PJ Bootleg Review Blog (Columbia 2016 Review Added!)

Veddernarian · March 2014

ForceofNature101 said:
As odd as LA2 was, I have to say that I actually think the boot sounds pretty damn good! Obviously LA1 was the better night but they were both awesome - as they were live!!

LA2 was my only show. I also have the boot, plus SD and LA1 boots. Looking at the review of LA2, one would have thought that in a year itt was raining vaginas, I got hit in the head by a falling penis. It is hard to reconcile that review and the great feeling I had coming out of the Sports Arena. A guy did collapse in front of Ed during Future Days and I think it is hard for a person to keep one's composure with a lot less than that going on in front of you. I'm guessing they inserted Evenflow after Future Days so Ed could go and find out what the heck was going on with that aforementioned collapsed guy (during the long solo). I think that's exactly what he did. Reported back to the crowd after Evenflow. The Sirens thing was unfortunate. When Ed started strumming after Mike's solo, the guitar sounded like Ed had stepped on the AFLAC duck. May Ed's tech's career rest in peace. I thought the songs sounded great. With the band mixing up so many songs across so many shows, I think it is a miracle that they get any of them completely right. Saw the Eagles a couple of months later in the LA Forum (PJ- please play the Forum next time), and their set doesn't vary from night to night. So it is meticulously rehearsed. A bit sterile. A different kind of show. PJ isn't that. So the hamburger doesn't look like it does in the TV commercial. But the show (including LA2) does have this incredible personal touch. The songs came off totally heartfelt. They sounded good and the boot sounds good too. So my take on this is that a PJ show probably shouldn't be examined too closely in a microscope. I think fun and experience comes before perfection. So to me, I thought LA2 was great and the boot is great to have and listen to.

TamaDrummer91 · March 2014

Veddernarian said:

ForceofNature101 said:
As odd as LA2 was, I have to say that I actually think the boot sounds pretty damn good! Obviously LA1 was the better night but they were both awesome - as they were live!!
LA2 was my only show. I also have the boot, plus SD and LA1 boots. Looking at the review of LA2, one would have thought that in a year itt was raining vaginas, I got hit in the head by a falling penis. It is hard to reconcile that review and the great feeling I had coming out of the Sports Arena. A guy did collapse in front of Ed during Future Days and I think it is hard for a person to keep one's composure with a lot less than that going on in front of you. I'm guessing they inserted Evenflow after Future Days so Ed could go and find out what the heck was going on with that aforementioned collapsed guy (during the long solo). I think that's exactly what he did. Reported back to the crowd after Evenflow. The Sirens thing was unfortunate. When Ed started strumming after Mike's solo, the guitar sounded like Ed had stepped on the AFLAC duck. May Ed's tech's career rest in peace. I thought the songs sounded great. With the band mixing up so many songs across so many shows, I think it is a miracle that they get any of them completely right. Saw the Eagles a couple of months later in the LA Forum (PJ- please play the Forum next time), and their set doesn't vary from night to night. So it is meticulously rehearsed. A bit sterile. A different kind of show. PJ isn't that. So the hamburger doesn't look like it does in the TV commercial. But the show (including LA2) does have this incredible personal touch. The songs came off totally heartfelt. They sounded good and the boot sounds good too. So my take on this is that a PJ show probably shouldn't be examined too closely in a microscope. I think fun and experience comes before perfection. So to me, I thought LA2 was great and the boot is great to have and listen to.

I just want to say I respect your opinion, but please don't take my LA2 review too personal. If you were at LA 2, much like every pj gig, I bet it was a blast. I understand your view on the boot, but honesty there are many other boots that are much better performance wise with mixed up sets, that are every bit as heartfelt as LA 2. If you enjoy the boot, that's awesome. I tried to be fair to what I heard on the boot and report my thoughts. It's not a stab towards the band or anyone at the gig. I'm not going to mislead people and tell them LA 2 was a good boot only because the band put on a heartfelt show, for simply the reason they almost always do.

