Ed solo: You've Got to Hide Your Love Away before opening band
Set List: Release, Even Flow, Save You, Help Help, Given To Fly, Cropduster, I Am Mine, Lukin, Not For You, Corduroy, I Got Id, You Are, Small Town, Insignificance, Alive, Porch, Blood;
1st encore: Gimmie Some Truth, Love Boat Captain, Better Man/(Save It For Later), Glorified G, Evolution, Rearviewmirror;
2nd encore: Fortunate Son with Sleater-Kinney, Rockin In The Free World with Sleater-Kinney

I could not have wished for a better show!!! Thank you 10 club and thank you Pearl Jam for great seats!!! Wow! I never thought I would hear a set like this...this was one of those shows that you read about but never get to see. Ed came out as a pre-show warm up and did Hide Your Love Away and that was a treat! Sleater-Kinney was really really good. I have never heard any of their stuff and I was really entertained! Its great to see real women playing kick ass rock and roll, and really enjoying themselves! During their set I could see Stone and Matt hanging out on this side of the stage...this was a real treat because they seemed so relaxed and easy going. I was good to see that. But on to the show... First Release as an opener was absolutely fan-frickin-tastic and powerful...but that was but a glimpse at things to come. The uber highlights were Lukin, I got ID and THEN...BLOOD! Woo-hoo! It was great to have the guys pull something out that isn't heard that often...and it seemed like it wasn't a planned part of the setlist....after Porch Ed went over to Stone and then Mike and switched up the set and I'm so glad!

The encores were something special...a breath of fresh air (unfortunately missing the "Breath" we were all hoping for) Gimmie Some Truth was great with some of the words changed to reflect the times. Better Man w/ Save it for Later was wonderful and Glorified G was a real shocker....I thought the band hated that song.....I'm glad it made the set because it will make the bootleg that much more special. Fortunate Son w/ Sleater-Kinney was really good as was Rockin' in the Free World....these two bands look like they have so much fun together....good energy. All in all the band looked good, Ed was somewhat chatty....I liked the comment about Mike's apparel and how they have a fashion consultant now because they don't get attention from Music Television like they used to and the consultant told Mike to wear sandals....with duct tape to keep it "edgy" ...relaxed but edgy was the look that they were going for. Ed said this with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Ed was pretty animated with Townshend windmills and jumps that would have made Daltrey proud. He seems so comfortable in his skin nowdays...as does the rest of the band. The only political statements made were Ed saying that the most important thing to do is Educate Ourselves.......and something along the lines of no matter what the opinion is...just have one and make it known. Well, said. I've seen the band 4 times and this was by far the best show....I can't wait for D.C in July....see ya all there.

Tuesday nights show had several highlights. First, thanks to the Ten Club for excellent seats as I had 3rd row center. I have been a member since 95.

I wondered how the new albums would sound live and was glad to hear the new songs rock. The band came out with little fan fare and the main change that I noticed was no fun toys or candles on top of the amps. Highlights of the show for me were Release as I had never heard this song live and think it is a great opener. Save You and Help Help sound so much like the old songs. Cropduster and I am Mine showcased how the new songs fit right in with the old as Lukin, Not for You and Corduroy pushed the limits on how sonic the boys can be. But the best groove in my opinion was the grouping of Alive, Porch and Blood. Eddie had the crowd "ahhh ahhha" and singing away on Porch. Several comments on Mike having a busted toe and having to wear sandals. Otherwise not much comments from the band. Before Help Help Eddie says he thinks of this song when watching the news. Several folks including me tried to get them to play Bu$hleaguer but no luck. I got Id was one song I had wanted to hear them play and they delivered. Also Gimmie Some Truth was a treat.

The encore with Sleater Kenney was perfect as Fortunate Son and Rocking the Free World kicked. It was fun to see Eddie and the singer from SK dancing and singing away. The drummer for SK played part of PJ kit and I thought she was going to break the skins on Rocking. The light show was very simple and when they went into some unbelievable jams during You Are the lights went off except for 2 blue lights and the band just torching! I would say that was the highlight for me as I felt I had returned to the 70's when the Who would just destroy the stage with their intense sound.

The band has matured into one of the best live shows you can see for all out rock and roll. The influences of Neil Young and The Who as well as Mountain can be heard in the guitar solos and jams but Eddies voice is so hypnotic that I just can't get enough.