Glen Tilbrook, Bob Walkenhorst, at the Hurricane, April 29, 2005

(Posted at the Rainmakers message board)

Glenn Tilbrook and his band (the fluffers) are nuts. Definitely nuts.

I mean that as a compliment.

So, they play for a while. And they are pretty good. I liked them. Then Glenn says something to the effect that they are going to take a 10 minute break. Now, usually, when a band says that or "a short break" or such, that means the standard 30 minute break. But, I got the sense that Glenn (and yes, there are two Ns in Glenn) actually meant just that.

So, I'm there chatting with Sharon and Connie during the break, sitting at a table right next to the front door of the Hurricane. It hasn't been all that terribly long since the break started. Not long enough for us to wonder when they are going to start up again. Well, suddenly, there's Glenn Tilbrook walking by our table playing an accoustic guitar. Followed by his band. The keyboard player had a keyboard that you blow through. The bass player a shaker. And the drummer a tamborine.

Now, for those not familiar with the Hurricane, there are two rooms (in the main part) with basically most of the wall in between being open, rather than actual wall. Kinda like an big wide archway, without the arch shape. One of those rooms is square and has the stage at the far end. The other room has a round bar in the middle, and part of the room has round walls. It's this part of the bar where the front door was.

So, Glenn and band are playing and singing, unamplified, in this area. They walk around the bar partway, and then they go into the area behind the bar (with the bartenders). They walk around the circle there. And then... they climb up on the bar. And walk around in circles on the bar, playing and singing from there. It was funny and cool and way memorable. They did a couple songs up there, pretty much a singalong thing, and then they went back to the stage.

I really enjoyed Glenn Tilbrook. I'm glad I went and stayed for Glenn. (I might not have gone if I hadn't thought I'd like Glenn Tilbrook. Not that $15 for 45 minutes of quality music isn't a good value, but, well, when one can get the same music $3 for 2 hours, that makes the value more questionable.)

He did two songs I actually recognized. One a cover, "These Boots are Made For Walkin'". The other "Tempted" (I'm told that's the title. It goes "Tempted by the fruit of another. Tempted but the truth is discovered".). So, I actually do know a Squeeze song. One of those songs I never attached a band name to.

I enjoyed it and stayed for the whole show. Actually, I didn't like the encore as well. Got into a kinda sound I don't much go for.

Oh, and his opening band wasn't too bad either. :)

Bob Walkenhorst, unlike Glenn Tilbrook, I could actually connect his band with a song back in the 80s, and knew Bob's name enough to recognize it. So, that puts him slightly ahead of Glenn in the 80s singers from bands I didn't become a fan of (back then) category. :)

Bob tried to quit after a half hour. Someone came up to the stage and said something, and Bob said that the guy said if they don't play more they don't get paid. So, they played another 15 minutes. Bob gave his end of the show thank you again. There were calls for an encore from the audience. And Bob says that someone (Bob gave a name as I recall) told them to play longer. (Noone had come to the stage right then, but it could have been hand signals across the room or some other not so obvious means of communication.) So they did a few more songs. They played a little under an hour.

Mostly all originals (plus "Information"), but they did do "The Times They Are A Changin'". That I believe was just after the first false ending. Started with "Downstream", ended (the 3rd and final ending) with "Let My People Go-Go". "Jan Vermeer" was in there, I remember.

Bob did some talking between songs.

He introduced Gary and said that Gary invented the Westport music scene.

He said something like it's good to have two talented songwriters from the 80s. I forget the exact wording. He said, "Glen Tilbrook... and Jeff Porter". He said a song Jeff wrote recorded by the Skatalites is a hit in France. And, he further said that that's actually true. So I researched. And, sure enough, looking at allmusic.com, on their most recent album From Paris With Love (2002), one of the songs, "Thinking of You" lists as the composer "Porter, Jeff".

