Reading, PA 2004 - Vote For Change Show

Sobelberg8

Hi all. In next week's episode of Live On 4 Legs we're looking to get a little political as we find ourselves closer to the midterm elections. We'll be covering the 2004 show from Reading, PA that took place during the Vote For Change tour prior to that year's Presidential elections. As always, we're looking for your stories and memories from this show to help us cover all of our bases. Email us at LiveOn4LegsPodcast@gmail.com or comment below to let us know what your thoughts from this show.

As far as politics go, our goal is to do our best to keep our current event opinions to ourselves in order not to alienate those listening that may not feel the same way as we do. This is an important time in the band's history as they've always been outspoken with their beliefs and we feel that with the election that will be held within the days following this episode's release there's no better time to cover it then now. We will be encouraging folks to vote, but will not be persuading votes in either direction as we respect those who have their own opinions that may be similar or differ from the show. Thanks, friends!

a5pj

Great show, met Mike outside the venue signing autographs (was too shy to say much but got my ticket signed). I think Boom was there too but he wasn't singing anything/much. I think that was the first time Sad was ever played. Tim Robbins was a very cool opener. 
Have to go back and replay this concert soon.
Wish they would have made that Vote for Change dvd...

2-feign-reluctance

I attended the best show of the tour, Fox Theater in STL. Kerry was such an awful choice for the Democratic slot that year. Ugh. Guaranteed another 4 years of Bushy Jr.

Milestone

 2-feign-reluctance said:

I attended the best show of the tour, Fox Theater in STL. Kerry was such an awful choice for the Democratic slot that year. Ugh. Guaranteed another 4 years of Bushy Jr.

Also, Florida and Ohio guaranteed another 4 years for Bushy Jr in 2004.

On another random note... I was in Seattle the night of the 2000 election, which was obviously stolen.  I was seeing Widespread Panic at the Paramount.  After the show, I knew Bushy Jr won because people were literally crying in the parking lot afterwards.

cdlongroad

2004...It was an exciting time that ended it dissapointment with the election. 

The show in Reading was indeed great. Smaller venue, so lots of good seats. The band had a great night, clearly energized by the cause and the crowd. One distinct memory was that the far back center row people were sitting directly in front of an old metal scoreboard. They would bang on the metal during the show to make noise and Eddie liked it. 

possomists

I bought seats directly behind matt cameron for this show. I made a glow in the dark sign that said Camerons Corner. The whole band saw the sign and made Matt turn around to check it out. He handed me his drumsticks at the end of the show. I asked him about it two years later, and Matt had no idea what I was talking about. Ill never forget it though.

bigbiggzy

Hands down one of my most favorite shows. Great crowd and the band was in such a unique space - They played lights out that night. Check the setlist if you haven’t already - some great performances of gems they weren’t always playing during that era. Def Vault worthy.

For me - The time between Riot Act and Self-Titled was so fun and the band was really morphing imo. The 04 & 05 stretch of shows def stand out (and that’s saying something for a band this prolific). Great chapter in this bands history. 

Indifference

I was at the show - great time -DEBUT OF SAD!  first time seeing Death Cab as well.  A lot of details here:
http://www.twofeetthick.com/concert-chronology/pj2004/
10/01/04 – Sovereign Center: Reading, PA [140m] (Vote for Change Tour)
attendance: approx 9,000
support act: Gob Roberts, Death Cab for Cutie
Ed’s pre-set: Don’t Be Shy, Growin’ Up
set: Love Boat Captain, Animal, Brain Of J, Do The Evolution, Nothing As It Seems, Insignificance, The American In Me, Gimme Some Truth, Given to Fly, 1/2 Full, Sad, Go
enc 1 (acoustic): Soon Forget, Elderly Woman, Masters Of War, Nothingman, Crazy Mary
enc 2: Last Kiss, Daughter/(Blitzkrieg Bop), Bleed for Me, The New World (w/Tim Robbins), Alive
enc 3: Baba O’Riley, Yellow Ledbetter 
notes: After Ed finishes his preset, he says he’s going to read a statement, opens up a piece of paper and talks about bringing a conservative senator for Pennsylvania on stage to give the conservatives fair time. An old man with his legs draped in a flag comes out in a wheelchair and he begins to play a song while the crowd boos. He takes hold of the microphone and seems to be electrocuted and he falls and the lights go down. But when the lights return, it was all an act by Tim Robbins and the Gob Roberts set begins. Poor acoustics at this venue and a stack blows to make it worse. A big highlight is ‘Sad’ (a Binaural outtake appearing on the Lost Dogs release), played at a live show for the first time tonight. The acoustic set begins with Ed saying, “Anybody who is undecided, if you think about it, being undecided is really dangerous, and I have a perfect example: people with mullets. That’s indecision. “Do I want it short? Do I want it long? I just can’t take a stand.’” Then he introduces ‘Soon Forget’: “This is for the rich guys, the really rich guys, who love it when you don’t vote.” Ed later teases that will play ‘Bushleaguer,’ but instead play a “love song” (‘Nothingman’). Tim Robbins helps out with ‘The New World’ again. Mike totally misses his solo in ‘Baba,’ then realizes he needs to play (with Stone and Ed both looking his way) and botches it

a5pj

cdlongroad said:

2004...It was an exciting time that ended it dissapointment with the election. 

