Detroit

[angela]

Just got back from the show. Still a bit giddy and jumbled and my short term memory is bad so I'll leave the structured details to someone else.

Fantastic show for me. Opened with Stain Yer Blood. Covered Different Drum, I Think I Love You (which totally kicked ass), Only a Hobo, Live Forever...and a Neil Young song. Don't know my Neil so I don't know what the song was called.

Someone in the audience yelled for Neil Young or a Neil Young song. PW said "Well doesn't everything I do kinda sound like Neil Young? Just close your eyes and pretend I'm older." Or something like that. Sang Alex Chilton, replacing several parts with Neil Young references, like "I'm in love, with Neil Young" etc.

Some ass mooned the audience but I don't think Paul even noticed.

Someone threw a copy of Ask the Dust by John Sante (I think) on the stage. Paul picked it up and began reading from it. The band started into a coffeehouse be-bop tune and Paul read several lines from the book coffeehouse poet style. I'm failing to recall if there is a term for that style. Anyway, it was very funny.

Paul fell down near the beginning and the asshole next to me shouted "yeah! just like the old days!"

Just a really fantastic show, I hope someone got it on tape!

[matsrule]

Thanks, sounds like you had a good show. Nothing like a Friday night listening to Paul and the Boys!

[jaestan]

hello PW community,

this is my first time posting anything here, so forgive me if i take too long. i've been a fan of paul's since high school (which was the 90s for me). the whole story behind how i got into him is another story that i will share some other time.

its 3:08 am as i type this. i finally got home an hour ago. shortly after the show, i had a birthday party to go to which explains why tonight was a damn good night for me. this was the second time i saw paul and it was just as fantastic as the last time (Majestic, August 2002). having a band with him this time added a sense of focus and structure, so the spontaneity of the one-man shows was missing. also, because there was a band there was actually a setlist, so no special requests

anyway, i went solo and still had a fantastic time. i was worried that i would have a very quiet time but as soon as i got in line and asked if it was for paul westerberg, the four people ahead of me were all talkative and cheerful towards me. i love PW fans. i also parked myself right at the barricade tonight so i got a damn good luck of the show as it happened. it was also pretty loud as hell (as a result, im now deaf in my left ear). i dont know about anybody else but the highlight(s) for me were when paul decided to trash some stuff (the microphone acting up, the PA exploding) and his opinion of the "Three Floors of Fun" that was forcing him off the stage at 9:30 ("there's all of us together, what are they gonna do??")

i wish i could have stayed to meet paul and get my photo taken with him, but alas time was of the essence for me. i did meet him last time and it was an amazing experience. ok, i was more tongue-tied than ever but it was still amazing. besides, i don't do meet the band anymore because after you've met your heroes (Green Day and PW), who else is there left?

the good news is that i did sneak a camera in and took pics of "Left of the Dial" and PW reading Ask The Dust by John Fante. i was soo caught up in seeing the show that i actually forgot to take pics throughout. oh well. i only wish someone got this one on tape. **keeping fingers crossed**

take care out there and here's the setlist to the best of my memory. please help out if there are any omissions

-jason

Stain yer blood / Gun Shy / AAA / If I had a hammer / Achin' to Be / merry go round / someone take the wheel / live forever / now i wonder / i will dare / valentine / little mascara / pyschopharmacology / born for me / high time / vampires and failures / mr. rabbit / what a day for a night / looking up in heaven / how can you like him? / **dylan cover** / i'll be you / love untold / **neil young cover** / I think i love you / knockin on mine / ENCORE: skyway / here comes a regular / alex chilton / left of the dial

[cellarfullofnoise]

Thanx for the writeups angela and jaestan

No baseball references? His Twins were in Detroit playing at the same time as he was.

[angela]

No baseball references that I heard, though he did refer to the snow we're getting today. He did say a few things that I didn't catch. If I read the calendar right he has the weekend off so if the Twins are still in town maybe he'll catch a game.

Jason, I think the only song you forgot was Different Drum, and the Dylan song was Only a Hobo. I thought the crowd was pretty good, though I was the only one dancing and jumping up and down in my immediate vicinity (dead center about 10 rows of people back.) Lots of other people dancing though, and lots of singing along. There was a couple in front of me that I could have hurt. The guy was about 6'5" and just wayyyyyy too cool to be there. He kept checking his PDA, looked bored to tears. Might have been Jim Derogatis. A little more than halfway through they left though and I had a perfect view. Which was nice.

[ttraynor]

I went to this show partly because I was a little disturbed he went to mush in Chicago after the whiskey....and this show, to me, was rock and roll redemption. He seemed comfortable and spirited, with just enough edginess to keep your attention between songs (Bam!, kicked over the amp that blew up, then continued with a F@#k it attitude).

St. Andrews is a smaller, more intimate venue with NO seats and people were moving, with many visibly singing along. Lots of shouting by fans between songs, and several return replys by PW--with just enough piss and vinegar mixed in.

