Ed solo before opening band: Dead Man Walking
Set List: Release, Breakerfall, Brain of J., Get Right, Ghost, Immortality, Whipping, Not For You, Off He Goes, Help Help, 1/2 Full, MFC, You Are, Better Man, Save You;
1st encore: Go, Corduroy, Glorified G, Even Flow, Alive;
2nd encore: Fuckin' Up, Baba O'Riley

Greetings.
Well, where do I start. Just hours before the show was to start here in Kansas City, the clouds began to roll in. As Idlewild took the stage, it got darker, and the darker still, and by their last song, it was absolutely pouring down rain. They seemed to enjoy it, the lead singer said something about the rain looking "Scottish" which I thought was pretty funny. So anyway, Idlewild played for about an hour and we got a nice surprise right before they came on, Ed came out and did an acoustic version of Dead Man Walking all by himself, which was real nice and it was quite ironic, it was sprinkling right before Ed came out and as soon as he walked out on stage, it stopped, it was kind of like "Eddie has entered the building" it was great. It took quite awhile for the roadies to get Idlewild's gear down and get PJ's gear up and covered and that sort of thing, almost an hour and a half, and I was really surprised the crowd didn't grow restless once, we were already soaked and the rain was still coming down in sheets and we all figured PJ would put on a great show for us especially for enduring the cold and wet conditions for as long as we did.

With it still raining, I heard that little ringing of guitar riff that is Release, it was a beautiful way to open the show, before getting onto the rockers like Breakerfall, Brain of J, Get Right, then slowing it down for Ghost, and a breathtaking Immortality, which was a real treat along with Whipping, which I was shocked they played. Before Whipping, Ed said "This is a nice little song about getting beat up" or something to that effect. Then came one of my personal faves Not For You, Matt Cameron's unmistakable beat right before the riff, you knew what was coming and they rocked it just like they always do. Off He Goes and MFC were also pleasant surprise in the first set. I must say though, I kind of figured the show would be a little short because of the rain, but I was kind of disapointed to see them go backstage after Save You, I guess I just didn't think they had played very long, about an hour I guess, but it just didn't seem very long.

No real surprise with the encores, but Glorified G was great and they did a real good Even Flow, during the solo, Mike came out into the crowd and played for a few minutes and when he climbed back onstage, he fell right in front of Jeff, and they all laughed about it and Mike just kind of went with it and played on the floor and made is way back up, it was classic. I was very happy to hear Fuckin' Up and especially Baba O'Riley, the both sounded very tight and it was a great show. Ed seemed real appreciative that we all stood out there and waited in the rain for them, and they didn't disappoint.

My only complaint is that I have lived here in KC for all my 23 years, and never in my life have I seen such terrible service i.e. concessions, merch. I bought a poster and program before the show, and as it started to rain, I went to see if they would let me go put my poster in my car, but rudely they said no, they wouldn't even give me a plastic bag to try and preserve this stuff in, finally I had to ask a concession lady for one of those tube like bags that goes around a row of cups, and she was the only nice person I found out there all night. Through all my best efforts, the poster is ruined, the program is ruined and I am really disappointed about that. I would however, like to thank the bands for not making us stand in the rain in vain, however long it took, they made it out there and made sure we got what we paid for and for that I am most appreciative. It was indeed a memorable night, and I am sure one that none of the fans or the band will soon forget.

The theme of the show is "I Don't Need a Raincoat, I'm Already Wet"

The entire evening was a downpour. I was so soaked, and my clothes were so heavy that I could barely dance.

But the rain was good in that it kept the fair weather fans at home, and we were able to move up closer. We spent most of the concert in row C - center section.

It took forever to get into the venue, the security was tight and they acted like nazis. They didn't allow cigarettes, lighters, or purses.

Finally we got in, and we hear Ed's voice on the loud speaker, and he starts into Dead Man Walking. We had to run fast down the hill to get up close. I was standing right in front of Ed and took two pictures.

Idlewild is a fantastic opening band. The last time I heard them was in a small bar, and the sound was not that great. They were outstanding yesterday and I can't wait to see them again tonight. Since I saw them at the club show I've been chatting with them on AOL, they're really down-to-earth dudes.

Our friends were all debating about what the opening song would be. They thought it would be Breakerfall, I was voting for "Sometimes"

Breakerfall ended up being the second song.

Not many songs from Ten or Vs were played, which I thought was a good thing because I'm sick of hearing those songs i.e. small town, rearviewmirror, daughter, jeremy. I would rather here material from Vitalogy - which is what we got. I also didn't want to hear I am Mine or Love Boat Captain - and we got all the riot act songs we wanted to hear, except Thumbing My Way, which I hope to hear tonight.

I am very happy I got to hear Dead Man Walking and Baba O'Riley. Those are two of my all time favorites.

None of the songs had long jams, but must of them were extended slightly and had extra solos.

The biggest highlight of the night was when MIKE McCREADY CAME INTO THE CROWD AND PLAYED THE SOLO OF EVEN FLOW RIGHT WITH US. HE CAME DOWN INTO THE CROWD AND PLAYED FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE FIRST TWO ROWS, AND THEN DECIDED TO COME IN FURTHER. HE WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY MUCH CROWD SURFING WITH HIS GUITAR AND PLAYING THE ENTIRE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When Mike got back on the stage, he slipped (the stage, along with everything and everybody else, was very wet) and fell down and laid down for a while. He kept playing.

During the Even Flow solo, Ed knelt down to light a cigarette. He was having a lot of trouble because it was raining so hard. I was right in front of Ed, and I gave him a peace sign with my fingers, and he looked right at me and gave me a peace sign back.

Something rather odd happened at the end of Save You, which was the last song of the main set. Towards the end of the song, Ed picked up his microphone stand, and screwed on the base of it as if it had been loose or something. Then at the end of the song he slammed the microphone stand into his monitor - and he was looking very angry. He immediately turned around and walked off the stage, as the roadies and the rest of the guys in the band were preparing to play another song. They all looked at each other in a very confused way and then shrugged their shoulders and left the stage.

When Ed came back out he wasn't mad at all, and he told the crowd how much he appreciated us sticking around in the rain storm. He said that yesterday when they were in Arkansas they stopped by and visited the West Memphis Three guys in prison and they wanted us to know that it could be us wrongfully imprisoned because we are just like them, and we need to appreciate our freedom and that we live in Kansas and can enjoy the open spaces.

The entire show was fucking intense. Alive, Even Flow, Whipping and Baba O'Riley especially. While watching the band I was thinking that they play just as hard as they did back in the early 90's - sometimes even harder.

Ed tossed two tambourines into the crowd during Baba O'Riley, and I almost caught one.

Oh well that's pretty much all I have to say right now. Enjoy the mp3's and I'll be talking to you all again soon.

Love,
Keiv