From: owner-ammf-digest@smoe.org (alt.music.moxy-fruvous digest) To: ammf-digest@smoe.org Subject: alt.music.moxy-fruvous digest V1 #951 Reply-To: ammf@fruvous.com Sender: owner-ammf-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ammf-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk alt.music.moxy-fruvous digest Wednesday, November 4 1998 Volume 01 : Number 951 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: Wilmington Concert - Opinions Needed [llesi@aol.com (Llesi)] Friday night NoHo details [llesi@aol.com (Llesi)] Chad's Set 1, 10/30 review (durned long) [Chad Maloney Subject: Chad's Set 1, 10/30 review (durned long) Welcome to the Chad Northampton Friday Set 1 review. You see, I figured that I'd split this thing amongst 3 posts so as to not freak those Deja News people out. I haven't reviewed a show really in awhile. I do still have notes for the midwest swing and promise to do some better reviewing of them later, but here's the review of Set 1 of the Iron Horse. Pardon the setup. If you just care for the show, skip to the -------------->. So, my Iron Horse trip started probably earlier than most. While people were busy posting 3 days, 2 days, 9 hours posts to the ng, I headed up to Bowling Green, home of the national tractor pull (I'm sure Sheryl *loves* the fact that I posted that one...). The first leg of my journey wasn't too bad. Listened to some Guster (I actually just got Parachute - so sue me) and the new Phish CD roB! talked me into getting (good stuff). I had no problems getting into Sheryl's residence hall and other than the smelly college boys and their nasty bathroom, it was a good time. Sheryl's roomate was nice enough to let me sleep in her bed and we listened to some Guster show ("We Guster, and we from the streets") and I got to second hand experience one of the most hilarious frumoments - the Pisco Pinata from the Ark. ("What's in the fish, Mur. What's in the fish?" "We got a ring pop!"). That was Wednesday. Thursday was a nice slow day for awhile. Kinda waited around, played with Sheryl's stupid click proof homework and decided it was really crappy. Popped into some daytime IRC for a couple seconds and more or less moved my car every 2 hours to avoid a parking ticket, which I successfully did. No police intervention the entire trip (and so far no police intervention in my entire Frutripping life! Woo hoo! And even more important when you have your Illinois license plates from High School and you've been in living in Indiana officially for almost 2 years. After some failed attempts to call Andi (all because I told Sheryl it was okay to throw away my BG directions which had Andi's phone number on them), we just enjoyed the day. Andi arrived and so did Barb and we hit the road for New York at around 5:30pm, planning on driving until we get tired and needing to sleep. We drove north for about 15 miles and then got on I90, our home for the next couple days. Yes, to get from Bowling Green to NoHo, you take 75 North to 90 and take 90 until Massachuesettes. Then take 91 North for 15 miles and you are there. And to make it even better, 90 is a toll road 75% of the way! Joy! We made it all the way to Seneca Falls NY (home of the Nation Women's Museum) and actually went to sleep rather quickly. Well, most of us went to sleep quickly. Some of us dyed our hair. Ironically, those of us that dyed our hair also woke up first and wanted to watch the loud TV. Not that there's anything wrong with that... The Friday wasn't too bad. We had stopped about 4 hours from NoHo, so we made good time and ejoyed the scenery, which beats the heck out of Ohio scenery (which is almost as bad a Illinois, Jordan). We rolled into NoHo around 3pm and enjoyed the rustic small town scenery as we braved the massive traffic and blinding sun. [At this point, Adam taught me how to set wrap lines in vi, so the lines get longer and the total review length gets shorter *grin* Thanks, Adam] We managed to find the Iron Horse after wandering a bit. We had gotten onto Main and the sun was blinding. The first time, we went right by the road the Iron Horse is on (center? Was that it?) but the second time I just sorta blindly turned into a space and hit the road. We found a parking spot up the street in front of a grocery and walked down to the Horse to check things out and see who was around already. In the line, we found some friendly people we knew and also a sign that said Fruvous goes on at 8:30, and doors were 7pm. We thought they were 5:30, so we were really early. We walked up the street and ate at a really great vegetarian restaurant (the Haymarket). Good stuff and they made Vanilla Cokes making it even better. Then we headed back to the Horse and the line. The line was very eventful in a cold sort of way. People wandered in and out of the line and we greeted people as they showed up. Kathryn blocked up a parking spot while Jason brought his car around and when Toby showed up, we secured him a spot as well. Eventually, we even got me a good spot up front and after several terrible parallel parking attempts, Jason and Nate guided me straight and it all worked out quite nicely. Eventually the doors opened and