Ed solo Toronto 2 Fanviews Here 2008-08-13

inertia · August 2008

August 13, 2008, Toronto, ON, Canada – Massey Hall
Ed solo tour - opening: Liam Finn

MAIN SET: Walking the Cow, Trouble (by Cat Stevens), Sometimes, Around The Bend, I am Mine, Dead Man, Man of the Hour, Long May You Run (by Neil Young), Masters of War (by Bob Dylan), Setting Forth, No Ceiling, Guaranteed, Far Behind, Rise, Millworker (by James Taylor), You're True, Soon Forget, Lukin, Let My Love Open The Door (by Pete Townshend), Porch

1ST ENCORE: Wishlist, Helpless w/EJ (by Neil Young), Society w/Liam, Throw Your Arms around me w/Liam, Small Town, No More, Patriot, ARC

2ND ENCORE: Old Man w/Ed on drums Liam singing (by Neil Young), Keep on Rockin' In The Free World (Ed by himself) (by Neil Young), Hard Sun

Please share your Fanviews of the show here.

inertia · August 2008

Get comfortable; it's going to be a long post.

Executive summary for the lazy:
- Awesome show
- I was upgraded to front row center
- Ed commented on my shirt and gave me his pick

Full Story
Background:
Last night I tried getting a single ticket on the floor or first balcony at a reasonable price. Didn't bother paying the high scalper prices because I had 10Club tickets for night 2 and I had just seen a show in Montreal on Saturday night.
I also tried the pre-party fundraiser, but my luck ran out after I won 2 of the prizes in the raffle. (Thanks Mel for donating the Charlotte poster) So I didn't end up going to Toronto night 1.
Instead I went to my ultimate frisbee game late, and with 5 minutes left in the game, I throw a lousy pass behind my girlfriend, who needed to twist while running to try to make the catch. She ended up tearing her MCL. Off we went to the hospital and we were there until almost midnight. She now needs to wear a knee brace to prevent the knee joint from moving until the specialist can take a look at it in 2 weeks. She said it even hurt more than the first time she tore the tendon 8 years ago when skiing.
In short, last night sucked.

Fast forward to tonight. It took almost 40 minutes to make the walk from the pre-party to the venue (I did it yesterday in under 10 minutes) because my girlfriend can't bend that leg and really needs to take it slow. We pick up my fan club tickets and they are 8th row. My intent was to trade with someone 2 rows back on the side aisle (not the center aisle, since I didn't think they would go for it) so that my girlfriend could extend her leg into the aisle. Instead, after we walk in, a very very kind gentleman upgrades us to the front row so that she could just sit forward and not need to worry about it. The seats are directly next to the center aisle, so we are sitting (effectively) front row center.

Before we head inside, I pick up the batman poster and a zippo lighter from the merch table. (They were also selling the other tour poster, but I had already got one in Montreal.) Poster in hand we chill out downstairs trying to make my girlfriends leg as comfortable as possible, because even sitting in a chair isn't great. We were coming up with clever ways to keep it elevated.

Of course we are freaking out a little when we went to our seats part way through Liam's set; and after his set ended I went along the front row, high fiving everyone who got upgraded.

It was remarkable how many people came up to the stage after Liam's set and were taking pictures of the stage setup.

Ed comes out to an extended standing O. There was the standard assortment of irritating people shouting out song requests and chanting Mr. Vedder's name.

At the first 'talking break' between songs, Eddie wants to throw his pick to me but is worried it wont get to me; so he comes to the front of the stage. My girlfriend jumps up and hobbles over to the stage to take the pick. He then proceeds to ask me about my t-shirt which features a stormtrooper mask; I just have to say Mike Watt for it to register that he and Dave Grohl bought these shirts in Toronto when they were touring with Mike Watt on the "Ball-hog or Tugboat" tour and wore the matching stormtrooper shirts on stage for their Toronto Gig. He proceeds to tell the quick story to the crowd, and then continues on with the set.

(I've been wearing this storm-trooper t-shirt to Pearl Jam shows since my first one in '96. All because of that Mike Watt rour)

Musical Highlights:
- Man of the Hour was beautiful and dedicated to Joey Ramone
- Masters of War was very powerful (as always)
- You're True was preambled by a quick story on why he hates getting requests to play peoples weddings. Since he feels like he is letting them down. He said that the only weddings he would play are immediate family and bandmates. Like playing that song at McCready's wedding.
- Let my love open the door singalong was great, splitting the audience into high voices and low voices.
- Helpless was awesome. I thought they were bringing out the second chair for Liam, not EJ.
- Liam and Ed sound really good together on Throw your arms around me.
- He was getting all set for Arc when he heard the request for Patriot and called an audible to get a guitar out there for the song.
- Arc is awesome live.
- I can't believe he played Old Man and Rockin in the Free world after Arc before Hard Sun.
- Leaning on the stage for the entire second encore rocked.