Other than personal song choice preferences, how could rock and roll be any better?

[Lulu]

Anyone know what the Neil Young cover song was?

[cellarfullofnoise]

angela said:

No baseball references that I heard, though he did refer to the snow we're getting today. He did say a few things that I didn't catch. If I read the calendar right he has the weekend off so if the Twins are still in town maybe he'll catch a game.

I think today's game mighta got snowed out.

[adamapple]

the detroit show was from start to finish pure un-adulterated rock n roll...it blows the doors off any of his other perfomaces i've ever seen him play with a band (sans mat's, of course)..began strong and just never slowed down..the pace and energy of the night was just wonderful....only slowed a bit to play a couple acoustic numbers...one of which was an amzing "here comes a regular"...which was fvckin amazing, and to be honest i dont remeber him playing this songs lately...a wonderful gift....the beat poet thing, was absolutely hilarious...the dude with the book, came off as one of those in the"camp" that scare the bejesus outta paul...everyone was looking over at him with that "hey fella there are a few hundred other people here in the room, jusr so you know"...at one point during his beat poet bit he paused , opened his clenched hands and let the mic drop, to a thud as it hit the ground....i was dying form laughter....i flew in from nyc for the show and my brother drove in from chicago, and as someone said earlier in this thread, he really redeemed himself from the chicago show...my ears are still ringing, and there's some of the hearfelt urgency still left in my tired bones....the band was on on on on on on on....i can bet jim boquist has never had so much fun.he certainly never seemed this energetic, and amped up with son volt (granted that was a completely different gig, but still..)..they all seemed to be getting a real kick outta the show....seein them in two day in new york...hoping it keeps up.....WOW!@#$%^&*(

adamapple

[jramats]

adamapple said:

one of which was an amzing "here comes a regular"...which was fvckin amazing

[mcoryell]

Saw the show, too. Still grinning from ear to ear. Feeling incredibly fortunate! What a night. Had seen the Elvis show in Ann Arbor on Tuesday and was figuring there was no way Paul could top it Friday, but he certainly did.

Have some pics. If I can figure how to share 'em, I will.

Angela mentioned the guy who dropped his pants atop the speaker (shudders...), but nobody's mentioned that Kevin's pants were really killer. Where do I get a pair? And Paul's? Black leather (?) with 'dinosaur skin' (least I think that's what I think it was...) written on them. Should start his own line if you ask me.

Signed,
A grateful Michiganian

[ih8music]

WHAT!?! DID YOU SAY SOMETHING!?!

25hrs since the concert ended, and my ears are still ringing - incredibly loud show. not that I'm complaining, though.

I agree with what the others said... this was a VERY good rock & roll show. Being picky, I wish it could have been just a little looser and more impromptu - but all in all, I'm quite satisfied. The beat poet thing was hilarious, and the pathetic doofus mooning the crowd was appropriately ignored. Stain Yer Blood, Psycopharmacology, As Far As I Know, and the entire encore set were all insanely great. Michael Bland is da bomb

The only song that I was really disappointed in was Vampires and Failures. I love DMS and was excited to hear it live, but it was probably the weakest song of the night.

[adamapple]

i loved the "down to business" of it....they just pushed the peddle down to the floor and never let up......and i thought paul's guitar playing was something to watch, his fingers was all over the place(and in a good way.....i personally loved the version of vampires and vailures, but to each ones own...and the kickin over of the marshall amp stack was precious...that and singing on on his knees with the mic stand lowered down...i thought there was a pretty perfect mix of paul's looseness, and togetherness....as jim dickinson once said, regarding paul...." he's the best guitar player i have ever worked with when he has the right amount of liquor in him, too little, he's too timid/sensitive, ,too much liquor and you have to put mattreses up on the walls to keep him from hurting himself.. (which they did during the sessions)." --from an interview after the ptmm sessions.

--adamapple

[ih8music]

other thoughts:

- St. Andrews was packed to the gills. Nice to see the motor city represent.

- I thought the crowd was largely into it, cheered very loud, and seemed to really enjoy the show - but very few people were dancing around and acting like the fools we are. are we all getting that old?

- I really am a pathetic photographer. unless you get excited about seeing red and white blurs, i have nothing to share.

- It was a bit bizarre to see the band bus parked right out in front of the hall. Paul made some reference to that fact that "I watched all of you come in tonight, so I know who you are." parking & driving in that area really is a mess these days.

- Did anyone stick around for the meet & greet at the bus? my buddy and I left right after the concert to get a few more beers (because apparetly being merely drunk was not enough for us) and by the time we returned, the crowd around the bus/in front of the hall had, um, "changed" a bit. Unless I somehow missed the teen hip-hop dance crowd earlier in the evening... regardless, I missed the chance to meet Paul - which was probably good, all things considered.

[ttraynor]

His sense of humor was wry at times: "I watched EVERY one of you come in tonight", (as above, possibly referring to being parked right out front), "and this song is for the couple wearing the b-l-u-e j-e-a-n-s" (spoken slowly like that would surely I.D. the pair and couldn't have been virtually anybody). Had to be there. Glad I was!

