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

"Well, Kansas City, you've really out done yourselves" --Eddie

I arrived at the venue exactly 3 hours before, as stated in the ten club, to get tickets, except that the booth opened 4 1/2 hours earlier than the show, still the best tickets I've had yet at Sandstone.

It started out as hot and humid, and then all hell broke loose. We got to our seats and during the second song from the opening band Idlewild, the rain came, and didn't leave.

The opener played maybe two more songs before they stopped and cleared the stage, we waited for our band "rain or shine" as my ticket read. I don't know if all the rain reminded PJ of home or what, but for every drop of rain that hit me, I received as much energy from the band. I've seen them several times, and this, even drenched and cold, was by far the most explosive show yet.

They started off with Release and, once Ed's demons were drawn out, from there a collage of old and new. Maybe it was the weather, but Ed knew what we needed to hear, and he gave as much as he humanly could.

After the last song of the first set, Ed broke the mic stand into pieces, flinging it towards the crowd, gathered his things from the stage and left. The band seemed a little concerned at this and ended the song, following his footsteps.

5 mins rolled by and they walked back out, to play the second set. Ed amazed at Kansas City's dedication. "Well, Kansas City, you've really out done yourselves, this is definitely a memorable moment. We'll remember this for a very long time." The band then broke into "Go."

At one point in the show Mike really stepped up for us. Mike made his way to the front for his solo on "Even Flow," gauged the rain, and jumped right into it with us. He played this unbelievable solo standing in front of the riser, that wasn't enough, he then jumped into the soaked crowd, and continued the solo until he made it back on stage.

Stellar show! I have to applaud my hometown. Near the end of second set I looked around and couldn't believe how many people shared the same enthusiasm, "rain or shine," that I have for this band. Purely beautiful!!

After a few days of camping in California, my journey continued with tonight's show in Bonner Springs.

Things started off spectacularly with a perfect version of Dead Man by Ed before Idlewild. It was extremely subtle, yet amazingly powerful.

Now, the big news of the night was that it POURED RAIN the entire show! Because of this, I thought that Oceans would be an appropriate opener, but Release worked just the same. Overall, this setlist was the most varied and unexpected of all the shows I had seen so far this tour. Some great surprises with Brain of J, Help Help (which included an extended jam at the end), Whipping, and Immortality. The set was very quick, but extremely tight. Great main setlist.

The encore opened with a bang, with the explosive GO. Glorified G was yet another unexpected song. The band always seems to find a way to fit Even Flow into the show, and this time it came late in the 1st encore. During Mike's solo, he jumped off the stage and jammed away with the crowd within arms reach! Then he jumped back on stage, landing on his back, all the while soloing like mad. Amazing performance.

Fuckin' up and BABA closed the show. BABA featured an extended ending, with Ed throwing tambourines to the crowd.

All in all, a very good show. It was quick, but no power was lost. The band played extremely well, especially considering the hurricane-like weather that KC was enduring. This show reminds me of the Sacramento 2000 show in its short length, but powerful set and performance.

Now its on to Council Bluffs! See ya'll there
Matt