MMJ @ Mountain Park, Holyoke, MA 8/25- Roll Call!

[hacksaw]

steam engine as the opener? eh i think its better as an encore song or somewhere lower down the setlist. its like batting albert pujols leadoff...you just dont do it.

GREAT FN SONG THOOOOO  :D

[johnnYYac]

steam engine as the opener? eh i think its better as an encore song or somewhere lower down the setlist. its like batting albert pujols leadoff...you just dont do it.

GREAT FN SONG THOOOOO  :D

I remember Mahgeeta as the big closer on Okonokos, but when they opened with it at my first show in Boston '08, I creamed me pants.  

One Big Holiday is the kinda go-to closer since it was born, but it opened each of my three-show run in April; again, had to change my underwear.  

Steam Engine makes a great opener because it makes a great closer.  The very first "So!" is an amazing way to kick start a show, IMHO.  Oh, damn, gotta go.  I did it again just imagining it...

:-[

[Ruckus]

I prefer my Steam Engine earlier in the set.  Opener must have been sweetness.

[fawlty36]

just got in from mountain park,  great show, much energy, nice venue, steamy night.  Great mix of old and new.... I am now shot.

[deathstick]

Great venue and an awesome crowd. No security whatsoever and everyone was well behaved and had an amazing time. The band was dead on as usual and talking to Tommy and Patrick after the show they said it was one of their favorites so far. It certainly showed as they were dead on tonight.

here's the setlist:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1641292&id=1431974298

[fawlty36]

page wont load, would love to see the set list, many thanks....

[joey_rogo]

shit, the setlist tweet has honest man, where to begin, AND hell on it. did they really play all of those??? if so, what an awesome set.

[BIGVICLBI]

link to setlist. http://yfrog.com/mxifuuj

[fawlty36]

I must say, it was a sweet set,  it really looked like they where having some real fun.... Not  that  they don't all the time, real intimate night.

[mahg33ta]

WOW - the boys were so on tonight.   They certainly came to rock hard.    Just about keeled over when Steam Engine started - my worry was it was going to be some sort of intro like Rollin Back which would have been the mother of all teases.   But no, we got the whole song in all it's epic goodness.

The setlist was just phenominal - I posted on another thread that each show seemed to get one rarity - well, thought we'd seen it with Where to Begin, which was just brilliant.   Didn't seem like many in the crowd knew it but completely won everyone over with the big buildup.  

But then try following that with:  LOWDOWN, HONEST MAN, EASY MORNING REBEL, and THINK I'M GOIN TO HELL?     Not only great songs, and semi-rarities, but such hard rockers.    The band didn't stop.

Thought we were getting Bermuda Highway, which was the song my concert buddy Sean most wanted to hear.   But the acoustic intro turned into Wonderful (a great song in its own right).   So imagine our surprise when Jimmy came out to start the encore with Bermuda Highway.   I can see now it wasn't on the setlist - I guess a last minute addition but the story typifies what I'm talking about - just that kind of night.

Our other partner in crime was a complete MMJ newbie.   His two comments were "wow these guys are tireless" about halfway through, and "guess I'll be spending a lot of time on iTunes" when the show ended.  Mission accomplished.

When I emailed the JohnnYY that I was on the rail, "on the speaker" would have been a better description.     I was leaning on a huge bass PA speaker and every time the kick drum hit I was knocked back a little.    Took me about 10 minutes to convince myself I was going to be ok here and that I wasn't doing damage to myself.   Then I survived until the Run Thru and Lay Low sections which almost stopped my heart.   By the way I much prefer adding on the Lay Low jam instead of just ending w/ Touch Me II.    Such a hard rockin' finale.   But the most "worrisome" part was the beginning keyboard of Wordless Chorus - honestly it felt like my insides were being scrambled.   I think these speakers usually hang overhead, no?

In summary, fantastic night.   I was semi-on-the-fence with Petty last week and NYC coming up, long drive, bad weather, etc... but THANK GOODNESS I went.    Seventh time seeing them and I still saw 3 songs for the first time (and circuital for the 2nd time which I say is a winner).  Great Setlist while the Band Was On Fire = Magical Night.

[tdb810]

WOW - the boys were so on tonight.   They certainly came to rock hard.    Just about keeled over when Steam Engine started - my worry was it was going to be some sort of intro like Rollin Back which would have been the mother of all teases.   But no, we got the whole song in all it's epic goodness.

The setlist was just phenominal - I posted on another thread that each show seemed to get one rarity - well, thought we'd seen it with Where to Begin, which was just brilliant.   Didn't seem like many in the crowd knew it but completely won everyone over with the big buildup.  

But then try following that with:  LOWDOWN, HONEST MAN, EASY MORNING REBEL, and THINK I'M GOIN TO HELL?     Not only great songs, and semi-rarities, but such hard rockers.    The band didn't stop.

Thought we were getting Bermuda Highway, which was the song my concert buddy Sean most wanted to hear.   But the acoustic intro turned into Wonderful (a great song in its own right).   So imagine our surprise when Jimmy came out to start the encore with Bermuda Highway.   I can see now it wasn't on the setlist - I guess a last minute addition but the story typifies what I'm talking about - just that kind of night.

Our other partner in crime was a complete MMJ newbie.   His two comments were "wow these guys are tireless" about halfway through, and "guess I'll be spending a lot of time on iTunes" when the show ended.  Mission accomplished.

