Set List: Small Town, Off He Goes, Thumbing My Way, Thin Air, Breakerfall, Green Disease, Corduroy, Save You, Ghost, Cropduster, I Am Mine, Love Boat Captain, Gods' Dice, 1/2 Full, Daughter/(War by Edwin Starr), You Are, Rearviewmirror;
1st encore: Bu$hleaguer, Insignificance, Better Man, Do The Evolution, Yellow Ledbetter;
2nd encore: Soon Forget, Don't Believe in Christmas by The Sonics

The trip was set... Orlando to Seattle and back in 4 days... a lot of string pulling at work and a credit card that was in danger of spontaneously combusting would result... but it had to be done!!! Ryan had won tickets from the 10 club (Thanx 10! You guys are awesome!!!) and she picked me to go with her (Thanx Ryan!!!) and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that wouldn't be passed up. Arriving in Seattle on Friday evening we did what any other diehard (A.K.A. fanatical) fan would do... we walked to the Showbox. Tickets were going for $400 so we decided to have some drinks and dinner across the street. The conversation: "WOW!!! I wonder what they're playing right now?" "I wish we could get in!!!!" "Three thousand miles and now we're 30 yards away... so close yet so far." We finished up and the beer buzz coupled with the jet lag had us heading to the Hotel... we took one look at the Showbox marquee and decided "Muffled PJ from outside would be better than none at all."

We stood outside with a group of about 15-20 people... and listened to the guys through the walls & in between dumb remarks by the security guards. Faint and distant as it was, we loved it! "...swingin' for the fence... got lucky with a strike." Then to my amazement a few folks began walking out... (why???!!!!) including two really drunk, snotty girls: "Uhh! What are you guys waiting for?" The anger from within' rising... "To see your breasts!" I shouted back (although not as polite). Which drew a laugh from everyone. "... in our Insignificance." A few minutes later the guards let a person or two from the group inside... "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" That would be unreal!!! "Can't find a Better Man..." The next thing you know more people walk out... and a finger is pointed in our direction!!!!!!!! "Go ahead! If it wasn't for you I wouldn't even be here." Ryan moves with the swiftness of a sprinter down the stretch and she's inside... for some reason I knew I would soon follow. "Do the Evolution!!!" I look at the guards and thought "you know I'm in there soon... let me go! We're wasting VALUABLE TIME HERE!!!" A police officer walks out and the guard lets him pick the next lucky entrant... he barely gets his arm up and I'M ON MY WAY!!!!... as fast, but not as gracefully (almost falling over the rope).

"It's so small... my GOD!" I head down to the front... I'm right there... 10 feet back and right in front of Ed and Stone. Yellow Leadbetter begins and I'm just in awe! I remember the camera in my pocket and furiously take pictures... A tug at my arm... it's Ryan and the biggest smile I've ever seen. Mike is going off!!!!! There's Boom!!! The stage is so small... they look so close together... We're so close!!! It sounds different.. not better or worse... but different. The band leaves and Eddie returns to show us his early x-mas gifts... some kind of FX pedal. "... with no note... so thank you... whoever gave this to me... and this..." Ryan and I yell "Yuke! Yuke! Yuke!" We still don't know how we knew, but sure enough... an electric Ukulele!!! Soon Forget. Ed finishes with a great Townsend-esque round of windmilling... classic!!! "Please one more... YES" I don't recognize it... oh... an x-mas song... Truthfully I'm a bit disappointed. Later Ryan would say "Hey! They sang us a x-mas song... and what a gift! Would that ever happen again?" She was absolutely right... I treasure every moment of that night... it was sweeter than anything I could have hoped for... just 3 songs... but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I would like to change my response to those girls who came out: "That... That is what I'm waiting for... For that... I'd wait forever."