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vovatSo, as I believe I've mentioned before, today (or I guess yesterday, at this point) was the show with David Lowery and Johnny Hickman from Cracker at the North Star Bar. They did a set made up of Cracker songs, Camper Van Beethoven songs, and Johnny's solo stuff. I wasn't sure what to expect from the latter, but what he did sounded pretty cool, and I picked up his two-song sampler (it was only $3), so there's a good chance I'll buy the solo album that's supposed to be coming out later this month.
Anyway, I was told by someone at the bar that there was a parking lot there, but it was pretty small, and there weren't any others in the area. To make sure I got a space, I got there quite early. I probably shouldn't have worried, since I don't think the lot ever filled up that night. I will say that, even though a lot of people in Philadelphia drive (I think of it as much more of a driving city than, say, New York), the city doesn't seem to have been designed with the automobile in mind. The streets are kind of confusing, and people drive close together, so it's difficult to change lanes when you inevitably find yourself in the wrong one. Nevertheless, I made it to the bar without much trouble, and one of the few other vehicles that was already there was David's van, which was sporting a "true patriots oppose Bush" bumper sticker. Since I was so early, I spent some time playing Dragon Warrior Monsters, and got a slice of pizza at a nearby Italian place.
I had been to the bar once before, to see Moxy Früvous with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bethje back in 2000. That was an all ages show, though, so they routed the admission line so it wouldn't go through the bar area itself. At this show, I wasn't really sure where to go in, and neither were some other people. It turned out that they didn't even let anyone in until 8, which was when I thought the show was supposed to start. Actually, though, it didn't start for another hour, which was annoying. Even if I misunderstood the website and it DID actually say doors were at 8, why would they need to open the doors an entire hour before the show? Of course, I think there's a law that concerts are never allowed to start on time. I had Will Call tickets, and while they said on the website that I would need to bring ID, it turned out that all I needed to do was tell them my name. Really, I guess this would suffice unless two people claim to have the same name, and they're probably equipped to deal with that on the off chance that it happens. I have to admit that I tend to feel nervous in bars, like I really don't belong there, and I think other people will realize this. I stopped caring about that once I actually got into the concert room, though.
The show was said to be "with the Hackensaw Boys," but I didn't know whether that meant they were opening or playing with David and Johnny. It turned out that both were true. A little after 9, the Hackensaw Boys came out and did a set. I wasn't really thrilled about having to stand through an opening act after waiting for so long, but I actually liked them. Not enough to buy their album or anything, but they were fun. They did bluegrass-type stuff, with violin, banjo, mandolin, guitar, stand-up bass, and some sort of portable collection of junk for percussion. It was kind of like a washboard with tin cans attached. After their set, roadies tested the microphones and guitars for the main act. Apparently they didn't have enough time to do this BEFORE the show. And after they were done, there was even MORE unnecessary waiting. Finally, though, David and Johnny came out, in formal dress. David mentioned Johnny's solo album, and then left the stage to let Johnny play the first few songs by himself.
The setlist was something like this:
Costco Socks--I'm not sure whether this is the official title of this song, but it seems to fit. I thought it was really cool, and I'm hoping it'll appear on the album.
Lucky
Lonesome Johnny Blues
Friends--David and the Hackensaw Boys joined Johnny for this one. David introduced it by saying that Johnny had written it for a duet between Toby Keith and Natalie Maines, and then said something about how he shouldn't make country jokes in Philadelphia. This song is on the EP that I picked up, and there's a line on it about "some music on the stereo," which Johnny changed to "the Hackensaw Boys on the stereo" for the live performance.
Sad Lovers' Waltz--One of my favorite early CVB songs, which I was hoping to hear live at some point
Might Makes Right
Take The Skinheads Bowling--After this song, the Hackensaw Boys left the stage, leaving just David and Johnny to play on:
All Her Favorite Fruit--Johnny played most of the instrumental parts on the harmonica, while David played rhythm guitar. After the song, David explained that it was based on Gravity's Rainbow, by Thomas Pynchon, a book I've never read.
Big Dipper--Said to be the counterpart to "All Her Favorite Fruit." David also mentioned that every musician eventually writes a song using a roller coaster as a metaphor for life.
Duty Free--Before the song, David talked about a drunken/drugged-up audience member at a show in Charlottesville, who started yelling stuff. David said that he thought it would work better if the guy had had a Scottish accent, and this apparently led to his receiving angry e-mails saying that he was implying all Scotsmen were drunks.
Eurotrash Girl--David told a story about how Cracker played this at a show in Columbus, Ohio, and the audience insisted on clapping on the first beat of every measure, instead of the fourth.
One Fine Day
That Gum You Like Is Back In Style--David introduced it with a long, convoluted explanation about how, on the alternate Earth on which New Roman Times takes place, the Beatles are a relatively obscure garage band popular only in Spain and Australia, and their lead guitarist is Keenan Wynn. Also on this alternate Earth, Twin Peaks spawned a spin-off. I never actually watched Twin Peaks, but I understand that the song's title is a reference.
