Reviews by...
Dan
Stephanie
Ian
After dinner, I got the opportunity to meet Stephanie, and we chatted about the venue and our kids. Her son can juggle better than me (and most of my friends) . Hi Steph!
As we went back inside, Everything was already on the stage. I put in my earplugs (I'm in my mid-30's, and I can't afford to lose any more hearing). Now, I've never anything by Everything, and it turns out that they certainly were better than what I thought they were going to be. They even did a fairly unusual cover of the Beatles' Revolution. And they apologized when the trombone player's spit valve leaked onto someone at the front of the stage. They thanked Cracker a couple of times for bringing them on the tour. They finished up, and the stage was rearranged. Cracker came out and took the stage. I decided to leave the earplugs out this time. And here's
the set list:
(in order of performance)
Been Around the World Seven Days Euro Trash Girl Lonesome Johnny Blues I Want Out of the Circus The Good Life Mr. Wrong Teen Angst The World Is Mine Take Me Down to the Infirmary Pictures of Matchstick Men 100 Flower Power Maximum Big Dipper I Ride My Bike Low (encore) The Shiner Song Hold of Myself Cracker SoulDavid's obligatory guitar string break occurred on Teen Angst. During most of the set, a large group of people behind me kept yelling out for Another Song About the Rain. And not just one or two times; it was after every song. Maybe next time.
On stage, both David and Johnny looked like they were having a good time. During numerous solos, Johnny would walk out onto the dinner tables (long, straight tables stretching back from the edge of the stage). Oftentimes he looked like a man possessed, at one with his guitar. During Low, David walked out on a table too. Earlier he told Johnny that table acts like they're at a party, and this table, a wake. So he woke them up a bit. Bob seemed pretty into it too, but he wasn't running around the stage or anything. From where I was sitting, I couldn't see Frank at all (he was blocked by David), and Kenny, well, Kenny reminded me of Ron Mael from Sparks (consult your local record store).
After the show, I was lucky enough to run into Stephanie again, and I was graciously allowed to go upstairs. She introduced me to David, who shook my hand and said Hi. Since he was with family that night I didn't want to bother him with an autograph request (I felt pretty out of place), so I said my good nights, went downstairs. I was Strangely Compelled to buy a t-shirt (from Bugs, no less. He's no longer working in the Catskills).
So what did I learn? The Coach House is a great place to see a show, the Lowerys in general are a good bunch of people, and if I think I might meet members of the band, I should dress better.
Also, David alluded to the Wednesday House of Blues show, mentioning to the crowd that it will be special guest night. I was sworn to secrecy by Stephanie, but I can tell you this: even if it's not special guest night you must get in your car and go see the show. You absolutely will not be disappointed.
Dan
daniel" best quote .. after the band played a really intense version of ride my bike david said 'what y'all looking so scared about? my parents are here and their not scared of that." hey alex, they played the shiner song!
forgot to mention the table . anyone who has been to the coach house knows about the tables that are right in front of the stage, anyway david and johnny took turns walking up and down the tables while playing. i was a bit fearful that the tables might collapse. colin had a great time dancing and yelling out all his favorite songs to his uncle. the people below us kept shouting out "another song about the rain" i fianlly yelled down to them " who's lorraine?"
the more they yelled it the more i knew that the band WAS NOT going to play that particular song. at another point when people were yelling out other song titles david says " should we treat you less intelligently and play only our hits?"
colin at the moment is dancing around wearing the new cracker t-shirt he managed to score from bugs and the all access laminent that he conned bob out of.
stephanie
This was my fourth live Cracker show, and they have never sounded better, or had more energy. Unfortunately the venue did not have a dance floor, but any Cracker is better than no Cracker, dance floor or not. In David's usual modest voice, he began the show with, "Thanks for coming to see us tonight, we're Cracker," and broke into Been Around The World.
It was a little odd. I'm twenty years old, and other than my nineteen year old friend, and two sixteen year old girls from San Juan Capastrano, I was one of the youngest people there. The place was mostly filled with forty five year olds. Go figure.
In any case, they're set list was as follows (in this order):
Been Around The World Seven Days Euro-Trash Girl Lonesome Johnny Blues I Want Out Of The Circus Good Life Mr. Wrong Teen Angst The World Is Mine Take Me Down To The Infirmary Matchstick Man Flower Power Maximum Big Dipper Take Me (Back) To You (hidden track 88 off Kerosene Hat) Low Then for the encore: "Polka Song" Hold Of Myself and as a special treat: Cracker SoulAs a follow up note, the next evening David and Johnny were on the LoveLine radio show on 106.7 KROQ FM in Los Angeles. If there was any doubt, David and Johnny proved to be incredibly intelligent. For anyone who doesn't know LoveLine, it deals with at times, serious issues from rape, to teen pregnancy, etc. David and Johnny added very insightful comments to the conversation.
Ian