Miss E.
Dances With Posts
Posts: 49
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Post by Miss E. on Apr 16, 2005 2:07:13 GMT -5
my friend robert posted this on a music listserv:
...walks off stage about an hour into the show and comes back with a TV, which he proceeds to throw down onto the stage. Smashes a guitar into the TV. What'd he say? Something about Reagan? I missed the comment. (The roadies spending 10 minutes sweeping up the debris sort of ruined the dramatic effect.)
After the show starts to hit a lull, they launch into "Can't Hardly Wait" ... Westerberg throws the mike out into the audience, and follows the mike a minute later.
Last half hour... the show devolves into Westerberg starting lots of songs but not finishing them. The band is waiting for him to make up his mind about what to play... One verse of "Like a Rolling Stone" ... maybe two-thirds of "Substitute" ...
By anyone else's standards, the show would at this point probably be considered a train wreck, but it's classic Westerberg. As someone in one of the VIP balconies stands up, he yells, "Hey, don't you walk out!"
What was that bluesy song he played just before the encore? The rest of the band was starting to leave, because Westerberg had said they were done, then he lies down on the stage and starts making squealing noises with his guitar, which eventually turned into this song. "This is our last song. We may never ever play again," he says.
Will they even bother with an encore? Yes... Westerberg brings a telephone with him and smashes that on the stage. (More sweeping roadies to the rescue.) Then the glorious finish: "Alex Chilton" and "Left of the Dial."
In all, he played about 2 hours and 15 or 20 minutes. And yeah, he played "Different Drummer" and also Pete Seeger's "If I Had a Hammer" ... which sounded remarkably like an old Replacements song the way he did it.
I'm sure I'm missing some key details here. Please pipe in if you were there. Quite a night... More of a shambling mess than either of the Mats shows I saw back in the day, though it was a good kind of shambling mess, IMO.
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Post by TomT on Apr 16, 2005 6:52:33 GMT -5
What a fun show! He was in a great mood the whole night and the band was smokin'. This was definitely the best I've ever seen him. This show had it all from a very tight rocking band (Knockin' on mine, Making me go, As Far as I know) to a great acoustic Swingin' Party and then all the crazy loose shit - Cat Scratch Fever among them. Just want to say I had a great time up front with FAF and Underneathabighorse. And she got her wish as Paul pretty much landed on top of her It was nice to meet some of the MWTers before the show too. Elegant Mule, Zook, Monkey, Jodi, Wolfdogg, Gtrplyr, First Avenue Fiend, and horsey girl. Thanks for making my night. GD I hope someone was recording this one.
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Post by TomT on Apr 16, 2005 7:05:18 GMT -5
One more thing. He clearly went out of his way to emphasize "She's peeing on Ajax" during gunshy. Which sounded great btw. He also did about 2 lines of a slowed down Vampires and Failures.
He came out for the encore with an old 1980's telephone. Held the receiver to his ear and said "There's a call for you" then threw it down and stomped on it. I yelled for Everything Goes Wrong but it wasn't meant to be.
Kick ass show I tell ya.
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Post by A Regular on Apr 16, 2005 7:31:34 GMT -5
Just want to say I had a great time up front with FAF and Underneathabighorse. And she got her wish as Paul pretty much landed on top of her What, I thought she wanted to land on top of him? And I had to grin widely when you mentioned the ajax line; liking to thing he recalled hearing of the confusion over that line!
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zook
Beagle Scout
You be me for awhile and I'll be ewe...
Posts: 1,246
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Post by zook on Apr 16, 2005 8:56:45 GMT -5
No time for full report (though highlights were already nicely summed up.) Suffice to say it was a great show and Paul was clearly having a blast! For you set list fanatics, I wanted to make sure to get this to you. It's for the most part in order of what was played and complete except for one song and the proper title of another. Thanks to GtrPlyr for helping me remember a couple of them and hopefully someone else can fill in the remaining gaps.
Stain Yer Blood If I Had A Hammer Gunshy (just for you, Areg!) AAA Anything's Alright (right into...) Rebel Rebel 23 Years Ago Mr Rabbit Merry Go Round Someone Take the Wheel Live Forever Little Mascara Born For Me Valentine Psychopharmacology High Time Making Me Go No Place For You As Far As I Know Swinging Party Crackle & Drag Only a Hobo ? How Can You Like Him? Love Untold Different Drum Knocking on Mine I Think I Love You Cat Scratch Fever (about half of this after someone yelled for Gary's Got A Boner) Can't Hardly Wiat Folk Star Substitute Vampire & Failure (just the beginning) Some Chuck Berry sounding song like Little Rock n Roll...? Jesus Left Chicago I've Got a Mind to Give Up Living
Encores: Alex Chilton Left of the Dial
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Post by A Regular on Apr 16, 2005 9:03:38 GMT -5
How cool that he also played 23 years. I hope FAF was happy!