Banter was also good.
- More quips about Liam being high
- Enjoyed seeing the Toronto Skyline from the water - says it looks like Seattle, and our phallic symbol is bigger (but dirtier)
- He was going to get the idiots who shouted out Jeremy and State of Love and Trust to arm wrestle to see which one doesn't get his request (they were both going to lose)
- Nice story about the Neil Young bootleg as well.

All told; amazing, amazing night.

brokenarrow · August 2008

inertia wrote:

August 13, 2008, Toronto, ON, Canada – Massey Hall
Ed solo tour - opening: Liam Finn

MAIN SET: Long May You Run (by Neil Young)

1ST ENCORE: Helpless w/EJ (by Neil Young),

2ND ENCORE: Old Man w/Ed on drums Liam singing (by Neil Young), Keep on Rockin' In The Free World (Ed by himself) (by Neil Young),

4 NEIL SONGS???????

sorry, just had to yell that! carry on....

MrMerkinball · August 2008

Great first post and summary.

I will add a few little tidbits:

* Ed came out to a very lengthy standing ovation. Masters of War got the first musical Standing O.

*He dedicated You're True to a teacher named Gary and his wife. Ed met them earlier on and Gary's wife told Ed they are now broke because of all the touring this summer. Ed tried to make ammends by singing thema romantic song - and then he said "Don't worry - after Chicago there won't be any more touring, because I need to get back to the studio and finish the next Pearl Jam Album".

* He brought up the West Memphis 3 and how there is a hearing in a couple of weeks. He said - "I would never ask you to support something that wasn't true. I've been there to see them, I've lot's of research and I promise you this is worth your time".

*He told a story about how Neil Young saved Pearl Jam back with "that one album around 96" and when Eddie thanked him Neil said "one day you can save me back"

* He pulled out the Mandolin for "Rise" and someone yelled "Yuke"!!. Ed says "No this is a Mandolin". Then the rowdy idiots started going back and forth about it. Eddie stops them and says "I can just imagine the headlines tomorrow - RIOT AT MASSEY HALL, SINGER PLAYS MANDOLIN".

* During RITFW - Eddie's guitar comes unplugged, and the crowd carried the song until it ws fixed.

* I know everyone says this - but ARC is a major highlight of this solo show.

I might add more later in the day - I'm going on 3 hours sleep.

youngvedder · August 2008

Man, night two was phenominal. Considering night 1 was superb, Im not sure how to describe night 2, absolutely unreal.

True to his word, there were several "Uncle Neil" songs played, Helpless being one "I learned about 5 minutes before the show".

Throw Your Arms, Patriot, Old Man, and LMLOTD were great treats!

What a long show!

Thank you Ed! that was a dream come true.

Cheers,

Yv

even flow? · August 2008

Four Neil songs, ah YEAH!

Nice drumming Ed.

Thank you 10C for the seats again and thank you Ed for mixing up the nights. Not too many people do it like you and the band you are in.

meme · August 2008

Oh man... Helpless is one NY cover I have always thought Ed would nail

polaris · August 2008

i thought there was a nervous energy in the crowd - i think with each passing show ed's learned to deal with the hecklers by being more "aggressive" towards them ... you could tell early on that much of the crowd was weary of these guys and that ed wanted to keep "driving" as he put it ... so, the first part of the show was a methodical attempt to get thru the set ...

although the music was fantastic as before - the connection wasn't quite there ... but that changed from the first encore onwards ... i think the small venues inspire ed and he wanted to make the most of his time at massey hall ... his arrangement of helpless was A++ considering it was a first and that he just added it ... RITFW is always a highlight for me cuz he sings it with the conviction of someone who believes in those words (as with most of his songs) ... and hard sun is just a great closer for these shows ...

WWS · August 2008

First Uncle Neil....

A few days/weeks before the show I was trying to think of what Neil songs Ed might attempt. So I have been revisiting Neil's Live at Massey Hall recording (Brilliant BTW) I think I've been wishing on stars for weeks that Ed would play either Old Man, Cowgirl in the Sand or Helpless.

So I was very pleased with Long May You Run, I welled up hearing the first line of Helpless "There is a town in North Ontario..." ( I just got Goosebumps typing that line). Old Man was great- Liam was awesome on vocals, Ed on drums was just another part to the epic show. RITFW-If you closed your eyes you would swear you we at a PJ show. The crowd really carried the song.
The Neil stories were both interesting and funny delivered as only Eddie can...

EV songs/covers

Highlights for me...

MOTH - thoughts of Joey Ramone when composing the song - Dedicated to Joey
Millworker- painfully brilliant
MOW- powerful
I am a Patriot- a first for me.

