And I Feel Fine

Werd,
I went to see R.E.M. tonight. They walked out and started the set with It's the End of the World As We Know It. Michael Stipe said, "I really don't know what to say today, so I won't say much. I'll just let the music speak for itself."
Later in the set, he introduced a song with, "This is a song about Ohio." The crowd responded with a chorus of boos.
The setlist was urgent and angry. They threw in some old/awesomes like Cuyahoga and Life and How to Live It. Drive was stupendous. (Smack. Crack. Bush. Whacked.)
The seats were 11th row center, but throughout the show, I made friends with the ushers, until right before the second encore, they personally escorted Kevin and me into the front row where Michael Stipe waved to us and the opening band, who we ended up standing next to, and sang "Man on the Moon," then proceeded to take his pants off and jump around in boxer shorts.
Michael Stipe likes salt.
That's right red voters. A gay man covered in eyeliner took his pants off and jumped around and 20,000 people cheered. Bite us.
Love, the blue voters.