MSG

Hey, REM is on tour right now.

Few short and rambling comments about the NYC show!

Setlist:
Living Well is the Best Revenge
These Days
What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
Bad Day
Drive
Hollow Man
Ignoreland
Man-Sized Wreath
Leaving New York
Disturbance at the Heron House
Houston
Electrolite
(Don't Go Back To) Rockville
Driver 8
Harborcoat
One I Love
Until The Day is Done
Let Me In
Horse To Water
Pretty Persuasion
Orange Crush
I'm Gonna DJ
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Supernatural Superserious
Losing My Religion
Begin The Begin
Fall On Me
Man on the Moon

Favorite of the night was "Man-Sized Wreath". Just such a fun song, and who can't love a song with the lyric "kick it out on the dance floor like you just don't care"? "Harborcoat" was a fave also, it was quite speedy and Michael didn't let that pass by unnoticed, heh. Kind of wish we had gotten a few more random treats, but was SO excited by "Heron House", obviously "Rockville" because any moment with Mike Mills in the spotlight is a good moment, grew to appreciate a few more Accelerate songs even more. "Orange Crush" was really cool and I love how on songs where Mills has a significant vocal contribution, the audience sings along with HIM and not Michael, hee. Michael sounded REALLY good, I was especially impressed with "Let Me In", which they did acoustic, really cool. Peter was there. I seriously barely watched him because he just blends into the background, but whatever, I did catch a jump kick or two. "Bad Day" was a lot of fun, "Kenneth" obviously as well, loved "Ignoreland". "Supernatural Superserious", when done live, does not feel like a new song at all, it feels like it's been in the live set forever and that's an awesome thing. Same goes for a few of those Accelerate tunes. Such love that album now. Doing an album breakdown is weird, they obviously played a lot of Accelerate but after that, the album that got the most play was Automatic, and then everything else was one or two songs, if that. They're very early 80s these days, which is fun and really kind of awesome that at almost/past 50 they're still giving that period some love. Though, you know, a little more late 80's, early 90's could never hurt.

Michael took some time to mention how the last time they were at MSG, it was one of the worst days of his life (being Election Day '04) and how he had real hopes for the coming years and that he was in a much better mood on this night. It was nice to have that acknowledged, being someone who was at that last show and I was glad for his optimism!

Great night!