Set List: Go, Save You, Spin the Black Circle, Even Flow, Daughter, Better Man, Not For You, Small Town, Love Boat Captain, Corduroy, You Are, Thumbing My Way, Given To Fly, Wishlist, Animal, Evolution;
1st encore: Last Kiss, Black, Alive;
2nd encore: Soldier of Love, Leaving Here, Yellow Ledbetter

Wow.

That is the only thing that comes to mind after last night's show. An amazing performance for the guys.

One reason ... the beautiful Southern weather. Yeah right. I flew from Iowa down to see this show, and the temperature was a mind-blowing 40 degrees at show time. Mike was running in circles through Spin the Black Circle to warm up, while both he and Stone donned 'Riot Act' stocking caps. Ed wore a flannel shirt to keep warm, and Matt went through a couple of t-shirts with nothing else (what a trooper!!). It was so cold that Ed said 'If you want to relive this show, order the bootleg, get three fans, open the freezer, and sit with your feet in a bucket of ice water.' Nice. At one point, Ed handed a Kleenex to someone in the front row, and asked us to pass it back to see how far it would go. It ended up at the top level of people (the ampitheater was about 80% full), but the lights were too bright for Ed to see. He ended up saying 'We need to get a bigger Kleenex next time.' These guys were absolutely dead set on having a great time despite the conditions, as were the thousands who jumped, screamed, sang, and partied right along side them.

As for the songs, this was the best of the three shows I have seen yet (Rapid City 98, St. Louis 2000). The Ten Club seats were great (Mike side, 11 rows back), and the guys were really jamming hard (probably to stay warm). Four fast songs to open the set, followed by Daughter, Better Man and a great version of 'Not For You.' 'LBC' rocks in person, as does an unbelieveable version of 'Evolution' before the break.

Two great encores ... I have always loved 'Alive,' so it was a perfect end to the second set. Then three more for another encore, including a great version of 'Yellow Ledbetter.'

Then, the only down side: After 'Ledbetter,' the guys all stood in their spots, Ed riffed two notes quickly, then they ran off stage. We were all sure we were getting another song ('RITFW perhaps?), but they teased us and split. All in all, a fantastic show with the band sounding as good as I have ever heard. Can't wait for Champaign and the others later on!

Thanks again 10C,
Andy Garman

I met my wife in Sept. 2000, one week before seeing PJ's two night stand in Houston (I flew down for the third & fourth show's of that tour). She has spent long hours listening to me go on and on and on about PJ. After the show Wednesday night she finally understood what I have been so adamant about for the two plus years we've been together and officially declared herself a jam-head. Birmingham in April is supposed to be warm spring weather. When we arrived at 4:30pm it was a bristling 37 degrees (the second coldest show PJ have played as Ed announced to the crowd). Sleater - Kinney opened with a cool set (they sold at least one record in B'ham). Special thanks to the 10c for absolutely incredible seats on the fifth row. Although they didn't know it, PJ played a set that couldn't have been more perfect for a first time show for my wife.

They opened with Go one of her favorites then slid into Save You and STBC. At that point Ed spoke to the crowd about reliving the experience by getting 3 really big fans, a small chair, opening the freezer, opening the refrigerator, putting your feet in a bucket of ice, putting head phones on and letting it rip. It was about that point that I swear we saw snow flurries. PJ then cranked back into high gear with Even Flow (the only song my wife was familiar with when we met as the "butterfly song") and Daughter (another of her favorites). Better Man, Not For You, and Small Town were great and went into an awesome LBC. Boom really brings something special to the already greatest live show on earth. Corduroy was really good as usual but You Are was f****ing incredible. Before Thumbing My Way Ed asked the crowd how our health was and then offered Kleenex to anyone who needed it. Then he decided it would be neat to see how far back we could pass a piece. At the end of the song he monitored the progress and it had made it to the very back (although I'm not sure he could see it). Given To Fly, Wishlist, and Animal followed with a great version of Evolution. That ended the first set with Last Kiss, Black, and Alive (my all-time favorite PJ song) rounding out the 1st encore. Soldier of Love, Leaving Here (great live) and Yellow Ledbetter ended the show for full songs.

At the end of Yellow Ledbetter Mike was finishing his usual great guitar display when he started into Sweet Home Alabama. The crowd went nuts and we thought that they would at least play one more song as Ed hadn't said goodnight even once, or asked for the house lights. They stood on the stage for a few seconds and everybody got into place for another song. They played one chord threw their instruments down and ran off stage with sh**-eating grins. It was the most unique PJ experience I've had to date and an all-around great show. Can't wait for Nashville, Atlanta, and Little Rock!