JUNE 27 2008 - AT&T CENTER - SAN ANTONIO TX - the night I got my chance to see Stone Temple Pilots in concert, and a night that will go down for me as a major life memory and experience.

Before I begin my review of the show, I'd like to explain how seeing STP live in concert was like a blessing from the 90's Rock gods above.  I have always loved this band, since I was a young kid in Junior High school.  I play their first 4 albums in heavy rotation on my players, especially their first two albums Core & Purple.  It's no secret that I was too little to see them back in the 90's when they were in their prime.  Because of my age at that time, me seeing STP or any rock band of that era was out of the question.
Back in January of this year *6 months ago*, I had won off eBay - a DVD of a live recording of STP at a festival in Germany.  My boyfriend and I watch this DVD all the time.  We cannot get enough of how excellent they sound in and all the energy and fun Scott Weiland and the other guys posess on the stage.  When we watched this DVD the first time, my bf and I both were thinking, "Damn, how cool would it had been if we had the chance to see them in concert?  If only they would do a tour again so we could get this chance."
At that point, it was nothing but a daydream and it did not seem possible that an STP reunion would even happen.  The guys had all went their separate ways and were doing their own projects.
Then, all of a sudden, 3 months later in April, the official announcement was out that STP was indeed getting back together and doing this tour.  It was unbelievable!  It was as if the guys in STP had heard our wishes and decided to provide us STP fans this wonderful treat...and what an awesome treat it was...so awesome that I am still having withdrawals of the show 3 days later!

The opening band - Black Francis - was an absolute bore.  I have nothing to comment about them, so I will just skip to our beloved STP.

The guys played for approximately 2 hours and performed an excellent variety of songs from each of the 5 major albums.  Here is the setlist of songs, though not in the order performed.

~ "Dead & Bloated"
~ "Sex Type Thing"
~ "Wicked Garden"
~ "Sin"
~ "Creep"
~ "Plush"
~ "Crackerman"
~ "Vasoline"
~ "Lounge Fly"
~ "Interstate Love Song"
~ "Silvergun Superman"
~ "Big Empty"
~ "Big Bang Baby"
~ "Lady Picture Show"
~ "Trippin on A Hole in a Paper Heart"
~ "Down"
~ "Sour Girl"
~ "Coma"
~ "We Will Rock You" *Queen Cover Song*
~ *one other cover song I wasn't sure the name or by who*

The band opened up with "Big Empty" and we all got excited and screamed with delight as Dean started playing that opening guitar line.  Scott came out wearing what looked like a pink button-down business like shirt, and tight black jeans with a studded belt.  He began singing and his voice was lightly raspy and beautiful. Scott's voice is like heaven to my ears. :)
For the life of me, I cannot remember which song they played second.  It was a song off either Core or Purple.  As soon as they began the second song, this huge screen behind the band at the back of the stage lit up with awesome flowing computer graphics that provided a sweet visual along with the music.  The screen changed graphics and scenes for each song played.  The third song, I remember, was "Wicked Garden", and the screen lit up with digital images of fire.  It was so much fun being there and singing along with all the words to each song. 
Between each song, Scott would throw in comments and stories to the audience.  He would tell us that we are being taken on a journey with each song.  It was definitely a journey I did not want to end!
I especially got excited when they performed one of my favorites - "Silvergun Superman"!  Right before playing the song, Scott explained that the song was about a friend of his who backstabbed and betrayed him.  He mentioned that he has since then made up with this friend and that they are on good terms.
It was funny how many people around my bf and I did not recognize songs such as "Silvergun Superman" and "Coma".  They were obviously there for all the radio hit songs.  Out of the section I was sitting in, there were only about 10 of us or less that were standing and singing to every song.  The rest of them were just sitting there and would get up and excited during "Plush" or "Interstate Love Song". LOL...typical.

Somewhere halfway in the set, STP did their version of Queen's "We Will Rock You".  After the first verse, Scott started improvising his own lyrics...it was so cute!
After "We Will Rock You", they did a cover song of another artist.  I wasn't sure of what song it was or who wrote it.  My boyfriend things it was an Elvis Costello song.

Towards the end, they did the encore thing.  We all begged for them to come back.  After about five minutes they did.  Scott was facing Eric's drumset and had his back turned toward the audience.  His kids walked out from the right side of the stage (a boy and a girl), and gave Scott a hug.   As soon as they walked off the stage, Scott turns around, walks over to the front of the left side of the stage and starts singing the opening verse of "Dead and Bloated".  We all got excited and sang along.  The band closed with "Tripping on a Hole in a Paper Heart".  At the end of the song, Scott, Dean, Robert & Eric all came together arm in arm and took a big bow.  Eric & Dean ran backstage, and Scott & Robert ran around the front of the stage greeting the lucky fans who happened to be right up there at the front. All in all, it was an awesome two hours of my life that I crave to re-live over and over.

I can now die a happy woman because I have seen four of my favorite bands from the 90's live in concert (Alice in Chains, The Toadies, Silverchair, Stone Temple Pilots).  I cannot thank these bands enough for reuniting and providing my generation a chance to experience them up close in concert. The rock music of today isn't the same and the music of the 90's - Grunge and post-Grunge - will always come first in my heart.  After all, the 90's were one of the best times for rock music ever.

Well supposedly they have plans to start recording a new album in November, so i wouldnt rule it out that they will tour again.  I'm pretty sure they will do an international tour next time so the folks in Europe will get a chance.
Scott seemed to be real happy that night and had his act together.  Lets hope it stays that way and he won't get dragged down by the drugs. again.

and yes, this was the  best birthday gift ever!