Amongst the Ani · March 2014

Nice call on the Calgary boot. Despite the less than stellar review here I went ahead and ordered it as I loved the set list. I should have listened. Great show I am sure if you were there but out of the 10 shows I ordered boots for this is definitely the sloppiest. I have a feeling this is one that won't get into the rotation for me despite the great set list. Worst version of Rats I have heard from any boot. Timing is horrible for the whole band, especially Ed.

YLed2 · March 2014

A quick bump.

My counterparts TamaDrummer91 and boyo79 have provided excellent reviews of all the 2013 boots. Whenever I receive my box set I will also be divulging those so all three of us have a review of the most recent boots.

The blog has also been filling up with reviews from other tours as well. Hope everyone enjoys.

i_lov_it · March 2014

Thanks for this Thread kind of makes it a bit 'Easier' to choose which Bootlegs to Buy.

karmadefect · March 2014

Veddernarian said:

So my take on this is that a PJ show probably shouldn't be examined too closely in a microscope. I think fun and experience comes before perfection. So to me, I thought LA2 was great and the boot is great to have and listen to.

I'm kinda glad these guys do analyze the bootlegs. Your reaction in part makes it seem as if they did a concert review. I understand what you say about the effect it has on an artist to see someone collepse in front of them. But having many makes on a bootleg makes me look for another one if I don't have the option to listen to them all.
They release all the shows, so it's kind of handy for people to know what would be their best pick. In the end you know it's only an opinion by someone you can either use it or ignore it.

I've heard the boot and I'm not gonna buy the actual CD because there are better boots to have in my reck.
Even so it would have been great to be there as it always is. It's no surprise you had a good night.
I would have gladly used your ticket.

TamaDrummer91 · March 2014

Auckland 2014 review is up. An all around good show, looking forward to the rest of BDO 14.

http://pjbootlegreviews.blogspot.com/2014/03/auckland-2014.html

BHealy · March 2014

TamaDrummer91 said:
Auckland 2014 review is up. An all around good show, looking forward to the rest of BDO 14.

http://pjbootlegreviews.blogspot.com/2014/03/auckland-2014.html

Thanks for writing these reviews! Its much appreciated!

TamaDrummer91 · March 2014

Gold Coast 2014 review....this one didn't do much for me. Ed's vocals were very weak.
http://pjbootlegreviews.blogspot.com/2014/03/gold-coast-2014.html

Ian's got some great 2003 reviews worth checking out too. The man's covered almost all 2003, that's no easy task.

veddertown · March 2014

2-feign-reluctance said:
Maybe its a bit overstated but I really enjoyed every 13' show - more than most in recent years & I think having a fantastic record like LB in the mix is why.

I'm thinking along those lines too Chris. People can say what they want about Ed occasionally sounding fragile, the shows last year are at a new level for PJ. Not only did they sound amazing but went out of their way to make the shows interesting and unique plus they stepped up some of the personal requests to add some more intimacy and create special memories for those involved. I almost feel Ed has been inspired a lot by the way Springsteen does his shows over the years and has chosen to mimic his blueprint a little. Can't wait to see them in July!! Anyway, I just popped in to thank you guys for the blog. It's given me something else to read while I've been off work and I love reading about PJ shows.

derbydave · March 2014

TamaDrummer91 said:
I just want to say I respect your opinion, but please don't take my LA2 review too personal. If you were at LA 2, much like every pj gig, I bet it was a blast. I understand your view on the boot, but honesty there are many other boots that are much better performance wise with mixed up sets, that are every bit as heartfelt as LA 2. If you enjoy the boot, that's awesome. I tried to be fair to what I heard on the boot and report my thoughts. It's not a stab towards the band or anyone at the gig. I'm not going to mislead people and tell them LA 2 was a good boot only because the band put on a heartfelt show, for simply the reason they almost always do.

