Set List: Sometimes, Last Exit, Brain of J., Hail Hail, Faithfull, Even Flow, Corduroy, I Got Shit, Pilate, Daughter/Noise of Carpet, MFC, Lukin, Wishlist, Mankind, All Those Yesterdays, Black, Alive; Encore: Do The Evolution, Given To Fly, Leatherman, Better Man, Leaving Here, My Generation, Porch.

TJovanka@aol.com
Wow!!! I was so awed by PJ tonight that I had to send in my fanview right away!

It actually starts 6 days ago in Rapid City, SD - dodging water droplets (after waiting out the hail - God's request for Hail! Hail! ?) to enter the arena. While waiting for PJ, I struck up a conversation with someone nearby who, it turns out, also comes from the Mpls area (and who spent the week with his teenage son following PJ to Missoula, Denver, and Rapid City). He was telling me how incredible the Denver concert was.

The South Dakota show was fantastic! Mike was unbelievable! It was a delight to see him getting into the music so much and to hear his jamming. Immortality, Black - heavenly!!!

Ed's vocal range was in exceptional form for the Improv - it's been a while since I heard anything done that well. Black followed by Wishlist left me with tears welling in my eyes. My new-found Mpls friend and I turned to each other after the concert was over and just said WOW! We were awestruck. We agreed to trade tapes and so I'm very much looking forward to getting the SD tape.

Now for Mpls! I wish I could give you a set list, but my memory isn't that good. I can tell you that I thought Brain of J would be a starter, but instead it was Sometimes. Fine by me! Reminded me of my first PJ concert October 1996 in South Carolina - that's how they started it then.

I couldn't have asked for much better in location. The Target Center stinks for concerts, but hubby and I were in row 8, very near the center. I could see very well and the sound (there) was superb! I was amazed that fellow concert-goers didn't trash the chairs like I expected. No mosh pit! I actually was looking forward to it (though it was nice revenge for the all-pants dude from your request area).

I must say that it started a little uncertainly - they just weren't into it yet. Ed over-stretched backwards on the second number and fell. Oops! It didn't take long of fans going nuts before they really were getting into it.

The guys were treated to a lovefest of sorts when Stone's equipment messed up for All Those Yesterdays. Very appropriate! It needed to rest. While Stone and the stage hands tried to get it working, the others waited on stage and were treated to a thunderous screaming and applause. I don't think they knew quite what to make of it.

While listening to the various songs, I thought I was hearing a little echoing on occasion. Nope. Ed cleared that one up when he stopped singing the beginning of Better Man and the crowd kept singing. Did he really get the lyrics messed up or was he having fun with us?

The guys answered nearly all of my and the Manitoba person next to me's silent requests: Mankind, Black, Porch, I've Got Shit. They were clearly amazed at Mpls' reaction to them. Jeff and Ed and particular looked incredulous as everyone was going nuts for Alive and others. If it were possible to roar the roof off that place, we would have done it.

The only problem? PJ violated a Mpls "rule". When the crowd goes nuts during the concert and for the first encore, you've got to do a 2nd encore. I was surprised they didn't plan it in - everyone else does or they'll never get out of there. A loud boo came out of the crowd when the lights came on. Sure surprised the people tearing up the stage! We very much wanted, and expected, to hear more and didn't get it. I'm not the only one who desperately wanted to hear Yellow Ledbetter and didn't get it (2 nights, no less!). The local DJ's were saying on the radio this morning that they were going to stay and scream all night until PJ played Yellow Ledbetter. Didn't hear the chants though.

I didn't think it was possible to top the SD concert, but PJ did it! Hubby and I both agree that this was even better. The guys were feeding off the enthusiasm of the crowd and put their heart into it. I can't thank them enough! I've died and gone to heaven.

fix_ty@yahoo.com (troy)
An awesome show and set list. They came out and Ed said good evening and they went into Sometimes, which was a switch from their heavier openers lately. Then very cool versions of Last Exit and Brain of J., Hail, Hail was next and Ed showed his appreciation for the fans who had behind the stage seats by singing the last verse to them with his back turned to the main arena area. Faithful next and during the part where he sings the letters M.Y.T.H. he looked liked he signed them as well, very cool. Even Flow was next and McCready is a rock star, his solo was amazing. extended tight and very cool. Corduroy came up and Ed dedicated it to Frank Black and said "I'm very aware I'm standing in the same spot Charles did and the significance is not lost on me"

I Got Shit and Pilate were next followed by Daughter and the tag Noise of Carpet. Man the crowd was awesome singing almost loud enough to be backup. MFC and Lukin followed and then Wishlist which Ed changed the ending verse to " I wish I was a radio song, the one you could turn up, I wish, I wish, I wish, I wish I suggest it's time to stop". Then Ed saw a sign and said "this is for you fucker" and Stone said "I'm gonna sing one" and Mankind followed. All Those Yesterdays followed with the line "don't you think you oughta rest" and Stone's guitar went to shit and Ed said "I guess he does." During the ensuing 3 or so minute delay all the techs were rushing around trying to fix the problem and said "take your time, we're just hanging out" he also said that "all tour he's thinking Chicago, Chicago, but he didn't expect this and it was significant and we made a mark." The crowd was so loud and he said "he'd had to see what it'd be like when we win the finals"(NBA).

Black followed w/another killer solo by Mike and also another one during Alive, which was next where he played behind his head again. They left the stage then and man the crowd was just insanely loud and of course they came out for an encore. The first song was Do The Evolution and Ed walked to the side of the stage like a caveman just like at Alpine. Given To Fly was next followed by Leatherman. Then came Better Man which Ed started by beginning w/the second verse and then stopped, but the crowd continues w/the next line and Ed laughed and said "gotcha, that's good, but it's the second verse" and then he promptly began the song normally. Leaving Here was next, which was cool for the first time on tour. Then Ed went into what seemed an almost impromptu My Generation, very mellow compared to other times and then went into the first few lines of Porch, but it was the new funky version until about the 5th line where it went into the jammin' version and at the end the lights went real dim and they all huddled in front of Cameron and played together in a little circle.

Other related things: I was outside the target center and saw this dude that looked familiar from alpine who was on stage there (like a road crew guy). I asked him what his name was and it was none other than Smitty. He was carrying a camera and I asked if that was the SmittyCam and he said yeah. Blah, blah we went on for a few minutes talking about set lists and stuff, but I asked him about taping and he said its cool to bring in personal recorders, but no pro stuff. I guess he would know the true policy and what the band's been saying so there you have it. The best show I've seen of PJ and now since we "left our mark" hopefully it won't take another 6 years before they come back. Troy