I spent the better part of my three-hour drive between Pittsburgh and Olean, N.Y. searching through my journalism training, trying to find the right superlative to describe last night's show.

I've failed.

It was that good. It was probably the best of seven hip shows I've seen.

The boys were on last night, no other way to describe it. I didn't write down the set list (I had my camera in one hand, t-shirt on the other) but they played half the new record (MM@W, TTL, Lake Fever, Puttin Down, Toronto 4 and Freak) and half old ones (Including Pigeon Camera, a wonderful surprise.) Of the new stuff, Toronto 4 was beautiful, Freak was devastating live and TTL was very, very intense.
The venue was nice, except for the Nazi bouncers who herded everyone out of the club RIGHT after the show. I had to beg to get a glass of water, and I was drenched head to toe in sweat. The sound was good, though I couldn't pick up Gordie during his rants.
My seats were in a balcony hanging over the stage, on stage left, right above Rob and Gord S. I could practically see my reflection on Rob's boots. I should have at least one or two good pictures, which I'll post sometime next week. I also had the pleasure of meeting Meghan, Dakota and a few other henhousers. And there was NO overt nationalism despite one guy from Barrie who insisted I was the first American he had talked to.
Chris and Kate were great...I like Kate singing on some of the songs. But all of them is kind of a stretch.
Great show...sorry this is short and disjointed, but I'm leaving for a weekend in the Mountains in five minutes.

Have a safe weekend all
brian
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This is strictly from (bad) memory, and only the first and last couple of songs are in order, approximate order. It was a great show. Gord came out wearing his old jean jacket instead of the suit and tie thing. The boys definitely seemed loose and in a good mood. Just when I think that maybe I've seen enough shows, they pull out an awesome performance like this one, and now I need more. Rob Baker stood out for me last night, I could hear his guitar great from where I was standing. Gord was doing lots of rambling, but I couldn't make out most of it. He dropped a line in Bobcaygeon, but the crowd picked it up for him. Some of the new songs are really coming into their own. Completists seemed a little toned-down and that worked for me. With seven people on-stage now a little subtlety is a good thing. My first time hearing TO #4 live, and it sounded excellent. Kate wasn't very loud from where I was standing, but I could hear Paul's vocals. As always he did a great job, especially on Lake and ABAC. He was the only band-member we ran into after the show. (we didn't wait around because we HAD to go have one of those famous Primanti Bros french-fry/cole-slaw/whatever the hell else you want to throw in there sandwiches) Paul was nice (and patient) enough to take pictures with us. Only one encore, the venue rushes everyone out right at 10PM so they can convert the place into a disco. On the setlist for encore #2 but not played, Stay & Bones.
Grace
MM@W
Something
Gift
Fireworks
Poets
Puttin'
Pigeon
Completist
ABAC
Courage
Tiger
TO#4
Lake
Fire
-------
Bobcaygeon
Freak
Fully

Mark
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wow. thats all i have to say. well, thats not really all:

ok, so i got to metropol before the doors open, i think this is is the earliest i've ever been for a show in my life, and i got right up to the barrier at the stage and stayed there. chris and kate were really good, i thouroughly enjoyed their set. ...but when our boys came on...they were all smiles. the whole night. smiling and laughing and ranting and kickin some serious ass. i don't think i've ever seen gord in a better mood. and the flip-flops he was wearing... i don't know what to say about those, except it was pretty funny when he stubbed his toe. it was incredible to be so close at a place where the stage is so tiny. i should have some awesome pictures in a couple days. half of the time, rob and gord s. looked like they were having a conversation with their instruments, it was really neat to watch. and i finally realized the true greatness that is johnny fay. he was going nuts on those drums, and even he looked like he was having a good time, and he always looks mad. i think it's part of his act.
here's the actual setlist:
grace
mm@w
puttin down
gift
pigeon
fireworks
fever
poets
TO#4
courage(what's next? courage?!?!)
completist
ABAC
freak
nautical
fire in the hole
____________
bobc (combat rock)
tiger
fully

and like mark said stay and little bones were supposed to be played but i imagine the venue told them they couldn't go back on, b/c we needed to be herded out to make room for the industrial dancers. that's right, industrial dancers. don't ask. but- i did finally get a setlist from(what the roadie's name?  the one with the cowboy hat?) so i was thrilled about that. anyways, it was great to hear pigeon camera, and fire in the hole, those were definite highlights for me. did anyone else catch this? they teased last of the unplucked gems after giftshop, right bfore pigeon camera. i had
a flashback to new years. anyhow, sorry this is a little disjointed. this review does not do last night justice at all. i still havent slept more than 2 hours since the show, so i'm a little wacky right now. plus, like brian said, words to describe this one are hard to come by.
oh, yeah, and it was great to get to talk to dakota, randy, brian, and rob! and that guy that i met that works at the angola gas station!
see you guys soon
meghan
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