Sorry, was texting those few comments from my phone - am back in front of a keyboard now, so can type a little more!
Another great show! Despite the disappointment at the lack of any setlist changes, this is still a great setlist, even if I was sitting thru it for the third time! I'll be a bit miffed if they do make any changes in Paris or elsewhere, as this is their only UK headlining show. I can't really complain, as this was the risk I took in going.
The sound was a bit muddy in places during the first half - The Shattered Fortress seemed to suffer for it, and Along For the Ride was a mess, but the highlights shone through. They got it sorted by the second half, which was better all round - Lifting Shadows was awesome, and Space Dye Vest was truly spectacular, JP nailed the solo at the end, it sent shivers up my spine - magical. Illumination Theory held together surprisingly well, the band were so tight, even if the song does have 4 minutes of dead air in the middle of it. Finally Free was the other highlight - and I managed to shake hands with 4 of them at the end!
A few other observations:
The best advice I can ever give anyone is NEVER EVER DRIVE INTO SHEFFIELD. The city is a rabbit warren and nothing is signposted.
The screen at the back of the stage has developed a few dead pixels.
I think Jordan might have a new keyboard sound - he used it during TSF and The Mirror, but it's hard to tell in the live environment. In any event, there was lots of new keyboard parts. There was a new keyboard solo in The Mirror (did they f*ck up the intro part? JP certainly dropped a duff note earlier in the night, its nice to know he is human!), a short jam in Scarred, beefed up drum spot in Trial of Tears, etc. JP's guitar was much more brutal during Illumination Theory.
Song of the Night - Space Dye Vest
Man of the Match - JMX. The bass was thudding through the floor, up my legs and touched me in my special place. I've never quite appreciated before just what a powerhouse Myung is.
Arse of the night - For once, not the three guys in Row A Who wouldn't STFU, but the girl in the front row who was wearing a skirt so short you could see what she had for breakfast. I'm even convinced JLB was sneaking a look down her top...