R.E.M.
PETE YORN
October 11, 2003
Philips Arena - Atlanta, GA
Pete Yorn:
R.E.M.
Once again, R.E.M. brought a show full of surprises and endurance to close out their tour a few miles from home. Jumping right in with the hard rocking spurts of “Finest Worksong” and “Begin The Begin,” the band didn’t let up until they’d covered almost every important base in their long history.
After declaring, we’re R.E.M. and this is what we do,” Michael Stipe leaned hard into “So Fast, So Numb,” adding an urgency not felt on the recorded version and displaying more energy than I’ve seen from him in recent tours. At the same time, Pete Buck was sawing through the air, accenting transitions with leap-kicks. Mike Mills lurked in the shadows of stage right. He was almost invisible and stayed that way except for a sublime “Nightswimming” and a caffeinated “(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville.”
Lest this start to sound like a re-tread of nostalgic favorites, songs from the last few years got a heavy airing, too. The best included the light “At My Most Beautiful,” the dark “Final Straw” and the sugary “Imitation Of Life.” Songs yet to be released also made the cut. “Bad Day” and “Animal” found the band balancing the agit-rock of Monster with the overwhelming pop melodicism of their earliest work.
The low points in the show were few. Special guest vocalist Pete Yorn didn’t really do justice to Patti Smith’s part on “E-Bow The Letter” and a late set pairing of “She Just Wants To Be” and “Walk Unafraid” found a majority of the crowd sitting for the only time during the show. That’s okay; the rest of the night was perfect. “Fall On Me,” “The One I Love” and “Losing My Religion” satisfied the arena-filling requirement, but “Find The River” felt more timeless and self-assured. “Electrolite” was also particularly well delivered.
Following main set ender, “Man On The Moon,” R.E.M. returned to really shock some diehards. A potent “Life And How To Live It” was greeted with peppery exclamations from individuals and the sound turned into a jumbled roar. That was just a start, though.
After Stipe announced, “We’re going to play more songs than we’re supposed to tonight because home is 65 miles east of here,” a five-song fan’s dream began as a thank you for those who’d been around since they were “a shitty little band from Athens.” “Gardening At Night,” “Wolves, Lower,” Sitting Still,” “Radio Free Europe” and “Permanent Vacation” led the assembled to let go and spasm into what some would call dancing. The jerky, white kid movements of 1982 filled the venue. Stipe, Mills and Buck joined right in with the rest of us. Years melted away.
Soon after, “It’s The End Of
The World As We Know It” heralded the passing of another show, another tour and
another chapter in the history of one of America’s most needed and loved bands.
Following their bows, the band started to exit the stage. Just before they stepped off,
the three original members slowed to a stop and embraced each other in a grinning group
hug. Johnny Cash’s “We’ll Meet Again” came down from the speakers as
the house lights came up. I hope that’s a promise delivered soon.
Chris McKay / concertshots.com
R.E.M. Set List (Atlanta – Oct. 11, 2003)
Finest Worksong
Begin The Begin
So Fast, So Numb
Drive
Animal
Fall On Me
You Are The Everything
Bad Day
The One I Love
Electrolite
E-Bow The Letter
(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville
Find The River
Losing My Religion
At My Most Beautiful
She Just Wants To Be
Walk Unafraid
Man On The Moon
Life And How To Live It
Nightswimming
The Final Straw
Gardening At Night
Wolves, Lower
Sitting Still
Radio Free Europe
Permanent Vacation
Imitation Of Life
It’s The End Of The World As We Know It