From: Uyen
Date: Dec. 17, 1997
Place: San Francisco, CA; Slim's
SET LIST Flare Is Meteor
Far
Beyond Good & Evil
On and On
Happy Again
Dozen Wicked Words
She Said
Elvis
Jesus ChristI've completely lost perspective when it comes to Bay Area living. I end up sounding like that corny commercial that one of the local TV stations airs, boasting of the Bay Area as "the best place on earth." Yup, you got it, baybee, even though it means a girl has to get up early in the morning if she wants to pick up some Pulp concert tickets.
So I was only mildly surprised that the Longpigs were headed back to the Bay Area for their third local tour date, this time opening for the Dandy Warhols. Sure, New York and Boston got more local engagements, but we were another 3,000 miles away, which I took to mean that we're an intrinsically cooler town. Not only that, but I was going to finally see them in a small venue: a club that holds only 450 people.
The first band (another triple bill) was called Gloritone. I don't remember much of their music. They had a couple of OK songs, nothing to write home about. Their lead singer also wore his choker too tight; my friend worried that his oxygen supply was flowing inadequately, not that she was about to play Florence Nightingale or anything. He made it through the set without suffocating, though.
The Longpigs came onstage a little after 10 p.m. to a nearly full house. Dee wore a T-shirt from Mod Lang (where they had done their in-store back in May), and the band opened with a song I had never before heard live: "Flare Is Meteor." Woowee! It looked like this long spell of touring had forced the Longpigs to dig deeper into their repertoire. Anyway, the song was awesome, especially the long, distorted intro.
Overall, it was another great show. Even on the tiny stage, Richard managed to get in some kicks and leaps to accompany those fantastic guitar riffs. Once again, the highlight of the show was "Elvis," the likes of which I hadn't heard before. Crispin does have a habit of repeating some bits, but this "Elvis" was entirely different and especially sprawling. My friend claims Crispin quoted from PJ Harvey during the jamming, psychedelic section in the middle. Seeing as she's quite the Peej fan, I wouldn't doubt her. Crispin's voice was in excellent form that night. At the end of their set, Crispin tipped over their stack of amps, though not very convincingly.
The Dandy Warhols finished off the night. Their bass was turned so high that I think it cleared my body of any kidney stones that might've been forming. They were much better that night than when I saw them earlier in the year; they even did "Little Drummer Boy." They dedicated "Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth" to the Longpigs, with the mention of not being able to find "free blow in San Francisco." My friend and I left before the encore, but I hear Zia went topless. My loss, I suppose...
*** From: Ryan
Date: Dec. 17, 1997
Place: San Francisco, CA; Slim's
Hey all you beautiful dandyrulers out there-
I would like to talk a little about the Dandy show in SF at Slim's, if I may.I arrived just as the Longpigs were ending their set. Thank the One above.
Their guitarist looked like Noel Gallagher, maybe by coincidence but probably on purpose. I heard 2 tunes, and although tight & together, their music failed to arouse me sonically. But that's OK, because I think a lot of other people there were pretty into them. More power to 'em.
It took a while to get the Longpigs' equipe taken down & the Dandy Korg, etc set up, but was completely satiated with the wonderful vintage go-go girl footage and nature/psychedelia images being projected on the screen in front of the stage. In addition, trax from the Stones' Goats Head Soup album and from T. Rex's Tanx album (both from ' 73 - hmmm) among others were being played over the house speakers, which kept a smile on my face and my mind occupied until they took the stage. Nothing better than a band who makes cool music that also listens to cool music. I ran into Peter and Joel (BJM) on the floor as I was heading over to get a cold one. I heard Matt was there also, but I didn't see him. I really want to see the BJM play again soon - in SF preferably, if there are any places left they aren't banned from - the Maritime Hall has this creepy prison cafeteria vibe, with like Sailor Ghosts from the late 1800's poppin' out of the woodwork to drag rusty anchors around...BOO!
The Dandy Ones opened up with Be-In, and proceded to play the longest, best-sounding show I have ever seen them play (close 2nd - Bottom of the Hill, SF). A song that I think has been developed well from playing so many shows recently is Pete Int'l Airport. Damn, I hope they release some live trax as B-sides, or (yeah, right) a LIVE ALBUM. It is more structured as a song now, instead of the quiet, spaced-out offbeat art that it is on Come Down. Before they went into I Love You, the gal from the Fillmore show was in the front again, and C told her not to love him this time - ha ha, this is just the beginning....
They also played Little Drummer Boy which was a nice treat for the holiday season. Afterwards, a friend of mine told me that LDB sounded like a song that they would actually write, and I agreed with her. It really did sound like a great pop song, I almost forgot it was an Xmas song! Damn! I also heard White Gold for the first time (hey, I thought they only played this in Texas! hee hee) and although different, was probably my least fave song I've ever heard them do, if I had to pick one. They also played another one that I've heard 'em play B4 but I still don't know the name of - maybe Wreck of EF? (I'm not familiar w/Mr. Lightfoot's work).
Well afterwards I bought a 7" and a sticker for my Bug. I think they had people who still drive cars w/chrome bumpers in mind when they made the stickers! Thanks, Dandys. CCR is a cool song, I like it better than One. The basement version of Junkie is great, too, I like how it's slowed down a little, it sounds lazier. Kinda like how they played Lou Weed - that one's always a crowd pleaser, man!
Well hell I gotta roll - catch you cats later >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
Ryan