we went in to get our Will Call tickets. Because of the Will Call, the line went slowly, so once in, you had some time to walk around before you really had to be in your spot. I secured what I think is one of the best places in the house. If you've never been to the Iron Horse (hey, I hadn't before these shows), it is actually a great place. There's an upstairs Balcony section for people who want to sit and see the show. The stage is about 3 feet tall, so the people in front of it could see if no one extremely huge (read: me) stands in front of them. Then, in the very back, there's about a 2 foot step up to another small raised part. The part Stage Dave is also raised to that level and a lot people were over there too. I was at the front of the back 2 foot raised part next to a column that was holding up the Balcony at center stage. The view was really great. A full view of the entire stage and all Frulads from the knees up. Wonderful! And to make things even better, Chris Traugott to my left to enjoy the important parts of the show *grin*. Gonna be a great show. - -----------------> Jess Klein opened. She was pretty good. I think I'd really enjoy her in a sit down and shut up and listen type venue. But even though I was antsy for the impending fru-antics, she was still entertaining. The show began with Cal playing BJ from a CD. I dunno if it was Bargainville or Indie. I'd guess Bargainville. Mike sounded so young and hearing the real words was kinda odd too. Most of the people in the audience didn't think too much of it though and kept on talking through it. A pity, it made good closure to the first set. Many people sang a long though and when the Frulads came out and started instrument checking over the song, they quieted down and sang more. I had no idea what the hell was gonna happen and I was really really happy at what did. After BJ, Cal started reading something from a notebook. It was the beginning of a story about BJ and Rachel. What we later got to know as the BJ and Rachel theme rang in as Cal read. [Paraphrase warning, I'll do my best to come up with the narrative] [Cal] In Ontario, in his town of Flesherton, BJ lived along with his true love Rachel. BJ bought Rachel flowers, candy, and interactive CD Roms. But Rachel just thought BJ was silly and moved away. So, BJ, once he got tired of crying set off to find her. [Murray] He hadn't gone more than a kilometer down the road when he was approached by a Lambourghini Countach. The car stopped and a gull-wing door opened. BJ could smell the hail fella, how ya doing-ness that only comes from people who bring in more than $90,000 a year (is that Canadian?). "Hail, Fella. How ya doing" he said. And BJ told him of Rachel. The guy pointed out that BJ was looking at the hottest chick magnet there is, but BJ pointed out that hitchhiking was a dangerous counterculteral thing to do. After thinking about, he got in the car. (Get in the Car) Good start. Dave and Mike were jumping around on stage and really into things. It seems the working of the Narrative really got them into the show. It was great to see them really enjoying themselves up there and it showed and spread to the crowd through opening with a rocking tune. The guys were all smiles. [Mike (as Lou)] Lou appeared on the scene, Blueblockers and all. Mike's rhymes were great. Sometimes he'd have four or five rhyming words in a couple lines. Really great stuff. Some lines I remember: Some rhyme that ended in still no Fraulein. And to his peril he met a girl named Sheryl who fed him squirrel. Something about the commish of all bandit fish. Yes, BJ met the rather Neat-O, Senor Mister Pisco Bandito. (Pisco Bandito) Yay, Pisco! Fish Boy meets Bandit Fish. Mike used Modern day Savalis and not latter day Savalis and Mur's nice one note at a time guitar solo was pretty good. Cal had the bass pretty hot and Dave has good crisp playing so it sounded pretty decent. [Jian] What a trip it had already been. What a trip it has been (this became Jian's continuing joke for the night). BJ has already gotten into the car and encoured a evil materialistic bandit fish. I wonder if he was a Kenneth Starr-fish. (Laughs) Just kidding. But he still missed Rachel. (Jian pauses again, just to make what song they are about to play really register with people - he did this really well through out the night and it really made a difference to me. I got chills as Ji said the song titles that followed his narrative bits)... If only you knew. (If Only You Knew How Much I Think of You) Woo hoo! Mike song! He did this at the Lee's Palace show too (I think) and it just was better. Mike was as good as before, but this time, the other guys actually knew the song and played along well. Very very nice. [Mike] BJ was rather frustrated. He wrapped his putter around a windmill in miniature golf. He went into a S'barro's and told a 3 year old to F**k off. His metabolism was racing. Faster. Faster. Faster. [I don't remember how Mike transitioned into...] (Follow the Road) Have I mentioned how much I love Follow the Road? I mean truly love this song. The imagery is wonderful. It hits me really hard when the song comes around on itself with the 