Pictures Of Matchstick Men
Take Me Down To The Infirmary
Sweethearts--Some of the lyrics were changed to be about Dubya, rather than Reagan.
Low--Dedicated to comedian Mitch Hedberg, who apparently died yesterday. I don't really know anything about the guy, but I'd heard of him, and I didn't think he was very old. It turns out he was only 37. That's pretty messed up. Anyway, this was also the last song of the main set.
One More Name--This was a Dwight Yoakam cover, performed by Johnny and the fiddler from the Hackensaw Boys.
O Death--David and the rest of the Boys came back for this one.
Teen Angst--Since the Boys played on this one (several of them got solos, actually), it came out sounding similar to the Leftover Salmon version.
Okay, so that's the setlist, as best I can remember. Despite the long wait and the hot, sweaty conditions of the show, it was great. There was a good mix of CVB and Cracker material, and the performers were in excellent form. In addition to the between-song banter I've already mentioned, David made a few jokes at the expense of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, making several references to Philly being a "sports town," and saying that Pennsylvania is basically Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in the middle. He also said that he enjoyed playing in Philly, despite the pepper spray (a reference to an unfortunate incident at my first CVB show) and the "clapping on the one." So, yeah, it was quite enjoyable overall.
Anyway, I was told by someone at the bar that there was a parking lot there, but it was pretty small, and there weren't any others in the area. To make sure I got a space, I got there quite early. I probably shouldn't have worried, since I don't think the lot ever filled up that night. I will say that, even though a lot of people in Philadelphia drive (I think of it as much more of a driving city than, say, New York), the city doesn't seem to have been designed with the automobile in mind. The streets are kind of confusing, and people drive close together, so it's difficult to change lanes when you inevitably find yourself in the wrong one. Nevertheless, I made it to the bar without much trouble, and one of the few other vehicles that was already there was David's van, which was sporting a "true patriots oppose Bush" bumper sticker. Since I was so early, I spent some time playing Dragon Warrior Monsters, and got a slice of pizza at a nearby Italian place.
I had been to the bar once before, to see Moxy Früvous with
bethje back in 2000. That was an all ages show, though, so they routed the admission line so it wouldn't go through the bar area itself. At this show, I wasn't really sure where to go in, and neither were some other people. It turned out that they didn't even let anyone in until 8, which was when I thought the show was supposed to start. Actually, though, it didn't start for another hour, which was annoying. Even if I misunderstood the website and it DID actually say doors were at 8, why would they need to open the doors an entire hour before the show? Of course, I think there's a law that concerts are never allowed to start on time. I had Will Call tickets, and while they said on the website that I would need to bring ID, it turned out that all I needed to do was tell them my name. Really, I guess this would suffice unless two people claim to have the same name, and they're probably equipped to deal with that on the off chance that it happens. I have to admit that I tend to feel nervous in bars, like I really don't belong there, and I think other people will realize this. I stopped caring about that once I actually got into the concert room, though.The show was said to be "with the Hackensaw Boys," but I didn't know whether that meant they were opening or playing with David and Johnny. It turned out that both were true. A little after 9, the Hackensaw Boys came out and did a set. I wasn't really thrilled about having to stand through an opening act after waiting for so long, but I actually liked them. Not enough to buy their album or anything, but they were fun. They did bluegrass-type stuff, with violin, banjo, mandolin, guitar, stand-up bass, and some sort of portable collection of junk for percussion. It was kind of like a washboard with tin cans attached. After their set, roadies tested the microphones and guitars for the main act. Apparently they didn't have enough time to do this BEFORE the show. And after they were done, there was even MORE unnecessary waiting. Finally, though, David and Johnny came out, in formal dress. David mentioned Johnny's solo album, and then left the stage to let Johnny play the first few songs by himself.
The setlist was something like this:
Costco Socks--I'm not sure whether this is the official title of this song, but it seems to fit. I thought it was really cool, and I'm hoping it'll appear on the album.
Lucky
Lonesome Johnny Blues
Friends--David and the Hackensaw Boys joined Johnny for this one. David introduced it by saying that Johnny had written it for a duet between Toby Keith and Natalie Maines, and then said something about how he shouldn't make country jokes in Philadelphia. This song is on the EP that I picked up, and there's a line on it about "some music on the stereo," which Johnny changed to "the Hackensaw Boys on the stereo" for the live performance.
Sad Lovers' Waltz--One of my favorite early CVB songs, which I was hoping to hear live at some point
Might Makes Right
Take The Skinheads Bowling--After this song, the Hackensaw Boys left the stage, leaving just David and Johnny to play on:
All Her Favorite Fruit--Johnny played most of the instrumental parts on the harmonica, while David played rhythm guitar. After the song, David explained that it was based on Gravity's Rainbow, by Thomas Pynchon, a book I've never read.
