|
|
 |
|||
|
PAGE 1
Mardi Gras Madness
PAGE 2
PAGE 3
PAGE 7
PAGE
8
PAGE
13
PAGE 14
PAGE
15
PAGE 16
PAGE
17 |
THE "POOTIE TANG" This edition, the SERENADE and its contributors are able to provide readers with comprehensive coverage the band's recent mini-tour of the Northeast. Many thanks to the Ezralites who contributed reviews and/or photos to this special section. Each tour date is listed with an article or review and/or photos. Click on the venue name for setlsists. DAY ONE: Although we have no review for this private show, the SERENADE can provide a review of the show from the college's student newspaper, Le Provocateur. DAY TWO: by EnglishDave
Now this was a great show. Ok, so I’m biased because it’s my adopted hometown. And the show was almost four years to the day after my first BTE show (at the same venue). I was a little nervous because I convinced friends and colleagues to go. The verdict? The honest people said they loved the show. The ones who went to be able to say "they suck" haven’t said a thing, but that in and of itself says a great deal. I knew it was going to be a good night when my friend and I arrived early and caught sound check through the door Pete Francis (the opening act) kindly left open for us. We also got to chat with a very nice couple – Chris and Linda – from Jamestown, New York. They had been fans of the band for years, but had never been to a live show. If your out there, why not let us all know how you enjoyed the show? You rock. As the band took the stage, the guys were a little more no-nonsense than usual as they seem to have been in the past when they're "road-testing" new material. I’m not personally not a huge fan of "Recognize" as an opening number, but it’s growing on me, especially since the guys are playing it harder these days (as someone else recently mentioned). Nevertheless, the guys were characteristically charming and wise-cracking, albeit a little more businesslike than usual. Stage banter largely concerned one of their favorite movies, "Pootie Tang." Every few songs fans were treated to a "sepa tai" or similar wacky phrase from the film. They also mentioned they spent the afternoon seeing "Old School" at the local theater. KG’s Will Farrell imitation ensued. The new songs are great. It was the first time I’d heard most of them. "Simple Song" gets better and better. The more emphasized organ part melds well as does Jim Payne’s guitar parts. "Special" is, well, special. It sort of hearkens back to HDYGG with the technoesque intro and has great guitar solos. Kevin mentioned it was only the third time they’d played the song. It can only get better (as if it isn’t awesome already!). This is the sort of song that you can’t wait to hear on a CD.
|
The new songs are great. It was the first time I’d heard most of them.
"Simple Song" gets better and better. The more emphasized organ part
melds well as does Jim Payne’s guitar parts. "Special" is, well,
special. It sort of hearkens back to HDYGG with the technoesque intro
and has great guitar solos. Kevin mentioned it was only the third time
they’d played the song. It can only get better (as if it isn’t awesome
already!). This is the sort of song that you can’t wait to hear on a CD.
"In a Little While" is a quirky classic. Just another example of a great song you would never expect to hear this band perform. As Kevin quickly said during the song: "George Jones ain’t got sh*t on me!" It grows on you. Like so many BTE songs, it tells a story about going to college and growing up, and the adventures of life encountered upon the way. "Daylight" was a great way to end the show. The crowd really laughed when as they started it Kevin said to Tom: "STOP! Did you f*ck up?" Tom had the wrong bass. You can tell they’re still getting used to playing the song... When the song began proper, in a rare self-indulgent moment, Kevin told the crowd how he thought it was an awesome song. Before the crowd participation sing-a-long began, he proclaimed that: "after this, so many ills of the world are going to be cured." The song is reminiscent of HDYGG and rocks (simultaneously AND at the same time). "Hollow" has changed slightly again, but I’m not sure exactly how. And it’s so good to have that "KONO"-"Hollow" segue back. It always has – and continues – to rock. "At the Stars" featured a Jim Payne musical interlude when KG broke into "Friend of the Devil" by the Grateful Dead. "Beautiful Mistake" was not on the set list but was thrown in nicely to start off the encore. The song is so simple, but so emotionally deep. On a sad note, KG mentioned how their road manager Dave (aka "Sideshow Dave" to fans), broke his leg skiing that weekend and was in the Albany hospital. I'm sure we all wish him a speedy recovery... They also explained how in New Orleans Saint Patrick’s Day often melds with Mardi Gras so you just get to have a good time for three weeks straight. Kevin countered that it wasn’t three of straight fun, but actually fourteen years. Good point. When Tom asked the crowd if they had the next day off, KG asked Tom if you "could collect unemployment checks on a Monday." The guys also gave some props to Rush as this was as close to Toronto as they had come in a long time. Kevin proceeded to say that they had watched a Rush concert on the bus and it brought back some great memories of their youth. Another classic moment occurred when the band emerged for the encore after quite a long pause. Travis explained that the delay was because Kevin had to do a J Lo type wardrobe change. Kevin proceeded to ask (with fake anger) if "drummer boy" had a problem?!
Echoing the Saint Patrick’s Day theme, Kevin bid the fans farewell by warning them to avoid drinking the green beer "because it’s the cheap sh*t" and yelled "Erin Go Bragh" (Ireland Forever). He then corrected himself and added a New Orleans twist – "Erin Go Braghless!" Albany got rocked. On to DC...
|
||
