Which bootlegs are you listening to right now?

Phoenix 2013. I just got the CDs in the mail. I may be biased because I was there, but wow. Its awesome.

New York night #2 2008

Oklahoma City 2013
In my opinion this is the best bootleg of the 2013 tour up to this point, just edging out Hartford. All around, OKC was an impressive showing from the band.

No Pendulum opener tonight! Jeff keeps the band in synch for a couple weird timing moments in the Wash opener, still a sultry initiation to the gig. Pair that with Sometimes, and you have an opening combo which works wonders together to set the mood. Furthermore, it's the edgiest and most driving take of Sometimes I've heard in a while. Matt is more prominent during chorus, which gives it a sense of being heavier than normal. Small Town allowed me to notice how beautifully punchy the rhythm section sounds between Matt and Jeff. Next, the typical LB-MYM combo to get the crowd rocking. Matt adds some snare rolls during the bridge of LB, first time I've noticed him do that; a cool little effect. Actually, it's one of the tightest versions of LB on the 2013 tour. DTE early in set, after MYM, is a lot of fun. The crowd is mixed very low, so the sing along in the middle isn't as effective. This has more to do with mixing, less the crowd. Animal wasn't played as frequently in 2013 as many of the tours prior. It's played a lot slower here, close to studio tempo. Ed's vocals are surprisingly pretty strong, better than he sang it in much of 2012 and 2013. Let the Records Play immediately starts after Animal. In my opinion, this is without a doubt the best version of the song yet in 2013 LB tour (edging out the version in Pittsburgh). Everyone is perfect and spot on. Ed's scream before the chorus is so raspy in texture but strong too. Ed says after the song is over and the crowd is cheering very loudly, "See Jeff, I told you we should come down here more often." Also as Ed notes, a little MFC for OKC is next. He doesn't get the lyrics 100% correct but it's still a convincing performance. Jeff bass, especially in the intro of the song, is heaven to my ears. The same applies to In Hiding, making a melodic Yield duo. It's not the best rendering of In Hiding, but it's still enjoyable.

Jeff steals the show though; he is pleasantly high in the mix. As much as I love 2012 PJ boot mixes, Jeff's bass tone here and in Dallas 13 is thick, warm but with hints of bright overtones. It doesn't get much better for Jeff Ament fans! Even Flow, much like Animal prior, is a little slower and groovier. 11 songs into this show, here's the report: no major errors by the band, the set's flowing so beautifully, and Jeff's bass is killing me because it is just that glorious. During the solo in Even Flow I noticed the guitar textures for Mike and Stone are a little more crunchy and rich than many other 2013 LB boots. I would go as far to say that this is the best sounding mix out of that lot so far. Much like the previous gig in Dallas, Ed mismatches the lyrics in Sirens but I feel this version is more energetic luckily. Whipping is effective in getting the tempo back up. Jeff again is extra potent. The Vitalogy rocker is played well here by all and is a lively performance. There are a few moments of Ed letting a note ring out between Whipping and Unthought Known. Little flow devices like that, intentional or not can shape the ebb and flow of a gig. This time it worked to create a hint of suspense in wondering what song was coming next. Matt is full of energy throughout much of Immortality, adding many different quick rhythms and patterns than normal. The performance of Infallible here is one of the better ones yet, with Ed and Jeff sounding particularly strong. A quick Wishlist makes an interesting 11th hour appearance right before a solid RVM closes this truly impressive main set. The jam in RVM sounds dissonant at times. Matt and Mike are in one time signature, Jeff and Stone in another. PJ are one of the few bands to do this well and not be inordinately sloppy.

Ed tells the crowd about how Jeff sticks it in his face that Jeff went to college, Mike sticks it in his face that Mike went to ‘pizza college’, and he says, “I won't tell you what Stone sticks in my face!" I couldn't stop laughing. Then a couple purpose (marriage) on stage; the female purposes to the guy. You can hear her perfectly on the boot, and it's a touching little moment. Of course Just Breathe would have to follow that loving situation to open the first encore. Yellow Moon and Parting Ways back to back is next, and both are stellar versions. Having those two together is pure bliss. Matt's toms have the right amount of attack (clicky or wet sound) and depth. It is Matt's tribal drumming that makes Parting Ways for me, and he puts forth a good showing. A tight play on Jeremy follows, and Ed in particular sounds full of energy. Supersonic too has a sense of positive spirits, and was tighter than I thought it would be. Satan's Bed is another surprise of the night. This is assuredly one of Ed's best performances of the rarity, and an all-around great version. It's considerably better than Philly 2 2013, which was pretty good itself. Porch finds Mike adding lots of catchy riffs towards the end of his solo, excellently concluding the fantastic first encore.

Last Kiss is played to the back, it's just your normal version but the ending of the song did sound extra lively. SOLAT-Black-Alive is a Ten-era trifecta. Ed's vocals are beautiful in Black and he adds a lot of extra vocal melodies. There's a few timing issues in Baba O'Riley, one of which could have been a disaster, but they handle it fairly well. That was probably the most noticeable error of the show, and it's not even that bad. A dependable Ledbetter finishes us off.

As noted in the beginning, OKC received a wonderful show. The bootleg is the best sounding one so far in the 2013 LB tour. Jeff in particular sounds absolutely phenomenal throughout the entire gig. It's a tight performance from all, no major errors and only a few very minor ones that do not distract greatly. The setlist has a few rarities that should appeal to those who go for that sort of thing (Wash, Parting Ways, Satan's Bed, and Supersonic). More importantly, the set flows effortlessly and creates an enjoyable ride. I too thought it was one of Ed's best nights of the tour; performance wise he is mostly spot on. Along with Dallas, OKC will go down as the most underrated gigs of the tour. I enjoyed almost every second of this one.

