2025-05-11: Raleigh, NC

[Chris_H_2]

so did the band see the sign ruddo? and if so, was there any reaction whatsoever?

[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)

[E.H. Ruddock]

so did the band see the sign ruddo? and if so, was there any reaction whatsoever?

Pretty sure Ed and Mike saw it, but no reaction.

[E.H. Ruddock]

[wease]

I thought for sure River Cross was going to be played. His organ was all set up

It’s been set up every night. I keep feeling bad for the roadies that have to lug that thing on and off the stage for nothing every night. It’s practically just a set decoration.

[wease]

Who wants the picture of Ruddo holding up his Get Right sign?

Stop it

Haha!!

[E.H. Ruddock]

[B]

I really like how they stayed in silhouette throughout that song. That was a cool way to open up.

[wease]

Wease and Carolina shows are a good thing. I don’t know if it’s me and Ruddo being in the same building or what, but good things tend to happen.

[dad]

I really like how they stayed in silhouette throughout that song. That was a cool way to open up.

I like how until they use any animation the backdrop looks like a giant pair of tighty whiteys.

[wease]

There was an old couple in the seats directly in front of us. During the break between bands the guy turned around and starts telling us he tried to sell his tickets and couldn’t so they ended up just coming to the show. He then tells us he paid over $500 each for his pair. Then he asked us what we paid and I told him face value around $200. And I only got them a few days ago. His face just dropped. I don’t know if it was because his cost so much more or he bought them to resell and make a buck or what but he was clearly unhappy we paid $300 less than he did and so close to the show.

[96583UP]

sounds like a blast!

glad you got Hold On

monster of a track

that video from brazil a few years back where they are playing it to like 100k people is pretty mega

i once went to some PJ NC shows in 2000 and they were good ones. glad that tradition continues

sorry for that dude who paid an extra $300 each to ticketmaster bc Ed needs a new addition on his hawaiian beach house

[wease]

Ah. Josh played acoustic on it

[bodysnatcher]

My only complaint is that Josh was wearing that annoying beanie cap

i don't think that's a hat, it's actually his head

[wease]

[bodysnatcher]

yeah that Hold On sounded fantastic

[Farmer John]

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

[E.H. Ruddock]

My only complaint is that Josh was wearing that annoying beanie cap

i don't think that's a hat, it's actually his head

No, during Indifference and the bows, he had it off! It was also troubling!

[bodysnatcher]

My only complaint is that Josh was wearing that annoying beanie cap

i don't think that's a hat, it's actually his head

No, during Indifference and the bows, he had it off! It was also troubling!

maybe it's a detachable cranium kind of like king missile's detachable penis?

[E.H. Ruddock]

The more I think about it, the more I hope they continue the scattering DM songs throughout instead of doing runs. Whenever I heard SoF and then DM, I kept thinking "oh here we go, 3 in a row from DM". It was so much nicer to just mix it all up. I really enjoyed the new songs more this way.