Review nights 1 and 2 in Seattle

Night one. The stage for the arena tour is very cool. There is alot of production with this show. Lighting is dramatic this time out and certain songs have graphics but I found all of this enhancing the show but it never was distracting or overwhelmed the band or the performance. I'm told there are more "tricks" in the production bag that haven't been worked out yet, including some pyro, but I don't know when it's going to be put in.
I know some were unhappy with the new configuration of the band members on stage, BUT, trust me when you see it you'll LOVE it!!! You can really see the whole band the whole show. Hugh, Tico, David and Bobby are all on risers in a line with Jon and Richie on the stage floor in front of them. And before anyone says thaJon is being a stage hog, or a primadonna, I have to say it just AIN'T so!!! Richie is very much in the spotlight this time out, he has several spotlight moments and Jon seems more than pleased to let him have them.
Highlights night one: The opening. the big screen attached to the back wall has an image of the circle on it and the venetian blind screens overhead turn into one big screen with the other end of the circle on it. It shows the four of them walking up through the circle tunnel until they reach the front circle, then the scteen lifts away and there are the four of them. Hugh and Bobby just go to their spots, they don't do the walk.

Richie doing Homebound Train: This is a great song for him, he really gets to show off his playing with this one and there was no mass exodous for beer or bathrooms in fact it got rousing applause in Seattle so that bodes well.
Something for the Pain Acoustic: A great surprise and very well done. David on the accordian is just well cool!!!
Loves the only Rule: Jon loves this song and he's pure Rockstar performing it!!! It rocks!!!
Thorn in my Side: Sounds great and Jon and Richie at the end make it rock hard!
Work FTWM: Not alot of die hards favorite but I have to say it works really well live, the audience got into it. This is a song that has graphics, some said they were a bit cheesy but I liked them thought they were kind of cool.
WWWB: This is just fantastic live.
Overall I was very impressed with this show . Jon is in good voice, not quite prime tour voice yet, but he's not far away from it. He's reworked some parts of various songs so they aren't a struggle for him anymore and quite honestly, the songs sound better for it, and unless you are a diehard, you won't even notice he's changed it.
My most persistent memory of night one is "OMFG, Richie is really really here, fully present, in the moment , very happy and playing like he hasn't in a long long time. It's good to have him all the way back.

Thanks so much! I'm very pleased to hear what you thought of the new songs. And I'm REALLY counting the days now. Hey, it's after midnight and therefore Monday. Scratch another one off - 25 days to go!

Night 2. I was in row 2 of the pit this night in front of Richie. Oh yes, he's back, all the way back. He was having fun, and Jon was having fun with him.
This set was a bit more vanilla for me only because the five different songs weren't really surprise songs for me. But hey there were five different ongs in the setlist from the night before which is what Jon promised he would try to do, so I'm good.
The pit:There is never really a question that the pit is a great place to be is there??? LOL!!!
FYI though. If you are doing more than one show do one outside the pit so you can really get a feel and see the production, it's too good to miss. The pit is really pretty roomy once the show starts, and even more so after Jon goes out on the walk around and people move to the back of the pit to be closer to him and the band. Hint, If you are someone who wants to shake the bands hand or high five them at a show, the back of the pit during the acoustic set is the place to be. All of the guys walk back up to the main stage doing the hand high five thing with fans. Just sayin". Oh and if you are in rows 6 or 7 seven of the pit, when the acoustic part starts stand behind your chairs, it's safer that way, LOL!!
Highlights night two: Jon doing MAM out front. I know alot of you don't love it but he does it very well and it goes over here in the States.
Jon teasing Tico about being "rusty" when he went into the juke box part of Bad Medicine, said he guessed they needed a few more shows to shake the rust off.

The songsfrom the first two records. I'm not a huge fan of any of these, but they are getting better tha more they play them. Audience seems good with them, and the hits seem to be spaced out pretty well throughout the show.
Jon singing IBTFY with Richie out on the walkway.
WWBTF really sounds like it belongs live.
The video screen for Prayer!! These sent in vids are hilarious!!
Jon was in better voice night 2, He was coughing a bit night one, but his breathing and stuff was better night 2. He's very close to being in great tour voice!!
Overall, both shows were very good. The band sounds tight and well rehearsed, although I heard through the grapevine that there wasn't all that much rehearsal at rehearsals, mostly alot of talking about what songs to put in take out etc.Still they sound really good so I can't wait to see tham again mid tour when they are really well rehearsed on all these songs!! It was a good fun weekend in Seattle.
My two big obsevations from these first two shows.
I got the impression the last couple of tours that Jon felt the need to carry the shows, probably because of the struugles Richie was going through, but it's very obvious that that isn't the case this time out. Jon is more than comfortable having Richie step out and shine and he seems more reelaxed and happier on stage because Richie is back to being his old self. It's fun to watch guys, you're gonna love it I promise!!
Jon was right, the new songs were meant to be played live. The Circle is a very good record but live, all the new songs I heard are just really great.

richie singing homebound train - night 1 seattle

my bad if its been posted before