*** Wrigley 2 Chicago, IL Fanviews Here 8/22/16 ***

I really enjoyed both shows. I was in the pit for both nights. They really did pack the people into it, but we got there before doors each day (around 5pm night 1 and 4:30 night 2) and ended up about 12th row in the centre. Totally regulated our dehydration so we didn't have to deal with washroom breaks.

Night 1 was pretty good, they even dug deep for a few rarities, but I'd seen them before. It was the covers that really got me. Never thought i'd see Masters of War live, and Mike slew the dragon on that one. Never though I'd here I am a Patriot either. I loved the cover of Surrender. I think it might of been the first PJ show I'd been too where I'd actually heard all the PJ originals live before (well except for All The Way.. which is an Ed solo, but it was new to me).

Night 2 was even more epic. Black Red Yellow with Dennis Rodman... never thought I'd hear that one live. Wasn't even on my wishlist. Was frigging awesome. Deep was the last long I'd never heard live from Ten, so that was killer. I used to play the shit out of the Great Woods '98 bootleg, and it always starts with Ed solo'ing Throw your Arms around me, so I got pretty excited for that one. Hadn't heard it live in a long time. Don't Gimme No Lip was awesome. I totally though we were going to get Mankind (which I've seen a number of times) but they pulled out Don't Gimme No Lip. Sonic Reducer was was epic and it felt good to finally get my White Whale. I could tell when Ledbetter started that Ed was trying to get the to rush it so they could do something else. I assumed maybe a Baba or a RiTFW but they came closed with I've got a Feeling! Epic!

I thoroughly enjoyed these shows. First time I've flown for a PJ show. Friend of mine moved out there and I wanted to visit anyways, so PJ playing on my Birthday made everything come together. I'm glad I went out to them.

My only issue is now I feel like I've really seen a wide swath of PJ's catalog. Most of the songs I haven't seen are the wierd hard to play album tracks or maybe a song per album that's eluded me live. I keep thinking it'll get harder and harder for PJ to bust out new stuff for me, but they keep finding a way. I hope that doesn't stop. I get pretty excite when I hear something live for the first time

It's amazing. Just going back and re-reading this thread brings back so many wonderful memories and good thoughts!

Well here it is one year later. Been sittin' on this last bit of Sour Diesel since I walked out of Wrigley. Gonna turn it to ash this evening. What a fucking awesome night.

Just listened to this boot again. Goddamn was this show incredible. Everything about it - the band was so tight, Ed sounded great, the setlist was phenomenal, the Worm came out for BRY, beautiful weather. Undoubtedly one of the best shows I've ever been to. 

I can make an argument for Seattle 2 2018. But no doubt this show was the best from a damn good tour. 

mschostok said:

Zod said:

To counter the argument.  I saw 3 shows in 2016 (Pemberton, Wrigley I and II), and also saw the Seattle 2018 shows.

My favourite is Pemberton.  Amazing setlist.   They headlined a festival but I think they were still up there for 2 hours 40 minutes, so they didn't have to shorten it too much.   A mixed crowd of PJ veterans and young people having their minds blown.   It's the boot I go back to the most for 2013 to 2018 shows I went to.   It also doesn't hurt that it was a PJ show without all the hassle of a regular PJ show.  No lineups anywhere.   We showed up around 5pm to support a local artist that was playing (and we wanted to Noel Gallagher too).   No lineup to get in.  No line up at the merch booth.   No worries about missing out on a shirt and a poster.   When Noel Gallagher finished his set a bunch of people left and it was super easy getting a closish place up front.   And it was a beautiful outdoor show.

If I'm choosing between Wrigley II '16 and Seattle II '18.. that's so close, I'm not sure who to nominate as the winner.  They were both amazing.

The big thing I liked about the Wrigley '16 shows is they almost seemed more like home shows than Seattle.   Given that Eddie grew up there, he's way more nostalgic for Chicago than Seattle.  His stories from those shows really made them feel like home shows, which made them even better.

