*** Grand Rapids Fanviews 5/19 Here ***

Man...thanks for the music you sent me and others....you Rock and so did I...

aaronmc wrote:

This show was my 16th and after reading all the posts I felt like I had to point out how the idea that this was an exceptional crowd was way overblown. I was sitting just in front of the luxury boxes and most of the people in the boxes were watching the Pistons game inside the box for most of the show. Also there were many empty seats in the top rows. Back in the old days when the shows were sold out and everyone was completely into the show, this really added to the whole experience. I know that everyone wants to believe that the shows they attended were the "best ever", but most of the time this comes across as kind of silly. That's the impression I got reading most of the posts about this show.

People in boxes are never fans.... and it was an important Pistons game, I even caught a glimpse during a concession run..... The crowd was better than any Van Andel show I have been to. There were a few empty seats toward the top, but that was barely noticeable...

I don't think every show is the "best ever". In fact, the last Denver show I saw kinda blowed. The 2000 10th aniversary show in Vegas was the best till I saw the GR show..... I think the phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" thing applies here. If it's your favorite show, than hell - it's your favorite show.

Peace.

Zoso wrote:

I have heard a lot of PJ bootlegs over the past 6 years but this show is possibly the best I have heard (by far this tour especially)... wow that is a very nice setlist with some of my very fav songs... i.e. Parting Ways, Sad, Around the bend, Off He Goes, HTI, Crazy Mary and Blood... Just imagine actually being there...

I went to 8 of the 16 shows on the first leg, and for me, this was the best show. I was at the Chicagos, GR, Phillys, DC, and NJ's. As Eddie said at the end of the show "Grand Rapids. Who Knew?" This was clearly the one show of those 8 that the band was most relaxed, as well. Maybe it was the small venue/approx 8000-9000 people there, or maybe it was due to the energy in the front because of the "new blood". I don't know. If I had to order the shows from best to worst it'd be GR, NJ 2, NJ1, Chicago 2, DC, Philly 2, Chicago 1, Philly 1. Of course, this is just my preference, but it's based on setlist and how the band actually played. DC is ahead of Philly 2 because the band was more "on" that night.

Got my rapids poster framed. What a night. I should hook speakers up to the frame and play nothing but this show over and over again

Rapids
http://www.flickr.com/photos/70681352@N00/168137683/

__________________
So i'll just lie down and wait for the dream
Where i'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me.

7/26/98, 10/8/00, 6/21/03, 9/9/05, 5/16/06,
5/17/06 - (WOW), 5/19/06 - (DOUBLE WOW), 5/20/06

My first show was at the tiny Deltaplex and still is probably my favorite....but if any show competes it's the show at Van Andel. I walked out of there completely spent with a smile on my face. The energy was awesome from start to finish and everyone around me on the floor was just freakin' out. You could tell they were all having fun. He made a comment about Chicago having nothing on Grand Rapids.....which was true, but I think if they came back to Chicago on a Friday or Saturday it would be a different story. I saw four in a row and this one was BY FAR the best. I got the poster and the ticket stub framed for the memories.

nightfly107 wrote:

I didnt make it to that Deltaplex show i figured wasnt a full set so i didnt want to go, heard it was ok. I think i made a wise choice as the show at Van Andel was a classic.

The wise choice would have been to see both. The delta plex was an awsome show , smaller venue.

Best show of the 1st leg. Period. And the best show I have personally been too. Beats out Toledo for the VFC.

Great concert, great vid

see quote in sig.