Ska, for any who don't know (as I didn't as of this morning) is related to Reggae. Apparently a predecessor to Reggae. As for the difference between ska and reggae, I don't rightly know. Apparently, tempo is a part of it. I offer up this quote borrowed without permission from the message board at the Skatalites website. "if you hear Reggae you want to smoke Ganja and sit down with friends, but if you listen to Ska you want to smoke Ganja and DANCE with your friends" (ganja = marijuana)

Bob said something about him having won a grammy. I think he was having us on there. I couldn't quite tell what he said, I heard 5000 category, but didn't catch 5000 what. 5000 albums sold? If so, that many? ;)

And that's all I remember. It was a good show. Of course.

Oh, wait, I remember a little more. A non musical note.

It was odd seeing Bob performing with white stage lights on him. :) He also looked like he's been out in the sun.

After the show I went to Cheeseburger in Paradise (near my house) and got to hear about 50 minutes of the Nace Brothers. A darn good band. And today I saw the Elders outside Wizards stadium. Er... Arrowhead that is, the Wizards playing there. That was good. And I got to introduce my husband to Steve and Ian. Actually, I think they were more interested in meeting him than vice versa. Kinda makes sense if you think about it... their perspective... husband of someone they know. My husband's perspective, band his wife likes that he's not interested in. Some of the Elders went to the game. I didn't see Steve or Tommy. Wasn't surprised to not see Steve. (Tommy I don't know much at all.)

And after the game my husband and I went out to eat and then to see the movie Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy. :) Which was enjoyable. :)

Elders, 22 April 2005, Paddy O'Quigley's

(posted at the Elders board)

"Send a Prayer" is an awesome song. My favorite Elders song. :) But, who knows, maybe when they finish up that new album they are working on I'll find something I like even better. Is it possible?

Hm... this does mean Steve's been dethroned... he no longer sings my favorite Elders song. But, "Ballyman Road" is still a great song.

Good show. As always. But that place is way too crowded. Some how many of us found space to dance anyway. For the songs that inspire me to make my poor attempt at Irish dancing I was rather space inhibited, but for regular old dancing it was fine. I was a little frustrated during "Turnpike", but I did my best jumping in place.

I did a lot more Ian watching than usual. It's interesting to watch him as he sings. And he really is a quite good singer.

I didn't bring my camera this time. I just enjoyed watching and listening.

Bob Walkenhorst, 20 April 2005

Posted on the Rainmakers message board

Bob singing a verse of "Downstream" to the tune of "Battle of New Orleans" was definitely funny. And it worked really well, too.

After reading Jim's post earlier this morning, I was thinking about that, and then I went on with my day and I still had "Battle of New Orleans" running through my head. But then... I started singing the wrong words in my head. The words became... "then one day they were shooting at some food when up from the ground came a bubbling crude." Since then I've had a combination of "Battle of New Orleans", "Downstream" and the theme from the Beverly Hillbillies in my head. :)

After the song Bob commented that when he sang it last week he was happy, or proud, or some such word, that he knew all 4 verses. He adds that it turns out there are 9 verses. (He also thanked Jim for the links.)

The J-Walkers shirt Bob was wearing was cool. Though I was thinking it would look better a size smaller. :) Not that I was paying attention or anything. ;)

And I liked Norm's Rainmakers t-shirt, with the monkey. I'm still not sure whether I like that monkey or not. I think I like it better on a t-shirt than the album cover. Still, not sure if I'd wanna wear the t-shirt. But I liked it on Norm.

Bob said it was a coincidence that they both wore those.

Jeff had a K-State Wildcats shirt on. Well, 2 out of 3 ain't bad. (I lived in Lawrence, KS for a few years... I'm a KU Jayhawks fan.)

"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" was nice. After mentioning in the past Hank Williams saying "Tell the truth and make it rhyme" it was nice to hear Bob do a Hank Williams tune. B.J. Thomas, who also sang my all time favorite song (done by Bob for my birthday), did a nice recording of that song. (Hm... maybe I should sing that in my head... purge "Battle of Downstream Hillbillies" from my head. :) ) Bob commented that that was one of those songs that they talked about but didn't practice. Not at all by way of apology. It sounded great. And Bob even told us he was bragging.

