I can't explain why, but I knew in the hours preceding this show that it was gonna be something special. It went beyond the fact that it was a killer double bill (Chris Mills headlined, click here for review); I just sensed it.
Mike Ireland just entered my world. His song on the Bloodshot comp, "I'd Like To," is one of the most beautiful songs I have heard in a long, long time. Spotting him before the show, I threw out the request. He chuckled. Tim (Hideout owner) joined the conversation and pleaded with Mike to play it (more on that in a bit). Mike said they had never played it, that the band didn't know it, and he didn't see it happening.
Tim gave Mike one hell of an introduction to a sparse crowd. He cited "No Depression" magazine and its seeming plethora of reviews which start out with "I saw one of the greatest shows of my life last night, and nobody was there." He pointed out that this applied to most ND-type bands, except Jeff Tweedy, where the review begins "The place was mobbed, Tweedy is God..." Good for a laugh.
So anyway, Tim predicts that this is gonna be one of those shows.
He was right; boy was he right.
In my 15 years of concert-going, I have to say this show ranks up there with the very best. In a recent review of Freedy Johnston's new live record, the reviewer, paraphrasing Cameron Crowe, wrote "You had me at dusty coffin lids (referring to Freedy's beautiful song "Mortician's Daughter" from one of the finest records ever, "Can You Fly?" Well, Mike Ireland had me at "good to be back in Chicago." Supporting Mike were long-time rhythm guitarist Dan Mesh (strikingly reminiscent of Mike Heidorn), former One Fell Swoop drummer Spencer Marquart on skins (amazing), and lead axeman John Horton (also amazing).
Introducing a song from his stellar record "Learning How to Live," Ireland said there had been lots of interest from bands who wanted to cover the tune, but calls placed to band manager Joyce Linehan all addressed the fact that the chorus needed to arrive quicker ... "within 45 seconds," said Mike.
Not yet being all that familiar with Mike's work, I can only say that they blistered through some unreal tunes. I have the setlist in front of me:
-End (clipped)
-Close
-Some Th. (dedicated to White Sox)
-Tonight
-Sweet
-Headed
-Right Back
-House
-Other Way
-Pop-a-Top
-Drive
-Harper Valley PTA (scorched)
In the margin of the setlist:
-Banks
-Good T.
-Farewell
-Cold
-Worst
-Learn
After "Harper Valley," (which Mike copped to always loving, but being afraid to admit it because he thought it was too wimpy, until the day he realized it was angry and kick-ass), the band was called back for a cover which I didn't recognize. I left to pee, and overheard the door guy saying "looks like he's back for more." I return to see Tim and Mike onstage, with Tim delivering a joyous ramble about what a great song "I'd Like To" is and how he'd love to hear it (Tim told a funny story about how Bloodshot thought the song was too mellow for the comp., whereas almost unanimously, the people he has spoken to think it's the best thing on the disc).
So, without further ado, Mike agrees to play it, having never played it before except "once in his bedroom and once when recording it." Stacey Earley joined him onstage to harmonize, and, although Mike's strumming was sloppier than a Mexican whore, they let loose on one beautiful performance. Stacey bagged singing the solo, which Mike had half-assedly asked her to sing, but delivered great harmonies. Seeing the reaction of Tim in the corner was almost as moving as Mike and Holler's show.
Lane C.
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