LOCATION: Schubas, Chicago, IL
LINEUP: Karin, Linford, Will Sayler, Paul Moak, Rick Plant
REVIEW BY: Various Listees
i'm surprised no one beat me to sharing their thoughts on the back-to-back nights at schubas, but i'll do my best to do them justice and then leave it to the michael cades, etc of the list to fill in my holes (sidenote: michael, were you there saturday night? i never saw you....). both nights were sold out. my memory serves that the set list was the same as beachland ballroom for both nights - however, on sunday, much to my delight they wove in "ain't no sunshine" after nobody #1. the full band adds a whole 'nother set of layers to the showand was completely enjoyable. paul moak was great fun to watch, will-the-drummer looked like he was having a blast, and the new bassist wove in ever so nicely. the highlight for me was a the re-done verison of the world can wait. as soon as they'd finished it i wished they could have start over and played it again. it gave me goosebumps - karin quipped that this was no acoustic tour.... also did amazing takes of changes come, cruel and pretty, and spinning. a otr newbie friend that went with me saturday night -- who has worked in the music industry most of her life -- surprised herself by how impressed she was by the concert. not that anyone here needs additional motivation to hit this tour - but whatever you have to drive to get there -- *it's worth it*. i did get a few moderately good photos - e-mail me off list if you'd like copies. (i don't have a public place to post them that wouldn't cost me my job...)Soulquest7:
I saw the show last night on Sunday Shubas in Chicago. I was right-- the
hall is what use to be Gaspars where I saw an avant garde show by Daevid Allen in
the early 80s. It looks a lot nicer, and the outdoor cafe has a lot of
vegetarian options. I still ate Indian food on Devon Street, and spotted another
restaurant on Clark Street that serves rose pancakes which I'm checking out on
October 1 when I return for the Shakti concert (jazz-Indian fusion band).
The theater, Shubas, was too hot, and three people tried to fix it but
it didn't make much of a difference. No chairs and a low stage meant you
couldn't see very much if you were in the back. I found an old iron stove in the
back to perch on, so I was one of the only people with a seat. As a person who
works on his feet, that makes a big difference to me.
I suppose the only real issue is the backup band. I saw the band
acoustic last year solo, but I didn't know most of the songs performed so it didn't
make a big impression on me except for "Latter Days." This year I knew all of
the songs and enjoyed it much more; I've been playing (and selling) the new
album daily at work. The band occasionally got too rowdy and obliterated the
arrangements. This was especially true with "Bothered" where the beautiful
chorus was crushed, and the second part of "She." The guitarist, Paul Moke, is a
bit more into sound effects than technique. I grew up with psychedelia and
progressive rock, so I like some of weirder playing, but would suggest focusing
more on technique in his solos. At one point he came dangerously close to
being a headbanger. He plays a diverse range of guitars; sitar, slides, acoustic
and electric.
1. Spinning. A moody opener. I couldn't see Paul playing the sitar because
you have to sit on the floor to play it. I'll check it out in Madison where the
stage and club will be much nicer. It didn't sound like anything very
intricate-- just some coloring-- but I'm an aficionado of sitar music so I'm picky.
2. Bothered. This song worried me; being so early in the set and it was
crushed by the band. The chorus is so beautiful, I couldn't believe the way they
were pummeling it. I particularly hate it when the bass it too loud. I feared
the whole show would be like this, but it wasn't, so maybe it was just time
to adjust to the sound. I'll see how it sounds in Madison.
3. Long Lost Brother. Great devotional song. I'm glad Linsford included
Mary in the lyrcs. As a Hindu goddess worshipper I always like it if there is a
reference to the Divine Feminine.
4. Show Me The Pretenders soundalike track. I half expect Chrissie to
start singing.
5. She. Again, the vocals in the second part of the song were drowned out by
the band. Karin said the song was performed at a benefit for a battered
women's shelter. The first time I heard it, I was freaked by the line, "what she
ought to do/is put a gun to your head/for the things you said and did." Ever
since a young girl decided to "shoot the whole day down" one Monday morning
(I'm talking about a Bob Geldolf song for those who don't know), I've been
afraid of songs that recommend such blatant violence when it's not necessary.
