--- Looking into upcoming concerts at the box office before the show was brutal. Every ticket was a billion dollars and/or unavailable.
--- Surprised to see a former coworker walk past me in the upper deck and genially curse me out when I ask him if he’s seen Rage before. I should have expected it from him, and he meant it to be a joke, but still…
--- Heh, there’s a “Public Service Announcement” about something burning.
--- The passion from the band and crowd is amazing. And yet…….the rhythm, delivery, and profanity is so monotonous, I can’t connect.
--- The same issue for the second song. Serious props to the Upper Deck crowd though -- they are killin’ it. Moving and pumping at everything.
--- “Bulls on Parade”!! Infinitely better rhythm, infinitely better song.
--- “Bullet in the Head”!!!! What I said for “Bulls”…but DOUBLE. I’m involuntarily launched from my seat. Outstanding variation. Omg, the guitarist is playing the guitar with his teeth. Who is he, Hendrix?!
--- “Testify”: smart change of pace. The closest they get to funk -- and restraint.
--- “No Shelter”: back to forgettable.
--- “Take The Power Back”: greater vocal clarity -- and awesome escalating feedback halfway through! Oooh, a genuine downshift with “no more lies” pays such dividends!!! Makes the “take it back” finale electric.
--- “Guerilla Radio”: Mike Vance memories!! https://share.icloud.com/photos/05393FjUy0bgpHoJQwInE_Jag
--- “Down Rodeo”: Intriguing jerk-motion sound and cool slow-down.
--- “Know Your Enemy,” “Calm Like A Bomb”: solid.
--- “So many people coming together from different backgrounds. We’re in for the fight of our lives.” Disappointingly, he only mentions neofascists and child labor. Does he not want to alienate certain fans?
--- Tearrrrr at this version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Ghost of Tom Joad.” It’s so sad because the Bruce / Tom Morello combination is incredible -- better than Bruce’s original! This version indistinguishable from most of their other songs. Instead of a thoughtful, layered escalation of anger, we hear sonic sludge. So disappointing.
--- “Killing In The Name”!!! Back to form. EVERYONE GOES NUTS. [Including, in spirit, Meagan O'Neill.] Wild guitar solo as well. Whoa: LIGHTS ON. Great way to end. https://share.icloud.com/photos/064DMuJE5zyeF-SrbDaKp98Dg
Grade: B+
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