So i just got back to CA after an exhausting travel. I wont bore you again with details, but it was hellish to say the least and pretty much soured me from trying again in March.

Luckily the show almost made up for it.

All in all, i would say Mondays show was an improvement over Sundays, but I think i still prefer the Mohegan OTT to it. Some songs improved, but an overall better set list goes a long way, and TDE just didn have it.

In no order, off the top of my head:

Bolero - Great. On par with Pray Lewd as a great way to start the show, and with more than enough places for Margoshes to shine during the night, it was good to see the whole band have their moment.

Angels Arise - a good song..... for a musical, which is where it should stay.

Objects - Rob did the first verse, and was great, and Elaine was great as well, but this new guy is no Jeremy and in turn it dampered the song a bit.
Honestly if i wasnt there, i would swear the Julie verse was now about a lesbian encounter.

Break It - Much better than before, in fact the best version ive heard yet. Though why drop the end? I have yet to be totally sold on the break it portion anyway, but the slow part at the end was always great to me. put it back!

Braver - repeating the sentiment of others, good lyrics, but wrong song. put the original lyrics back and write new music for these lyrics, and you get two good songs rather than one OK song that used to great.

Momma - Again, dont rewrite. Taking two songs (Nocturnal Pleasure and Golden Girls) and fusioning them with what seemed like excerpts from Metallica's "One" video is not a step forward, or even sideways. its just odd.

Total Eclipse/Loving You - Of course seeing Bonnie Tyler perform these is a once in alifetime opportunity, and I have no complaints about it, but part of me was almost glad she was sick the next night, for it gave Elaine and Nikki a chance to have their own song which they richly deserve. Elaine did a great job with Loving You and since its a great song in its own right, id like to see this continue to be part of the show.

Body - uh... what? SOme of the new arrangements are great (particularly during the "is it my legs, is it my eyes..." segment) but that drum slash glass beat permeating the entire song has GOT TO GO. i literally laughed at it, and body is probably my favorite steinman song since FCOL. I say drop the chorus at the beginning and the synth beats, add another verse, and they will have themself a huge hit.

Tongues - I love the song but it didnt fit the show at ALL.

FCOL - Rob only did this the first night so it doesnt really count. He sounded great but missed some lyrics. id like to hear the full version sometime.

Children - there is a great song in there, but by the end it gets too busy with all the overlapping singing. This would have been an AMAZING capper for Bat 3 too, if done correctly. Between this and Body, Bat 3 is a giant missed opportunity already.

Future/Safe Sex - i like Adriennes voice just fine, and the songs sounded great all around, but her stage presence just doesnt work for me. She looks like an American Idol contestant looking for the cameras.

Not Allowed To Love - Lyrically i love this song, but the music has never gelled for me. I cant quite put my finger on it. I dont know if it would work better with a full band, or perhaps with a "Body" style tempo, but it needs SOMETHING.

Whatever songs i forgot were as good as always/before.

Overall, i really liked the show, despite its war overtones which i dont feel fit with the Steinman-esque world Ive been in love with since I was 2 years old. His appeal is, and probably always will be, the over the top excess and love of life, at least for me. Reminding us, nay, nearly BLUDGEONING us with reminders about death and war is counteractive to the point of the songs, which is escapism on a grand scale. If I want political songs, I have plenty of bands/songs to choose from. But there is no one else writing songs like Jim has for the past 30 years or so. I agree with his political views, I just dont want to listen to them in his songs, and certainly not by replacing lyrics I know. I mean, we also both like donuts. Doesnt mean I want him to change the lyrics of Peel Out to be about Honey Glazed.

As for the non-song parts of the trip, I was also left feeling disappointed. I spent 2 weeks pay on this 3 day trip, money i did not have. However, I felt it would be worth it, because a. i would be hearing lots of new material (a claim Rinkoff reinerated 5 min before the show in fact), 2. i would get to spend a few precious moments chatting with my hero, and d. id get to see friends i havent seen in quite some time.

One out of Three aint bad.

I mean, other than Children and a few lyrics, there was virtually NO new material. The big fans have heard all these songs before in some form or other. If Meat Loaf played this entire set for a show, yes, it would be almost all new material to the average person who goes to his shows, but judging from the applause, this show was attended by no one but big jim fans and big rob fans, so we all heard all this before.
also, jim seemed almost annoyed when i went to say hello. and thats his right, i cant complain about someone not wanting to be bothered, but he was so chatty and approachable at Mohegan i guess i assumed he'd be the same this weekend. i even got yelled at just for trying to get a picture with him.

so like i said, while the show was great and some songs had vast improvements, i just dont see myself going again for the march shows. if they bring the show to LA, ill be first in line, but otherwise, i cant justify spending that much money again so soon. however, i fully encourage those who didnt make it this time to take my place.