Last Night’s REM Show…
Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 08:47am…was legen … waitforit … DARY. Really, one of the better shows I’ve been to in the past few years. The boys are in excellent form, and Michael Stipe looks — gasp — actually happy. We got to the venue early to secure great lawn seats and meet up with our friends Kerry and Aaron. Mission accomplished! During our picnic dinner, they regaled us with stories of soundcheck, which they were lucky enough to attend. I regaled them back with a story about the time I was kicked out of an REM soundcheck at the request of Mr. Stipe himself — close to twenty years ago. Mind-boggling. Show details and setlist after the jump.
It rained on us for a little while last night, but soon cleared up enough for us to spot a lovely rainbow. The first band up was The National and they were excellent. Really great. Next up was Modest Mouse, who I usually enjoy, but their live show left us cold. They didn’t even say hello. I hate that.
A little while later, REM took the stage with a ton of energy. Stipe was in a great mood and spoke a lot in between songs, which I love. He also even came out into the audience for some songs, which is just so unlike the Stipe I’m used to from the 80s. Mike Mills and Peter Buck were as great as they usually are; Mills was especially energetic.
Here’s the set:
These Days
Living Well Is The Best Revenge
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?
Wolves, Lower
Man-Sized Wreath
Turn You Inside Out
Imitation Of Life
Staring Down The Barrel Of The Middle Distance
Ignoreland
Bad Day
Hollow Man
The Great Beyond
Houston
Electrolite
Walk Unafraid
The One I Love
Find The River
Let Me In
Departure
Life And How To Live It
Orange Crush
I’m Gonna DJ
Encore:
Supernatural Superserious
Losing My Religion
Begin The Begin
Fall On Me
Man On The Moon
Now, this alone would have kept me happy for weeks. Plus, he referred to George W. Bush as “pathetic.” I had a smile on my face throughout the entire show. There’s something about REM that just makes me so happy. You know that line in Knocked Up — “I wish I liked ANYTHING as much as my kids like bubbles.” I like REM as much as kids like bubbles. As I was telling Kerry, they’ve just always been there for me. My sister feels the same about Pearl Jam. Whenever REM and Pearl Jam cross paths, like at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, my heart grows three sizes.
So you can imagine that I almost passed out when, after performing “Losing My Religion,” Stipe took the microphone and said these magic words — “Ladies and Gentlemen, EDDIE VEDDER” and then he and the band launched into a blistering version of “Begin the Begin.” I was stunned and thrilled. I only wish my sister had been there, too! Maybe I’ll be able to find video later on.
Johnny Marr also guested during “Fall on Me” and “Man on the Moon.”
What a fantastic show. I didn’t get to bed until 2:00am and woke up with a pounding headache, but it was totally worth it. I’m still smiling.
p.s. This entire post probably just made my friend Jon puke.
Megan on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:16 am
Shut. Up. That’s the epic concert experience right there—I got goosebumps just reading this.
Speaking of Vedder, we’re seeing Pearl Jam in DC this weekend. Cannot. Wait. Although, I suppose I should hold down my hopes that Michael Stipe will make a guest appearance.
Thank you for sharing!
GeekBoy on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:21 am
It’s only part of it, and crappy quality, but here’s a glimpse of Begin the Begin …
http://video.google.com/videop.....7491594317
Michelle on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:32 am
This sounds like an awesome concert! Glad it was great.
chuck on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:57 am
Awesome - they’ve really been mixing up their set lists. When was the last time you saw them? Stipe has been all shiny happy for a while now. I’m getting some discounted craigslist lawn seats for Saturday. I’ve seen them a bunch, but (gasp) Emilie has never seen them and it’s high time she does. My friend is buddies with Buck’s brother and has backstage passes (grrrrr.) I’ll definitely be taking my pee break during I’m Gonna DJ. I’ve tried but I just can’t take that song.
freakgirl on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 10:03 am
I LOVED “I’m Gonna DJ” live. Better than I like it on the album. But your mileage may vary.
The last time we saw REM, it was the most depressing show ever. Stipe was low-energy and grouchy, and the set was a giant snooze. Jon and I spent the entire show snickering.
http://freakgirl.com/blog/so-w.....it-bu/5215
Patrick on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 10:20 am
A coworker of mine was there as well, and was similarly impressed with the show. (A typo on his ticket said he’d be in the “Terrence” section. “Yeah, Mike, you’re going to be sitting on the lap of a large Cockney man named Terrence.”