3 year old goal scoring son. It is just a wonderful song and says so much inside it. I guess this was my, what, third time hearing it and it has been truly great each time. I sure hope this gets on a CD sometime. Jian's best songs really tend to grab you and hold you until they end and this one holds me tight the whole time and squeezes harder at points. [Dave] BJ came upon a purple sign for Cannabiston. There were schools with stained glass windows and BJ wandering into town and met a moustachioed man and had a conversation with him. At one point, the man reached into his bag and magically pulled out a spoon and something that looked like Aladdin's lamp with a bunch of hoses coming out of it. [Mike interrupts] As mayor of Cannabiston, I pronouce this pizza awesome. [Dave again] And the Moustachioed man looked up and said "Angel, I can take you away from this place. My name is Lazlo" (Lazlo) I always love hearing Lazlo. The bass line is pretty slick and Mur gets that little fills in so well. Lazlo came off really well actually, and by this point, the guys were all really into the show and music's honest quality really came through more than on normal nights. [Jian] What a trip it has already been. What a trip it has been. BJ just experienced his first real trip with Lazlo. And what a trip it has been. And like the Princess of Wales and other famous people, he wants more. So, BJ took off to Germany for a Love Rave and some ecstacy. In Germany, BJ met some guy with a huge German name (something like Hans Mueller Beckenbauer-Matthias-Schlaefer or something). Hans gets BJ off the trips and gets him on some good beer, saying that Rachel may be in the beirgartens, but BJ realizes that the beer is causing his depression. He realized he is... (Jian pauses a long pauses just to make it even more special)... Sad Today. (Sad Today) Okay, so I had half heard this song when roB! pointed it out to me while we were in line, but I had completely talked myself into thinking it wasn't it. Rob was like "Is that..." and I shut him up quickly before I started trying to listen. I go "Don't want to know... a Murray song? No. Go away. Get away!!!" Jian had stuck something on the snare before his monologue and I couldn't figure out what it was. It was bigger than the tin whistle. Well, it turned out to be a Melodica (not a Mellotron *grin*) and we got to hear Sad Today!! That leaves only Bed & Breakfast between us and Wood top to bottom. I better be at _that_ durned show. Hearing Sad Today was so great enough I don't know what I'd do with a show that had Down From Above, Doorstep, Misplaced, Sad Today, Nuits De Reve AND Bed & Breakfast in it... Man, oh man. I love Murray songs. It isn't just because Murray is the bass player neither. I love Story telling songs (that's why Elvis is so great). That's why I completely and totally love Follow the Road. I was so happy to hear Sad Today. So, so happy. It was one of many songs that made the shows so great. Thanks for doing it, guys!!! [Murray (This is the one I remember most because it was hilarious)] Sad and in a funk, BJ wandered down to the river and spotted a shack. Inside, he was greeted by a woman. BJ got the impression she cut her own hair and she was flicking matches all over the room. "Seven" she says. "What?" "Seven. I prefer it to hello. It breaks the ice." "Oh Seven" "Match?" "No thank you". "I was like you once. Career. Husband. Career. I had it all" she said lobbing a match onto the couch. "What happened" said BJ. "I acquired a taste for human brains. A rare condition, but not as rare as you think. It doesn't get much press". "That's understandable" said BJ. "Things fell apart after that. The postman. My boss. My husband. I was just getting into different recipes: Curries, tempura. I had just discovered a great recipe for Brain Au Jous." Just then the shack burst into flames and the rest of her speech was lost in the roar. (Psycho Killer) Okay, now I was really ready for Love Set Fire here. What? Can't do two Mur songs right after each other? I mean, tossing matches around. Love song. Not that Psycho Killer was bad at all. But Love Set Fire just sort of belonged here. But I guess after Sad Today, I don't have anything to complain about, so I'll be quiet. I do like Psycho Killer when they end clean. I shouldn't really complain about one of the best 1 hour 20 minutes of Fruvous I've ever experienced, should I? [Mike] Can I get an Amen? (Amen!) Can I get a praise the lord? (Praise the Lord!) Does not psychotic freaking out purge the soul? Can I get a witness? (Witness!) Can I get a blince, miss? (Blince Miss!) Sometimes the crazy cackling purges the soul. BJ sat down and [Murray interrupts] Wearing Lederhosen? [Mike] ...to relax and watch the sunset. (I Will Hold On) Murray was really on on the bass line and Jian's vocals were great. Murray's slides were nice in cut off places and he was grooving along with the tambourine in the slick part. All in all, a really good version of the song. And we all know I love this song too, right? [Dave] So, wondering what's happening with this guy? (crowd: As long as he doesn't cry - Murray: He's been crying through the whole story!). BJ's