The bar was just raised to unattainable heights!

panthergirl · August 2008

wow!!!!
sounds like an incredible show!!!!

CantKeepmedown · August 2008

Sounds like one of the better shows of all the EV solos.

Good stuff there.

eyesnoeyes · August 2008

inertia wrote:

(I've been wearing this storm-trooper t-shirt to Pearl Jam shows since my first one in '96. All because of that Mike Watt rour)

Hey, that's cool - I bought that same shirt and remember that Mike Watt show were he and Dave were flanking Mike Watt during the show - each with the storm trooper 'uniform'. I wore mine into the ground and at some point I had to let it go, but that was a cool shirt - glad it got you some attention from Ed - I think I saw you wearing it in Montreal. Thanks for the show notes, sounded awesome!

Obsidian22 · August 2008

That is fucking great. I came home last night and was talking to my guy, sharing our fav highlights. I said to him "wonder what the shirt has on it?" I saw you and your shirt. In the bar and down in the merch section. That is awesome. Next show I can bring our Stormtrooper helmut, and Darth Vader sound effects helmut. "Eddie I am your Father!"
The dudes wearing The West Memphis Three shirts were also pretty cool.

I had a great time, but was sitting in the last row T, Floors so at that angle, the hecklers were too much for us. I don't like hearing crap fly out of drunken frat boys mouths. Holy cameras flashing Batman. Much nicer not to bring a camera in. I hope Eddie has soem kinda massey Hall cd put out. He loved playing the shit out of the place too. cheers .

WWS · August 2008

I haven't looked but, was that the first 30 song EV set?

Ridin The Wave · August 2008

That show was unbelievable......

I am still shocked and amazed that he played Helpless and totally love that he did a one-manner Keep On Rockin In The Free World.

Amazing!

VOLITION · August 2008

i have never wittnessed anything like this before. The power of Ed's voice and his ability to capture the energy of that room has left me speachless.
This show will go down as one of the best Massey Hall has ever seen.

benjs · August 2008

VOLITION wrote:

i have never wittnessed anything like this before. The power of Ed's voice and his abitly to capture the energy of that room has left me speachless.
This show will go down as one of the best Massey Hall has ever seen.

Agreed. I'd almost go as far as saying that Eddie shines at Massey Hall in the way Neil does. These two nights have been some of the most special and memorable in my life. Thank you Eddie, and thank you Massey Hall - because both the artist and the venue were responsible for making these shows what they were.

ciaochow · August 2008

Obsidian22 wrote:

I don't like hearing crap fly out of drunken frat boys mouths. Holy cameras flashing Batman. Much nicer not to bring a camera in. I hope Eddie has soem kinda massey Hall cd put out. He loved playing the shit out of the place too. cheers .

Amen on the drunken frat boys and cameras. The cameras I really had to laugh about - people desperate to get a good shot from their Blackberry fifteen rows away from the stage. Relax and enjoy the show people! No use watching it from your cellphone or blackberry! There was some serious bromance going on in front of me. The drunken frat boys were on the verge of making out with one another they were so aroused by the presence of ev.

I hope there is a Massey Hall release. I caught someone filming the show from the rafters at the end and wondered if this could be a DVD release. Maybe too much a Uncle Neil rip-off considering his recent Massey Hall CD but if anyone can get away with that, it would be ed.

I went to all four Canadian shows and though my seats at last night's show were my worst of all four 10C pairs, the set was my favourite last night and there was some good energy in the crowd (night one was unbearable... listening to the crowd holler amongst themselves made me embarrassed to be a Canadian).

Patriot and Masters of War in one night. My two all-time favourite covers by ev and the two songs I said I'd most like to hear in a recent thread about ev solo show covers. Thank you to the person who requested Patriot. Someone requested it a few nights ago and ev said it was a good request but didn't play it. When he came through with the song last night my eyes welled up.

Highlights for me:
- the joke about creationism and the audience member who shouted "i don't get it". that was a perfect moment. the "ours is bigger" comment from the audience about the phallic symbols was good too - even though penis jokes aren't my thing usually
- the aforementioned patriot and masters of war
- FOUR neil songs! come on. that is ridiculously amazing. the second encore was expected to just be Hard Sun as usual... then came ev on the drums for Old Man
- the short but sweet "WMD was bullshit" rant
- the fact that i brought a friend who hadn't been to ANY concert in six years and she loved it. i mean, she really understood why i went to all four canadian dates after seeing last night's show (and admitted afterwards that she once couldn't understand why i would go to the same show more than one time)

A perfect night.

Yellow Ledbelly · August 2008

Wow, Helpless is a song I've always thought Ed would do well and one of the few NY songs I actually like.

THERE HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF OFFICIAL RELEASE FROM THIS TOUR!!

skip · August 2008

inertia wrote:

Get comfortable; it's going to be a long post.

