2025-05-11: Raleigh, NC

[Mr.x]

Hold On sounded fantastic

[96583UP]

Is that Bear Grylls on the screen? Did Bear Grylls die?

all valid questions

[wease]

Oh yeah. That old couple I mentioned? They REALLY didn’t like Ed’s views on the trans community last night.

[dad]

Oh yeah. That old couple I mentioned? They REALLY didn’t like Ed’s views on the trans community last night.

I’m glad they paid a lot of money to hear that.

[daft twat]

So…

We got into town way later than planned. (It was Mother’s Day, not gonna get upset). But we were able to meet 3 RMers we hadn’t meet before. All three were swell guys and I wish we could’ve hung out a lot more. Still, it was great for the few minutes we had.

Our experience at the venue itself was amazing. We drove right up to like the third row of parking and got the second spot then walked right in. No lines at all.

The set was wild beyond all expectations. From Release opening on, they were jamming. Like Ruddo, we appreciated the lyric in Present Tense being sung. MYM was balls to be wall. I really liked them splitting up all the Dark Matter material. For me, it works better that way. There’s a not-Ruddo guy up front with a blue shirt on that’s steathily requesting Get Right, so Ruddo has some support! Also saw B and Ruddo up on the screen a couple of times.

Then after Even Flow, Ed has his guitar and he starts talking about a couple of dudes that used to work for them and how one of them stopped touring a number of years ago and how he’s no longer with us. His wife and kids are there at the show. I’m thinking it’s the perfect setting for Light Years but Ed’s strumming the chords to Man of the about the whole time he’s telling this story. And MOTH would work in the context of this story too. So I’m resigned to the fact we’re getting MOTH and that’s fine. I like the tune. Then, after Ed stops talking and gets ready to play I see his hand on the guitar neck in a totally different position and the instant I realize what that’s for, Matt starts the drum beat. I absolutely explode! So much joy, relief, grief, just an avalanche of emotions crashing. I’ve truly never been so emotional seeing a song live in my life. And it’s a perfect version. A little fast, but that’s how they’ve been doing it the last few years and I really dig it. It’s over and I’m spent. I take a seat and enjoy a nice Wreckage while still coming down and after that a kicking Jeremy. Then, Ed starts talking about requests and how they got this one request 3 years ago and they just haven’t played it. Then he gets into how requests can be a b-side, or a Lost Dog, or a rare album track and how if they play a Lost Dog, most of the audience won’t know it. But that’s ok because the two people that requested this one will be happy. And this whole time I’m thinking it’ll be something like Down or Alone, maybe Sad, something that gets played with a lot more regularity. Then I was thinking Fatal or Other Side. Still cool. Honestly Hold On entered my mind for like half a second and then I just knew it wouldn’t be that. I had accepted that was one I’d never get and that was ok. Then Stone hit that opening chord. Absolute awe. Another explosion!! Everything I just went thru with Light Years is hitting again. I was lucky enough with one of them but both?!?!? My mind was just reeling. And as Stil said earlier it was absolutely badass. It was tuned down but that didn’t matter. It was the best version I’ve heard them play. It sounded more full and more like the album track. I did notice Boom playing on it and Josh was singing backup but I didn’t notice if Josh was playing an instrument. Straight from Hold On to Evolution and it’s searing. Stone has been playing some scorching solos and he kept it up with this one. After, Ed starts talking about how they’ve got a bunch of songs with hands in them and they’re gonna do those. So Upper Hand and I’m thinking Sleight of Hand (which would be another first for me) and not Severed Hand because they’ve already played it a couple of shows back and they wouldn’t double an Avocado track. They would! Their timing on the intro was off a bit but they made up for it with how fucking hard it rocked. Straight into Porch which delivered. I’m still coming down and he starts the encore with Just Breathe which is a Mrs Wease favorite so she got something too. Satan’s Bed was a nice surprise and I loved the Indifference closer even tho Ed fucked up and sang the last verse as the second and realized it and sang the second later as the third.

As a show, it was definitely the loudest the band was out of our run. Due to our seats being more central or just the building, I don’t know, but they were loud as fuck. For the total show, crowd, band and everything, Nash2 was still tops. That was magical night. For me personally, last night was it for me. It just can’t get any higher. The perfect show to end our run on. These last couple of weeks have truly been a highlight for me and I’m so glad we got to do it. It was great spending time with old friends, making new ones and enjoying some life-changing music along the way.

I hope you guys have a blast at R2 and I hope they do Get Right! Before last night I would’ve said there’s not a chance in hell, but now…

(Sorry so long winded)

POTY for me. Really happy for you!

