Setlist: The Long Road, Hail Hail, Who You Are, Animal, Last Exit, In My Tree, Habit, Not For You, Daughter, Dissident, Even Flow, Tremor Christ, Go, Lukin, Whipping, Corduroy, Immortality, Jeremy (original version), Black, Red Mosquito, Alive, 1st Encore: Off He Goes, Mankind, Rearviewmirror, Leaving Here, 2nd Encore: Yellow Ledbetter

Ear Candy From The Key
by: Philip Navarre (Jollymon1@worldnet.att.net)

The Key Arena was a sea of people when I first entered from the top section. Making my way down, I was second row center just about as the lights went out for the song, "The Long Road." A good choice since it at least kept the pit somewhat in control in case some concert-rookie small girls had time to realize what they were getting into and flee back a little for more stable viewing. Being a rugby player, my only concern was crowd surfers with boots that wanted to meet my face.

I think the band must have been feeling some nervousness, (here were go again) because it really was like a big send-off party playing in the hometown. (did they fly or bus to Toronto?) I liked Eddie's reference to the Emerald City and, "There's no place like home."

I was enjoying the mostly No Code songs and an always-lively Not For You when the mood swung into Daughter. Jeff's stand up bass, which makes Jeff sit down to play (oxymoron), is always a delight to watch. Also, Daughter is a song that the ending is going to be unique. This night I heard some Neil Young lyrics and more goodies like Lukin, Corduroy and my, "almost want to close my eyes song," Immortality. Even Flow and Jeremy were done but those songs to me have lost their luster from what they sounded like during the Ten tour shows and RCKNDY days. Yet Alive and Black are still as powerful today and just makes you sing out loud. (I try not to sing Black out loud because I've seen Eddie try to hush the crowd more than once.)

Everyone was smiles when Eddie announced it was Stone's turn to sing...that being the song Mankind. Rearviewmirror was played and has become a good extended jam song like Blood. Leaving Here was cool too...first time I'd heard it live. They ended with Yellow Ledbetter. Yellow Ledbetter is interesting because they never performed it live for a long time after they had it recorded. I think the fans have spoken that Yellow Ledbetter is a gem of a song, especially considering it's only a B side. Being a Hendrix fan, I loved it the first time I heard it. I guess the only thing I was hoping to see, (no, dreaming) was Chris Cornell and Matt Cameron, or Neil Young (he would be playing the Gorge the next day) come on stage for some M.A.C.C., Merkinball, or Temple of the Dog song. (I heard they did a Green River encore back east on the Vitalogy tour.)

Fan since day 1
Philip Navarre