Executive summary for the lazy:
- Awesome show
- I was upgraded to front row center
- Ed commented on my shirt and gave me his pick

Full Story
Background:
Last night I tried getting a single ticket on the floor or first balcony at a reasonable price. Didn't bother paying the high scalper prices because I had 10Club tickets for night 2 and I had just seen a show in Montreal on Saturday night.
I also tried the pre-party fundraiser, but my luck ran out after I won 2 of the prizes in the raffle. (Thanks Mel for donating the Charlotte poster) So I didn't end up going to Toronto night 1.
Instead I went to my ultimate frisbee game late, and with 5 minutes left in the game, I throw a lousy pass behind my girlfriend, who needed to twist while running to try to make the catch. She ended up tearing her MCL. Off we went to the hospital and we were there until almost midnight. She now needs to wear a knee brace to prevent the knee joint from moving until the specialist can take a look at it in 2 weeks. She said it even hurt more than the first time she tore the tendon 8 years ago when skiing.
In short, last night sucked.

Fast forward to tonight. It took almost 40 minutes to make the walk from the pre-party to the venue (I did it yesterday in under 10 minutes) because my girlfriend can't bend that leg and really needs to take it slow. We pick up my fan club tickets and they are 8th row. My intent was to trade with someone 2 rows back on the side aisle (not the center aisle, since I didn't think they would go for it) so that my girlfriend could extend her leg into the aisle. Instead, after we walk in, a very very kind gentleman upgrades us to the front row so that she could just sit forward and not need to worry about it. The seats are directly next to the center aisle, so we are sitting (effectively) front row center.

Before we head inside, I pick up the batman poster and a zippo lighter from the merch table. (They were also selling the other tour poster, but I had already got one in Montreal.) Poster in hand we chill out downstairs trying to make my girlfriends leg as comfortable as possible, because even sitting in a chair isn't great. We were coming up with clever ways to keep it elevated.

Of course we are freaking out a little when we went to our seats part way through Liam's set; and after his set ended I went along the front row, high fiving everyone who got upgraded.

It was remarkable how many people came up to the stage after Liam's set and were taking pictures of the stage setup.

Ed comes out to an extended standing O. There was the standard assortment of irritating people shouting out song requests and chanting Mr. Vedder's name.

At the first 'talking break' between songs, Eddie wants to throw his pick to me but is worried it wont get to me; so he comes to the front of the stage. My girlfriend jumps up and hobbles over to the stage to take the pick. He then proceeds to ask me about my t-shirt which features a stormtrooper mask; I just have to say Mike Watt for it to register that he and Dave Grohl bought these shirts in Toronto when they were touring with Mike Watt on the "Ball-hog or Tugboat" tour and wore the matching stormtrooper shirts on stage for their Toronto Gig. He proceeds to tell the quick story to the crowd, and then continues on with the set.

(I've been wearing this storm-trooper t-shirt to Pearl Jam shows since my first one in '96. All because of that Mike Watt rour)

Musical Highlights:
- Man of the Hour was beautiful and dedicated to Joey Ramone
- Masters of War was very powerful (as always)
- You're True was preambled by a quick story on why he hates getting requests to play peoples weddings. Since he feels like he is letting them down. He said that the only weddings he would play are immediate family and bandmates. Like playing that song at McCready's wedding.
- Let my love open the door singalong was great, splitting the audience into high voices and low voices.
- Helpless was awesome. I thought they were bringing out the second chair for Liam, not EJ.
- Liam and Ed sound really good together on Throw your arms around me.
- He was getting all set for Arc when he heard the request for Patriot and called an audible to get a guitar out there for the song.
- Arc is awesome live.
- I can't believe he played Old Man and Rockin in the Free world after Arc before Hard Sun.
- Leaning on the stage for the entire second encore rocked.

Banter was also good.
- More quips about Liam being high
- Enjoyed seeing the Toronto Skyline from the water - says it looks like Seattle, and our phallic symbol is bigger (but dirtier)
- He was going to get the idiots who shouted out Jeremy and State of Love and Trust to arm wrestle to see which one doesn't get his request (they were both going to lose)
- Nice story about the Neil Young bootleg as well.

All told; amazing, amazing night.

the MCL should heal on its own with no surgery.

ciaochow · August 2008

In Patriot, ev changed the lyrics: "I was walking with my BOYfriend, HE looked so fine, I said baby what's on your mind."

It's a very subtle way of showing just how fucking cool ev is. Singers usually change the gender-specific lyrics in covers to make them heterosexual, and here he turned that around.

Ed solo Toronto 2 Fanviews Here 2008-08-13

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***Ed solo Toronto 2 Fanviews Here 2008-08-13 ***

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Ed solo Toronto 2 Fanviews Here 2008-08-13