[wease]

So…

We got into town way later than planned. (It was Mother’s Day, not gonna get upset). But we were able to meet 3 RMers we hadn’t meet before. All three were swell guys and I wish we could’ve hung out a lot more. Still, it was great for the few minutes we had.

Our experience at the venue itself was amazing. We drove right up to like the third row of parking and got the second spot then walked right in. No lines at all.

The set was wild beyond all expectations. From Release opening on, they were jamming. Like Ruddo, we appreciated the lyric in Present Tense being sung. MYM was balls to be wall. I really liked them splitting up all the Dark Matter material. For me, it works better that way. There’s a not-Ruddo guy up front with a blue shirt on that’s steathily requesting Get Right, so Ruddo has some support! Also saw B and Ruddo up on the screen a couple of times.

Then after Even Flow, Ed has his guitar and he starts talking about a couple of dudes that used to work for them and how one of them stopped touring a number of years ago and how he’s no longer with us. His wife and kids are there at the show. I’m thinking it’s the perfect setting for Light Years but Ed’s strumming the chords to Man of the about the whole time he’s telling this story. And MOTH would work in the context of this story too. So I’m resigned to the fact we’re getting MOTH and that’s fine. I like the tune. Then, after Ed stops talking and gets ready to play I see his hand on the guitar neck in a totally different position and the instant I realize what that’s for, Matt starts the drum beat. I absolutely explode! So much joy, relief, grief, just an avalanche of emotions crashing. I’ve truly never been so emotional seeing a song live in my life. And it’s a perfect version. A little fast, but that’s how they’ve been doing it the last few years and I really dig it. It’s over and I’m spent. I take a seat and enjoy a nice Wreckage while still coming down and after that a kicking Jeremy. Then, Ed starts talking about requests and how they got this one request 3 years ago and they just haven’t played it. Then he gets into how requests can be a b-side, or a Lost Dog, or a rare album track and how if they play a Lost Dog, most of the audience won’t know it. But that’s ok because the two people that requested this one will be happy. And this whole time I’m thinking it’ll be something like Down or Alone, maybe Sad, something that gets played with a lot more regularity. Then I was thinking Fatal or Other Side. Still cool. Honestly Hold On entered my mind for like half a second and then I just knew it wouldn’t be that. I had accepted that was one I’d never get and that was ok. Then Stone hit that opening chord. Absolute awe. Another explosion!! Everything I just went thru with Light Years is hitting again. I was lucky enough with one of them but both?!?!? My mind was just reeling. And as Stil said earlier it was absolutely badass. It was tuned down but that didn’t matter. It was the best version I’ve heard them play. It sounded more full and more like the album track. I did notice Boom playing on it and Josh was singing backup but I didn’t notice if Josh was playing an instrument. Straight from Hold On to Evolution and it’s searing. Stone has been playing some scorching solos and he kept it up with this one. After, Ed starts talking about how they’ve got a bunch of songs with hands in them and they’re gonna do those. So Upper Hand and I’m thinking Sleight of Hand (which would be another first for me) and not Severed Hand because they’ve already played it a couple of shows back and they wouldn’t double an Avocado track. They would! Their timing on the intro was off a bit but they made up for it with how fucking hard it rocked. Straight into Porch which delivered. I’m still coming down and he starts the encore with Just Breathe which is a Mrs Wease favorite so she got something too. Satan’s Bed was a nice surprise and I loved the Indifference closer even tho Ed fucked up and sang the last verse as the second and realized it and sang the second later as the third.

As a show, it was definitely the loudest the band was out of our run. Due to our seats being more central or just the building, I don’t know, but they were loud as fuck. For the total show, crowd, band and everything, Nash2 was still tops. That was magical night. For me personally, last night was it for me. It just can’t get any higher. The perfect show to end our run on. These last couple of weeks have truly been a highlight for me and I’m so glad we got to do it. It was great spending time with old friends, making new ones and enjoying some life-changing music along the way.

I hope you guys have a blast at R2 and I hope they do Get Right! Before last night I would’ve said there’s not a chance in hell, but now…

(Sorry so long winded)

POTY for me. Really happy for you!

thanks!

[epilogue]

If they ever want to ditch arenas and play Riot Act and Gigaton to half full auditoriums, I'd be all in.

You and me both

[epilogue]

So…

We got into town way later than planned. (It was Mother’s Day, not gonna get upset). But we were able to meet 3 RMers we hadn’t meet before. All three were swell guys and I wish we could’ve hung out a lot more. Still, it was great for the few minutes we had.

Our experience at the venue itself was amazing. We drove right up to like the third row of parking and got the second spot then walked right in. No lines at all.

