Bob Walkenhorst, 14 May 2005
(Posted at the Rainmakers Message Board.)
Awesome show last night. :) Or, the last hour and 20 minutes anyway. I can't vouch for the first hour and 40 minutes but I'm sure it was good too.
They started at 9:20 (after John Northern's set, of course), or 9:30 by the Molloy's clock, I'm told. And I heard from 3 different people that they played 3 hours, so it must be so. Anyway, I got there at 11 pm, and was expecting them to end at Midnight, and they didn't. Which was good, because an hour just ain't enough. On the other hand, after so many Wednesday shows where I was late, an hour and 20 minutes seems just right. Though, had I gotten there earlier, I think I could have suffered through more. ;)
I went to see the Elders. A terrible choice to have to make (Bob 4 piece vs. the Elders). The Elders were good. As always. And they did a new song they'd never played before. Seven Nations played before them and were fairly enjoyable. And an awesome drum solo. Yes, there actually is such a thing. :)
Some of them came to Molloy's afterwards and caught some of the Bob show. Ian Byrne, Brent Hoad, and Tommy Sutherland, plus crew persons Buzzz and John Phillips (Steve's brother, who recently joined the Elders crew) and merchandize lady Devota.
So, I go from one show with a lead singer who plays drums, to another show with a lead singer who plays drums, and the lead singer and the drummer from the first show show up at the 2nd. :) Which by my count made 4 1/2 drummers (Jeff gets a half) in one room. Scary. ;)
I had spotted John Phillips, but I didn't know any of the rest were there till they were about to do "Jan Vermeer" and Bob goes, "Buzzz, I wish you were here with sound effects" and Buzzz waved from behind the pool table.
Bob and them were on fire last night. Okay, I'm never sure if it's a particularly good show, or if it was just me, but comments I heard from others suggest it wasn't just me. I was really appreciating Pat and Jeff, especially. I love hearing Pat on drums. He's a damn good drum player. And I was really liking Jeff's guitar playing last night. I do quite like hearing him on electric guitar. I even stopped dancing a few times just to watch.
I was also reminded just how much I like dancing at Bob's shows, how good, and how homey, it feels. I enjoyed the Elders show. I really did. And I was dancing, enjoying the music, responding to the music. But dancing at Bob's show after the Elders show was different. Like, Bob's music touches something in me that the Elders music doesn't.
I left the Elders show slightly early, during the last song. I don't much like "10 lb Earhole". Not enough to stay and hear it rather than hearing one more Bob song. I ran part of the way to Molloy's. Just 'cause I felt like it. :) Got there, went to use the restroom as Bob and Jeff were playing "The Beginner" while Gary and Pat took a break (Gary was right by the door and I saw him before I'd taken in that it was just Bob and Jeff right then), and then I hit the dance floor just as they were starting "Chimes of Freedom". For some reason, "Thunder Road" on Wednesday was reminding me of that song. It was nice to hear it and I'm glad I got there in time for it.
Okay, I think that covers it. :)
Awesome, awesome show.
Oh, oh yeah, a note on the stage set up. Instead of Bob being straight in front of Pat, Bob and Jeff were shifted a little toward Gary. This was nice because then no one was right in front of Pat, plus also Jeff wasn't back in the corner.
Bob, thanks for playing my request. :)
Edited to add: Another added thought. I came from one favorite band where the sound was not real good (don't blame Buzzz -- the problem was I was way up front and couldn't hear at all from the main speakers) but I thought they were great anyway, to another favorite band where the sound was quite good (it seems to me Molloy's has good sound). I think that contrast added to really thoroughly enjoying Bob. Because I really did quite enjoy the Elders. Great show. I was up. To go from that to a band every bit as good, every bit as liked by me, and better sound, well, makes it pretty easy to have a darn good time.
Another contrast. It's interesting to go from Steve Phillips in the Elders playing guitar parts I've heard a zillion times (exaggeration, but I've been to quite a lot of Elders shows), to Jeff Porter playing something different from that which I've gotten used to (playing electric). I think my appreciation for Jeff's playing last night was higher simply because it was new and different and I really noticed it.
