Reviews by...
John
Lauren Hoffman was next, and her set was a little on the quiet side, but it was great. I dont think eveyrone around got to hear her as well as she should have been - part of the blame is probably Trax though ... Jessica's got the set list for this one (which might just ended up on the Lauren Hoffman list ...)
Anyway, Cracker took the stage and put on a great show ... there is a set list around here somewhere, but they did play Take the Skinheads Bowling with Johnny on Mandolin. Before this show started we heard that the Port O Call show had been cancelled so we put some plans into motion a little early.
This was looking like the last accessible show that Cracker would do before three birthdays - David 9/10, Johnny 9/10, and Bob 9/16.
A little explaining is in order first ... while I was out on the west coast a couple of weeks ago, I collected some birthday postcards from everyone out there to give to all the band members. David got a card that should a close up of some mad scientist looking guy that read "strange things happen here", Johnny got a card with elvis on the cover, and Bob got one with a little kid in a toy car. I'll let the west coast BACH people mention the things that were mentioned on the cards if they want ... One particular card to note was the one from the BACH members to the whole band - it said 'welcome to san fransico' on the front and various comments were on the back, but they were all along the lines of 'get your asses out here!'. : )
Also ... after the 4th of July shows many of the ECCH people got together and made a picture tree with all the pictures that were taken for the 4th of July shows. We were able to get Jill hired at a photoshop in Richmond so we could afford (we got a 75% discount!) to make photo albums for each band member.
... and I took a couple of the B & L cds that I had received and earmarked them for Johnny and David.
... and if that wasnt enough, I've paid a little attention to things David & Johnny have said ... on the Sparklehorse list David mentioned that he some how didnt have a copy of Mark Linkous singing 'fucking up'. ... and way back in March at the Roanoke show I remembered Johnny saying 'I hate signing stuff I dont even have!' when he signed my Eurotrash Girl single. I was able to a copy of the Get Off This import single (that has Fucking Up on it) and a ET Girl single too.
Anyway, after the show, I ran around to each person and gave them their goodies as birthday presents from Cracker2000. Everyone of course liked their stuff - and a skirmish almost broke out when Kenny wanted to see the copies of B & L that Johnny had. : ) I'll be getting a copy to give to Kenny soon it looks like.
Random after the show conversation notes include ... Johnny has bought a house out in California - and it's got a deep dark basement that he is turning into a recording studio. He mentioned that he might blow up some of the fan pictures from the 4th of July to put on the wall of the studio as posters.
Kenny also mentioned that Lucky Seven was playing a show some where in NYC soon (this week?). I bet Matthew would have better information on this that I do though ...
All in all, this was a great show, but it was overshadowed by the next night ...