The set was wild beyond all expectations. From Release opening on, they were jamming. Like Ruddo, we appreciated the lyric in Present Tense being sung. MYM was balls to be wall. I really liked them splitting up all the Dark Matter material. For me, it works better that way. There’s a not-Ruddo guy up front with a blue shirt on that’s steathily requesting Get Right, so Ruddo has some support! Also saw B and Ruddo up on the screen a couple of times.

Then after Even Flow, Ed has his guitar and he starts talking about a couple of dudes that used to work for them and how one of them stopped touring a number of years ago and how he’s no longer with us. His wife and kids are there at the show. I’m thinking it’s the perfect setting for Light Years but Ed’s strumming the chords to Man of the about the whole time he’s telling this story. And MOTH would work in the context of this story too. So I’m resigned to the fact we’re getting MOTH and that’s fine. I like the tune. Then, after Ed stops talking and gets ready to play I see his hand on the guitar neck in a totally different position and the instant I realize what that’s for, Matt starts the drum beat. I absolutely explode! So much joy, relief, grief, just an avalanche of emotions crashing. I’ve truly never been so emotional seeing a song live in my life. And it’s a perfect version. A little fast, but that’s how they’ve been doing it the last few years and I really dig it. It’s over and I’m spent. I take a seat and enjoy a nice Wreckage while still coming down and after that a kicking Jeremy. Then, Ed starts talking about requests and how they got this one request 3 years ago and they just haven’t played it. Then he gets into how requests can be a b-side, or a Lost Dog, or a rare album track and how if they play a Lost Dog, most of the audience won’t know it. But that’s ok because the two people that requested this one will be happy. And this whole time I’m thinking it’ll be something like Down or Alone, maybe Sad, something that gets played with a lot more regularity. Then I was thinking Fatal or Other Side. Still cool. Honestly Hold On entered my mind for like half a second and then I just knew it wouldn’t be that. I had accepted that was one I’d never get and that was ok. Then Stone hit that opening chord. Absolute awe. Another explosion!! Everything I just went thru with Light Years is hitting again. I was lucky enough with one of them but both?!?!? My mind was just reeling. And as Stil said earlier it was absolutely badass. It was tuned down but that didn’t matter. It was the best version I’ve heard them play. It sounded more full and more like the album track. I did notice Boom playing on it and Josh was singing backup but I didn’t notice if Josh was playing an instrument. Straight from Hold On to Evolution and it’s searing. Stone has been playing some scorching solos and he kept it up with this one. After, Ed starts talking about how they’ve got a bunch of songs with hands in them and they’re gonna do those. So Upper Hand and I’m thinking Sleight of Hand (which would be another first for me) and not Severed Hand because they’ve already played it a couple of shows back and they wouldn’t double an Avocado track. They would! Their timing on the intro was off a bit but they made up for it with how fucking hard it rocked. Straight into Porch which delivered. I’m still coming down and he starts the encore with Just Breathe which is a Mrs Wease favorite so she got something too. Satan’s Bed was a nice surprise and I loved the Indifference closer even tho Ed fucked up and sang the last verse as the second and realized it and sang the second later as the third.

As a show, it was definitely the loudest the band was out of our run. Due to our seats being more central or just the building, I don’t know, but they were loud as fuck. For the total show, crowd, band and everything, Nash2 was still tops. That was magical night. For me personally, last night was it for me. It just can’t get any higher. The perfect show to end our run on. These last couple of weeks have truly been a highlight for me and I’m so glad we got to do it. It was great spending time with old friends, making new ones and enjoying some life-changing music along the way.

I hope you guys have a blast at R2 and I hope they do Get Right! Before last night I would’ve said there’s not a chance in hell, but now…

(Sorry so long winded)

So happy for you, brother

[dimejinky99]

Great read thanks wease. Sounds like one of the great nights. Happy for ya.

[spike]

i thought EV or someone in the band mentioned he had wrist issues, partially b/c of the way he downstrokes like a maniac.

i'd love to see this "hand" song combo become a regular thing. 'severed hand' is one of my favorite pearl jam songs in the last 25 years. maybe 35 lol

2025 pearl jam is definitely corny enough to do this. will probably up the ante and add sleight of hand for the trilogy.

[wease]

Listened to Light Years and Hold On from the boot on the drive in this morning. Got chills all over again.

[Bi_3]

Listened to Light Years and Hold On from the boot on the drive in this morning. Got chills all over again.

You two making the decision to attend 'just one more' has got to be the call of the tour.

[wease]

Listened to Light Years and Hold On from the boot on the drive in this morning. Got chills all over again.

You two making the decision to attend 'just one more' has got to be the call of the tour.

Right on!

And it was all her idea, too.

[wease]

What a fucking perfect show for me to say goodbye to Matt.