Phoenix 2013
The Long Road-Release opening is utterly captivating and beautiful. Mike and Stone's gentle riffs in Long Road stood out to me more than usual. It's the best version of the song on the LB Tour so far. Interstellar Overdrive takes us directly into rock mode, Mike's work sounds particularly interesting and kind of dark. His solo, along with Matt's drumming, in the ending of Corduroy is breathtaking. Matt is really kicking it up a notch, a brief different pattern to spice the ending of the song up. LB next is no surprise, but flows sprightly from Corduroy. Matt is just on fire early on, adding many snare rolls and quick bursts of pure energy.

The next handful of songs severely lost me in terms of flow. MYM is an average play on the live staple. GTF immediately follows MYM. I am not sure these work that well together, but don’t feel as weird as the next few songs. Getaway is played for only the third time. It's much better than Charlotte, but New Orleans was a more convincing version. It's not too sloppy here but just doesn't have the edge and bite that the studio version does. Ed still doesn't sound very comfortable with it yet. This takes us into one of most awkward set flow decisions of the whole tour, Yellow Moon. It looks strange on paper and feels wrong in terms of set flow; especially coming out of Getaway. It just doesn't work. Even Flow gets the tempo back up, and then Sirens drops it again. In my opinion, that was just too much up and down in terms of tempo in a short period of time. I appreciate a dynamic setlist, but these past few songs just don't mesh well together in that order.

The show flow gets back on a better footing with Daughter, but it is a very much average play too with a somewhat stale WMA tag. Wishlist continues the mid tempo flow. After the bumbling flow of the aforementioned songs, this section of songs has a sluggish flow unfortunately. Infallible doesn't really change that mid tempo, vanilla feeling. Luckily the performance is rather good though. The band is definitely tighter in leg 2 than leg 1. The show finally gets the shot in the arm it needed with DTE. Ed screams his ass off and is full of life. Jeff and Ed put on an excellent performance in 1/2 Full, stronger than normal as both sound very much "into" it. Before Betterman, Ed tells the crowd that both Stone and Jeff's parents have been together for over 50 years respectively. Ed notes that through a friend of his real dad, he was able to hear a recording of his real dad singing in a band. It took him a few beers to get through it emotionally, but his dad could actually sing well. Go ends the main set, but Ed sounds strained a little tired vocally.

Next is the encore that had everyone talking. Bee Girl and Around the Bend are spot on. Those looking for that latter, a super rarity, will be pleased. Not having been played at a PJ gig since 2006, I was surprised it sounded remarkably tight. Unfortunately Ed fumbles the lyrics early on in Future Days, mumbling his way through it. Another rarity, Hard to Imagine, proceeds and is another solid take. I slightly prefer the version in Baltimore 13, but this one is still great. Having it paired with Footsteps is pleasant. Ed's vocals on both are ear pleasing. Alone is next, fulfilling the rarity collectors' hunger even more. Jeff really stands out on this one. It's basically on par with the excellent version at Hartford in Leg 1. Down is given a run; Matt has to flick his snare wires back on in the beginning, after taking them off in the end of Alone. Unthought Known-Porch concludes the encore. Stone does that catchy hard rock riff that he started in Baltimore that's just so damn fun.

Small Town starts the second encore, following it is STBC. Both are dependable versions but nothing really stood. Mike has a brief moment of guitar trouble early in Alive. Jeff has a few moments where is bass sounds thunderous in Alive though. I believe it was a gentleman from the E Street Band that plays guitar on RITFW tonight. He doesn't add much to the song in my opinion. I'm sure it means a lot to the band to have friends on stage, but as far as critiquing the boot, it only takes away from the song. His backing vocals don't sound in synch with Ed’s and the guitar playing is average I guess. Indifference closes, Ed sounds distracted a few times during the song.

Out of the first 3 boots of leg 2 2013, this one is ranked last for me easily. In my opinion, it's neither as tight as Dallas or OKC, nor does the set flow as wonderfully as those two. This one reminded me a lot of Baltimore from leg 1 2013. Both have great setlists, and both are decent performances. The critical problem is the set flow is so hard to follow. There's very little ebb and flow to this one as a result. To be clear, I know there are boot listeners who don't really care about set flow. We all judge shows differently, but this one didn't quite reach my criteria. I'd rank it just below Baltimore and towards the middle of my list for 2013. Phoenix isn’t a bad boot, but its lack of a fluent setlist makes it rather average in comparison to many other boots.

Brooklyn 19/10/2013

I listened to Charlottesville 2013 today
with snippets from Montreal 2011 (1/2 Full, with Michael McFuckin' Cready introduction afterward), and Bristow 2010 (Y Led with a full on MIke star spangled banner)

Costa Rica 2011

Oakland 2013
What a sloppy show! Ed was pretty hammered by the end and not in the best voice and the band was off on a lot of songs. This sounded so much better live and did not transfer well to boot. Funny how that is. Oh well, I still had a good time!!

dogmatt said:

Oakland 2013
What a sloppy show! Ed was pretty hammered by the end and not in the best voice and the band was off on a lot of songs.

That's also what I thought that night. It was my least favourite show of the 4 I saw. Still, I had a great time. And I will buy the boot too, soon.

I'm currently listening to Philly 2 2013. And while listening to that show the mailman delivered me the Philly 2 poster! What a timing!