The show in Reading was indeed great. Smaller venue, so lots of good seats. The band had a great night, clearly energized by the cause and the crowd. One distinct memory was that the far back center row people were sitting directly in front of an old metal scoreboard. They would bang on the metal during the show to make noise and Eddie liked it. 

ah I remember that, they wouldn't stop lol

100 Pacer

I seem to recall the local paper’s review bashing fans for trashing the city.

Dr.Teeth and the Electric Mayh

Tight show. Thinking back the highlights to me were Sad, Nothingman, and Bleed For Me. 

CopperTom

Most absurd ejection ever.  Supposedly,  it's the same idiot ejected from Hampton 2016.

Dr. Delight

100 Pacer said:

I seem to recall the local paper’s review bashing fans for trashing the city.

Didn't happen. Reading was already a shithole.
Saw the MTV crew out front when I first arrived. Met Tim Robbins and shook his hand out in the concourse before the show.
Great show. The pre set was fantastic.

Sad debut. Nothingman was fantastic. Scored front side section seats from fanclub.

Sobelberg8

CopperTom said:

Most absurd ejection ever.  Supposedly,  it's the same idiot ejected from Hampton 2016.

Care to elaborate?

CopperTom

Sobelberg8 said:

CopperTom said:

Most absurd ejection ever.  Supposedly,  it's the same idiot ejected from Hampton 2016.

Care to elaborate?

I had last row floor.  The ejected fan was up the front.  3 security guards carried him out and boy was he thrashing.  I forget the explanation at this point.  He used to post at RM.  He was from Scranton.  Boy, I remember terrible details.

pjhawks

One thing I remember about that show was seeing Tim Robbins in the lobby and thinking how enormous his head is.   I still can picture it. just an enormous noggin

cp3iverson

For some reason i skipped this show.  Should've gone.   I definitely remember MTV airing a minute or two of it

Spiritual_Chaos

Would have been a dream come true to see the Toledo show.

KN219077

Spiritual_Chaos said:

Would have been a dream come true to see the Toledo show.

That would make a great vault release 

ceska

I missed the pre-set because there was/is a grade crossing near the arena and a freight train blocked us for like 20  minutes.

bigbiggzy

ceska said:

I missed the pre-set because there was/is a grade crossing near the arena and a freight train blocked us for like 20  minutes.

Yep.  We were delayed getting in as well.  

URthekey

I was 11th row, Mikes side. Jeff threw a shirt out to me and I caught it.
 During Masters of War was the first time I learned Ed had a kid when he changed the lyrics to ‘for threatening my baby, just born & just named’ 
Also i remember a sick Crazy Mary.
Heres a pic of the T shirt-

TresentPense

I drove to this show from southern CT. I remember it taking like 4-5+ hours to get there in Fri night traffic, and not being able to find parking anywhere near the venue (so I parked illegally in some neighborhood and hoofed it a ways, I think), and barely made it to the seats for the opener. Met by buddy who drove up from Philly at the show. It was a long trip home that night but worth it.

my2hands

We would normally play Bu$hleaguer here, but we're gonna play a love song instead... EV Reading 2004

Sobelberg8

TresentPense said:

I drove to this show from southern CT. I remember it taking like 4-5+ hours to get there in Fri night traffic, and not being able to find parking anywhere near the venue (so I parked illegally in some neighborhood and hoofed it a ways, I think), and barely made it to the seats for the opener. Met by buddy who drove up from Philly at the show. It was a long trip home that night but worth it.

I'm from southern CT, whereabouts are you from?

PureandEasy

Great show, great time with great friends, left the next morning for long drive to Toledo.  I love PJ and the memories.  

bigbiggzy

Stellar performance of Brain of J

...(among others)

Sobelberg8

Thanks again for sharing your stories. Episode is available now, check any of the links below to listen.

TresentPense

Sobelberg8 said:

TresentPense said:

I drove to this show from southern CT. I remember it taking like 4-5+ hours to get there in Fri night traffic, and not being able to find parking anywhere near the venue (so I parked illegally in some neighborhood and hoofed it a ways, I think), and barely made it to the seats for the opener. Met by buddy who drove up from Philly at the show. It was a long trip home that night but worth it.

I'm from southern CT, whereabouts are you from?

I lived in Stamford in 2004; am in Westchester County NY now. You?

Get_Right

The sound was absolutely terrible on that night. Worst sounding PJ gig I have ever been to.   Seemed like an eternity to get back to NY after this show. Not one of my favorites.

Sobelberg8

TresentPense said:

Sobelberg8 said:

TresentPense said:

I drove to this show from southern CT. I remember it taking like 4-5+ hours to get there in Fri night traffic, and not being able to find parking anywhere near the venue (so I parked illegally in some neighborhood and hoofed it a ways, I think), and barely made it to the seats for the opener. Met by buddy who drove up from Philly at the show. It was a long trip home that night but worth it.

I'm from southern CT, whereabouts are you from?

I lived in Stamford in 2004; am in Westchester County NY now. You?

Just moved from Newington down to Stratford