Landgraaf (Pinkpop 2017), June 5, 2017 Options

[SecretInsomnia]

Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if Pinkpop specifically requested Ed do a performance of Overcome, considering they had a pianist on hand for just that one song.

Yeah, I think it's a Dutch guy! We saw him on 2014 on Pinkpop. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFvQBCGRTU0 . Must be from that Noordpool Orkest.

[LiveForNow]

Now this is the band I grew up with. Phenomenal. Ed nailed it, the Chads nailed... Pat nailed it even if he seemed less enthusiastic than everyone else.

One thing I've noticed, Chad and Zak's harmonies are far better than Chad and Adam's used to be. The backing vox are really, really good in this configuration.
In the US they've been closing with Lightning Crashes. I imagine they closed with Overcome specifically because it's such a big hit in the Netherlands. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if Pinkpop specifically requested Ed do a performance of Overcome, considering they had a pianist on hand for just that one song.

I was wondering what everyone thinks of Zak as rhythm guitarist? I think the band as a unit sounds great but I don't have the ear to single out Zak's part specifically.

[Gertjan]

I was there (almost) front row, really good show. Ed's antics have changed. No more fancy glasses. No more naked and obscene stuff. No more arguing with sound technicians. Taylor seemed to take a bit more room too. I also liked the small variations to the songs. Unfortunately I could not see Gracey from my position as he was too far back on the very high stage, but the "heartbeat" sounded firm and solid. Pat seemed to be in his own zone.

It all felt a bit hurried though. Not much time for small talk or interaction with the crowd, and a quick goodbye from the band before rushing into Overcome. Of course, the festival has a strict time schedule. I believe they could have swept up the audience a bit more as the crowd was really into it, from front to back. 30-40.000 ppl.

Btw, the pianist was Reinout Douma who performed with Ed on Pinkpop before. Apparently it was a last minute decision to have him on stage to perform Overcome (http://www.rtvnoord.nl/nieuws/178881/Pinkpop-optreden-Live-krijgt-Gronings-tintje)

[Deku]

I was there (almost) front row, really good show. Ed's antics have changed. No more fancy glasses. No more naked and obscene stuff. No more arguing with sound technicians. Taylor seemed to take a bit more room too. I also liked the small variations to the songs. Unfortunately I could not see Gracey from my position as he was too far back on the very high stage, but the "heartbeat" sounded firm and solid. Pat seemed to be in his own zone.

Notice any of this "Pat was annoyed and didn't want Ed near him" stuff that was reported earlier in the thread? Because if that was true we should probably all pack up and go home.

[mattyeagles]

Notice any of this "Pat was annoyed and didn't want Ed near him" stuff that was reported earlier in the thread? Because if that was true we should probably all pack up and go home.

It's mind boggling that anyone can watch that concert and their main takeaway is Pat's body language.

The band was magnificent and the performance was breathtaking.

[Robert_32]

It's mind boggling that anyone can watch that concert and their main takeaway is Pat's body language.

The band was magnificent and the performance was breathtaking.

That was not my main takeaway, and I literally say I'm maybe paranoid.

[+Ed+]

. Taylor seemed to take a bit more room too.

He must think about it, really. Noone is getting younger after all.

[Merica]

Finally took the time to watch this set. Have to say I'm pleasantly surprised by Ed. By "new Ed" standards this was a really good performance imo. He's definitely reigned in the frilly embarrassments of his (early?) solo days, and the performance is all the better for it.

Still, as much as I know it's to be expected at festivals, and probably more so at a place like Pinkpop where they have a Dutch audience to pander to............. I really wish they'd throw a curveball into the setlist. Even just the one. Rattlesnake, Meltdown, Top - just anything that isn't completely obvious.

[throwing_cheetahs]

I really wish they'd throw a curveball into the setlist. Even just the one. Rattlesnake, Meltdown, Top - just anything that isn't completely obvious.

Yeah, i really wish they would too. The songs i have been wanting to see them play are Freaks, T.B.D., Mirror Song, We Deal in Dreams, Merica, etc.

[FishOutaWater]

I think that the headlining shows and deeper cuts and broader exploration of the catalog in concert will depend upon the trajectory this thing takes and how successful it is. Headlining tours and diverse setlist take money, and they take time - and time is money. Time is precious. And new material also takes time. I don't know what other focuses Ed has, but CCP have many other directions they are focused on, including business and family. So the headlining tours and rehearsal time to broaden the setlist need to provide enough return on the investment to justify the time and money and energy spent on it. This stage seems to be perfecting the greatest hits setlist to get maximum exposure and booking fees at festivals in front of large audiences to reintroduce the reunion. They will probably each clear a nice six figure payday from the 2017 line-up of shows. Then what's next? I am guessing that will be determined by how this run of shows goes. And so far - it seems to be extremely successful. The reviews are great. The crowds are there and are responsive. The reception is warm. The promoters are pleased. There is increased demand (adding new shows such as filling in for SoundGarden and opening for GnR, South American dates). I think that fans rooting for more and more in the future should be very pleased that this has gone well and not badly. Because I think that the success of 2017 gives Live a brighter future. Enough motivation for them to spend the time and get to work planning headlining tours and logging rehearsal time in York perfecting songs they haven't played in a long time together, so they can keep the level of quality high when they perform in front of fans. These are all just my uneducated guesses about how things go in the music world and in their heads, but if I had to guess, I would say that they are seeing how things go, and things are going well and that bodes very well for the future.

I am happy with the setlist they are playing. These are festival shows. Shorter setlist. And wth only a small handful of shows under their belt, I am not ready to start getting itchy for more quite yet.

[SJN1279]

Finally took the time to watch this set. Have to say I'm pleasantly surprised by Ed. By "new Ed" standards this was a really good performance imo. He's definitely reigned in the frilly embarrassments of his (early?) solo days, and the performance is all the better for it.

Still, as much as I know it's to be expected at festivals, and probably more so at a place like Pinkpop where they have a Dutch audience to pander to............. I really wish they'd throw a curveball into the setlist. Even just the one. Rattlesnake, Meltdown, Top - just anything that isn't completely obvious.

Run to the Water and Overcome were new additions to the setlist.

[alexou]

trying to be very objective here.

I watched the Pinkpop show and most of you know I wasn't necessarily happy with Ed coming back. Here is my take.

Ed tries, and most of the time, he does a good job at it. He can't sing like 1995 and I'm ok with it, but he can still perform the old song and give them more justice than the 2003-2009 Ed. This was clear in the negociations I guess. Be closer to the original recordings with less falsetto and all. He does that. Good!

Overcome was kind of a curveball. Don't like the solo ending, but the performance was good. They could have done a deeper track just before it. Hero, Freaks, Sparkle, Simple Creed, Like I do could have been possibilities.

Pat indeed looked a bit too much through the motions. The bass looked a bit lower in the mix than during the Shinn era, a bit sad. Liked the overall sound, louder than the 2003-2009 on guitars.

Talking about guitars, sometimes the mix between Zack and Chad doesn't work. White, discussion in Philly (I think) was good, but at Pinkpop the verse was sounding weird. The way Zack plays the riff doesn't fit the song perfecly.

I won't be attending a festival show, but really looking for new songs and deeper tracks. Don't know all their plans, but Pinkpop was a good stage to throw a new one. There must be a reason why they hold it, because it's sure they are ready to play it. Good for them they keep my curious.

[Merica]

Run to the Water and Overcome were new additions to the setlist.

Sure, and that's fine. And good pandering to a Dutch audience that loves the softer side of Live. But they're not curveballs. They're singles.