Ed solo before opening bands: Don't Be Shy, You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
Set list: Release, Last Exit, Hail Hail, Save You, Do The Evolution, Dissident, The American in Me by The Avengers, Insignificance, Untitled, MFC, Given To Fly, Even Flow, (Howard Zinn introduced, comes on stage, and says "Stop the war") Down, Jeremy;
1st encore (acoustic): Low Light, Masters of War, Small Town, Last Kiss, Crazy Mary;
2nd encore: Love Boat Captain, Better Man, Bleed For Me by Dead Kennedys, Blood;
3rd encore: Alive

I'm just back from my trip to Boston for the first show and I only have one word that comes to mind: Whoa! I've had an 9 hour car ride back to reflect on the Fleet Center experience, and that's all I can come up with. I'm just in awe.

First of all, I came all the way from Gatineau (close to Ottawa, Canada) for this show, as I couldn't get into the VFC shows. Plus, it was my first ever trip to Boston ... and well, my first ever visit to see my southern neighbors. So all of this was just pretty overwhelming!

But man, what can I say? A killer set list. Hearing Evolution, Given to Fly and LBC live filled the void that was left in my head after my Montreal experience last year (which, by the way, was also crazy). The guys were on fire! Mike was being his crazy mofo self, Jeff was grooving, Ed was at his most intense, Stoney was in full duck walk mode and Matt showed those drums who was boss.

I have to say, I wasn't expecting Release as the opener, but it was a like a nice vermouth before the rockin' canard à l'orange that was to be the next two hours. They really did crank up the Richter with Last exit, Hail Hail, Save You and the rest of the first set. I was in the balcony (hum ... best available...) and I think it was crazier up there than on the floor!!!! People were just going nuts and enjoying the Jeremy and Betterman sing-alongs.

Then, AN ACOUSTIC SET?!!? That was just awesome! I wasn't expecting that in a million years, and it just made my night! Plus, as it already has been said here, the rendition of Masters of War was just, hands down, the best version EVER! Ed's electric guitar and Matt's punches gave a whole new light to the song.

After that, the guys did a little intimate Last Kiss for the folks behind the stage ("This is like a club show," dixit Ed), and Boom and Mike just ripped through Crazy Mary. Then, the guys went hemodynamic on us with a Dead Kennedy's cover, Bleed For Me, and Blood. I'll tell you, my heart was pumpin'!

Finally, to close the show with Alive was an excellent idea! It just made everyone psyched for the next night's show! In my case (since I couldn't go to both shows), it just made me want to buy season tickets to PJ for the next tour. Now THAT'S a concept!

Anywho, I could go on and on about this, but my boss is going to come in my office and give me the boot if I don't go back to work. So, everyone, enjoy the VFC tour and don't forget to VOTE! We depend on it up here as much as you do down there.