Camden, NJ (MMRBQ BB&T Pavilion), May 20, 2017 Options

[dangum]

More videos from [Jim Powers] (excellent quality)

Pain Lies on the Riverside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2Wzjvvy0C4

Operation Spirit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhNTRMrcBVQ

All Over You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhI-bKGpEiY

I Alone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU11Sq9qWus

Lakini's Juice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4ok0gklMVQ

[Voodoo Lady]

These videos! It's like you are there!! Thank you for the links.

Oh +LIVE+, how I love you!

[FishOutaWater]

My previous comments were indeed brief, but in the interest of full disclosure, I typed that on my iPhone during the Godsmack concert.

I think those YouTube videos are really great and the sound recording is very good. That's not a bad representation of how good Ed's voice sounded. It was very "pure Ed" sounding. Clear and strong. Sublime.

This wasn't necessarily a "best show ever" kind of show because it was a 50 minute set at a festival in a very large venue. I think to truly appreciate how good this show was, it is very important to lay out the context. Throughout the day, there were MANY people with Live shirts and who appeared to be there for Live. It was an eclectic crowd. Some real tough hombres who were there for Godsmack. But I really wanted a Live T shirt but I didn't want to carry it around al day long. So around 5:00 I went to by my Live T shirt and they were all gone. There were 3 areas selling T shirts and they were sold out at every one of them before the headliners even started playing! There were T shirts for about 8 bands and Live were the only ones completely sold out. That gives you a little flavor for the demand for Live.

So before Live comes out, Pierre Robert did a radio interview. Now, for people who are not from Philly, you need to appreciate that WMMR is a rock radio station that has been around forever. Over 40 years. Pierre Robert is an afternoon radio DJ on WMMR for at least 30 years. The guy IS rock n roll in Philly. He is beloved. He has close connections in the rock music business. And he has always supported Live. He is an icon. So he comes out on stage before Live comes out and says (and I am paraphrasing here) that he never thought he would ever see these guys back together again. That he is so happy to see them here. That he listens to Live at Paradiso all the time and he is moved by how the crowd sings along so strongly, and that he hopes Philly can do even better and sing along. He names each member of the band by name (something that was not done for any other band the entire day) and then with sincere and heartfelt excitement and endorsement, he announces Live.

So that all led up to the anticipation when Live came out. And after they performed, he also said that this was their premier in Philly back together again, and other than a "warm up" show the night before, this is their first Philly show since reuniting.

So.... Live comes out and they were catching lightening in a bottle. They sounds AMAZING. Amazing. Tight. Mixed great. The drums, the bass, the guitars, Ed's voice. All perfect. The crowd was totally into it. And it was a HUGE crowd. It is a big seated pavilion with a packed pit in the front, and then a huge grass lawn in the back packed with people. The interaction between the band was sincere and effusive. They played together. They embraced. They gestured. Ed was gracious and deferential toward the guitar parts and giving everyone on the stage their due. It was a real band performing TOGETHER and a way they may not have in a long time. The only word that can use for this was triumphant. A triumphant return. They did it. Any reservations about what Live can be should be gone for any of you on the fence. This thing they are doing is great.

One last humorous point. They have this giant new LiVE sign behind the drum kit that they invested in for the stage set. The top half of the fourth panel that contains the "e" did not light when they tested it. It kind of held up the show. They were flashing the lights and the whole thing was going on and off and that section just said not light for what seemed like 5 minutes. The crew was all standing on the stage staring at it while someone was probably behind it working on it. Finally the damn thing just lit up, and the LiVE was illuminated in its full glory, and the whole crowd applauded! It was priceless.

This post has been edited by FishOutaWater: May 21 2017, 11:58 am

[Voodoo Lady]

Fish, your review makes me so happy! To have the quality videos and now your perspective of the show, I am so freaking excited for this band, I can't even put it into words. I just watched the interview that was posted here with the D.J. who introduced them to the stage. You could tell he was really genuine and excited too. A real fan, just like us.
Anyway, one more thing... for all the Ed haters and doubters out there... I don't even want to say "told you so" because I'm just so giddy right now. I just feel sorry for you. You all are really missing out. Music is life.

[Hoodstock]

Fish - thanks foe the review.

Were the selling the charcoal cross tee at the show and did it have the website printed on it?