story is kinda like Ulysseus and the Golden Fleece. But Rachel was replaced in BJ's mind by his home. He was so bummed out. He missed his home, his interactive CD roms. He contemplated going home. (Homeward Bound) It was great to hear the crowd scream when they realized the song and to hear many people sing a long. I really missed Murray singing the octave down though on the choruses, but Mike and Ji did a good job as Mur and Dave ducked down and out of the way. Jian sings this song really well with his vocal stretches and good dynamics. Mike took some liberty in the end with the guitar too. At some point, the theme came back and Mur requested the fast version and added some up-beat stuff to it and Mike takes it into a quick little improv that ended before he expected it to. Jian brings it back saying that we got a show to do. I figure the improv was to cover the bass problems that cropped up and Cal raced off to help Mur out after he noticed Mur holding the bass up to him. [Jian] What a trip it has been. Unfortunately for BJ, home isn't where his love lies waiting. (Awwwww). (At this point, Cal comes on stage trying to fix the bass because the battery had run out - Jian improvs) BJ notices a small quick sound engineer named Deus Ex Machina. He looks like he should be in Depeche Mode (now, Murray and Mike are watching Cal and Dave walks off stage - Jian is semi alone while he is trying to start an improv to cover - it doesn't work at all). The narrator suddenly is feeling all alone. (Dave starts the BJ theme in the backgroup). BJ goes to a small Massachuesttes town (crowd screams) named Worsheter (pronounced badly). No! Northampton. He hears the sound of beatniks (Ji then bends this Beatniks thing into a slam of Starbucks before he pulls it back in). What a trip it has been. BJ thinks that Rachel may not be with exciting people, maybe he is at a boring-er place like the Matchbox 20 concert. He dresses up like Peter O'toole (for some reason) before heading out to the desert. The desert is hot. The sun is hot. BJ is hot. Fortunately some famous guy (was it Warren Beatty?) had opened a hotel and casino in the middle of the desert. BJ rests his feet and enjoys a drink in a hotel called... the Sahara. (Sahara) Very good version. Fortunately the bass worked after Cal swapped batteries. Surprising the Spector eats through them that fast. There's gotta be something up with it. I change the battery on my active bass like once every 6 months. I hope it isn't serious, though. Long live the Spector! [Murray] After BJ searched for Rachel, he decided she couldn't be on earth. He added some bubble gum and some pop rocks to his airplane (where the heck did BJ get an airplane?) and headed out towards the sky. As the last decent radio station faded into nothing he headed out into space... (You Will Go to the Moon) Another very nice rendition of a song I've heard a lot. It's amazing how a good story can fuel the songs too. Murray was really nailing a lot of good walking lines in his part and everyone was enjoying things. Mur ended the song beeping a couple times. [Dave] Once BJ got to the moon, it was a desolate place, kinda like Duluth. But the lack of Packers fans meant it wasn't. He was singing to himself as he slept on a moon rock, all alone. (Dave names a bunch of songs with one in them like One is the Lonliest Number). As BJ slept he dreamt from weird dreams (to which Mike started singing _The Stripper_). He had such a vivid dream of something licking his face that he awoke and saw that something *was* licking his face. It was a little dog and BJ reached for her collar and looked at the tag. (Laika) Song start was a little late. It should have picked up right after Dave said "looked at the tag..." but oh well. Rocking bass line as always on Laika. Mur was having lotsa fun with it in the high registers. I always love to hear Laika because it is such a good driving tune with some neat change ups thrown in. [Murray] As BJ was sitting on the cold moon, he realized that he was happy. He had Laika and cheap land. He spent his days playing chase the rock, which consumed most of their days because he could throw a rock a good couple miles on the moon. And they lived happily ever after... (BJ Don't Cry) The final closure of this great set. Boy, this whole story was so refreshing. It was great to see the guys enjoy themselves up there and it was great that it came off so well. The story was wonderful. Lotsa little jokes tossed and just generally every song from the new ones we haven't heard to the ones we've all heard many times sounded crisp and new. I really hope the guys enjoyed this set as much as it seems and as much as I enjoyed it. I was grinning a mile wide afterwards and didn't expect anything as elaborate or as wonderful as what we got in just that first set. Mike's BJ improv at the end was about BJ needing a laxative and thanking everyone for taking a part in his narrative, if anyone wants to know =) Well, there's my review of the first set. Maybe more later, but for now, it is bed time for me. - Chad ------------------------------ End of alt.music.moxy-fruvous digest V1 #951 ********************************************