Although I can't decipher 82.4629% of these pic references, this is going swimmingly.

Show over, time for bread.

They've got to stop playing Unthought Known. Especially in the encore. That song us complete bullshit.

Strange, strange show.

Ed got pissed about something during Sirens and he was not the same after that. The rest of the show he was huffing and puffing around, calling several audibles (he did the throat cutting gesture at the end of Blood to signal the band that that was it for the set before quickly leaving the stage) or directing the band, and just in general projecting an attitude of much displeasure.

First signs of a problem were Ed clearly audibling to Small Town. After Even Flow, he noted a fan had been pulled from the GA pit due to an emergency but was doing fine. I'm not sure what happened during Sirens, but it seemed like there was tech issue with his guitar. He held it behind him for his tech George (right?) to grab and as the tech got there he just dropped it. Think Lebron dropping his warmups even though the ballboy was standing right next to him waiting to take them from him. At one point shortly after a beach ball got kicked up on stage and he angrily kicked it off. After they returned for the encore (I think), he mentioned something about being amateur and that he/they would be professional. During Betterman, he clearly motioned to Matt to end the song instead of going into the SIFL bit, but Matt missed or ignored it and Ed was visibly angry. Even After Hours had some venom to it despite his heartfelt intro. And for some songs, he seemed to be just going through the motions and trying to get them over with.

This attitude was a complete 180 from his demeanor in San Diego where he and the band were all smiles all the time. It was just bizarre watching this tantrum play out and not really understanding what was going on. From my perspective it cast a shadow over the entire show. I heard several people saying it was a great show on the way out, but it made me wonder how much they were paying attention to the drama playing out on stage. This crowd seemed to be a hits crowd, and weren't nearly as enthusiastic as the crowd the previous night, but I didn't think it was a horrible crowd. If Ed was upset with the crowd, it seemed mostly unwarranted. Ed may have been upset at George, because after the Sirens thing, I didn't see him the rest of the night. If that was the case, Ed really let it bother him the rest of the show.

That said, there were several highlights: Love Reign, No Way, the Pink Floyd stuff (Interstellar intro to Corduroy, ABITW2 tag, Mother), Blood, Immortality, and Breath. Lightning Bolt (the song) was really, really good tonight, too.

But the story of this show is "what the fuck was up with Ed?"

I wonder if the venue staff forgot to go through the candy dishes and remove all the brown M&M's per the rider or something.

He's probably pissed about the condom rule they just passed.

Sounds like they thought some guy might have been hurt and it threw him a little.

Man, that tech dude sure gets a lot of shit from Ed. Didn't the same thing happen in one of the other shows?

hopefully the tech doesnt take that kinda stuff personally.

I remember in Ottawa back in 2005, Ed's Mic must of been more electric them normal. Because during Corduroy he got shocked and then took his guitar, looked at his tech and samurai swung at his mic stand with his guitar and used I think Mike's the rest of the song. it was pretty cool moment.

that's what they get for going non union.

Great setlist....No Way, Oceans, Present Tense, Blood, Mother, Breathe....great songs.

On a side note, can someone explain to me why Ed's guitars are wired and Mike's are cordless?

probably because mike is the only one that feels the need to run around like a maniac he is the only one that is wireless isnt he?