When I emailed the JohnnYY that I was on the rail, "on the speaker" would have been a better description.     I was leaning on a huge bass PA speaker and every time the kick drum hit I was knocked back a little.    Took me about 10 minutes to convince myself I was going to be ok here and that I wasn't doing damage to myself.   Then I survived until the Run Thru and Lay Low sections which almost stopped my heart.   By the way I much prefer adding on the Lay Low jam instead of just ending w/ Touch Me II.    Such a hard rockin' finale.   But the most "worrisome" part was the beginning keyboard of Wordless Chorus - honestly it felt like my insides were being scrambled.   I think these speakers usually hang overhead, no?

In summary, fantastic night.   I was semi-on-the-fence with Petty last week and NYC coming up, long drive, bad weather, etc... but THANK GOODNESS I went.    Seventh time seeing them and I still saw 3 songs for the first time (and circuital for the 2nd time which I say is a winner).  Great Setlist while the Band Was On Fire = Magical Night.

wow!!!! so happy for you guys -- amazing!

[classicrocker623]

Could not have asked for a better setlist, venue, or performance last night. Before this tour started, I never thought I would get to hear Where to Begin or I Think I'm Going to Hell in this life.  Honest Man and Easy Morning Rebel were great surprises as well and both were incredibly rockin.

I managed to get pretty close, the closest I've ever seen them.  What a difference it makes to see Jim grinning and feeding off the crowd's energy.

Phew, two shows down and one more to go in Philly on Sunday!

[mahg33ta]

I managed to get pretty close, the closest I've ever seen them.  What a difference it makes to see Jim grinning and feeding off the crowd's energy.

Same reaction I had (closest I've been too).   I love his smile- it's not a shit-eatin grin, it's more of a smaller "I'm pleased. Are you pleased?" kind of thing as he peers down at us.  

[Crispy]

WOW - the boys were so on tonight.   They certainly came to rock hard.    Just about keeled over when Steam Engine started - my worry was it was going to be some sort of intro like Rollin Back which would have been the mother of all teases.   But no, we got the whole song in all it's epic goodness.

The setlist was just phenominal - I posted on another thread that each show seemed to get one rarity - well, thought we'd seen it with Where to Begin, which was just brilliant.   Didn't seem like many in the crowd knew it but completely won everyone over with the big buildup.  

But then try following that with:  LOWDOWN, HONEST MAN, EASY MORNING REBEL, and THINK I'M GOIN TO HELL?     Not only great songs, and semi-rarities, but such hard rockers.    The band didn't stop.

Thought we were getting Bermuda Highway, which was the song my concert buddy Sean most wanted to hear.   But the acoustic intro turned into Wonderful (a great song in its own right).   So imagine our surprise when Jimmy came out to start the encore with Bermuda Highway.   I can see now it wasn't on the setlist - I guess a last minute addition but the story typifies what I'm talking about - just that kind of night.

Our other partner in crime was a complete MMJ newbie.   His two comments were "wow these guys are tireless" about halfway through, and "guess I'll be spending a lot of time on iTunes" when the show ended.  Mission accomplished.

When I emailed the JohnnYY that I was on the rail, "on the speaker" would have been a better description.     I was leaning on a huge bass PA speaker and every time the kick drum hit I was knocked back a little.    Took me about 10 minutes to convince myself I was going to be ok here and that I wasn't doing damage to myself.   Then I survived until the Run Thru and Lay Low sections which almost stopped my heart.   By the way I much prefer adding on the Lay Low jam instead of just ending w/ Touch Me II.    Such a hard rockin' finale.   But the most "worrisome" part was the beginning keyboard of Wordless Chorus - honestly it felt like my insides were being scrambled.   I think these speakers usually hang overhead, no?

In summary, fantastic night.   I was semi-on-the-fence with Petty last week and NYC coming up, long drive, bad weather, etc... but THANK GOODNESS I went.    Seventh time seeing them and I still saw 3 songs for the first time (and circuital for the 2nd time which I say is a winner).  Great Setlist while the Band Was On Fire = Magical Night.

Outstanding review! A road trip for this one would have been well worth it.

Steam Engine opener?! /head explodes/ The entire setlist though, WOW.

[jones]

link to setlist. http://yfrog.com/mxifuuj

Does that say "IM AMUSED"?  Funniness.

[lil sis]

I managed to get pretty close, the closest I've ever seen them.  What a difference it makes to see Jim grinning and feeding off the crowd's energy.

Same reaction I had (closest I've been too).   I love his smile- it's not a shit-eatin grin, it's more of a smaller "I'm pleased. Are you pleased?" kind of thing as he peers down at us.  

This is one of the reasons that I got hooked!  I was explaining to ynwa and tdb that there are certain bands that act like they are there for just a job and nothing more.  You can sense that, and that really ticks me off.  But seeing MMJ live I could just feel that they were there to have FUN and that they were indeed having fun.  Love it!
:D

Happy you guys had a great night!

[mahg33ta]

In terms of posters, the setlist link posted above shows a glimpse of the poster.    Wasn't my favorite of all time but a must-buy due to my attendance.   It's an owl over a woman's face and done by madpixel (same that did the appalachian voices).   It's not up on their website as of now.   I'll get a pic up tonight.    I'm just relieved it made it home in one piece, and dry.

[Ruckus]

Really special setlist.  Awesome that so many of you here got to see that show. It's great to see them continue to slowly trickle in the rarities throughout this leg.  Seems like Pitt and Philly are gonna be treated nice.  T5 cannot come soon enough.

[BH]

Awesome!  Thanks for the review mahg33tah!

[Monkeyboy]

Goddamn broken foot is all I have to say, "I hate you, foot!".  Man, you win some you lose some.  This show was a winner, I just couldn't do it.  When you lose the use of one of your appendages, you are awarded with 50% mobility, good times!  I will never take my foot for granted ever again!  Sorry for telling you off, foot.  My bad...