Newsgroup: it.fan.musica.rem
Titolo: Atmosfera più calda  per la seconda a S eattle (Setlist)

-4
20 November 2004 - McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA 
Around the Sun
Finest Worksong
Begin the Begin
Animal
So Fast, So Numb
So. Central Rain
Orange Crush
Leaving New York
Final Straw
Imitation of Life
The Outsiders
High Speed Train
Walk Unafraid
Life and How to Live It
Exhuming McCarthy
Losing My Religion
The One I Love
I Wanted to be Wrong
What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
Boy In The Well
Electrolite
The Ascent Of Man (!!!!!!!)
I Wanna DJ
Permanent Vacation
Man on the Moon
Per gli 'amici del cactus' ecco una ri-prova:
As if playing "The Ascent of Man" wasn't enough, Stipe finished the
song with the lyric missing from the album but written on the sleeve:
"'Cause in my mind I called you back." Easily the biggest treat of the
set. During the organ solo, he recited a profession of love for
someone dear to him. Sweet.
:))))
_________
So I have to write right away and tell everyone what a glorious
reprise of a show we had here in Seattle tonight! I could tell
immediately upon entering that the night had much more energy than the
previous night. Much more chattiness and general banter going on
amongst the crowd. They opened with Around the Sun and it was so well
received you can really tell that Michael and the band sparked off the
opening energy and it pretty much carried through the whole show. The
first tier got a shout out from Michael tonight for their energy and
enthusiasm. Nobody asked me to sit down, no one gave crusty looks, it
was just good energy all night. The band was ON!!!
On one final note, after we had left the show and went to grab a bite
to eat, we drove back by and decided to see if we could catch any of
the band members come out the back. We parked the car and got out,
hung back for a bit and about 10 minutes later, out walked Michael.
All I really wanted to do was thank him and the band for giving us
their all and giving up a year so we could all enjoy them in person
for a night or two. He signed my ticket(without me asking, but twist
my arm right!haha) and I got to introduce myself, say hi and thank you
and then we left.
What a great night!!!
___________
Oh, what a splendid night! I met all three band members for the first
time! (More on that shortly.)
Seattle truly redeemed itself Saturday, with most in the packed McCaw
Hall standing and swaying throughout a charged and engrossing setlist
that included, by request and to my personal delight, "The Ascent of
Man."
The scene was a total departure from the night before, when only a few
die-hards even bothered to rise from their seats and R.E.M. put on a
good face and a better performance marred only by its predictable
setlist.
"The Ascent of Man" aside, the band didn't cover any new territory
Saturday, either. But unlike the night before, they kept fans guessing
as to what was next. Random musings:
- We appeared to be off to another slumbering start when R.E.M. opened
with "Around the Sun." It didn't get many people moving, but
fortunately the band got its low point out of the way right off the
bat.
- "Finest Worksong," which came second, enlivened the crowd. This song
was a highlight Friday, and it was just as great Saturday. Let's hope
they make this a staple in every tour.
- With the spotlight squarely on him, Peter botched the ending to
"Losing My Religion." He was clearly embarrassed, but he shrugged and
smiled and went the rest of the way without a hitch, leg kicking all
the way.
- At the end of the encore, after all the bows and
thank-you-goodnights, Peter carried Michael off the stage. Mike was
the last to leave, reaching out to touch everyone in front of his side
of the stage and blowing kisses as he left. These guys are having a
blast.
- "Orange Crush" got everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, moving. God, this
song is great.
- Stipe preceded one song, which he described as the band's state of
the union address, by telling a story about how when R.E.M. was
recording it in Vancouver, Peter and Mike encouraged him to follow an
unusual writing approach. He said instead of stringing together things
he observes, editing them down and distancing himself from his lyrics,
he wrote this song from a first-person perspective. The song is
Stipe's narrative. He finally introduced the song as "I Wanted to Be
Wrong," adding, with a tinge of regret: "And I wish I was."
- As with Friday, I was entranced by "IWTBW" live. Peter's electric
guitar at the end of each bridge gives it a totally different feel
from the album version. It's more substantive and powerful, much like
"Country Feedback."
- I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who danced and
sang along to "So. Central Rain."
- They seemed to fix whatever ailed Mike's mic on Friday. He no longer
sounded muffled in the mix. His backing vocals on "Animal" make that
song what it is.
- Peter and Scott jammed side-by-side during "Permanent Vacation,"
practically playing one another's guitar. Wide grins on each of their
faces.
- Boy, can Michael move. A bonus for some, he bared his midriff during
"What's the Frequency, Kenneth?"
- As if playing "The Ascent of Man" wasn't enough, Stipe finished the
song with the lyric missing from the album but written on the sleeve:
"'Cause in my mind I called you back." Easily the biggest treat of the
set. During the organ solo, he recited a profession of love for
someone dear to him. Sweet.
- "Exhuming McCarthy" is incredible live. Stipe even added the
McCarthy snippet in the bridge via tape recorder, holding it up to his
mic.
- "The Outsiders" just doesn't work live musically, I'm afraid. The
rap, as sung by Stipe, was great, though.
- "Boy In the Well" sounded much better tonight than on Friday.
Sounded just like the CD version, in fact.
- Once in the main set and once in the encore, Stipe urged the crowd
to get as loud as it could get. Which was pretty darn loud in a tiny
opera hall with terrific acoustics.
- Stipe said "High Speed Train" was indeed written on a high-speed
train.
- Before "Imitation of Life," Stipe told a story about how he had
received a "mean letter" from a certain performance artist we all
would recognize. (I didn't pick up on why, in part because of a fan
shouting next to me.) Someone asked who it was, and Stipe said he
couldn't say. That's when Mills chimed in and said, "He has two first
names, put it that way." To which Stipe said, "Very good, two first
names, yes. I guess you all can do the math." I came away with the
impression that this artist was upset about "IOL's" sounding similar
to something else, which Stipe freely acknowledged but wasn't about to
apologize for. With that, he said the next song was R.E.M.'s first No.
1 in Japan, and "IOL" commenced.
- "Final Straw" sounds infinitely better live than in the studio. When
Stipe sings "And I raise my voice up higher," he progressively does
just that. The song builds and builds.
- Stipe introduced "Permanent Vacation" as a song they wrote in 1980
but never recorded, then said the following song, "I'm Gonna DJ," was
written in 2004. "It's up to you to figure out what the fuck happened
between 1980 and 2004," he said with a smile, eliciting laughter.
Ciao!
Vero - High Speed Train Jumpers #2
--
"If I've ever found a series of rules that worked, 
then I'd throw them away and try something different" 
P.Buck
"We've been in Canada for a week and it's been a total blessing. 
Last night was the first night I didn't dream about a vote recount"
M.Stipe

 Per gli 'amici del cactus' ecco una ri-prova:[CUT]
Finalmente fanno + canzoni da ATS!!!
Sarebbe bello sapere chi fa i controcanti in Ascent...
Ciao,
Valentina

 > 20 November 2004 - McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA

Hey, considerando che ovviamente non è possibile avere una setlist su
misura,
forse questa è quella che finora si è avvicinata di più alla mia
wish-setlist per il 2005...
Chissà cosa sentiremo in quel di Milano, Bolzano ecc. ..... 
Con l'arrivo dei biglietti l'atmosfera si scalda e la curiosità inizia
a superare il livello di guardia.... ;o).
Cinzia - Outsider #3
             8mista #8 
--
My book is called "The Ascent of Man"
I marked your chapter with a catamaran
The accent's off
But I am what I am...