R.E.M.: Young Despite The Years

Real quick like, the R.E.M. show last night at Merriweather was great bordering on pretty fucking awesome. Band was spot-on in every way, except for the setlist, which had 63% less early stuff than the Raleigh show the night before. BTW, Dumbek, I am totally jealous that you went to that show. Jerk.

Highlights:

• "Pop Song '89" Rock! Stipe even did the little shimmy dance he did in the video.


• "Driver 8" - As an intro, Stipe said "This next one is a request. From me."


• "Let Me In" acoustically. Pretty great.


• "Orange Crush" - Well, if they're not going to play half of Reckoning like you did in Raleigh, at least they played this. And it was absolute sonic-godhead. Buck just killed it.


• "These Days" - Seriously, this was one of the best things I have ever heard at a concert. Absolutely incredible.


• "Rockville" - Mills sang it and it was awesome. It was great to hear this song in "D.C." The entire audience sang along.

Lowlights:

• "Houston" - I am all for bands writing about "The Bush administration's pathetic response to Hurricane Katrina," but this song might as well be called "Bathroom Break."


• Would it have killed them to play "Harborcoat?"


• On "Little America" any mention of Jefferson Holt was erased. Poor Jefferson.


• Traffic. It was bad. Real bad. 2 hours to get there.


• Modest Mouse - Johnny Marr aside, they really suck. Marr was incredible though.

Stipe was very energetic last night. Running all over the place. Good times. And I got some kick ass photos if I do say so myself.

More on this show later. Possibly. Read the Chris's awesome review over at DCist soon.

More photos after the jump.