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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1036 Posts |
 Posted - 11/03/2006 : 19:54:40
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The Holiday Song--- This was a great beginning and totally unexpected. I like how he reworked the music a bit and the vocal phrasing. Very good.
California Bound (Aborted), --Was pretty enjoyable until he said he started thinking about something else.
The Shrimp Song--quite funny and enjoyable. I think someone threw him off with their laughing and so he basically "scolded" us that this is a very serious song and proceeded to describe the action before returning to song-mode for the big finish.
Cactus--Very heavy; very nicely done.
My Life in Storage--Amazing.
Abtract Plain---Excellent. Was the first time I got this in concert. Alright!
Two Reelers---Very powerful as he hit the last verse about brother Moe...
--Overall, the acoustic set was a highlight; between the powerful song renditions and Frank's chattiness, it was a great start to the concert. I figured things would get even better when the rest of the band took the stage.
The Black Rider---At first, good and exciting to hear the riff but then I realized that it was being played a bit slower. Heavy, yes...but I felt like it needed to be performed faster.
Re-make/Re-model--Great. Towards the end with the solos, after Jack and Duane and Eric took one, Frank seemed confused as to whose turn was next...the band wailed a bit and then paused...Frank said: "My turn!" and launched into the chords for...
Living On Soul---A nice unexpected song.
Bullet---Okay, the familiar chords but instead of Scott banging the hell out of the drums, the emphasis is more on an intro solo from Dwayne. Definitely different from the Catholics. Overall, a good version but a bit disappointing. Dwayne doesn't take as much of solo break as did Rich and it's an overall shorter version of the song. One of my favorite FB & the C songs, so it's always good to hear...it just wasn't as good as with the C's.
666--While I enjoy the heavy-noise version, I prefer the rockin' version. Nicely done, though the solo has more of a 50's r-n-b feel than the wildness of Mr. Gilbert.
Horrible Day---Nice. Felt a bit reworked but I hadn't listened to it in a while so I'm not sure about this. But seemed to fit his new backing band really well.
All My Ghosts
Gyaneshwar---A fantastic song with a cool little groovy guitar solo. Very inspiring.
My Terrible Ways
I'll Be Blue--perhaps the highlight of the full-band set. A long, bluesy version with a nice solo (I think on the harmonica from Jack Kidney) and nice guitar work. A true lament...extended and excellent.
RaiderMan--Very good.
10 Percenter--Thought it was Superabound when it started; was a wonderful surprise, with Frank bellowing out "JERK!" and all the musical craziness accentuated by Kidney's sax.
I Burn Today---dedicated to Jack Kidney. An aside about Jack Kidney: Frank pointed out that he hadn't heard most of these songs, hadn't rehearsed and didn't even get a soundcheck. Well...you wouldn't have known from the playing which accented each song very nicely. I'm glad he guested on the show.
I'm Not Dead (I'm In Pittsburg)--Fun.
Johhny Barleycorn---Great.
Dead Mans Curve---Didn't make much of an impression.
Suffering--had been so long since I listened to this that I didn't even recognize it at first. Wow. Great song!
Burnt Out Rock & Roll--Not much of an impression. Okay.
Been All Around The World ---ditto
Nadine---Very nice and loud booming drums from Billy Block.
Encore: Sing For Joy---A sweet way to end the show.
---I went into this concert not knowing what he'd be playing nor with any real idea as to what the band would sound like (one appearance on Conan not being enough to base any decision)...and I went to this show really curious as to how he'd sound without the Catholics.
My overall opinion is that it felt like watching Frank Black front a 1950s rock n' roll band. Some of the tempos were a bit too slow on the fast numbers. While this was good for the slower numbers (they felt heavier and more powerful) I didn't really enjoy it on the fast ones.
Dwayne was the stand-out player, particulary his Gyaneshwar solo.
I understand that Frank is following his muse and I respect that, but I found the last time I saw him, at the Beachland Ballroom, to be the superior show.
While I enjoyed the awkward pauses between songs, sometimes it really blunted the momentum; while the Catholics would slow things down, they would also blast from one song to another and build up the energy when required.
I know that he's not been playing with these guys that long and they haven't had a chance to develop the chemistry of the Catholics (or revisit the chemistry of the Pixies) so maybe all this will change in time, but the show seemed a bit off.
One final criticism; while Billy Block's drumming was okay, there was nothing great about it; he seemed to service the fast songs alright but not really push them into more exciting and dynamic versions. On the slow stuff he was fine.
I met Dwayne briefly after the show by the bar and talked a bit, thanked him for his playing and wished him and the others well on the tour.
I glad I got to see him on this tour, I'm glad I got to hear some of my favorite songs (Life in Storage, 10%) and will continue to patronise his work. But boy, I do miss the energy of those Catholics shows.
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Thoughts on the new band & the cleveland show