This post has been edited by Hoodstock: May 21 2017, 12:30 pm

[FishOutaWater]

Yes. They were selling that one and I did not notice the website on it although it is possible that it is there and I didn't see it. That is the one that I wanted to buy. It looked really nice. They were also selling the mental jewelry image T-shirt. Both were sold out

[Heather]

Fish, your review makes me so happy! To have the quality videos and now your perspective of the show, I am so freaking excited for this band, I can't even put it into words. I just watched the interview that was posted here with the D.J. who introduced them to the stage. You could tell he was really genuine and excited too. A real fan, just like us.
Anyway, one more thing... for all the Ed haters and doubters out there... I don't even want to say "told you so" because I'm just so giddy right now. I just feel sorry for you. You all are really missing out. Music is life.

Could not have said it better myself! So excited for what's to come!

[dangum]

More videos from [Jim Powers] (excellent quality)

White, Discussion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQQho8CGHk4

A couple of vids from [Tony 1027] - far away

I Alone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WN22E9VSPE

Lakini's Juice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irsUiTD9UEI

Video from [sarsippius67]
I Am The Highway + Lightning Crashes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0zJh-6PtLA


Video from [Jay Porks]

I Alone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrJLDZZYc0I

Lightning Crashes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnEfIyusQog

All Over You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqvniVUTJBg

Selling the Drama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ-SkEBzUyg

I Am the Highway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYmcMVm2ml4

[likeido21]

[SinfulEyes]

Flattering.

[dangum]

Some videos fro [Ozzman422]

The Dolphin's Cry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2QvLg661XM

I Am The Highway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha7ZfWhdWG8

White, Discussion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I24Qu4fJ0gI

I Alone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=518blzD489U

I Walk The Line
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY8r150YOcE

Selling the Drama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpliMlD8XOg

All Over You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9kWDI9vd5k

Operation Spirit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l2jAY805P0

[chazeye]

I was at the MMRBQ show on Saturday and will weigh in. I've been a huge fan from the beginning and tried to keep an open mind during the ongoing saga/hiatus and Shinn versus Ed debate. I will admit I fully accepted the new version of Live with Shinn and the return to a pure rock vibe again. The Turn is a damn good album and I still question whether or not the boys can muster up something comparable with Ed given the history of the last 10-15 years. I would love nothing better, and I will reserve true judgement until I hear a full new album late 2017 or in 2018.

With all that said and emotions of the night aside, I think it's damn near impossible to pass much of a judgement on a 50 minute hit laden festival set. I'll wait until they get their legs back and eventually play longer shows with deeper cuts and hopefully great new music proving they are still relevant. But I will make these points on the show (and in general) because these festivals are all we have at the moment:

* The atmosphere was festive and I enjoyed the hell out of the show. Much more than I thought I would actually.
* As much as I respect Shinn, it felt right seeing the 4 boys share the stage again. I was at Westbury in 2009 at their last show on Long Island and never thought I'd see the day after all that went down.
* They sounded damn good and seemed to play with joy/ease. Not having Gracey encased in plexiglass a nice touch too. Ed's vocals weren't vintage but I thought were very good.
* For festival sets, this set is all you can ask for over the next few months as they keep playing fests. Perfect array of songs really, though I would swap out opening with All Over You and drop in Otter Creek.
* it was extremely cool seeing them play in front of 20,000 people again. Let's be honest, they wouldn't be getting these good gigs without Ed at the helm. With Shinn I saw some shows played before sparse crowds. Damn good shows but the masses beyond the diehards didn't care. If monetary reasons are what brought these guys back together (and I say that's at the top of the list) so be it. We all like/need money and Live without Ed and Eddie K solo wasn't making anyone any money.
* I'm rambling and will wrap it up soon. I admit I was emotional during this show. The crowd was into it and the beer was flowing and it simply was joyous. It hit me as they were on stage and how the crowd was reacting to their set. "IT" was working at a level I didn't expect to see this early on after reforming. I guess they still have a loyal fan base in Philly which is cool, and I also guess 95% of them don't know or care about the details of the disputes etc. They just wanted to see the original line-up of Live. I get that. I'm in the 5% and can't forget all that went down, but I get it and also appreciate they still exist and that I was there to see/hear it. I've seen this band easily 60-70 times and the music means a lot to me and I don't want it to end. I'm rooting hard that this works in the long range. For now, I'll try not to overthink it and take it for what it's worth and be thankful my favorite band is still standing and back together. If you happen to read this Ed, Chad, Chad and Pat I simply say thank you for everything over the years and good luck making this work.