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  1. I wrote this yesterday (and will read yours, Ed, afterwards):

    2006-05-09 Toronto, ON
    A relatively short setlist compared by PJ standards but I quite like this show. Just like U2 did with all their shows in the ZooTV tour (and the 2009 shows of the 360 tour), I really like how PJ opened the shows with a bunch of songs from the album they were promoting. I love the semi-extended lead in to “Severed Hand” and the “World Wide Suicide/Life Wasted” combo pack a pretty good punch. Even “Marker in the Sand” (not one of my favourite songs, to be honest) sounds quite good. PJ didn’t do much of this during the 2003, Riot Act tour of when they were promoting Backspacer. “Avocado” might not be PJ’s best album – heck, it might be their “worst” – but at least they believed in it!

    Now if the crowd was getting a little restless, waiting for some hits, well they got them next in three strong renditions of “Given to Fly,” “Better Man” (although no “Save it For Later” ending – that comes during night #2) and “Even Flow.”

    Next comes the unremarkable “Unemployable.” I appreciate what the song is about (EV even gives a speech about it beforehand) but, for me anyway, the music itself is terrible. Did Matt Cameron write this one? I wouldn’t be surprised if he did.

    Fortunately, things change quickly for the better as they pulled out “Garden” – making its return after missing the entire 2003 tour. This is an outstanding song – probably the most underrated one of Ten if that is possible.

    Then come the hidden gem (well, not to most PJ fans) “Sad” followed very decent renditions of “Corduroy” and “Present Tense” – although EV’s hockey reference to the latter song is quite cheesy.

    The crowd seems quite grateful to hear “Daughter” (no “It’s Okay” tag, however – an essential part of the song for me now) but then comes “Grievance” – a good tune, mind you, but the momentum seemed a bit curtailed but then re-established by ripping into “Not For You” which is a classic, even though no “Modern Girl” tag was included.

    The second half of the show (or the second disc, anyway) is full of well-played hits which include “Why Go” (making its somewhat-permanent return to the setlist), “Do The Evolution,” “Jeremy,” and “Alive” as well as “Inside Job”(first time ever played live – solid tune) and “Come Back” (not one of my favourites – sounds like it’s from the 1950’s) from the new album.

    A pretty standard closing for the show – “Porch,” “Rockin’ in the Free World,” and “Yellow Ledbetter” end it. However, I think this finish would have seemed much fresher then compared to now. I have been listening to A LOT of shows from 2009 to 2012 over the past twelve months and feel the YLB ending just might need to be changed – blasphemy, I know! However, all three are classic-PJ and I would be happy hearing them during a PJ show.

    One thing I will say is that I think taking a bit of a break from the more recent PJ shows might be a good idea. Why you might ask? Well, because I think it’s safe to say that I have had my fill of “The Fixer,” “Got Some,” and, yes, even “Just Breathe” – but not “Unthought Known” (I still love that one).
  2. Maybe you can give a ratting,and highlights to each show Matt.Kinda adds to the review IMO.

    Good read.
  3. I've just watched disc 3 of PJ20 and the stat man cracks me up.
  4. By the way,the stat guy is Matt (RUMMY).

    LOL
  6. Yet I don't really like putting number ratings to my reviews - but I will for you, Ed.

    Four Stars - a very good show, although a bit short and missing a few essential tags. Highlights: the opening three songs and the sort-of-return of "Garden" and "Why Go."

  8. Hmmmm....I hope you will be involved here Ron.The more,the merrier,or is it more merry ??...LOL.
  9. i'm in Ed .. rolling T.O. n1 as i'm writing
  10. K .that's great.....good to know.....
  11. so here come the latecomer hehe

    9 may 2006 Air Canada Centre - Toronto, Ontario

    Premiere of the tour, so with all the things, positive and not, that come with it.
    As it should be for a first night of a tour “promoting” an album the show opens with a ride on some Avocado songs, definetely not my fav album. Love the little extended intro to Severed Hand that is also the best played of the first lot of songs in my opinion.
    I think the “defect” of the performance of these new songs is the attitude of trying to play and sing them as perfect as they can, understandable as they’re debuting, but this takes off some Energy leaving them a bit cold .. don’t feel Eddie eating the mic. I think they’ve better stop the first run of Avocado at Life Wasted or put other than Marker in the Sand, lets say Comatose for example. I’m not so much fond with Marker and i think it broked down the mood at this point.

    smart move the next songs .. Given to Fly, Better Man, Even Flow are a guarantee to get the audience into the show .. and the band too .. clever Better Man so early in the set, a high point for sure .. well played and Eddie in it .. loved the performance indeed. Instead an average Even Flow .. most of the song is usually made by Mike solo and i haven’t found anything particular in it, great rhytmic lines by Matt Jeff and Stoney though.

    Other “fall down” of the show with Unemployable and, i hate to say of it, … Garden .. i don’t like too much this revisited version, it suffers the lack of rage, passion .. i don't know i don't care i don't need, yeah the need to live .. too weak
    Sad .. i can’t be objective on this .. the starting riff really drive me crazy .. amazing. Getting into the fist notes of Corduroy is even a plus .. nice double indeed.

    Audience get the chance to have a spot light and Canadians don’t fail in The Present Tense and Daughter .. nice partecipation .. good performance, not the best tag (Daughter) still quite good … love the fade-in to Grievance even though to refine a bit hehe .. fair version of the latter going to the classic drum beat of .. Not for You .. song that rarely betray and neither this time i think

    Inside Job debutting .. love this song .. love the atmosphere it creates .. Stoney’s base, Mike’s notes made by jems, Eddie singing … solid debut
    Great close of the main set with a rare, at that time, Why Go .. just a couple of run in 2000 and 2003 tours if i’m not wrong .. usual energetic ending.

    And rocking beginning of 1st encore with a little false started Evolution .. pretty hot that drives audience hotter .. preparing the atmosphere to raise the temperature level with Jeremy .. band and audience definetely in it and the final progression of the song … great moment.
    After this explosion a sweet song, sweet sad lyrics .. i like it a lot even though the special occasions it will come out in the future will give it that something more of emotions and shivers .. good playing this too though
    The encore closes with the classic of the classics Alive .. Air Canada Centre follows Eddie as it must be .. Mike work better than previously in Even Flow (more still and face more over the sky i imagine hehe)

    Classic second encore with the slow start of Porch before the tough long ride jamming.
    We’re in Canada so obvious passage through Rockin in the Free World .. damn good .. they always do their best in Toronto .. don’t know why hehe

    Yellow Ledbetter to close the show that in general would be an average one (high and low) with a pretty classic set (Sad deviates a bit) and entries of new material of course. Being a tour first night gains something in the judgement .. emotion of a premiere something to set up mainly on the new songs and so on. So a ½ star more just for it

    Highlights: Severed Hand – Better Man – Sad – The Present Tense – Jeremy – Rockin in the Free World

    rating: 3 ½
  12. Good read Ron..I had the same rating..Im not big on this one at all...I love Garden,but I agree with you,this version was flat,and for me,too short.

    N2 tomorrow,or should we wait a couple days ??
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Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.