Bob was born 5 months after Hank Williams death.

The next song was "The Other Side Of The World". (Okay, so I actually forgot what song this was and had to cheat using Jim's report). The song starts out just fine, and then, someone was playing the wrong chords. In all the Bob shows I've been to I think that may be the first time I've heard something that sounded bad. :) Bob stops the song all together and apologizes. And he says that was one of those song they practiced and he plays the wrong chords anyway. He went and got his harmonica, and they restarted from where they left off. After the song, Bob said there's a key change near the end of the song, and he'd played it early.

I got there late. My husband and I watched Ray on DVD Tuesday night, and last night we were watching the extras. Actually, I might have stayed and finished watching the deleted scenes (my husband told me "Bob won't miss you"; me, I figure if he does that's his problem, not mine :) ), but I just couldn't enjoy them knowing it would make me miss the begining of the show. So I left with just enough time to get to there on time. But, then I realized I had less than $1 cash on me, and needed to pay a $3 cover. Oops. So, a quick trip to the bank. I made it for part of the first song, "Eclispe Has Begun". Good song. :)

I forget what the 2nd song of the night was, but I think 3rd was "Skin". I like hearing songs from Skin. As a Bob fan, that's my favorite Rainmakers album. (My overall favorite Rainmakers album, though, for any who care, would be Flirting With The Universe, which beats Skin by a hair. In case anyone's curious.)

---

Added note. Hats.

Jim mentioned Bobs comment about shoes affecting the show. Norm added, so do hats. Bob said he remembered Norm wearing a hat the first time he saw Norm play, back in the 80s at Parody Hall. No comments were made regarding Bob and hats.

The back of the t-shirt Bob was wearing, the J-Walkers shirt, features the shield shaped thing that's in the following picture:

http://www.jaylindhorst.com/j-walkers/JW%2002-18-05%20Label.jpg

Bob commented that it's the Norweigan coat of arms, except the guitar. Norm added "and the hat". Bob said he thought the hat was part of it. Norm says "I don't think so".

The actual coat of arms of Norway has the lion wearing a crown, not a top hat. :)

Here's a link: http://www.ngw.nl/int/nor/nornat.htm

Cate Brothers, 9 April 2005, Hurricane

Hey, an original blog post not first posted elsewhere. :)

And, okay, this report is a bit delayed. :)

I saw the Cate Brothers at the Hurricane last Saturday, a week ago yesterday. They are, well, I guess blues rock will do as a label. Good stuff. They played outside. The Hurricane has an outdoor stage and an indoor stage. I've been to a show each at both now, and I prefer outdoors. It was a great day for an outdoor show. And the Cate Brothers play great music. And danceable.

Styx, April 16, 2005

(Posted at Styxland, a message board for fans of Styx.)

It definitely feels differently to me without Glen. Somehow, as much as I'm a long time Tommy Shaw fan, I always paid more attention to Glen at Styx shows.

Plus, with both Glen and Tommy in the band (Tommy and Dennis, or Dennis and Glen would work too), it felt like I was going to see a band, not a person. Now, it's like, I'm going to see Tommy Shaw... it's about him, not the band.

But, it was still good.

Besides, this time, I actually paid attention to Tommy Shaw.

I got to see him play slide guitar. That on "Shooz" in the Medley. First time I've caught him playing slide. And saw him doing some finger tapping. I don't know what song that was, but it was his gold guitar that's just like the one Jeff Watson plays.

Also, since last time I saw Styx I've gotten more interested in Tommy's guitar playing. That would be from listening to Styx and Tommy Shaw solo albums (and even Damn Yankees in one instance) and thinking Tommy Shaw, on guitar, sounds like Steve Phillips. Yeah, it's a bit backwards to think the guy I've been listening to for 23 years sounds like the guy I've been listening to for 2 years, but, oh well. :)

I was glad they did "Crystal Ball". My favorite Tommy song. :) But, before doing that, Tommy, alone on the stage, did the first verse of "Best of Times" (or maybe A.D. 1958, them being almost the same). I'm guessing that was in response to a comment from someone in the audience up front. Then he asks us what it is he was about to play. Someone obliged him with an answer and he started "Crystal Ball". :)

"I Am The Walrus" sounds good live. :) That's the one that got me on my feet. The folks back in the risers, where I was, just weren't standing. Period. I was fine with that so far. Sometimes it's nice to sit and watch for a while. But... I just can't sit for a Beatles tune. (Well, maybe a slow one, like "Yesterday". That would be a sit at the half booth next to the stage and watch Bob up close song... but, wrong band.)

