If you look on the MSG 1 setlist, you'll see the added soundcheck, which I was lucky enough to catch.

I haven't been back to MSG since 2001 when I stopped working shows there and all around nyc and moved away. There were some negative personalities when I left which was one of the reasons I got out, so I wasnt sure if I wanted to return.

I see one old employer there who gives me a hug, and updates me on all the personnel changes since I've been gone. We walk to the stage and dressing room area where I used to work. I get to the space between the dressing rooms and the stage, and to my great surprise, none of the negative people were there - it was a few of my very close and good friends working the band's security (not tour) and their mouths slowly drop as they see me and say my name with a question mark. I couldn't believe they survived all the mergers (all the promoters merging was pretty rough on some). I saw some others I've worked with before producing the show. It was almost better catching up with them than what happened later! Lots of hugs, handshakes and smiles from great people, and a lot of "where did you go?". "I thought I was seeing a ghost" one said. This was such a pleasant surprise seeing all of them again. Such a warm greeting.

Anyway, as if that weren't enough, PJ must have walked right by me to the stage without being noticed. I was chatting just behind the stage when I hear the notes of Wasted Reprise. Look up and see boom in sweatpants in front of me, and the band in place. They run thru WP and move on.

WMA starts and there are the gospel/backup singers. They run thru it one time. I can tell this is going to be a good night, and it sounded even clearer without the crowd - so I can't wait for the boot.

Who You Are is tried next, and sounds good. As a vocal critic of Matt, I think he's doing an excellent job on Jack's song and has captured a good groove for it. The backup singers are still on with them, and after the song ends, ed goes over to them trying to organize the harmony, so it's just them solo.

All Night comes on, again with the singers. Seemed pretty straight forward.

I Believe In Miracles was done as a straight shot and sounded tight. I don't recall if CJ Ramone was soundchecking since I was at the opposite corner from the stage.

I walked from behind the stage to the empty floor to try to catch a few minutes of the soundcheck from the back of the house. As I'm walking there, I almost bump into a "certain toddler" who was wandering left, then right, then left about 10' in front of her mom, heading in my direction. She had been carried past me often wearing pink hearing protectors, but obviously I steered clear of her and the other kids of varying ages. I don't want to get into the personal stuff too much, but there was a family scene.

Ed strums a moment and sings "Here I am, head in hand, turn my face to the wall". Before he got into that song, he stopped and played No More straight thru.

After that song ed exits the stage as the venue's vendor and security staff file into seats for the event meetings.

I had my camera the whole time, but unfortunately it would not have been appropriate for me to photo or video the soundcheck - sorry (It's not a wayne's world type scene there anyway). Since they didn't do a soundcheck in '98 when I worked the show, I felt I had to catch a soundcheck at least once. I'm glad I caught this one, and a unique one at that, and caught up with some really great people.

I hope that gives you a little glimpse of what I was able to catch yesterday. I just wish I had arranged to relay the soundcheck to someone on the board.

As bands rarely soundcheck on a second day in a venue, and since my old boss is not working that day, I'm not heading in earlier than the show, but I'll see you all tonight!

Bring on Release and Sonic Reducer!

Great story. Lots of celebs on stones side. I think I saw a couple of rangers, olsens, and elisha cuthbert. Eds girl is simply stunning.

cool story, the better sound check today to hopefully remedy the sound problems there was last night...

Oh yes - the techs will be working and "soundchecking", but I doubt the band will be there unless they want to rehearse some new or rare songs.

Soundchecks usually don't require the band. Soundchecks with the band should really be called "rehearsals".

I didn't see Elisha!! Oh man...

On the second night I could see the Olsens, and in section 52 I saw Ron Silver with a little more gray hair than I'm used to.

And, yeah, ed's girl is a cutie indeed - and I didn't see a "bump" when I was up close on someone who was supposed to have one, but I was not trying to look either.

You're right. After all these years of us wrongly calling it soundchecks, I almost forgot that
Thanks for the review!

groetjes,
Mirella