July 15, 2005 Dodge Theatre, Phoenix AZ

Set List
Tinariwen before the lights go out
Shine It All Around Remix
No Quarter
Shine It All Around
Black Dog
Takamba
Morning Dew
Tin Pan Valley
Four Sticks
Mighty Rearranger
Gallow’s Pole
When the Levee Breaks
Encores:
band intro.
The Enchanter
Whole Lotta Love

by The Enchanter
Opening Band: Little Axe…definitely a band worth checking out. They’re a cross between Living Color and Funkadelic. We saw Justinn standing on the side of the stage enjoying them as well. Good choice.

Incredible - absolutely incredible show. The energy from the audience and the band was quite sympatico. No Quarter this time round was much stronger and louder sounding and really got things going. Right into a fantastic version of Shine It All Around. Robert added some great vocal improvs that created a much more intense feeling. I think you really felt the beauty of the song tonight.

What a thrill to see Takamba again. Hard to explain how the clapping bits at the beginning and the end really come across live. The song has such lightness and heaviness, I just love when the band explodes during the chorus. Robert quipped about the meaning of the song and congratulated us on our clapping )

He was quite jovial tonight in addition to dancing and spinning AND belly dancing a bit he said tonight was all about hips and took to reminding us that a couple of times.

Morning Dew is always a treat for me to see. I think after seeing it this time round a few times, I’m even more drawn to it now. There’s such a passion about the way Robert sings it, that head leaned to one side, eyes sort of closed. It’s clear the song means a lot to him.

I enjoyed watching and hearing Robert sing the line in Mighty Rearranger “hey Robert…” because he really shouted the Robert and then gets that little impy look in his eye. It’s just fantastic.

After the encore, he introduced the band and it was as though he couldn’t say enough about them. They are truly the best group of musicians he’s worked with. Such an amazing chemistry on stage. My friend who I went with hadn’t seen them since the show in Austin in March and she commented as well on how in synch they were with each other. It’s a really powerful thing to experience.

There was just a real strong energy tonight that was so evident in every song. The Enchanter in particular had a real intensity and Robert performed some pretty strong vocals coupled with the trippy jam at the end.

When the lights go on, they played the Shine It Remix. I’m wondering if that’s done at other shows.

I’ve seen hundreds of bands over the years and none of them hold a candle to Robert. He is such a unique and gifted musician and performer and it’s so clear he truly loves what he does because he does it out of love, not for any greater gain. Sigh…

p.s. the incense was definitely Nag Champa although it smelled different than what was in New York.

And PennyLane2535 added:
I was sitting right in front of Robert 4 rows back and had the best seat!! I am so blessed to see him that close and what a show he put on! I am floored with the performance he did and as you know I saw the show the next night here in Vegas and was sitting about 20 rows back which they were goodseats but not as good as the night before. I have the set list at home which I will post eventually tomorrow after I come home which was different by maybe one or two songs from last night. Last night he spoke to the crowd more about all kinds of different things from his hometown in England to Elvis to his Leno show and how life is for him today as in the past. He is a very happy man and it shows!

The band was so up both nights and looked like they were having a blast! Justin was hopping around on stage and twirling around just like Robert and the guys always would be smiling it seems! Robert wore black both nights and seeing him shaking it both nights in a row giving it all he had was a sight to see! Incredible!

It was so cool to see the different kinds of people there from sons and there fathers to business people, hippies that quite haven’t grown up yet to young giddy girls and mothers. There was a cute girl she must have been maybe 17 or so the had made a poster and had drawn a picture of Robert with something saying Tall Cool One on it, she had blond hair, braces wore a school girl outfit and patiently waited for him to come on stage. After he did she ran up to the front and I never saw here after that! Where she was standing I’ll never know. How she got to stay wherever she went was beyond me. Lucky girl, but it was so cool to see such a young generation really loving Robert.