The second set included an array of songs, from the always hauntingly beautiful The Wall, to the admittedly obscure song Wheels, and a smorgasbord of variety that was sure to fit in the “something for everyone” category. With selections ranging from Two Cents Worth, to Miracles Out of Nowhere, to the instrumental Musicatto, the fans were clearly enjoying every second.
By the time they started the main event, The Point Of Know Return, we were all ready for the main event, and the entire audience could feel the electricity. The band was energized, smiling, and let me tell you, Ronnie Platt’s engagement, facial expressions, and stage antics, delivered some of the best parts of the show.
Nearing the end of the album, things got a bit theatrical when they brought out stage props including a park bench, a study table with a globe, and a tombstone for the second to last song, the melancholy Nobody’s Home. An interesting side note, the name on the tombstone was “Winchester”, presumably a nod to the TV show Supernatural, the enormously popular show which has featured “Carry On Wayward Son” since the season one finale in 2006.
After wrapping up the final set with Hopelessly Human, I did not see a single fan leave, with the promise of the Carry On Wayward Son finale, which was delivered flawlessly and with the most spectacular drum solo to finish it off, making me wonder where on earth 68 year old Ehart gets his energy and strength. More goosebumps.
All in all, it was a solid 2 ½ hour performance, that was so close to studio quality, it blew me away. I felt like this show was a love letter from the band to St Louis, and I am sure I was not alone. As we all filed out together, we felt more like family than a bunch of strangers, united by the experience that we had all just shared. We laughed, we cried, we had an incredible time. And as the guy in the audience yelled out between every single song – “WE LOVE YOU GUYS!”