Sec F, Row M, Seat 33

August 26th, 2024
Ruoff Music Center
Noblesville, Indiana

Setlist. . .
Wash/Nothingman/Present Tense/Last Exit/Spin the Black Circle/Not For You/Scared of Fear/React, Respond/Wreckage/Daughter/Even Flow/Dark Matter/Upper Hand/Black/Do the Evolution/Running/Porch
Encore. . .
Song of Good Hope/Lightning Bolt/Corduroy/Setting Sun/Alive/Baba O'Riley/Yellow Ledbetter

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This show - I knew it was going to be good. So good that when the show was SUPPOSED to happen, I wasn't able to get tickets. The prices were insane. I got tickets to every show I wanted (I believe it was Chicago and St. Paul?) except this one. I think the original scheduled show also put a pickle in family life...as it was the day after Piper's birthday and it was just too much. So I gave it up...only for it to be cancelled bc of Covid in the band. Thank jeebus!

So while I didn't have tickets to this show, in the back of my mind, I was going. Period. This was my second chance. And as life has progressed, I understand now, more than ever, you just can't make 'em all. No matter how close they may be...

I had originally bought tickets to Wrigley for this tour. Mike was not having it. He was having a fit up and down about going to Wrigley. I wasn't thrilled about Wrigley, either...I'm not from Chicago, I'm not a Cubs fan. I don't feel the "magic" of the stadium and honestly, I was over the Wrigley schtick. Maybe it was just the bad taste in my mouth after the first show there...being pregnant, feeling awful and rain delay. While I am glad I was there, my circumstances prevented me from enjoying the show and my memories are more like a bit of a nightmare. Nevertheless, my option to see the band this tour was Wrigley, so Wrigley it was. And then they announced Ohana. GD it. Mike magically turned from sourpuss into "OMG PJ is the best thing ever" after that was announced...and while there is so much that goes into getting to Ohana I was like...WTF. Let's do it. Wrigley. Ohana. But this damn Noblesville show was always in the back of my mind.

I decided...f Wrigley. I'll get rid of those tickets, use the money to aid the ONE ticket I'll need for Noblesville bc...well, Mike was happy about Ohana AND it was going to be the kids' first day of school the day of Noblesville. We both couldn't do it. I had already pre-booked a Noblesville hotel in anticipation...it was done. I sold the tickets...in like two seconds (they weren't GA, but they were floor on my 133,272 membership so not BAD but it's Wrigley so it, blah, sorry, such a Debbie Downer on Wrigley). I scoped out tickets for awhile and they were insane but then one day a single popped up that wasn't TOO insane so I bit the bullet. And funny enough, just hours later, Rich sent a text asking if I still needed a Noblesville ticket...
When it rains, it pours I guess?

So we took the kids to school...woo! First Day! Then I went home, packed up, and took off for Noblesville. I called in to work calls the ENTIRE drive to Noblesville. So while it was a productive drive, restroom stops were problematic (thank goodness I had sense between calls to stop at the Kroger my co-worker had once told me was the best stop before Fort Wayne)...by the time I made it to the hotel, I was EXHAUSTED. 100% nap time. Oh, by the way....

I had it in my mind that Indianapolis and the surrounding area was CENTRAL time...it is in fact, not, doh. I thought I was going to gain an hour. Alas, I did not. Also, it was 9 bajillion degrees that day. Definitely the hotest show day I have ever had.

I took my nap and then headed to the venue. Armed with some water. Found Rich in line. Then I just couldn't take the heat so I went back to the car to waste some gas and sit in the car with AC. Once doors were open I was like get me in there, which was ridiculous because the whole process of getting into the venue was a shitshow. 9 million degrees, super slow entry. 9 million degrees, sunshine beating on you and being in a crowd. And assholes still needed some cigs. GROSS.

Made it into the venue and saw that the merch line right at the entrance was not bad...so while I needed to pee and def needed more water, I was a moron and opted for merch. Because no matter how much I try to deny it, I can't because I'm a PJ slave.

Got my merch, found my one veggie option in the entire miserable venue...overpriced pizza. Chowed it down and then met up with Dan and Lynn. It was so good seeing them again, even if we were in a sauna.

Eventually made it to my seat with my stash of Liquid Death - which of course, the stupid venue required they opened. Chucking a full can of water opened is still going to hurt, btw. Always love risking my $400 water spilling all over the ground when it's 9 million degrees outside. Anyway, got settled in my seat and eventually learned my seat mates were a mother/daughter duo. The seats on my left were unoccupied until showtime and of course it was a couple and of course the dude sat next to me and of COURSE he invaded my space for most of the show. GUYS - I know you all think you're like the biggest thing on the planet but please be aware of the space of the ladies and others around you. You don't own my space. Fuck off. ANYWAY - I chatted with the mother/daughter duo and turned out the mom had seen the 1998 Noblesville show but hadn't seen PJ since. The show was the teenage daughter's first show. I asked them what they wanted to hear the most - the daughter wanted to hear stuff from "No Code" (be still my heart child) and the mom wanted stuff from "Vitalogy." While the show ended up being a bit "No Code" light, it was "Vitalogy" heavy and that was pretty fucking rad.

Even in the heat, I was excited. And what I was most excited about was hearing songs off "Dark Matter." I was really into the album and by FAR I NEEDED to hear Setting Sun.

So of course it's many months later that I write this because I'm...lazy. But I will say what I remember most about this show is how awesome Upper Hand sounded and I was THRILLED THRILLED THRILLED to get Setting Sun. Nevermind that they were playing it every show at that point, there's always a chance it gets switched up...and sadly it was my ONLY Setting Sun in 2024 so I am VERY grateful they stuck to the script at this show.

It was so good to be back at a show - it was so good to see so many familiar faces. It unfortunately was also a reminder of how terrible my ankle was and was legit cause for concern for a 3 day festival ahead of me at the end of September. Regardless of all that, I left the show happy: happy for the music and happy for connecting with some of the folks I have known for over 25 years.
 
 

12.27.24

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