Originally posted by EDDMB:On a slightly serious note......we do need to pick up the pace (if possible) gentlemen...today is Jan 15....as of today, we have only completed 4 shows....
Chicago 1 (2006-05-16)
Often we save are “overall” rating of a show to the end of the review but I think I’ll start by saying that this show warrants five-star consideration.
We start off with the beautifully epic (or epically beautiful) “Release” – still my favourite opening songs and one of my favourite PJ songs altogether. Off the top of my head, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a performance of this song that I didn’t like. No, I don’t think they should open with it every night but I do hope they play it at the next PJ show that I attend.
As per “usual” for this 2006 tour, the band promote the biggest three songs (WWS, LW, and SH) on the new album early in the show and I still enjoy the sequence very much. They follow the trio with “Comatose” (which isn’t the greatest) but I do think it works relatively well in this position. In previous shows, they’ve played it much later in the setlist and it kind of killed the momentum of the barrage of PJ classics. I think they we wise to check it off early on.
Now on to some 1990’s stuff...
Like “Release,” I rarely hear a bad version of “Given to Fly” and this was no exception. “Low Light” follows and, surprisingly, I really enjoyed this night’s performance. It seemed less subdued than usual and I really enjoyed. No matter how many times they play it, you’ll never hear me complain about “Corduroy.” It’s a “top three PJ song” for me. I love it. There’s something so mystic about the lyric, “Everything has changed, absolutely nothing’s changed” that I’ve never been able to get out of my mind.
For the second time, “I’m Open” is played on the tour – much cleaner this time around – which segues nicely into “I Got Id/Shit,” which I love. I’ve always appreciate the emotion that EV pours into the song, lyrics like “I fight back with my mind” have always struck a chord with me – and I love how it seems to end quietly but then the band jumps in with a powerful finally. It’s just a great tune.
“Even Flow” is played. Classic. I’ve always felt that the group can pretty much play anything after this song – you can be rather revved up when it ends so it’d be okay to keep the energy flying but it’d also be appropriate to play something slower or even something new. Just not “Unemployable.” I’ll move on.
Thankfully a very strong “Daughter” follows (still “It’s Okay” – yet) but they do include an excellent “W.M.A.” tag so that (almost) makes up for it. The crowd eats this one up.
Even though I find it quite silly how they relate Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to the theme of “Present Tense” (much like they did with the Maple Leafs when they played Toronto), the performance is outstanding. The crowd does a great job singing “back up” vocals.
The band doesn’t waste any time when PT ends and they burst into a full on version of “Do the Evolution” - a very nice build up with these last three songs. Good selection, Eddie.
After talking to/about a long-time fan in the crowd, “Jeremy” begins. Nice version, although I prefer it when EV sings the first chorus as opposed to moaning it.
“Save You” provides a jolt to this show (not that it needs it). It’s one of those high-octane songs that (for just a brief moment) makes me want to get into a mosh pit. Admittedly, it’s not as strong as similarly paced songs like “Spin the Black Circle” or “Brain of J” but I still like it.
Mike McCready shows off his stuff to close out the main set with “Porch.” This was one of those Led Zeppelin-esque versions that clocks in at over ten minutes. Sometimes I’m not in the mood for it but this time around it worked for me.
Encore 1 opens with a good version of “Better Man. Once again, no tag but I suppose a song as good as this one should be able to hold its own. “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” follows. Great song but it was just played the other night so it may have been nice if they opted for something else, be it a cover or one of their own songs. “Come Back” follows. I’m trying to appreciate this song but it might be a bit too late in the set for it. At least they got it out of the way as opposed to interrupting a wonderful sequence of “State of Love and Trust,” “Black,” and “Alive” – a great way to close the first encore. I prefer “Alive” here as opposed to preceding “RITFW” (or some other cover) and “YLB” to end the entire show. Anyway, it ain’t over yet!
“So this is how you beg and plead when you don’t want to leave, EV states and then the band bursts into “Go” – a stunning version. Need more from Vs? How about an intense version of “blood” to nearly close out the show? PJ would never end it now and they break into a beautiful version of “Indifference.” Thanks for a great show guys. We can go home now...right?
Wrong.
“Baba O’Riley” immediately breaks out (yeah, this is better than RITFW.) The crowd erupts. Admittedly, EV’s scream at the end of the first chorus isn’t as good as it often is but you can really fault him too much – he had sung “Blood” not too long ago.
They could have ended it there but, what the heck, why not play “Yellow Ledbetter” to close out the show? I enjoyed this version, if only because they had already played so much!
Highlights: Release, (surprisingly) Low Light, Corduroy, I Got Id, Daughter, Present Tense, SOLAT, Black, Alive, Go, Indifference.
Rating: Once in a while you have to give a show five stars. This concert is one of them.