Interesting, I honestly don't think I've ever listened to a song from the Pemberton show, I'll go YouTube some of them now.

And yes, Seattle II 2018 was obviously an incredible show - Mark Arm, Kim Thayil and that setlist was killed, that goes without saying. But as Ed gets older, there are of course going to be shows where his voice just isn't cooperating - Wrigley II 2016 was not one of those nights. He was ripping songs like SOLAT, Animal, Deep, Comatose, Sonic Reducer and Blood with somewhat ease (he was understandably pretty dead by Blood). And I've always felt that when Ed's voice is on, he's confident and will attempt to hit notes he sometimes doesn't even think about, and the bands feels that and feeds off of it, which happened at Wrigley II. 

Yeah I'm not sure I ever heard Pemberton either.  I think the sets of Wrig2 and Sea2 were amazing and the band was absolutely on fire.  Night 1 of Wrigley was better than night 1 of Seattle though.  The band was super nervous and just kind of 'off' in Seattle 1.  They knew it and Ed addressed it too. 
I also think with stadium shows, the seats mean everything to the experience.  I was fortunate enough to be in the pit for all of these, so my memories are all positive.  

mschostok said:

mrussel1 said:

mschostok said:

Zod said:

To counter the argument.  I saw 3 shows in 2016 (Pemberton, Wrigley I and II), and also saw the Seattle 2018 shows.

My favourite is Pemberton.  Amazing setlist.   They headlined a festival but I think they were still up there for 2 hours 40 minutes, so they didn't have to shorten it too much.   A mixed crowd of PJ veterans and young people having their minds blown.   It's the boot I go back to the most for 2013 to 2018 shows I went to.   It also doesn't hurt that it was a PJ show without all the hassle of a regular PJ show.  No lineups anywhere.   We showed up around 5pm to support a local artist that was playing (and we wanted to Noel Gallagher too).   No lineup to get in.  No line up at the merch booth.   No worries about missing out on a shirt and a poster.   When Noel Gallagher finished his set a bunch of people left and it was super easy getting a closish place up front.   And it was a beautiful outdoor show.

If I'm choosing between Wrigley II '16 and Seattle II '18.. that's so close, I'm not sure who to nominate as the winner.  They were both amazing.

The big thing I liked about the Wrigley '16 shows is they almost seemed more like home shows than Seattle.   Given that Eddie grew up there, he's way more nostalgic for Chicago than Seattle.  His stories from those shows really made them feel like home shows, which made them even better.

Interesting, I honestly don't think I've ever listened to a song from the Pemberton show, I'll go YouTube some of them now.

And yes, Seattle II 2018 was obviously an incredible show - Mark Arm, Kim Thayil and that setlist was killed, that goes without saying. But as Ed gets older, there are of course going to be shows where his voice just isn't cooperating - Wrigley II 2016 was not one of those nights. He was ripping songs like SOLAT, Animal, Deep, Comatose, Sonic Reducer and Blood with somewhat ease (he was understandably pretty dead by Blood). And I've always felt that when Ed's voice is on, he's confident and will attempt to hit notes he sometimes doesn't even think about, and the bands feels that and feeds off of it, which happened at Wrigley II. 

Yeah I'm not sure I ever heard Pemberton either.  I think the sets of Wrig2 and Sea2 were amazing and the band was absolutely on fire.  Night 1 of Wrigley was better than night 1 of Seattle though.  The band was super nervous and just kind of 'off' in Seattle 1.  They knew it and Ed addressed it too. 
I also think with stadium shows, the seats mean everything to the experience.  I was fortunate enough to be in the pit for all of these, so my memories are all positive.  

Oh wow I didn't know that at all, I'll have to check that out. But you're right, seats are absolutely important, but even if you're far back (which I was at Wrigley II) you gotta make the most of it. 

Yeah I'm glad the baseball shows are/were gone in 20.  If you're in the pit, great.  But once you're out of the pit, every seat in an arena is better than a stadium seat.