Still, I understand the feelings behind the song.
6. Nobody Number 1. I like the laid-back rap style.
7. Suitcase. One of my favorite songs from the new album. Makes me want to
take a country drive on a sunny Sunday, although I'm sure it has nothing to do
with that!
8. Professional Daydreamer
9. Ain't No Sunshine 70s soul classic by Bill Withers
10. Ohio Karin solo on piano. A sublime song.
11. BPD. Karin stays on piano
12. All I Need is Everything. The first and only track from "Good Dog Bad
Dog."
13. The World Can Wait. Paul has fun with his sound effects. The drumming
was too loud, but it was THE rocker of the set, so I guess that was expected.
>From Films For Radio CD.
14. When I Go. The closing blues number from Film For Radio. This was the
song that made me feel Paul should focus a bit more on technique than sound
effects, but perhaps this is because I'm use to the very clean solo on the CD.
It was a clash of styles.
15. Cruel and Pretty.
16. Changes Come. When Linsford announced they were going to play a gospel
song, I was hoping for the hidden bonus track on disc two of OHIO, but this is
also a beautiful song.
I suppose the only songs I was really hoping to hear from the new
album that I didn't were the hidden gospel track and "Remind Us" which I think
is just an incredible track; the way Karin's voice follows exactly Linsford's
piano (then again, Karin wrote this track so maybe she's playing the piano).
But these are minor points for what was a great show. Karin was singing superb
all night.
JB:
Well I didn't make it to the Saturday show but I did make it to the Sunday Shuba's show and here's few thoughts.First off I've never made any secret to the fact that I hate Shuba's and tonight was one of the main reasons why.The place was soldout and for some reason they neglected to have the air conditoning on making it feel like we were standing in a stinky and I mean STINKY sweatpit.The band came on promptly at 9 ish.Karin wearing a jacket with a furry collar which she took off after the second song because of the heat.The full band sounded awesome and Karin as usual was flawless.The setlist was the same as the Beachland show.Early in the show Karin dedicated a song(I forgot which one) to the main guy from Back Porch who OK'd the double record set.He was standing in the back of the room right next to me.So I asked him "Can't you make this woman a star"?He said we're trying but WXRT won't play them.Then I asked him "how come we're not in the "Americana" charts (which in Radio & Records magazine charts all the Folksy/artsy stuff like Gillian Welsh etc...) and he said the Americana people don't think they're "Americana enough" ! ??? I told him if "Ohio" is not an Americana album then theyr'e idiots.God forbid your'e a little diverse style wise !! Back to the show..."Life Long Fling/Aint No Sunshine" was incredible as Karin said "this has been dubbed our makeout song,and that's alright with me".As well as "the people last night didn't get the 2 song version". "Ohio and BPD" sounded great. "All I Need Is Everything" was one of the greatest versions ever ! Into "The World Can Wait" which on this night was the bombastic industrial version which I'm still trying to come to grips with if I liked it or not as Karin was kind of drowned out by the bombast thus I believe lost the feeling of the song in my opinion."When I Go" was a show stopper as one of my favorites I waited with anticipation as the new kid guitar hero Paul started the lead section which I've alway's loved.Well let me tell you this guy launches into a prolonged shredding guitar lead that literally tore the roof off the place to a massive ovation.I don't think even Karin and Linford have ever seen anyone attack a guitar like that ! Prompting Karin to say "and you thought we we're a little folk band....LOL". I'm not sure if Paul is as right for this band as Jack was but he certainly adds a change of pace as well as great background vocals."Changes Come" ended the show and was great sending everyone running from the sweatpit to get some fresh air.All in all a fine refreshing performance.I can't wait for the Fitzgeralds show where I hope they'll be a little more breathing room and can only hope that someday they'll play a larger venue with seats !!!!!!! I tried to send this this morning but it never went thru? I was standing by the stove next to Nick.