Ed at TLA in Philly - 9-16-10 Options

[chazeye]

Some thoughts on Ed's show in Philly on Thursday nite. First, I want to say I'm trying not to take sides in the Ed versus CT, CG, PD drama, and that my opinions and this 'review' is simply how I feel.

I didn't enjoy the show at all. In fact, watching / listening to his band play Live songs didn't work for me and I couldn't wait for the show to end! Given that the TLA was more than half empty (which surprised me), I guess I'm not alone in not wanting to watch a new band dip into Live's catalog.

Frankly, I didn't expect to enjoy the show going in, but I tried and wanted to see 'this' for myself and make my own judgements (e.g, gauge the crowd; gauge the band; gauge the energy in the room; etc.). It just sucked. I'll estimate there were 350-400 people there (capacity is a bit over 1,000). Far cry from the soldout house at the TLA in June of 1994, which was my first Live show ever (over 50 since) circa Throwing Copper. That show back in '94 blew my mind, and stamped me as a Live fanatic for life. Maybe I'm over-thinking this, but I had so many great memories and flashbacks racing through my mind while watching Ed's set the other nite........it just made me sad and bummed out to watch the 'new reality' performing on stage before my eyes. Sorry, but this is how I feel, and from where I stand Ed's solo aspirations are doomed to fail. I would love to know what he was thinking staring out into an empty room all nite, too.

I will give Ed some credit for trying and bringing alot of energy and passion to the stage on this nite. He certainly didn't phone it in because of the small crowd, and the people there seemed to enjoy the show (except me!). But I thought the band didn't sound good either (maybe the players; maybe the guy working sound is a moron; maybe a combination), especially on the Live tunes.

Seeing Ed play solo acoustic on the "Broken Wings" tour was and is a cool idea and enjoyable, but watching him play Live songs with a new band is simply bordering on ridiculous. Just doesn't work. As for the Alive album, Drive and Zion are solid songs, but the album overall is terrible with the over the top christian rock themes on every damn song.

I'll stop rambling and end this post. I will say I think Ed's heart is in the right place and I wish him luck, but his new album and this tour are a joke in my eyes. Harsh words, but that's my take and how I feel.