I might have, from that point, just stood somewhere in the back, since I didn't, after all, purchase a ticket for being up front. But, there's really no place to stand but at your spot (didn't fell like standing in my spot in the risers with everone else sitting) or in the aisles. And the best place to stand in the aisle without feeling I'm in the way was up front. I really didn't mind. :) And, as I indicated, I enjoyed watching Tommy's guitar playing.

The good thing was that aisle was dead on straight with Tommy's most of the time microphone. The bad thing is that isn't where he sings "Crystal Ball" from. (I still wonder why he switches spots when playing accoustic guitar.)

It was annoying when someone right in front of me, and thus right between me and Tommy when he was singing, was up sitting on someone else's shoulders. Like, standing fine, but that, no.

The other song from "Big Bang Theory" they did was "I Don't Need No Doctor". Which, thanks to Gowan's shirt, I knew was a Humble Pie song. (And, from reading posts here, I see it's also a Ray Charles song.) I enjoyed that.

Bob Walkenhorst, 13 April 2005

(Posted at the Rainmakers message board)

There's something nice about Wednesday nights.

Bob said, after they'd played several songs, that, after Friday's show at the Kemper art musuem, they'd decided to quit, end on a high note. Or something like that. Obviously he wasn't serious. :)

Friday night's show was good, very good. But it didn't have the magic of Wednesday nights. A different magic, no less good, but, well, different. The weekend shows, the St. Patrick's Day show, the occasional non-Molloy's show, all good, all wonderful. But not the same as Wednesdays.

Bob did comment something like without the Wednesday shows the week would just be a, well, a something of workdays. Wednesday nights break up the work week.

Bob also said (after not having said much to that point in the show) that he used up all his jokes on Friday. :)

I do like Bob's sense of humor. :)

Amusing exchange near the end of the show. The band are deciding what to play next, and someone calls out "Bare Naked Ladies". The band goes "where?". :) Then Bob says that he stopped listening to the radio (or something like that) in 1990, so he doesn't know the stuff from newer bands. Something like that. Well, the band continue on figuring out what to play, and Bob says, to his bandmates, but loud enough for the audience to be able to hear "something we don't know". So, of course, that person in the audience again says "Bare Naked Ladies" (said with a smile). I guess in reality the band have to stick to songs they don't know which they know. :) I believe they wound up playing "Mystery Dance".

Lots of the the regular songs. And a couple different things thrown in. "Battle of New Orleans", written and first recorded by Jimmie Driftwood (that info courtesy of allmusic.com), popularized by Johnny Horton, and recorded by others as well. I know it from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Thus, during the song, I was thinking that it's been a long time since I've seen them live.

And then they ended the show with "Summertime Blues", which I know from Alan Jackson doing it in the 90s. Originally done by Eddie Cochran, and done by lots of people. That song made me wanna listen to one of my Alan Jackson CDs. :)

Bob Walkenhorst, 8 April 2005, Kemper Museum of Contermporary Art

(posted at the Rainmakers message board)

Good show last night. It's definitely different than Molloy's. Bob joked asking people to light up cigarettes so they'd feel at home. But he added that it's nice to play in a smoke free environment.

