This is going to read as more personal journal entry than show review. Such was the nature of this show. Some songs were very good, some were ser, others were uber-ser...and it doesn\'t really matter to me. The weight of the subplot totally eclipsed the importance of the actual play on the stage. (Ironically, it\'s very similar to the Patriots-Giants game.) I can\'t imagine another situation where New Year\'s Eve would ever take such a backseat to something else. On NYE the moment of midnight is always the star of the show. But tonight it didn\'t even matter, and the band\'s low-key approach to the big moment was a great fit. It\'s been an exhilarating and draining 48 hours living through two Breakfast shows and a game of such extraordinary magnitude.
The most memorable part of the night for me was the line of people who wished Ron good luck as he took the stage for his last set. For two sets I had done a good job keeping myself focused on just enjoying the music. But when that group sent Ron off I couldn\'t help it; I launched into thinking about everything that we\'ve all been through together and what a huge chapter of my life The Breakfast is. All the faces. All the miles. All of the musical moments. All of the other moments. The friends fo\' life. Husbands and wives, brosephs and sisters, births and deaths.
The act of trying to explain to outside people why I\'m driving 4 hours to see a band for the millionth time. The comfort of being around those who understand once I get there.
Finally during Grand Scheme I lost it for a little while. Ever since Ron\'s announcement I was really hoping they would close this show with this song. I felt a very strong connection with the band when they did it. It was perfect.
After Scheme I came back around and enjoyed the night as any other show. The Pea>Overexposure encore was the second perfect call of the night. Raging the hotel afterwards was classic as always.
Thanks to everyone there for making this the best scene in the world. It\'s funny, the last two shows have felt kind of like graduating high school all over again. I guess the good part is that it\'s like graduating high school only you and your whole crew are headed off to the same college; things are definitely going to change, but at least they\'re not going to stop.
The Breakfast and all that comes with it has never been better than it is right now. Let\'s carry it into 2008. Happy New Year. I love you all.