How were lawn seats at the Mann? Ben Folds is playing there in September backed by an orchestra (probably not the Philly, but still), and I’m trying to decide if balcony/orchestra-level tickets are worth it.
chuck on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 10:22 am
Ugh - that sucks. Must have been an off night, or a BAD DAY. Or maybe there was just a DISTURBANCE AT THE STIPE HOUSE. I’ve always had good experiences and “UP” shows - going back to 1987 - WOW are we old or what? Can I insert yet another REM song title in these posts? Stay tuned!
(my band does Begin the Begin)
freakgirl on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 10:32 am
Patrick, the lawn seats were good — I enjoy being under a starry sky. As long as you get there early and stake out a decent spot, of course. It was amazing how quickly the lawn filled up. And bring a low beach chair - we were on blankets and my ass was KILLING me. I haven’t been in the balcony at that venue, but it seemed a little claustrophobic to me.
Chuck, we are old. Stipe was feeling it, too. He asked the audience to raise their hands if it was their first REM show (Geekboy had to raise his!). Then he asked people to raise their hands if they were born after 1980. Then he raised his own hand and said, “After all, I look fantastic.” I also spotted a guy wearing a cutoff t-shirt! From the 1988 tour! I have the same one at home, but I managed to avoid the “cutoff tee shirt” fashion trend. I still wear that tee when I color my hair.
We are young despite the years
We are concern
We are hope despite the times.
chuck on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 10:36 am
Sigh. I miss the old lyrics.
GeekBoy on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 10:49 am
There was a family sitting next to us — a father, mother, and two sons. The parents looked to be about our age. Apparently, the son had just graduated 8th grade, and instead of a party, he asked if they would take him to the REM concert, which apparently many of his friends would be at. When I heard this, I leaned over to Freakgirl and asked how old she was when she first got into REM. She said around her freshman year.
So that’s some pretty impressive staying power there, if you can still attract junior high kids to your concerts. There were definitely way more young people at the show than I would have expected.
Michael on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 10:50 am
“Ladies and Gentlemen, EDDIE VEDDER”
I can’t imagine. I think I would have fallen to the ground.
That set list looks fantastic.
That’s a night you’ll always remember.
freakgirl on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 11:01 am
Michael, I almost did fall to the ground. Fortunately Lisa and Kerry were there, offering arms for me to clutch.
chuck on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 11:03 am
Totally, GB. Imagine bands like the Stones that have been at it for 46 YEARS! There could potentially be people there with their adult grandkids!!
nora on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 11:04 am
I was going to get tickets to this show and then I had to be in FACULTY MEETINGS and couldn’t travel to Philly. My soul hurts a little bit now seeing that setlist.
Glad you guys had a great time.
Ellen on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 11:11 am
Can I hear the story about getting kicked out of soundcheck?
freakgirl on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 11:24 am
It’s not that dramatic, but here goes…
19 years ago, a friend and I, at the height of our REM obsession, took the train from Jersey to Atlanta to catch REM in their home state, on their Green tour. We hung around all afternoon by the stage door in the underground parking lot of the Omni, eventually befriending Bill Berry’s driver. This guy was so taken with us that he decided to impress us young girls by sneaking us into soundcheck. We were there for about a song and a half before Stipe spotted us, stopped singing, whispered something to a stagehand, and we were politely escorted out.
We did get to meet Mr. Mike Mills, who was adorable. Somewhere I have a great photo of us together, along with one of me and Peter Buck. He was very kind to us and actually helped us get tickets for that night (we only had tix for the second show). I thanked him by giving him a toy dinosaur for his amp (he still collects them). Bill Berry and his eyebrow also chatted with us briefly, but La Stipe swept into a van with his friends without making eye contact. Ah well.
freakgirl on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 12:11 pm
BETTER VIDEO OF BEGIN THE BEGIN:
Also, a good review: http://www.philly.com/philly/e....._Mann.html
chuck on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 12:30 pm
You never told me that story. I WAS AT THAT SHOW!! I went to the 2nd night of two - it was the night before I left for my senior year spring break. I wouldn’t meet you for another 6 or 7 years. Wowsers.
freakgirl on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Wow. We were there both nights. That trip was also the first and only time I visited Athens. Crazy
chuck on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I knew I sensed something FREAKY in the air. I even remember where I sat - on the right hand side of the stage, 2nd row of the upper deck, maybe halfway back in the arena.