I brought my camera, but I realized that I probably shouldn't be doing flash photography in an art museum, and with my camera, indoors with no flash = blurry. I do have one picture to share. It's blurry, but does help give an impression of the show. Or maybe I should call it artsy rather than blurry. ;) That artwork behind them and above their heads, I think I like it better blurry. :)

I did walk around some. Like, in a bar I can usually ignore the visual surroundings mostly, and pay attention to the music and watch the guys on stage. An art museum is a whole nother matter. :)

Though I have some knowledge and appreciation of art, it's really not my thing. I did find some art I quite liked, though. New Works by Mark Sheinkman (Kemper Museum webpage for Mark Sheinkman, Another page with some of his works, not the ones at the Kemper, but same feel). It's all lines, curvy intercrossing lines, and all white and black or grey. Not sure why I like it, but I do.

Then, back watching the show, I was contemplating watching the band versus looking at the art. And it struck me... there's a bit of a resemblence between the art I liked and Bob's hair. :)

I also decided Liam's cuter than Bob. :) Then again, though, I don't think I'd describe Bob as cute. (Liam being Bob's youngest fan, for any who don't recall.)

All songs you've heard before. All originals except "Working on a Building" and of course "Information". Bob did a fair bit of talking to the crowd, but nothing those not there need feel like you missed out on. He wasn't talking for the benefit of us diehard Bob fans. :) Though Bob, of course, is never boring.

A good size crowd there. A number of Bob show regulars that I recognized. And a whole lot of people I didn't recognize. All the chairs were filled, leaving many folks standing.

Beer wine and pop were for sale. The drinks are not allowed in the galleries, but that had small tables set up at the gallery entrances.

I'm not sure how Jeff managed to escape being in the picture. There's his mike, but no Jeff. :)

Picture (blurry, but gives the feel)

Bob Walkenhorst, Saturday, April 2, part 2

(posted at the Rainmakers message board)

Two thoughts brought up from reading Jim's post.

One, Bob shared some interesting thoughts while introducing John Northern. He said that back when he was younger someone, referring to a song he sang, asked if he made that up, and he was like "no, I wrote that". And Bob said that when he asked John if he plays with a band, John say he likes to play by himself because he likes to "make stuff up". And Bob said that when John said that, it sounded okay. So, Bob said he's not a songwriter but a song-maker-upper. :)

Er... and I seem to have forgotten the 2nd thought while writing up the first.

Jim, thanks for the clarification on Bob's comment during "Information". Also, nice pictures. :) [Note: From what Jim posted, Bob's reference to the upcoming vote in Kansas was indirect]

Oh yeah, now I remember. I remembering thinking that the music sounded heavy. I'm not sure if it was something about Saturday night in particular, or if it was just because it's been so long since we'd heard the 4 piece (since January 21st -- 10 weeks). While I wasn't quite sure if that was a good thing, it wasn't a bad thing.

Bob Walkenhorst, April 2, 2005

(Posted on the Rainmakers message board.)

Good show. :) Of course. :)

Surprise cover of the day: "Every Breath You Take". And even though I was back by the TV monitor keeping track of the end of the basketball game, I was listening and enjoying. Although I was also thinking it would sound better with Ian Byrne (of the Elders) singing it. :) He does Sting so well. (I can't remember which Police song it is I've heard the Elders do a couple times, but Ian sounds surprisingly like Sting. And now the Elders have a new original song that sounds a lot like a Sting song to me. A quite good song too, "Send a Prayer".) I did enjoy hearing Bob sing it, though. Bob sang something different at the "Since you've gone..." part. He sang something different than the words in my head, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't a case of my head being mixed up. If it was Bob forgetting the words and making something up, he did a darn good job, because what he sang seemed to fit.

There's so many things that I noticed during the show that I can't remember now. There were a couple times I particularly noticed and appreciated Jeff's guitar playing, but I can't remember which songs.

Although, a couple guitar related notes I do remember. First, when they did "The Weight" ("take a load off Fanny") (which I'm used to hearing from the Nace Brothers), I recall noting the song as I'm used to it (not as they played it) has slide guitar. I could hear the slide guitar (from the Nace Brothers version, and I assume the original as well) in my head. :)

This 2nd comparison I actually remember what Jeff did play, not just what he didn't play. "Drinking On The Job" is a song the 3 piece doesn't do, and so, it became very familiar to me as a Rainmakers song before the 4 piece started playing it. So, as they played it last night, when it got to the guitar solo, I had Steve's solo in my head. Jeff, of course, played something different. Good, though. I remember thinking it was bluesier than the solo in the original. And bluesy is never a bad thing. :)

Something different on "Width of a Line". A harmonica solo instead of a bass solo.

