[kj] NYC - me twopence

[breadfan at cybercom.net]

Just got back in Boston from NYC.  'Twas great meeting so many of y'all, and 
especially wild to meet Javier and Exorcist after 12 years (even though I've 
been something of a "silent partner" on this list for about the last ten!).  
Many thanks to Brother Alex for organizing our gatherings (which indirectly 
led to me FINALLY getting to meet Jaz). 

Highlights for me: 

1.  Pandemonium.  Fucking killer.  I nearly forgot just how powerful that is 
live.  Probably my favorite of both nights. 

2.  Getting to see Turn to Red.  Until this tour, never thought there'd be a 
chance in hell of that. 

3.  Asteroid, MINOG, and surprisingly entertaining renditions of SO36 and 
Madness. 

4.  Finally seeing Exorcism played again ... waited 14 years for that. 

5.  Timewave.  Great new track in the classic KJ style (without TRYING to 
sound like the classic KJ style). 

6.  Being in the front row for most of the first night, amidst a chaotic 
maelstrom of KJ worship. 

Lowlights: 

1.  What the hell happened to Mathematics of Chaos the second night?  I 
hadn't yet gotten into that track back when I saw them in '94, so it was 
wasted on me that night.  I was really looking forward to it and I know it's 
been part of the regular second-night set ... didn't get it in NYC, though. 

2.  No new songs on the second night either.  Granted, Madness was better 
than I expected live, but I'd gladly have taken a new track or Mathematics 
instead of a repeat of Madness from the first night. 

3.  The crowd reaction -- or lack thereof -- to Exorcism.  At the show in 
Boston in '94, it was MAYHEM.  I was anticipating the same, but instead of 
an Asteroid or MINOG reaction, the crowd seemed almost subdued.  I wonder 
how it would have gone down on the first night, when the throngs were 
definitely more rabid. 

4.  Being in the front row for most of the first night, amidst a chaotic 
maelstrom of KJ worship!  Yeah, this goes on both lists ... it was so damn 
crazy up front that it was harder to enjoy the show, so the second night was 
actually a bit more fun since we weren't quite so worried for our lives!  On 
the other hand, Geordie's sound was much better up at the stage, so a worthy 
trade-off. 

Ok, I'm exhausted.  Slipping back into lurk mode ... ;) 

Ron