Big Dipper--Said to be the counterpart to "All Her Favorite Fruit." David also mentioned that every musician eventually writes a song using a roller coaster as a metaphor for life.
Duty Free--Before the song, David talked about a drunken/drugged-up audience member at a show in Charlottesville, who started yelling stuff. David said that he thought it would work better if the guy had had a Scottish accent, and this apparently led to his receiving angry e-mails saying that he was implying all Scotsmen were drunks.
Eurotrash Girl--David told a story about how Cracker played this at a show in Columbus, Ohio, and the audience insisted on clapping on the first beat of every measure, instead of the fourth.
One Fine Day
That Gum You Like Is Back In Style--David introduced it with a long, convoluted explanation about how, on the alternate Earth on which New Roman Times takes place, the Beatles are a relatively obscure garage band popular only in Spain and Australia, and their lead guitarist is Keenan Wynn. Also on this alternate Earth, Twin Peaks spawned a spin-off. I never actually watched Twin Peaks, but I understand that the song's title is a reference.
Pictures Of Matchstick Men
Take Me Down To The Infirmary
Sweethearts--Some of the lyrics were changed to be about Dubya, rather than Reagan.
Low--Dedicated to comedian Mitch Hedberg, who apparently died yesterday. I don't really know anything about the guy, but I'd heard of him, and I didn't think he was very old. It turns out he was only 37. That's pretty messed up. Anyway, this was also the last song of the main set.
One More Name--This was a Dwight Yoakam cover, performed by Johnny and the fiddler from the Hackensaw Boys.
O Death--David and the rest of the Boys came back for this one.
Teen Angst--Since the Boys played on this one (several of them got solos, actually), it came out sounding similar to the Leftover Salmon version.
Okay, so that's the setlist, as best I can remember. Despite the long wait and the hot, sweaty conditions of the show, it was great. There was a good mix of CVB and Cracker material, and the performers were in excellent form. In addition to the between-song banter I've already mentioned, David made a few jokes at the expense of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, making several references to Philly being a "sports town," and saying that Pennsylvania is basically Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in the middle. He also said that he enjoyed playing in Philly, despite the pepper spray (a reference to an unfortunate incident at my first CVB show) and the "clapping on the one." So, yeah, it was quite enjoyable overall.
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no subject
Date: 2005-04-01 09:16 am (UTC)That actually sounds like a pretty awesome show. Lots of my favorite Cracker songs, and some of my favorite CVB ones (I really dig "All Her Favorite Fruit", which I didn't know was based on Gravity's Rainbow, which I've also never read. Though one of my friends has, but I think he's only fair-to-middling on CVB. I should ask him about it, though.)
A Twin Peaks spinoff would be awesome. I would totally have watched that, but then again, I was one of the 3 people who watched On The Air when it originally aired on ABC. (Oddly enough, I actually watched both episodes of Clerks. I have a history of catching all the episodes of shows that air on ABC for only 2-3 episodes, I guess.) But yeah, "That Gum You Like Is Going To Come Back In Style" is one of the dream things that Agent Cooper hears. I can't recall if/how it ties in, or what the gum is/if it's revealed (I seem to think it's Black Jack, though, that clove gum, if you've ever had it. But it could just be that I kinda like it in a weird sort of way, so maybe it's sort of a, what do you call it, wishful thinking type thing, in that maybe Black Jack should come back in style.)
The thing about a Toby Keith/Natalie Maines duet is kinda funny. (For those who don't know, Natalie Maines is the chick in the Dixie Chicks. And Toby Keith is an ultra-patriotic Joe Don Baker.)
no subject
Date: 2005-04-01 07:45 pm (UTC)For those who don't know, Natalie Maines is the chick in the Dixie Chicks. And Toby Keith is an ultra-patriotic Joe Don Baker.
And they have a long-standing rivalry, dating back to the time when Maines said she was embarrassed to be from the same state as Bush, and Keith criticized her for it.
no subject
Date: 2005-04-02 04:30 am (UTC)Yeah, at a CVB show in Philadelphia back in 2002, some idiot sprayed Mace at the stage, and they had to end the show early.
(I meant to reply to this earlier, but I forgot.)
no subject
Date: 2005-04-01 02:34 pm (UTC)To respond to your observation about door opening times...I think it's done primarily for money. Most bars with concerts are going to make almost all their money from alcohol sales. Thus, if you show up for a concert and have to stand around for an hour being bored, you're more likely to buy lots of booze. I'm sure this is also the reason why it takes so unbelievably long to set up the stage after the opening act.
no subject
Date: 2005-04-01 07:51 pm (UTC)Regardless, I wonder if there are any venues that advertise themselves as places where concerts actually start when they're supposed to? I mean, there are plenty of other businesses that make a point of eliminating things that customers often complain about: electronics stores where the salesmen don't accost you, mail-order companies that don't charge extra for shipping, and even radio stations that make a big deal of how they'll never talk over the ends of songs.
no subject
Date: 2005-04-02 04:13 am (UTC)