|
» Paul Westerberg 2005 Tour - Columbus and Cleveland, OH «
Thanks to everyone on the message boards for posting these reviews and for the great pics, especially from A-Reg!
Apr. 18, 2005 @ Newport Music Hall, Columbus OH
Sweet Mother Mary......did that show rock. I saw them twice in Minneapolis and they were so much better last night. Say what you will about Paul's casualness and indifference but the guy is a master showman. He knows exactly how to put on an amazing show when he wants to.
As someone mentioned earlier they started with Alex Chilton and the Left of the Dial and then walked off stage. Knowing Paul I had a quick moment of "no way would he really just play two songs" then they were back.
For you Stain Yer Blood and Gunshy fans they were both present.
The endings and the transitions in songs were just over the top. Michael Bland, as has been said before, is just out of this world. They double timed I Will Dare near the end. Everything was just really tight but not stiff in the least.
Coming out for one encore Paul sat at the drums for a minute or so then got up. Saw Bland back there, not sure if he told Paul to get out of there or what.
Paul was in a great mood...having fun. Good crowd, good sound.
I could no more recall a setlist than I could build a rocket ship at this point.
ETZ
The Newport is a great old rock and roll club and you'll see a lot of mid-sized bands come through there. Every single time I've been in there I stare at this old promo shot of Paul from the either the late 80's or early 90's. I guess he's played there before or in an affiliate? Anyway, it's always a buzzkill to sit there and look at that picture when you're lined up to see the Wallflowers or something. You just keep thinking to yourself, "where the hell was I when all this important music was being made and played out?"
So, here we all are standing in line in the pouring rain for a half hour before the show. The crowd was mostly guys, so for you ladies in the market, unless you are looking at your shoes you will meet an eligible bachelor at this show. (One that has exemplary musical tastes to boot). I was a little taken aback by some of the reviews of the Chicago show and I was scared that it would be a train wreck. Not that train wrecks can't be gorgeous, but this was my first show and I was pretty psyched up about the tunes.
I'm a bit reverential about the whole thing as I was with my best friend who introduced me to Westerberg/Replacements in those crucial (frustrated) formative years coming up in the desolate corn fields of Northwest Ohio. I graduated from high school in 1993, so the Replacements are a slightly ahead of my time but the sentiment doesn't get lost no matter how young or old you are. As he mentioned, they played the encores as soon as they attacked the stage. And they spun out on to that stage like there was a raging fire. They were dressed like troubadors, suits/paisley, leather jackets, long legs flying everywhere and it was beautiful. They were all just pounding away on their instruments like crazy.
Paul had something all over his face for most of the show... Charcoal like dots? What's the deal with that? The vocals were killer, baby. Honestly a surprise to me because how can someone hold on to such a screaming, kick ass voice for so long? I just have to say that "Knockin' on Mine" was unexpected as I do not follow the set lists and I was blown away to hear that. Before the show, HCAR asked me what I might like to hear. I'm not a huge fan of the "Crackle and Drag" or the "Folker" stuff, so I rattled off "Things" and "AAA", both done. It's impossible. I mean, with that catalogue, what the hell do you say?
Thinking about it now, I would have been all about that cover of that "Postcards..." Anyway, If I were to tailor a set list, I couldn't have asked for a better one so you won't hear me whining. The deliverance of Mike Nesmith's "Different Drum" was stellar. It's as though some songs were written for Paul Westerberg to sing in his earnest/sarcastic tone. Lying on the floor, he told the roadie to (step away), not his exact verbiage. I know it sounds cliche to say that it was a once in a lifetime event,
but I think it was. I'm sorry that I don't have the wherewithal to attend some of the other shows that they are playing in Ohio. If you miss these, you should really kick yourself in the ass because it's as good as it's going to get. I'm also sorry that I can't provide a set list, but we all drank heavily and we lost track. As they were signing autographs, they had "Bringing It All Back Home" playing in the
background and they were cranking this unfamiliar (to me) "Best Of" Sham 69. I also saw him smoking four smokes at once, so despite it all God is giving him leniency with regards to his vocals. Amazing!
Janelle
Apr. 19, 2005 @ HOB, Cleveland OH
This was the first Westerberg show I've seen, and it was much better than I
expected, considering earlier reviews. I think Paul and band are practiced
enough by now that they can deliver a show as tight or loose as they feel
on a given evening. Thursday at the HOB was very tight initially, starting
with "Love Untold", a perfect opener. From there they ripped through about
seven or eight numbers flawlessly till the pace slowed down. Highlights for
me were "Different Drum", "If I Had A Hammer", and "Bye Bye Johnny". At one
point, they kicked into a slow 12 bar blues and Paul wailed on harmonica. A
guitar (cheap black imitation Gibson) was smashed early on and handed to
the crowd. Somewhere early in the show a large floppy rag doll was placed
against the mikestand and Paul would place his lit cigarettes in her mouth
while he played. At one point (during High Time maybe?), Paul jumped
offstage, ran to the bar, and returned with a drink (an orange something or
other).
During the acoustic segment, Paul went into "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry".
The band followed but Kevin missed the lead break. Paul tried to take it,
but gave up and let the song finish. "What A Day For A Night" was letter
perfect.
Then everything tightened up for the high energy close: "CHW", "AC",
"LOTD", and it was over.
Outside near the bus, the HOB security kids were telling everyone to clear
the property, and that Paul wasn't going to appear. We knew it was BS and
kept moving around the perimeter until they kind of left us alone. Most
people gave up and left. Finally Paul came out of the bus, waved, and said
"Come on over!" He sat on the bus steps and was very gracious, very chatty.
I thanked him and he said, "Well, it looked like you guys were being
oppressed out there". Someone on the bus put on Dylan's "The Times They Are
A Changing", and Paul kind of laughed at it. He gave my wife a guitar pick.
It's tucked between the strings on my acoustic right now.
Great show, great experience!
Ted N.
|