And Christ, that's almost 40 songs! ;D
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Post by scoOter on Apr 16, 2005 9:16:19 GMT -5
i hate you all. see you stragglers tonight.
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Post by goodtogo on Apr 16, 2005 11:12:26 GMT -5
as for Gunshy... It is absolutely a former whore peeing on ajax.. and it really seemed that he made a point to sing those lyrics very clearly.
i wonder if michael b mentioned it to him.
great show.
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zook
Beagle Scout
You be me for awhile and I'll be ewe...
Posts: 1,246
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Post by zook on Apr 16, 2005 12:10:34 GMT -5
It really was a kick ass show and as I mentioned, Paul seems to be having a blast. He came out smoking with Stain Yer Blood (which totally rocked out), If I Had Hammer ("a little Pete Seeger number for ya" and Gunshy (clearly and for someone's benefit he sang "a former whore PEEING ON AJAX".) During AAA you could tell how much Paul was digging playing with HOF - towards the end of the song as Jim and Paul sang into the same mic, Paul is singing and looking at Jim. As the song ends Paul and Jim are facing each other with Paul just grinning (they are inches from each other) and Paul puckers his lips and plants a wet one on Jim's lips. It was pretty funny and they were both cracking up. We knew it was going to be one of those fun nights.
After a rousing version of High Time, Paul smashed the TV set (as already previously described elsewhere) and as they rip into Making Me Go, a big grizzled veteran stagehand strolled out with a broom and started sweeping up the mess as the boys played. It was a pretty funny sight to see and Paul seemed to be getting a kick out of it.
25 songs or so into the set Paul was clearly up for improvising. When someone yelled out for Gary's Got a Boner, he said "I've been waiting for that one. That's Cat Scratch Fever right?" and proceeded to play the opening chords to CSF. The band followed and it actually sounded pretty good as they played about half the song and out of the chorus it fell apart. He ended it like he did with several of the aborted covers with "Shut the f*ck up!" and made a slashing sign to the band. All done with glee and not malice though.
During Can't Hardly Wait he let the audience sing while he stepped away from the mic and watched. Then he took the mic and either put it on the edge of the stage or threw it into the crowd (couldn't tell from vantage point) and shortly followed with what seemed like a half step, half stage dive into the crowd and on Underneath a Big Horse. He proceeded to finish the song there in the crowd.
Then came requests and cover song heaven. He asked what we wanted to hear and of course there were indecipherable shouts so he says "Folk Star? Should we do that one?" and did so. Then came a full and rocking version of Substitute and a too short bit of Vampires & Failures. As he was singing that a woman in the side balcony was leaving and Paul yelled "Where are you going? Get back here!" and stopped the song. Again it was Paul having fun and not the pissed off Paul. They then played a rocking version of a song that seemed familar but I couldn't place - a Chuck Berryesque tune. He also started with "Like A Rolling Stone (Pin) but stopped that after a few seconds. Next came a bluesy Jesus Left Chicago which ended too soon for my tastes and then they finished with I've Got a Mind to Give Up Living, which Paul was getting into. The encores were familar (though being at Memphis and having missed most of it this was a treat) but rocked out and was a great end to an awesome show.
It was great to meet so many familar names from this board. Jodi, Wolfdog, FAF, Steve (Foley), Maybellene, Date2Church - sorry I didn't get more of a chance to chat with you. EM, Gtrplyr, Monkey, MT, Horsey and Tom - it was great hanging out with you guys. What a great bunch of peope! And just as funny and cool as they are here. If ever you get the chance to meet any of them, do it. Thanks for making the evening a blast!
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Post by TomT on Apr 16, 2005 14:27:31 GMT -5
Zook, your memory is amazing.
I'd have to say that this was one of the funnest shows I've ever been to. And FAF, I apologize for my horific singing. I just can't help it. You and Horsey ROCK by the way. It was a great time.
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Post by maybellene on Apr 16, 2005 14:54:35 GMT -5
So tired I can't see straight. Anyone who saw the first two legs will see a completely different show on the 3rd one. Really good fun. Ya gotta wonder what the mood is gonna be for Louisville tonight.
