LOCATION: Schuba's, Chicago, IL
LINEUP: Karin, Linford, cellist?, percussionist?
REVIEW BY: Various Listees
Ahhh, Schuba's. Missed the chairs that had been set up in past years (great for sitting back and propping your feet up on sstage...), but since we were working the table we had seats and could even see quite well. A lovely table, not as much swag as in the past, but it was a joy to help out and meet people and share the music. Brenda Mallonee was running Bill's table next door -- a lovely woman -- and for the first time ever, I heard their surname pronounced correctly. On to the list (the early show): Spinning Bothered All I Get for Christmas is Blue I Let it Go Fever My Love is a Fever I have to break here and say that this was so fantastic. After hearing it done similar to the way it was on Eve countless times, which honestly didn't send me, this was a wonderful surprise. Loved it loved it loved it. Seahorse, right into... My Funny Valentine She (#1 requested song at the merch table) Mary's Waltz All I Need is Everything I Shall Be Released (with Bill Mallonee) (encore) Darling, Christmas is Coming (encore) The Christmas Song Lots of funny banter throughout the show, though some I had read here first :) My fave was Karin talking about how they seem to inspire wedding proposals, and how they knew there were going to be one at Taft on Friday night. She said she wanted to give the girl a heads up..."um, ___, if you're here, he's going to ask you tonight. So if you wantt o slip out during the intermission...." I guess you had to be there...it was pretty humorous. Anyone know the outcome on that one? Okay, that's it for me, I think...any questions?J B
Well I went to the Shuba's Christmas show,went over and introduced myself to Julie & friend at the table.She said she was going to write down the setlist so that was cool.Anyone that's read anything I've written about other shows knows I kind of delve a little more into the show then just they played these songs etc.....Because that's what I want to read from other shows so here goes... First upon hearing about a drummer and a cellist I thought wow that could really be cool and it was except that I wouldn't trade Jack for a drummer,a cellist,a flutist and a tuba player to be named later!! His guitar IS important and I know I speak for all of us: We miss it when it's not there!!!I knew him moving wouldn't be good and it's not.On to the show...Opening with "Spinning" from CRF was great,a swirling percussive haunting moodsetter where Karin really gets to warmup right into a drumming galloping "Bothered" which really came off good.Let me say right here this 20 yr.old drummer that they found over in Europe or somewhere is fantastic!!! Sign this guy up longterm.Then all we need is Jack and a bass player and we can have a band !!...LOL Let me also say the cellist sounded great all night on every song but unlike a drummer,I wouldn't know a bad cellist if I heard one.Up next came an absolutley stunningly SLOW blue version of "All I Get For Christmas Is Blue" this one hits a little to close to home always makes me cry and I really miss Jack's lead that's on the only recorded version we have.Next was a surprisingly up tempo version of "I let it go" a song I've so grown to love due to it's feel of sadness and desperation,but between this tempo and the loneliness of Jack's lead thats on the CRF version it kind of lost something but thank you for playing it."Fever" came next sounded awesome and who's kidding who Karin could sing me the phonebook and I'd get a fever.Linford remarked at how "festiv and Christmassy" Shuba's looked decorated with wreaths,lights and holly etc...and thanked us all for being here.The he said and I quote:"We love it when people come"to which the crowd laughed.It was around this time I started thinking to myself....hmmm those that came here expecting a happy upbeat Christmas show of carols,OTR favs and hit's are going to be a little dissapointed."My Love Is A Fever" was next,Julie loves it but it wouldn't make my top 100 OTR songs(not for me)...LOL "The Seahorse" broke the mood up a bit so I could tap my toe a bit,very nice!The new song "She" about abuse came next,I'm still trying to get a grasp on this one.I've only heard it a couple of times and I'm not really getting the chorus never the less maybe a Christmas show isn't the place to trot this one out??There was a stranger than normal hushed silence at the songs conclusion due to the subject matter."Mary's Waltz" was good."All I Need Is Everything" sounded great as usual,I think at this point eveyone was happy to hear a song they knew well.Bill Mallonee came up to help out on "I Shall Be Released" it was ok.The encores came next "Darling,Christmas Is Coming" sounded a little weird but I love this song.It was after this song during complete silence that one guy has to YELL out his own personal request."EVERYMAN'S DAUGHTER" he yells.That aggravates me!!So Karin says "Is that your Christmas wish?" So she turns to Linford and they discuss it and thankfully they go on with thier finale.Linford says it took awhile to work up an arrangement for this "Mel Torme" classic as Karin launches into "The Christmas Song"....Chestnuts roasting on an open fire" Absolutely UNBELIEVABLE !!! The best I've ever heard it!!!Goosebump city.When "The Velvet Fog" wrote it I know THIS is how he wanted it to sound.I want a copy of this song!!!!!!Hint Hint The show was good I enjoyed it but not enough to stay for the late show. I knew it was sold out so when I walked out a guy was standing by the door who stood with me in front of the stage for last years Christmas show.I said I'm not staying for the late show and he said "I couldn't get a ticket I waited to long.I handed him mine and said "Merry Christmas"!!!Enjoy the show!! And headed off to the wilder side of town!