Well, here goes folks. It was a night to remember. I'll begin with a few observations about the venue (with the inevitable Lounge Ax comparisons). I had never actually been inside the club before. I was supposed to see Son Volt play there a few years back, but arrived, at 10:15 pm, just in time to see the crowd filing out and raving about how the band had played "Fifteen Keys" (my favorite Tupelo song...arrrrrrgggggggh). So, this place is impeccable...like seeing a Broadway show...cleaner than a baby's freshly-scrubbed ass. We found a seat about 1/3 of the way back, with nearly perfect sight lines, and settled in. The club is quite cavernous...high ceilings and rounded edges. Drinks were quite pricey; service was excellent. I look forward to more shows there in the future.
Just after 8pm Jeff took the stage. It was clear from the get-go that this was going to be a more "professional" show than his Ax gigs had been. Jeff emphasized that point by opening with a song perhaps called "This Ain't No Lounge Ax," where he quipped amicably about all the differences between Park West and his former home base. Sample lyrics included "This ain't no Lounge Ax ... my drinks are on ice ... the people in the back can still hear ... it's not a long thin hallway ..." It was quite funny, and I am guessing he wrote it the day of the show (he used the chords to "D Boon").
Next, he broke into many of the staples of recent shows, including "Alone, Alone, Alone," "Shot in the Arm," "I'm the Man," and "How to Fight Loneliness." Surprises included "Pieholden Suite" ("first time I have played that one live," said Jeff), "Pick Up the Change," "Lost Love," "New Madrid," and "Say You Miss Me" (one of his prettiest songs). A stark, powerful version of "Sunken Treasure" threw a little test at the crowd, a crowd which was very hushed and respectful the whole night (another difference from Lounge Ax, frat-boy riddled shows). He played one song I was unfamiliar with, which turns out to have been a Guthrie outtake which appears on the Oxford American sampler.
According to my scattered setlist, he played 28 songs in all. In addition to the above, he also played: "She's a Jar," "Airline to Heaven," "Mtn. Bed of Leaves," and, in order from here on: "Beautiful & Stoned," "Hesitating Beauty," "Please Tell my Brother," "When You Wake Up," -----end of set ----- "Passenger Side," "Blood of the Lamb," "Cali Stars," "Hoodoo Voodoo," "Always in Love," "Way to Say I'm Sorry," "Die if I Could," (???), "Pecan Pie," and "Candy Floss."
Surprisingly, nobody jumped me, and postcarder Scott Gibbs from Oregon shouted me out at the bathroom. I am gonna work hard to get a copy of this brilliant show (patience Alex). Jeff Tweedy is proving to be a musical genius. I honestly felt like I was watching Bob Dylan at Cafe Wha?. There's a reason I invest so much time in this, and a reason why my artist management project is already success even though I haven't signed my first act yet. Re-read the above and you'll see what I mean. It was a night I won't soon forget.
Lane C.
p.s. Sue Miller, though gullible, is one of the sweetest people I have ever met.
p.p.s. The rumors about Billy Belzer playing skins ... FALSE!!!!
p.p.p.s. I was kiddin about "D Boon."
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