What has been your most memorable PJ performance of a song that you've seen live

deb1211

We often talk about our favorite PJ concerts we've attended, but let's be more specific. I want to hear about that one performance within a show that stays with you to this day and why.

Feel free to share more than one if you have it! Let's reminisce!

deb1211

My biggest one is SAD from St Louis 2022. I had been having a terrible time with the unexpected loss of my Dad and then father-in-law..and to make matters worse, I dropped my healthy German shepherd off at a dog sitter that summer to go see my Mom out of state for the first time since my Dad passed away, and 4 days later got a call he was gone from heat stroke. 

So when Ed said this song is a request from a woman named Debbie..I still wasn't sure it was me but then Sad started and I slipped into a state of surreal..something between shock and pure heavenly bliss. I felt so grateful for that moment for Ed's sincerity and for that mind-blowing performance. 

And for a less emotional one, at the time of the Nashville shows last year, my tour song to experience live was Insignificance so when they kicked into it, I was happy beyond belief and it did not disappoint. They killed it!

TinaE

Black - Waldbühne Berlin 2018

lastexitlondon

A couple stand out of many great moments.
Black in Berlin and I think it was come back in Nijmegen tributes to the Roskilde victims. And the most important to me was light years dedicated to my dear friend Donna at Hyde park.
All very emotional and I cried alot

eboweddie

I always go back to 'In my Tree' Night 1 New York 2003. That version still floors me and can't believe i was there. Love it

Mike D88

Footsteps at Hollywood, FL, night one last year. It meant so much to get that song for Chris, and to share that moment with him. Listening to it again provides a big lift as I go through an incredibly long slog of physical therapy.

Before that, though, some of my favorite moments were the It's OK tag to Daughter at Fenway I in 2018, and Alive from Hartford 2014. Just a great rendition of that song and wild audience participation. 

Shaindli1

Ahem.
🤣🤣🤣

gotthebottle

Wrigley N1...2016... my dad raised me to be a California Cubs fan and my team was on verge of something big. 
My dad didn't live to see it.. he passed i. 1990.. but he was there on the field with me in the GA .  And then came Release...I lost it. 
Just the first one that came to mind...

spankyMP

Either In My Tree from Randall's Island 2 9/29/96 (seeing it live made the song click on another level and it's still one of my favorite live songs), DTE at MSG 7/8/03 (when we all felt the floor shaking. It felt like an elevator shuttering), or Better Man at MSG 5/21/10 (crowd sing along bringing Ed to tears).

spankyMP

Oh wait.....Alive Charlottesville 10/29/13, when I was second from the rail in the pit and Ed did the fake stage dive and Mike played some of the solo right in front of us.

deb1211

Shaindli1 said:

Ahem.
🤣🤣🤣

I know..I know@ It was yellow Ledbetter 💛 🤣

deb1211

Some other memorable moments

1996 - Black at Merriwether Post Pavillion
My first PJ show and front row and I dont recall the details but I remember the overwhelming emotions. A total out of body experience and I recall closing my eyes for a split second and just feeling so much gratefulness that I was experiencing my favorite band.

2018 - Given to Fly, Chicago, my first GA and had just waited through the storms and ran like a lunatic to find a new spot..I was so grateful that the show was happening and for them to open with GTF in the pouring rain felt like what I imagine heaven would be like. Immense joy..my true happy place.

2022 - SOLAT, St Louis. Although SAD 
was my personal moment, I will never forget the roar of the crowd when they kicked into the SOLAT/Breath combo. That place was rocking like Ive never experienced and I could feel the crowd pounding in my chest. In was exhilarating. Everyone from the band to the pit to the very last row was electric. Ill never forget it.

2023, Black in Austin - This was an epic Mike solo. I was sitting maybe 8 rows from him in complete awe of his wizardry. That was a complete masterclass of emotion.

2024, Setting Sun, Las Vegas n2 - Honestly every time I've heard Setting Sun feels special, but that night with my teen daughter..I felt so emotional and teary eyed. That song has an epicness about it that causes goosebumps through my entire body. I couldn't imagine a better way to end a concert. 

Gern Blansten

Present Tense @ Moline in 2014

That was the show where they did the full No Code album. When they got to PT it was just intense. Back then they always had strobe lights going off at the massive jam near the end of the song. Unfortunately they don't do that anymore with the new stage setup. I really miss that.

We All Believe

This is a great thread.

