Tape: The War on Drugs, Paramount Theatre

Feb 21, 2022

Venue: Paramount Theatre, Seattle WA
Source: Dual AT853 > Tascam DR-40X (24/48) wav
Transfer: TDR-40X > MacBook > Tracked with Logic Pro > FLAC via XLD
Location: GA stage left 25 feet back.
Taper: Nokeeo
Length: 02:29:19
Download: Dime, Archive.org

Setlist:

  1. Old Skin
  2. Pain
  3. Ocean Before the Waves
  4. I Don’t Want to Wait
  5. Tech Difficulties
  6. Victim
  7. Break
  8. Strangest Thing
  9. Harmonia’s Dream
  10. Break
  11. Red Eyes
  12. Living Proof
  13. Born in Time (Bob Dylan cover)
  14. Break
  15. Brothers
  16. Come to the City
  17. Break
  18. Rings Around My Father’s Eyes
  19. Break
  20. I Don’t Live Here Anymore
  21. Break
  22. Lost In A Dream
  23. Under the Pressure
  24. Thing of a Place
  25. Break
  26. Occasional Rain
    Encore:
  27. Encore Break
  28. Eyes to the Wind

Notes:

Nearing the end of the winter leg of their tour, The War on Drugs stopped in Seattle for a two night stint at the Paramount Theatre. This is a recording from the first night. Due to COVID-19, proof of vaccination and face covering were required. Doors were at 18:30. The band took the stage at 20:15. There was no opener just two and a half hours of uninterrupted live drugs.

Throughout the evening Adam Granduciel took the audience on a meandering tour through their discography while sipping from a mug of tea that resembled the one from the album artwork I Don’t Live Here Anymore. At times even he didn’t know where we were going next.

The tour was in support of their new album I Don’t Live Here Anymore. A bulk of the setlist was from the new album, but they dipped into their early material at time such as Brothers from Slave Ambient.

During the show Adam took moments to share stories or give shoutout to friends and family in attendance. Local legend Cheryl Waters of KEXP was in attendance. Adam also reminisced about one of their first shows in Seattle at the Tractor Tavern.

If you are to listen to one track off this tape, listen to Under the Pressure. The song starts with an airy solo from Adam. The extend bridge builds a tension that is finally released whipping the crowd into a fevered frenzy.

When the show finally ended, the audience was released onto Pine St to find a rare Seattle snow fall, resembling the album cover of I Don’t Live Here Anymore. A fantastic end to the evening.