Bethlehem, PA (Musikfest) - Headlining show, August 7, 2017 Options

[dangum]

http://www.musikfest.org/event/4635/live/

+LIVE+
Monday, August 7
Price: $39 / $59 | Steel Terrace: $169
Venue: Sands Steel Stage at PNC Plaza

ArtsQuest Members (gold+): Tuesday, 5/23, 10am
ArtsQuest Members (all): Wednesday, 5/24, 10am
Tickets on-sale: Friday, 5/26, 10am

[FishOutaWater]

Ed's voice sounds so damn good. Chad Taylor was on fire. The guitars were turned up loud and he added some great color with all of those riffs on the Les Paul and the Strat. Pat was grooving as always. What more can you say. I think that Gracey always adds so much to the shows because he is always an animal back there. He is still injured and they had the second drummer and Gracey held back. So that was probably the one downside to this show for me. And Gracey on bongos was particularly missed on Mirror Song. It was nice to hear it with just all guitars, and Chad with the Strat added some nice flavor, but there are those breaks that we all know where they are, where the bongos should come in and mark a visceral peak int he song and it was just a sonic vacuum there and I missed Gracey. There was lots of hugging and smiling and gestures. No messing with the songs, just straight up rock-your-face-off stage show. I personally would like to see a more diverse setlist. I like that they are including Beauty of Gray and Mirror Song marking the 25th anniversary of Mental Jewelry (incidentally, I think the release of Mental Jewelry anniversary addition on vinyl has motivated me to finally go out and buy myself a turntable and get into vinyl). But I would love to see a show again someday where they are playing to the hardcore fans and not the festival goers who want to see the hits. I totally get the need to satisfy the promoters and tickets sales and festival goers who may not be there just to see Live. But someday, I want to be pressed against the front rails of a General Admission crowd listening to Pillars of Davidson and Hold Me Up again.

They brought their kids out at the end of the show and they literally filled one side fo the stage to the other. Mostly daughters and they could field a field hockey team with their brood at this point. Ed made a funny joke about how they went forth and multiplied. Overall great show.

One other point - I am SO SO happy that Black Pistol Fire opened for them. They are one of my all time favorite bands and I didn't even realize they were playing until the morning of the show. Those guys are awesomely amazing! That was a HUGE bonus for me.

This post has been edited by FishOutaWater: Aug 8 2017, 10:50 am