Awesome show last night. :) Or, the last hour and 20 minutes anyway. I can't vouch for the first hour and 40 minutes but I'm sure it was good too.
They started at 9:20 (after John Northern's set, of course), or 9:30 by the Molloy's clock, I'm told. And I heard from 3 different people that they played 3 hours, so it must be so. Anyway, I got there at 11 pm, and was expecting them to end at Midnight, and they didn't. Which was good, because an hour just ain't enough. On the other hand, after so many Wednesday shows where I was late, an hour and 20 minutes seems just right. Though, had I gotten there earlier, I think I could have suffered through more. ;)
I went to see the Elders. A terrible choice to have to make (Bob 4 piece vs. the Elders). The Elders were good. As always. And they did a new song they'd never played before. Seven Nations played before them and were fairly enjoyable. And an awesome drum solo. Yes, there actually is such a thing. :)
Some of them came to Molloy's afterwards and caught some of the Bob show. Ian Byrne, Brent Hoad, and Tommy Sutherland, plus crew persons Buzzz and John Phillips (Steve's brother, who recently joined the Elders crew) and merchandize lady Devota.
So, I go from one show with a lead singer who plays drums, to another show with a lead singer who plays drums, and the lead singer and the drummer from the first show show up at the 2nd. :) Which by my count made 4 1/2 drummers (Jeff gets a half) in one room. Scary. ;)
I had spotted John Phillips, but I didn't know any of the rest were there till they were about to do "Jan Vermeer" and Bob goes, "Buzzz, I wish you were here with sound effects" and Buzzz waved from behind the pool table.
Bob and them were on fire last night. Okay, I'm never sure if it's a particularly good show, or if it was just me, but comments I heard from others suggest it wasn't just me. I was really appreciating Pat and Jeff, especially. I love hearing Pat on drums. He's a damn good drum player. And I was really liking Jeff's guitar playing last night. I do quite like hearing him on electric guitar. I even stopped dancing a few times just to watch.
I was also reminded just how much I like dancing at Bob's shows, how good, and how homey, it feels. I enjoyed the Elders show. I really did. And I was dancing, enjoying the music, responding to the music. But dancing at Bob's show after the Elders show was different. Like, Bob's music touches something in me that the Elders music doesn't.
I left the Elders show slightly early, during the last song. I don't much like "10 lb Earhole". Not enough to stay and hear it rather than hearing one more Bob song. I ran part of the way to Molloy's. Just 'cause I felt like it. :) Got there, went to use the restroom as Bob and Jeff were playing "The Beginner" while Gary and Pat took a break (Gary was right by the door and I saw him before I'd taken in that it was just Bob and Jeff right then), and then I hit the dance floor just as they were starting "Chimes of Freedom". For some reason, "Thunder Road" on Wednesday was reminding me of that song. It was nice to hear it and I'm glad I got there in time for it.
Okay, I think that covers it. :)
Awesome, awesome show.
Oh, oh yeah, a note on the stage set up. Instead of Bob being straight in front of Pat, Bob and Jeff were shifted a little toward Gary. This was nice because then no one was right in front of Pat, plus also Jeff wasn't back in the corner.
Bob, thanks for playing my request. :)
Edited to add: Another added thought. I came from one favorite band where the sound was not real good (don't blame Buzzz -- the problem was I was way up front and couldn't hear at all from the main speakers) but I thought they were great anyway, to another favorite band where the sound was quite good (it seems to me Molloy's has good sound). I think that contrast added to really thoroughly enjoying Bob. Because I really did quite enjoy the Elders. Great show. I was up. To go from that to a band every bit as good, every bit as liked by me, and better sound, well, makes it pretty easy to have a darn good time.
Another contrast. It's interesting to go from Steve Phillips in the Elders playing guitar parts I've heard a zillion times (exaggeration, but I've been to quite a lot of Elders shows), to Jeff Porter playing something different from that which I've gotten used to (playing electric). I think my appreciation for Jeff's playing last night was higher simply because it was new and different and I really noticed it.
posted by Ellen Kozisek at 8:27 AM
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