show?

Force.Of.Nature

Just because a show is one of the longest, doesn't mean it automatically qualifies as the best. However, many of the best are in the longest category. I remember seeing Randall's Island 9/29/96, their longest show ever to that point, and it was my 2nd PJ show and to this day still remains one of the best I've ever seen. Here's my top shows (I've seen 27 so far)

1. Buffalo 03
2. MSG 1 - 2003
3. Randall's Island 9/26/96
4. Philly 10/30/09
5. Philly 10/31/09
6. MSG 9/11/98

Sometimes things outside of just the music and setlist make a great show. At Buffalo, we were able to park right across the street from the venue. We sat outside in 40 degree weather for 6 hours to get our tickets (that's when it was based on seniority by blocks) and we talked to some awesome people. We got 2nd row, right in between Ed and Stone. The crowd was awesome. The setlist was awesome. The Band was awesome. Eddie gave my husband his pick right after Betterman!!!! I bought an awesome orange PJ hoody. They did People have the Power which was just beautiful (and we had even heard it at Albany earlier in the week and it was still amazing). We didn't have to wait to leave because of our awesome parking spot. Everything about Buffalo was perfect, and so even though it wasn't the longest show and some setlists on paper might look better, it really was the best PJ show I've ever gone to and I still get chills listening to the boot. That being said, the last two philly shows were both incredible. But I'll give the lead to the 30th because of the setlist. Every song I wanted to hear for the most part was played, and the show had this vibe with these airy/flighty tunes (In My Tree, Given to Fly, MFC, In Hiding, etc.). The 31st was more about what are they going to play and the anticipation. The 30th was more about the experience itself, which to me is more enjoyable.

But to each their own

MG79478

breath123 wrote:

btw, I consider mansfield out of the running.

it is two seperate sets. By this logic you could say that the three mansfield nights are one show.

also, under this criteria, the gorge 05 show now has to be considered in the running as that was an opening set and a primary set. plus dirty frank elevates it into an epic show.

discuss.

Agreed, Mansfield was never in the running. Ed didn't even mention it on night 4, he mentioned State College. Doesn't matter to me, I was at Philly 4, Mansfield 3, State College, Buffalo, The Gorge. I would say I have definitely been to their longest show!

I agree with a previous poster though, State College was better. It wasn't scripted. Philly 4 felt forced. We all knew it was going to be long. Ed even complained about playing so long. State College just happened.

CantKeepmedown

It's also interesting that:

There were 101 (i think) different songs played over 4 nights in Philly.

There were 92 (i think) different songs played over 3 nights in Mansfield. There were 2 less albums, but they also played 11 or so covers.

And I'm not really sure where I'm going with this. It is fun to compare these two legendary events, though.

breath123

DM3900 wrote:

Just because a show is one of the longest, doesn't mean it automatically qualifies as the best.

Agreed. SF3 2006 was one of the best I have witnessed and it came in just under 2 hours.

NeilJam

Whether or not this is the best PJ show ever is debatable, but it was certainly my favorite of all time. I am now able to say something I haven't been able to say since seeing Radiohead at Bonnaroo in 2006: I just attended the best concert I've ever seen by any band.

ragejoe

breath123 wrote:

DM3900 wrote:

Just because a show is one of the longest, doesn't mean it automatically qualifies as the best.

Agreed. SF3 2006 was one of the best I have witnessed and it came in just under 2 hours.

I agree but there is alot more than just length goin for this show...

ragejoe

CantKeepmedown wrote:

It's also interesting that:

There were 101 (i think) different songs played over 4 nights in Philly.

There were 92 (i think) different songs played over 3 nights in Mansfield. There were 2 less albums, but they also played 11 or so covers.

And I'm not really sure where I'm going with this. It is fun to compare these two legendary events, though.

i feel so privelaged to say i was at both.. think the major diff was they ended up repeating a bunch the last 2 philly shows where as in Mansfield... I believe Yellow Ledbetter was only repeat... gotta love them repeating the 1 note from Birmingham! hahahaha