The set-up of the show was casual. You could sit on the stands if you want, or you could be right in front of the stage if you're so inclined, (or suicidal). Just behind the stage was littered with many food/beer/t-shirt and DJ booths, plus the inevitable row of port-a-potties.
The show begins at 5pm with the "Fastbacks" performing a fun set of songs to which I know no names. Following their energetic half-hour performance was "Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals" who played enthusiastically for a full hour, every second of which was a happily unexpected surprise. They played politically motivated music plus altered versions of songs such as "Voodoo Child". Their performance definitely was in the right spirit for the rest of the show.
At 7:30 sharp, only a half-hour after "Ben Harper" leaves the stage, the lights go out and a recorded "drum circle" like serenade is played as the honored guests take the stage. At this point I am wondering to myself if they will play "Release" or "Oceans". As soon as the question enters my head, I hear the chords of "Last Exit". I smile with joy (it being one of my favorites), until I realize that everyone in excitement is pushing their way to the front, and being in the middle of the floor I get caught in the rush forward. Before I know it, they're in the middle of "Hail, Hail". To loosely quote Ferris Bueller, "If you don't stop to look around, you could miss something".
Yup, it's almost predictable that heavy crowd-riding would start within the first three songs. And just as predictable, I can see that the Universal Alliance of Drunken Asshole Jocks (UADAJ) is making a special appearance to the show as I watch one try vigorously to remove the shoe of a passing crowd-rider. Well, what kind of behavior do you expect when there are beer tents EVERYWHERE!
After playing a few more songs, Eddie mentions how all rock stars have a "direct line to god", (it's true too!). Although it was a distraction during most of the show, especially during ballads like "Better Man", "Daughter" and "Black" the crowd sings the words louder than the sound system. What ever happened to LISTENING to music? Oh, man, that same asshole jock (from the aforementioned paragraph) knows all the words to "Not For You". Does that suck or WHAT!
PJ's effort at "State of Love & Trust" was passable, even with my strong preference for the original drum part from the Dave "Era". Although it was raining for most of the show, it did pour down appropriately harder for some songs more than others, most notably for "Black" as I turned my face to the sky with my eyes closed for the duration of the song. Eddie moved out of the spotlight after all of the lyrics were finished, and he quietly stood to the side as the band played the remainder of the song.
O.K., the break before the encore, which is my cue to meet my friend by the soundboard. As I find him, we hear the tribal drumming of "Who You Are" which definitely felt good. After that, Mr. Ed thanks the security guards up front (non-sarcastically), and he offers one of them to join them on stage, but he declines. They break into "Even Flow" and as they get to the jamming part, we see none other than the big-boy himself, John Popper on harp! Where the F did that one come from?
It was cool while it lasted. Sometime toward the end, Eduardo says to the crowd "Everyone shower and meet back here tomorrow", and at 9:20pm the show ends with a quiet "Indifference". It seemed like they would come out and play more, but they just didn't. The show seemed powerful, but somehow uninspiring comparing it to the sea of bootlegs committed to memory. We both hoped that Sunday's show would be better. We get in the car to leave at 9:40pm, and we get out of the parking lot at 12:30am. I love NY!