I forget which song, one of the slow Rainmakers songs (which narrows it down quite considerably!) after most of the song being two part harmony (where there's harmony), Bob and Jeff, right at the end Gary joined in as well, and it sounded really good.

Speaking of Gary, I got to hear him yesterday at lunchtime at Cheeseburger in Paradise. Waiting 45 minutes for a table has never been so enjoyable. :) I even got to hear Gary do one song twice yesterday. "Brown Eyed Girl". In the afternoon singing and playing acoustic guitar, and in the evening with Bob singing and Gary providing a really nice bass solo.

There was a Beatles song and a Stones song. I forget what the Beatles songs was. The Stones song was "Sympathy for the Devil". They had sound problems during that song. Apparently, something disconnected and they had a partial power loss. Thus we got an extended instrumental section. And then Bob, after asking Buzzz if they were good to go, said something to the effect of "John Paul II must not like that song". (As usual, quote not exact, I tend to remember the message rather than the words.) After finishing that song they went into "Wages of Sin". :) Not sure that song would please the Pope either. :)

Megan was there. She said she was supposed to go to a wedding with her boyfriend, and thus had off work, but her boyfriend was ill and so she went to the Bob show instead. :)

It is so cool to hear that drum part on "Jan Vermeer" live. It's such a nice drum part. Kudos to Pat and Bob both. There's one part I particularly like, and I was watching Pat play it, and I was like, how does he get all those different sounds out of just 4 drums?

John Northern opened and was enjoyable as always.

During "Information", after the last verse, Bob added a spoken comment. The only thing I caught of it was "Kansas". But, I feel safe assuming that he was saying those of us in Kansas should vote no on the so called "marriage ammendment". [Okay, after reading Jim's post, I see Bob's reference wasn't that direct] (link for information on ammendment, for the curious. The ammendment adds to the state constitution the existing restriction of marriage as being between a man and a woman, plus adds "No relationship, other than a marriage, shall be recognized by the state as entitling the parties to the rights or incidents of marriage.")

Dave Johnson joined Bob and them on stage for a song, "Little Sister".

Bob Walkenhorst, March 30, 2005

(posted March 31 at the Rainmakers Message Board)

Bob, good show. :) I didn't get to tell you after the show.

Everybody else, well, it was as good show. :) Good enough for me to want to tell the band members afterwards. I did catch Norm and Jeff. Had a good conversation with Norm.

The theme of the week was not repeating any songs they did last week. They didn't quite make it, though, as they ended with "Let My People Go-Go". But I believe that was the only repeat from last week. And, okay, I wouldn't have noticed at all that they were doing the no repeat thing except that Bob said so.

You know, considering that it took me 16 shows before I finally heard them do that one (way back in 2003), I think it's funny that they did that one last week and this week when they otherwise weren't repeating anything.

Though Bob did add a bit in there referring to breaking guitar strings. (He broke his 2nd string of the night on that song.) Though nothing as memorable as what I call the broken guitar string blues at a previous show, with the memorable line "I broke my G string". Anyway, in between the 2nd and 3rd verses there was those few made up lines that I forget what Bob said, other than it related to broken guitar strings, and then Bob did his talking to the crowd at the end of the show thing before going on to the 3rd verse.

Individual songs aren't really sticking out in my head much.

They did "The Times They Are A Changin'". That one got the dance floor hoppin'. Someone must've got lost on what verse they were on, because during the song Norm and Bob started singing at the same time -- two different verses. Norm deferred to Bob and then Norm sang his verse next.

It was a small crowd. (Is that an oxymoron?) While I wouldn't want it to be that way all the time -- I want there to lots of people enjoying Bob's music -- I enjoy the occasional not so crowded evening.

And that's about it.