Evolution
I really hope this doesn't come off as a thread complaining about the tours, the band or the setlists. But it's the internet, so I kind of expect any nuance that I might be able to weave into the thoughts below might be missed. So I'll just say this is coming from a place of love, hope and appreciation for everything I have witnessed in my years experience the best live band on the planet.
My first show was on the Vs. tour in 1994 when they band was pretty much playing their entire catalogue to fill a set. I think they opened with RVM that night, Ledbetter was in the middle of the set and they closed with STBC, which they hadn't even played in the Atlanta show that we all listened to on the radio the week before. In between then and now I have been lucky enough to see the band 25 times or so. I've been at marathon gigs (Halloween in Philly), REALLY short festivals spots (Global Citizen) and have seen them open for Petty and the Heartbreakers. I loved the sweet spot of those 30 song shows they were playing seemingly all the time between Backspacer and Lightning Bolt where they got new stuff in, played favorites for the casuals and snuck 4 - 5 deep cuts in every night. At one point along the way though, I noticed that I wasn't really as in the moment at some of the shows as I should have been. When something like Jeremy or Even Flow would start for the 20th time I would kind of drift off. Then a couple years back I took my niece to a couple shows in Canada and watched the show through her eyes for the first time. Seeing the whole arena celebrate Jeremy and sing it together was fucking incredible and I was annoyed with myself for taking it for granted.
I have been approaching every show as my last these days. I appreciate the energy of the shorter setlists (as do my 48 year old legs and my 48 year old bladder). I miss the depth of the setlists but still appreciate the artistry that goes into re-arranging the flow nightly and the treat of the more rare deep cut or 2 that they are still able to work in. Every song they play - whether it is a new one I haven't heard before, or a radio hit for the people who only like Ten and Vs., I try to appreciate it as if I will never get the chance to hear it again. I key in on Jeff or Matt if I have never watched them during Mike's solo or try to enjoy the whole scene and remember what made me love the song in the first place. To appreciate that I have been so lucky to see certain songs played almost two dozen times. What a life.
I won't get to see the Dark Matter tour in person til they get back stateside and hit the east coast at the end of summer and I got tickets to as many shows as I could. I like that they are continuing to evolve and experimenting with a multimedia vibe with the video wall, even though it changes how experimental they can be with the setlist, particularly the Dark Matter chunks that seem tidally locked to the visuals, but I am along for the ride and excited to see how they approach this new style of show in person, especially on the latter leg. It's pretty cool that they are playing a good amount of the new record, as it is great and I felt the same when they got deep into Gigaton on the last tour (RIP Who Ever Said being a staple in the set list - was hoping that would find a permanent home).
I am going to try to keep approaching each one as my last, cause who knows? When I first listened to the new record - specifically Upper Hand and Setting Sun - I got hit with the idea that this is it in some way. It feels very final to me. In many ways like a bookend to Ten. There seems to be a lot of finality to it. That could be totally in my imagination, but I can't shake the feeling that this might be the last big tour. Hope I'm wrong, but either way - really looking forward to September.
My first show was on the Vs. tour in 1994 when they band was pretty much playing their entire catalogue to fill a set. I think they opened with RVM that night, Ledbetter was in the middle of the set and they closed with STBC, which they hadn't even played in the Atlanta show that we all listened to on the radio the week before. In between then and now I have been lucky enough to see the band 25 times or so. I've been at marathon gigs (Halloween in Philly), REALLY short festivals spots (Global Citizen) and have seen them open for Petty and the Heartbreakers. I loved the sweet spot of those 30 song shows they were playing seemingly all the time between Backspacer and Lightning Bolt where they got new stuff in, played favorites for the casuals and snuck 4 - 5 deep cuts in every night. At one point along the way though, I noticed that I wasn't really as in the moment at some of the shows as I should have been. When something like Jeremy or Even Flow would start for the 20th time I would kind of drift off. Then a couple years back I took my niece to a couple shows in Canada and watched the show through her eyes for the first time. Seeing the whole arena celebrate Jeremy and sing it together was fucking incredible and I was annoyed with myself for taking it for granted.
I have been approaching every show as my last these days. I appreciate the energy of the shorter setlists (as do my 48 year old legs and my 48 year old bladder). I miss the depth of the setlists but still appreciate the artistry that goes into re-arranging the flow nightly and the treat of the more rare deep cut or 2 that they are still able to work in. Every song they play - whether it is a new one I haven't heard before, or a radio hit for the people who only like Ten and Vs., I try to appreciate it as if I will never get the chance to hear it again. I key in on Jeff or Matt if I have never watched them during Mike's solo or try to enjoy the whole scene and remember what made me love the song in the first place. To appreciate that I have been so lucky to see certain songs played almost two dozen times. What a life.
