Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of their breakthrough debut album PsychoCandy, the band has been on a year long tour, playing the album in it's entirety.
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In addition to every track from PsychoCandy (some which they had never played live before, prior to this tour) the opened the show with a seven song set of classic hits and deeper album tracks.
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Having already played a number of these shows (first) in the UK, and then on the US West Coast, the current touring band may very well be their tightest unit yet.
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Back in the fold are the familiar names of Phil King, Mark Crozer and Brian Young. Phil now plays guitar, with Mark moving over to bass duties while Brian continues to lock it all down behind the drum kit.
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William Reid's guitar work appears more focused and precise than ever. What's obvious is how passionately he approaches his playing. An album like PsychoCandy isn't the easiest thing to recreate, but the sound he produced was the correct balance of hook-laden riffs and distorted jam improvisation.
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Jim Reid continues to lead the band with his stoic, Scottish presence and pitch-perfect vocals. He appears more fit, focused and sounds better than ever, handling nearly every vocal performance, other than Mark and Phil's occasional background work
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Friends Lindsey and Kevin take in the show with us up in the balcony area.
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The songs performed
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Check out this clip I captured of the nights final epic performance - album closer "It's So Hard"
Having one of these passes provides the highest level of access throughout the arena.
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While wristbands help in gaining visual vantage points throughout the show.
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Earlier in the day Planting Seeds Records creator Neil DeParto and I caught up with a breezy afternoon hangout in a park nearby.
Beautiful weather for both man and bird alike.
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After that we caught up with friend and touring bandmember Mark Crozer for a pre-show meal.
In this day of instant social media reporting, the posts came fast and furious throughout the show.
All attention now turned towards the next show less than 24 hours away.
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Friday, September 25 presented New York one more opportunity to celebrate the power of this bands music through a unique concert experience.
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Choosing to view the whole show from down on the main floor turned the experience into a physically exhilarating one.
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Wisely agreeing to attend this performance as "wingman" was the elusive legend Will ("William") DJ.
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A view from the mad mosh pit that churned throughout the entire show. The energy surging back and forth between audience and band took everything up another level.
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The Black Ryder once again opened the show.
This band has put out some truly inspired recorded works, and their live show here emphasized the best of those songs.
Welcome to the beehive.
Earlier in the day, the streets teemed with extra levels of security, as it prepared for The Pope to make his appearance in Central Park.
Fast moving New Yorkers buzzed all around.
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Opportunities emerged via the unexpected virtue of ignorance.
With appropriately named lounges nearby.
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This city can often frustrate you to the edge of nervous exhaustion, but along with that comes wonderfully magical experiences you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else.
