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| From | "Robert Mootz" <thinkzinc@msn.com> |
| Subject | Re: IPO Liverpool |
| Date | Mon, 27 Oct 2003 06:13:35 -0800 |
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Wow! Where to begin?!! Karen and I have been to at least one IPO a year since they started, most in LA but also Chicago. From a pure fan's perspective Liverpool was the best. First of all, having all the shows in one venue meant getting a cheap hotel in walking distance, and getting two weeks worth of shows in one week (two stages). That meant the net cost for us coming from Seattle was actually less than LA, accounting for car rental and an extra weeks food and lodging! The Cavern itself is an incredible venue. The ambiance was perfect for this kind of music, it accommodated the crowds well, and the beer was both excellent and about half the price of the LA clubs. But the price paid was it was extremely smoky which was a bit rough on us non-smokers. Also being at one venue each night reduced set up time so every show we were able to be let in 15 minutes before the posted opening time so no standing outside for an extra half hour in queezy neighborhoods...
David already espoused the greatness of the Liverpool-Beatles connection and it definitely contributed to the mood. The Cavern Pub across the street from the venue is a mini-museum with lots of memorabilia of the era, Beatles equipment, signed stuff, the original script to Yesterday in Paul's handwriting. Way cool. Also the Grapes pub which was a hang out of the fabs has some pics of them in the place. All very cool. Understanding the syntax and accent was kind of fun too as Americans and Liverpoolians are a similar people separated by a common language... Of course nothing can surpass the Scotsman Bob's inquiry of me "What's your tale, stained man?" which Bob Kelly thankfully translated into "Which hotel, you staying at?" for me.
The music of course was great. As David mentioned, the sound quality was fabulous. The club has great equipment and the sound engineers, with few exceptions, captured it well. No performances were muddy or too bass heavy, a problem at several of the LA venues. Although the same equipment and a degree of unfamiliarity by the soundmen with how bands balance certain things caused a few problems (Popgun suffered the most), on the whole it really was incredible for both statges.
Absolutely my favorite performance was the Mop Tops from Sweden. Hail Svenska night was very good, Dorian Gray was especially tight. I have to say though the best performance of the whole week however was Jeremy! It was as though he became possessed and played the meanest guitar I've ever seen him do. Perhaps the good cavern sound had something to do with it, but his music really worked and came across very strong. It was the best I have ever seen him perform and it was without question the best received performance of the week by the crowd. He even went John's Children on us at the end fake smashing equipment and ending with a stage dive that got the Cavern's management knickers in quite a little (temporary) twist.
Other greats for me included Pugwash, William Pears, Spyders, The Scooters, Anton Barbeau, Bailey, Happy Losers, Bruise, Modesty Blaise, The General Store, Frank Barajas, Rialto, Love Thugs and of course the Grip Weeds. The Singles were much tighter and more polished than their IPO LA show. David also mentioned the Wynnery's but the were incredible. One of their encores was the well chosen and flawlessly executed "When I Get Home" which had the crowd screaming. We also added on both ends of the trip and managed to catch a full show of the Wannadies in Dublin the Sunday before IPO began. That was absolutely grand. Their new material is back to standard following the (for me) slightly disappointing "Yeah."
And last of all the people. Jean was a real sweetie. She obviously was a key behind-the-scenes force that kept the whole thing functional for the amazing Mr. Bash. The Beatles Store people who ran merch did it very well, and I even met another hopelessly infected T.Rex fan! Bar staff at the club were friendly and efficient, and the local are all very friendly and have that Monty Python sense of humor going on. The short version, is we're saving up for next year.
Grand move David (and Jean)! Liverpool Rules!
Bob Mootz
Olympia, WA
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