And btw, it was a Chuck Berry song. "Round and Round."
Lovely meeting all y'all. Too damned difficult to remember any real names. You will always be your board names to me...
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Post by Cotton on Apr 16, 2005 18:44:05 GMT -5
Gunshy (clearly and for someone's benefit he sang "a former whore PEEING ON AJAX".) heh heh heh. Jomophone: P / pee / pea But why is she peeing on Ajax? Is that some kind of Hints from Heloise home pregnancy test? Portland Green Jacket! www.amped4life.net.nz/p.htm
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Post by jodi, queen of the underground on Apr 16, 2005 21:45:24 GMT -5
So tired I can't see straight. Anyone who saw the first two legs will see a completely different show on the 3rd one. Really good fun. Ya gotta wonder what the mood is gonna be for Louisville tonight. And btw, it was a Chuck Berry song. "Round and Round." Lovely meeting all y'all. Too damned difficult to remember any real names. You will always be your board names to me... it was wonderful meeting you maybellene. you get the award for entrance of the night with your "do you know where i can find the queen of the underground." it made my night. and since most of y'all have already rehashed the show, i'll tell you all the non-show related bits in the Misc. section.
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Monkey
Beagle Scout
Ninja Republican
Everybody dance like there's ass in your pants
Posts: 2,438
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Post by Monkey on Apr 16, 2005 22:13:51 GMT -5
Everyone's done a great job of summarizing the show, so I'll just chime in and reiterate how much fun the show was, great mix of blistering performances and loose screwing around. Hope a recording of this turns up! It was also great to see all the MWTers - Zook, Tom, Wolfdog, FAF, Maybellene, date2church, great meeting you guys, Jodi, EM, GtrPlyer, UABH, equally great to see you all again.
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Wolfdog
Beagle Scout
Long Live Cap
Posts: 1,794
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Post by Wolfdog on Apr 16, 2005 22:38:19 GMT -5
not much for writing reviews, but I will say one thing...Substitute was smokin....I really hope they get it all down and someone records it.
I really still cant believe I heard two nights of Gun Shy and Vampires And Failures (sadly, minus the electric shaver)....and 23 Years Ago was phemoninal, it looked like he was about to say something about it at the end, and then thought better of it.
It was an awesome time all the way around, I met and travelled with a great group of people...thanks to everyone for a great time.
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Post by lonelyheart on Apr 16, 2005 22:44:44 GMT -5
If someone did tape this and decides to weed it, my request would be not to edit it. Leave all the fun banter and 1/2 completed songs (I thought I was flashing back to a 1984 Mats show there for awhile) in their Westerbergesque glory. The entire show was no more than 2 /12 hours so it will fit on 2 disks.
LH
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Post by FirstAveFiend on Apr 17, 2005 12:30:14 GMT -5
I like everyone else will chime in and say I had a blast with these people. Including a guy named Bill or Billy that went to college in MN just because of the Replacements tie. He said he lurks and was going to finally post.
It was a crazy show, and I love whenever he plays "I Got A Mind To Give Up Living." And yes A Reg I was in heaven hearing 23 Years ago, it was a highlight of the night for me.
TomT, you've got to be kidding me about the singing. I was singing along all night so if there's anyone to apologize its me.
UnderneathABig horse, thanks for rockin out with me up front. Someone had to be moving in the audience.
To my crew that made it til 6:30 in the am, what a time it was and thanks! I know I didn't get to talk in depth to everyone but I was really glad to meet so many cool people. As Jodi said when we left, we can do this again in 5 years! Lets hope its sooner then that. If not, you're all coming to mpls and we'll turn my apt into the dorm!
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Post by Ginchy on Apr 17, 2005 12:32:21 GMT -5
"Some Chuck Berry sounding song like Little Rock n Roll...?" FYI, the chuck berry song is called "Round & Round" and the Mats used to do that one, too. I love that song!
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Post by cellarfullofnoise on Apr 17, 2005 12:58:15 GMT -5
Lets hope its sooner then that. If not, you're all coming to mpls and we'll turn my apt into the dorm! .... no Gunshy reference intended
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Monkey
Beagle Scout
Ninja Republican
Everybody dance like there's ass in your pants
Posts: 2,438
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Post by Monkey on Apr 17, 2005 13:02:21 GMT -5
I'll bring the Ajax.
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