Emily on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Wow I think THAT’S the coolest part (the chuck story)!!!!
Isn’t it weird how the meaning of concerts changes as you age as well? When I was in high school — don’t hate — I used to kinda judge people in their 30s+ at concerts thinking “ooh they’re trying to be young” or something equally rude and yet I was there partly for the music, but largely b/c I could drink and smoke and get away with it and be “grown-up.” But now, esp when I see a band that hasn’t been together for awhile (no, not NKOTB hahaha) or holds some kind of significance to my high school/college years, I am going 10% for the music, 90% for the nostalgia b/c it becomes so much more of an important part of connecting you to something when you’re older. No matter how jaded you are about relationships or people or the state of the union, when you hear that song that you put on a casette tape (which you recorded over and over b/c there weren’t CD players — at least not in cars yet — so you wouldn’t have to keep rewinding and missing the beginning of the song cuz you went too far, or vice versa… ) and listened to in the car as you drove around to parties or just went driving around at night SO you could listen to that song over and over again.
Anyway, concerts make you feel things again, even if it’s just feeling things beCUZ you’re brought back to a time in your life when you still felt things.
wait this post turned sad! I need to go to therapy.
GeekBoy on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Emily, be sure to have the therapist look into your compulsive habit of needing to listen to a song so much during your teen years that you’d record it over and over on the same tape. I’m sure there’s a major breakthrough in that somewhere.
freakgirl on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Emily, I totally know what you mean. Especially with a band like REM, who I’ve been following since I was in high school — every song brings back some hidden memory. It’s like having a living conduit to the past.
Although I’m still not over the time Lisa, Janet and I went to see Weezer and some kid told us how awesome it was that “people like us” came out to support the band. Janet said, “You mean that we’re old, right?” and he said, “Yes, it’s great!” and then I punched him in the mouth and reminded him that Rivers Cuomo is only two years younger than us.
It’s all true, except for the punching part.
chuck on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Update - my co-worker just offered me her 6th row seats… 2 for 1!!!!
Bye bye, lawn - helloooo, Stipe sweat!
(gross)
freakgirl on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 3:03 pm
LICK IT UP.
I am sitting here tingling with jealousy.
Michael on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Yeah, if by gross you mean awesome! OMG. Can I take your lawn seat? I swear I want to drive down there right now.
Anyway, concerts make you feel things again, even if it’s just feeling things beCUZ you’re brought back to a time in your life when you still felt things.
Hey, I’m trying to work here! People are gonna think my grandma died (again).
chuck on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Come on down, both of you!!! My buddy with backstage passes from Buck’s brother said we may be able to go some after parties with them. AFTER PARTIES!!!!
At the very least we could track down Blaise and make him cook us something!
GeekBoy on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 3:21 pm
At this moment, my guess is that Freakgirl is trying to decide how much her godson would hate her if she missed his birthday party this weekend.
freakgirl on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I would give my fucking right arm to be able to split a bottle of red with Peter Buck.
And my godson wouldn’t hate me immediately, but in about ten years he would write a scathing comic book about me and embarrass me in front of the world.
chuck on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Well, I doubt I’ll end up partying with the boys. But if I do, there will be pictures sent out immediately. Or I could do that horrible thing where I call you and stick my cell phone in Peter Buck’s face. Famous people love that one.
freakgirl on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Oh god. Remember, he’s a big man. He could squash you like a bug.
Maggie on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 4:11 pm
So…it was a good show, then?
freakgirl on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Yeah, it was all right.
jon on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 12:43 am
I am eating my words. That set sounds like it was pretty awesome.
freakgirl on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 8:13 am
Wish you could have been there…
TomSr on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Awesome show for me! My son got me great seats for Father’s Day since R.E.M. means so much to us. My son is 25 and grew up listening to me listening to R.E.M. :-)
I saw them with my wife in 1989 at the Mann on the Green tour. That show was awesome although my seats weren’t quite as good.
Well, that’s all from this 50 yr old R.E.M. fan!
Oh, I guess one more thing is how can I like this band when I am a conservative Republican???
freakgirl on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Tom, I was at that Mann show in 1989, too!
Glad you enjoyed the show as much as we did. We’ll let the Republican thing slide. Heh heh.