I won't get to see the Dark Matter tour in person til they get back stateside and hit the east coast at the end of summer and I got tickets to as many shows as I could. I like that they are continuing to evolve and experimenting with a multimedia vibe with the video wall, even though it changes how experimental they can be with the setlist, particularly the Dark Matter chunks that seem tidally locked to the visuals, but I am along for the ride and excited to see how they approach this new style of show in person, especially on the latter leg. It's pretty cool that they are playing a good amount of the new record, as it is great and I felt the same when they got deep into Gigaton on the last tour (RIP Who Ever Said being a staple in the set list - was hoping that would find a permanent home).
I am going to try to keep approaching each one as my last, cause who knows? When I first listened to the new record - specifically Upper Hand and Setting Sun - I got hit with the idea that this is it in some way. It feels very final to me. In many ways like a bookend to Ten. There seems to be a lot of finality to it. That could be totally in my imagination, but I can't shake the feeling that this might be the last big tour. Hope I'm wrong, but either way - really looking forward to September.
I suggest you step out on your porch...run away my son...see it all...oh see the world // I wait on the porch...hoping someday I'll be let in
Springfield, MA 4/6/94 -- Boston, MA 4/11/94 -- Hartford, CT 10/2/96 -- Hartford, CT 9/13/98 -- Mansfield, MA 7/2/03 -- Reading, PA 10/1/04 -- Albany, NY 5/12/06 -- Milwaukee, WI 6/29/06 -- Mansfield, MA 6/30/08 -- Toronto, ON 9/21/09 -- Philadelphia, PA 10/31/09 -- Worcester, MA 10/16/13 -- Hartford, CT 10/25/13 -- New York, NY 9/26/15 -- New York, NY 5/2/16 -- Boston, MA 8/5/16 -- Boston, MA 8/7/16 -- Boston, MA 9/2/18 -- Boston, MA 9/4/18 -- London, UK 7/8/22 -- Hamilton, ON 9/6/22 -- Toronto, ON 9/8/22 -- New York, NY 9/11/22 -- Chicago, IL 9/5/23 -- Chicago, IL 9/7/23 -- New York, NY 9/3/24 -- Philadelphia, PA 9/7/24 -- Philadelphia, PA 9/9/24
Springfield, MA 4/6/94 -- Boston, MA 4/11/94 -- Hartford, CT 10/2/96 -- Hartford, CT 9/13/98 -- Mansfield, MA 7/2/03 -- Reading, PA 10/1/04 -- Albany, NY 5/12/06 -- Milwaukee, WI 6/29/06 -- Mansfield, MA 6/30/08 -- Toronto, ON 9/21/09 -- Philadelphia, PA 10/31/09 -- Worcester, MA 10/16/13 -- Hartford, CT 10/25/13 -- New York, NY 9/26/15 -- New York, NY 5/2/16 -- Boston, MA 8/5/16 -- Boston, MA 8/7/16 -- Boston, MA 9/2/18 -- Boston, MA 9/4/18 -- London, UK 7/8/22 -- Hamilton, ON 9/6/22 -- Toronto, ON 9/8/22 -- New York, NY 9/11/22 -- Chicago, IL 9/5/23 -- Chicago, IL 9/7/23 -- New York, NY 9/3/24 -- Philadelphia, PA 9/7/24 -- Philadelphia, PA 9/9/24
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astoria 06
albany 06
hartford 06
reading 06
barcelona 06
paris 06
wembley 07
dusseldorf 07
nijmegen 07
this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
And you're not crazy with your thoughts as I wondered to myself if this might be the last album/big tour we see by the band. The album does have a celebratory "closure" feel to it if you will. And one particular lyric in Got to Give stood out for me that might suggest we're nearing the end, it's when he sings "Getting to the point, got nothing left to sing". I'm probably just reading too much into things, but one thing is for sure, this ride won't last forever and the end of the line is closer to reality than it's ever been. So enjoy the music & as many live shows while you can.
I've never understood the dislike for the hits. I enjoy Even Flow every time I hear it. Sure, there are song I'd rather hear instead, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy it every time and I'm certainly not running off to the bathroom when it comes on.
I've sometimes wondered what the end will look like. Will there be a farewell tour or show, will there be a PJ40 send off? Or will 8 years pass without any news and we realize its been over for a while?