For me, old and new:

MSG 2 '98, Alive

- This was the Breath show, but for me, Alive tops it, and then some. During Mike's solo at the end, Ed tried to throw his mic up and over the lighting rig, and succeeded on the 3rd try. He then gave it a couple of pulls, and proceed to climb up the mic cord to the top of the rig, waved to everyone, and climbed back down while Mike worked a little bit of War Pigs into the solo. I'll NEVER forget this.


Jones Beach 2 '00, Daughter/It's Ok

- It was pretty perfect. The performance, the transition, the call & response. I remember dancing and jumping up & down and being happy.


Quebec '22, Purple Rain

- I listen to this bootleg all the time, and I have a little bit of video on my phone from the solo. During the final solo, when Ed first starts the oh-oh-ohs, the crowd comes in so loud on the third one, it gives me goosebumps.


MSG 2, '24, Setting Sun

- Setting Sun has been obliterating me for the past 2 years lol. I was crushed when my last relationship ended, and still am. We had always talked about seeing the band at the Garden. Before 2024, I hadn't been to a PJ MSG show since 2003. When the song started, I cried, and cried throughout.

23scidoo

DTE, Buenos Aires 2015..the craziest minutes i have experienced in PJ show..
Black, Venice 2010..very emotional version..
Go. Athens 2006..first show, first song..

deb1211

23scidoo said:

DTE, Buenos Aires 2015..the craziest minutes i have experienced in PJ show..
Black, Venice 2010..very emotional version..
Go. Athens 2006..first show, first song..

Ahh I can only imagine the intensity of seeing them in South America!

deb1211

We All Believe said:

This is a great thread.

For me, old and new:

MSG 2 '98, Alive

- This was the Breath show, but for me, Alive tops it, and then some. During Mike's solo at the end, Ed tried to throw his mic up and over the lighting rig, and succeeded on the 3rd try. He then gave it a couple of pulls, and proceed to climb up the mic cord to the top of the rig, waved to everyone, and climbed back down while Mike worked a little bit of War Pigs into the solo. I'll NEVER forget this.


Jones Beach 2 '00, Daughter/It's Ok

- It was pretty perfect. The performance, the transition, the call & response. I remember dancing and jumping up & down and being happy.


Quebec '22, Purple Rain

- I listen to this bootleg all the time, and I have a little bit of video on my phone from the solo. During the final solo, when Ed first starts the oh-oh-ohs, the crowd comes in so loud on the third one, it gives me goosebumps.


MSG 2, '24, Setting Sun

- Setting Sun has been obliterating me for the past 2 years lol. I was crushed when my last relationship ended, and still am. We had always talked about seeing the band at the Garden. Before 2024, I hadn't been to a PJ MSG show since 2003. When the song started, I cried, and cried throughout.

Setting Sun is so emotional. Im sorry for your breakup. Im emotional every time I experience that song so I can only imagine how it is when you are in that place of heartbreak at that time.

Loujoe

Off He Goes MT. EV handed me a pick after
RiTFW Toronto when neil young joined in. MC looked like he was working harder than ever-extended rocking for sure.
RiTFW fenway...played catch with Ed!! Last throw dude in front of me caught the ball. He handed it off to me. Thankfull for that.

In My Tree MT. Turned my son onto that song and they played it!

Sad into Alone London Ontario 2013? Just two of my favorite songs. Shocker.

Wash opener while riding the rail MSG.
Leaving Here same show^^setlist change up for my friend.

Mike McMelty Every gosh darn time

Long Road AZ stormy opener 

Probably think of some more. Good thread!

23scidoo

deb1211 said:

23scidoo said:

DTE, Buenos Aires 2015..the craziest minutes i have experienced in PJ show..
Black, Venice 2010..very emotional version..
Go. Athens 2006..first show, first song..

Ahh I can only imagine the intensity of seeing them in South America!

Lifetime experience!!

deb1211

I already posted so many but

Release, Hollywood 2025. I felt i would chase this song to my grave and to get this for the first time at a show that had some other special things going on for me personally, meant the world. As I wore my Oh Dear Dad bracelet trying to channel this moment..and only a few weeks after the anniversary of my Dad's passing, it finally happened and I just remember soaking it all in..looking around the crowd, looking up as to acknowledge my Dad's presence and watching Ed just melt my heart as he often does was so precious. It was well worth the wait. 

Shaindli1

Also Even Flow in Raleigh N2. It was my first time in the pit & I was right behind the rail people in front of Mike. A super nice guy called Jeremy who heard my pit cherry is being popped that night offered me his spot on the rail for the song.
In front of Mike, which is the perfect place to be! Will never forget it! 
Cheers to Jeremy if he's here!