I'm still making my way thru the bootlegs from the second leg & I just finished listening to the LA 2 boot.
I have to say that your review of this boot is right on the mark!!
This boot starts off rough and it only goes downhill from there.
It's probably one of the roughest boots I've ever listened to!
Thanks so much to all the guys involved in "The Last Exit"...
this really is a valuable resource & I always look forward to hearing your thoughts on the boots!!
Now...On to OAKLAND :-c

boyo79 · March 2014

TamaDrummer91 said:
Gold Coast 2014 review....this one didn't do much for me. Ed's vocals were very weak.
http://pjbootlegreviews.blogspot.com/2014/03/gold-coast-2014.html

Ian's got some great 2003 reviews worth checking out too. The man's covered almost all 2003, that's no easy task.

14 boots left to go through for 2003....

TamaDrummer91 · April 2014

Thanks for all the kind words guys! Glad the blog can be used and serve a purpose.

Melbourne 2014 review. I really liked this boot a lot. Worth checking out.
http://pjbootlegreviews.blogspot.com/2014/04/melbourne-2014.html

TamaDrummer91 · April 2014

I swear, it seems every major show that I know people are going to check out (Phoenix, San Diego 2013) usually turns up being the shows that I find to be just average. I bet people think I hate PJ

This is one of those shows that everyone loved because of the setlist and length, but it pales in comparison to the Melbourne 14 boot IMO. Please check it out instead.

Sydney 14
http://pjbootlegreviews.blogspot.com/2014/04/sydney-2014.html

JWPearl · April 2014

I guess the bootleg must have been stolen from someones private box, if its that good....

TamaDrummer91 · April 2014

JWPearl said:
I guess the bootleg must have been stolen from someones private box, if its that good....

?

I'm just stating which I preferred.

pjfan31 · April 2014

Hey there,

Gotta say not sure I agree with you so much on the Sydney review. Having been to Melbourne and Sydney the latter was mind blowing.

I'm disappointed in the bootleg recordings because the crowd was so strong yet hardly picked up on the recordings. At times drowned Ed out. Particularly during sirens, small town, betterman and black.

Purely as a bootleg you may be right. And I appreciate that is your angle you're working on. But in my opinion, in terms of shows, Sydney blew Melbourne out of the water.

Worth a listen. you can hear Ed during betterman, elderly woman and black just praising the audience. He was in awe.

Good luck with your reviews. I enjoy reading them.

TamaDrummer91 · April 2014

pjfan31 said:
Hey there,

Gotta say not sure I agree with you so much on the Sydney review. Having been to Melbourne and Sydney the latter was mind blowing.

I'm disappointed in the bootleg recordings because the crowd was so strong yet hardly picked up on the recordings. At times drowned Ed out. Particularly during sirens, small town, betterman and black.

Purely as a bootleg you may be right. And I appreciate that is your angle you're working on. But in my opinion, in terms of shows, Sydney blew Melbourne out of the water.

Worth a listen. you can hear Ed during betterman, elderly woman and black just praising the audience. He was in awe.

Good luck with your reviews. I enjoy reading them.

Hey, thanks for reading. I would probably agree being there in person, Sydney would be better. I could tell how much fun and enjoyment Ed was having. Shows and boots don't always equate to one another, and reflect one another. I would have been stoked to have been at either. I just preferred one boot over the other. I'm sure some will enjoy Sydney boot more than Melbourne for their own reasons. That's great! I'm glad we all hear things different and approach boots differently.

TamaDrummer91 · April 2014

Just an update, I don't think I will keep posting reminders in this thread for new boot reviews for the new boots coming out. They will certainly continue to be written, but I wont update this thread. Maybe a bump every now and again though

Thanks again guys for reading and following along. You make this worth while! Many more reviews to come.

nicknyr15 · April 2014

Great job... Your site is a daily stop for me.

PJ Bootleg Review Blog (Columbia 2016 Review Added!)

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