[angela]

Oh god, when he made that 'couple in blue jeans' comment the asshole couple in front of me looked at each other like he was talking about them. Dream on.

Though I was moderately creeped out by the idea that PW was sitting in his coach watching all of us file in. I remember looking up at the bus thinking 'I wonder if Paul's in there looking out?' then telling myself no, that would just be weird. Then he said that and I may very well have shuddered.

I didn't stick around for the meet and greet. I have a strict 'don't me my heros' policy. I was about 2 feet from Brian Wilson once and chickened out. I just prefer to not meet my idols. I haven't really figured out why, but I'm quite adament about it. A guy my husband knows was first in line and I told him to say hi for me but that's as close as I got.

Kevin's pants were hilarious, I couldn't figure out if they were a floral print or python. He could use a stylist. I'm for hire!

[michaelb]

just so you know, angela, the inclusion of "little mascara" WAS due to me stumbling across one of your posts... hope you enjoyed it...

michaelb

angela said:

Oh god, when he made that 'couple in blue jeans' comment the asshole couple in front of me looked at each other like he was talking about them. Dream on.

Though I was moderately creeped out by the idea that PW was sitting in his coach watching all of us file in. I remember looking up at the bus thinking 'I wonder if Paul's in there looking out?' then telling myself no, that would just be weird. Then he said that and I may very well have shuddered.

I didn't stick around for the meet and greet. I have a strict 'don't me my heros' policy. I was about 2 feet from Brian Wilson once and chickened out. I just prefer to not meet my idols. I haven't really figured out why, but I'm quite adament about it. A guy my husband knows was first in line and I told him to say hi for me but that's as close as I got.

Kevin's pants were hilarious, I couldn't figure out if they were a floral print or python. He could use a stylist. I'm for hire!

[turtle]

Song highlights I remember:

The bridge on Achin’ to be – seemed like the place levitated about 10 feet off the ground when he hit that first chord and sang “I’ve been achin for a while…”

The third verse on I will dare – the whole band stopped and took it at half time with a jazzy feel to it. It was pretty amazing! (I have a recording of this but it’s pretty distorted)

Dylan cover – Paul sang it as if he were channeling Dylan. I was dumbfounded.

Knocking on mine – straight up rocked the hell out of that song.

I think I love you – Possibly his best singing of the night! It seemed that he was into that song for more than just irony’s sake. The melody and structure are pretty damn good.

Antics I remember:

Before the show Paul’s van was parked right outside of St. Andrew’s and he opened his window and started passing out bananas and potato chips to people getting in line! (this is when the “couple in blue jeans” asked him to play “Now I wonder”)

Paul knocked his lip on the mic and kicked it down. When the stage hand came out, he screamed literally right in his face “PUT A MOTHER FUCKING SAND BAG ON THAT!!!” and spit all over the poor guy in the process.

I forget why, but his mic stand dropped so he sang almost an entire song crouched down.

Then there was the kicking down of his amp and playing through a practice amp for the rest of the show.

And the aforementioned “beat” reading of the some book that some asshole thru on the stage. This guy was really annoying! I was standing right behind him and he kept holding that damn book up all night as if would mean something to paul, and even worse he kept giving paul the “thumbs up” Ugh! Very distracting!

All in all it was a great great show. His career is so fun and rewarding to follow I can’t wait to see whats next!

[angela]

michaelb said:

just so you know, angela, the inclusion of "little mascara" WAS due to me stumbling across one of your posts... hope you enjoyed it...

michaelb

*faints*

Oh. my. god. Okay, even though I know you're just kidding with me, I'm grinning like a Chesire Cat right now. ;D

And if you aren't kidding with me, then all I can do is say THANK YOU thank you thank you thank you for your chivalry and maybe kiss your shoes. I never wanted the show to end, it definitely holds the top spot for best show I've ever seen now. Come back to Detroit soon!

[melrose_cowboy]

it's taken me a full three days to recover from friday night's show and get a little perspective.

all in all, it was a really good show. and while it didn't posess the fan/paul interation magic of the solo shows a few years ago, it was by far better than the two 'band' tours in the 90's. highlights for me included pulling 'don't cry no tears' out of his ass after the guy asked him to play some neil young, hearing 'regular' which i don't think i've heard him play since the last 'mats tour. and in general, finally seeing paul loosen up and have fun for once. there was still evidence of a little bit of nerosis (yelling at the roadie because the mic was moving around, kicking the stack over, etc) but at least he was having fun.

but i gotta say that the absolute highlight for me was watching the closest guy i have to a hero rock out for a couple hours and then walking around the corner and almost immediately going on stage with my band and playing one of our best (and drunkest) shows to a packed house.

unfortunately, i did not get this on tape due to my being a drunkass scatterbrain. so if anybody has a copy, i've got stuff to trade.