March 17, 2000 -

Reviews by...
Sara
John
Julie
Rich
Tony
Jess
Chris

The show was really great, but had a few technical problems. But you have to expect a few problems the first night. The entire night was pretty high energy and the club was really packed, it seemed like a good night for Brandy (SP?) to start. I especially enjoyed hearing Another Song About The Rain. It has to be on of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard, and seeing it performed live is absolutely breath taking! Anyway, David managed to break 4 strings this time (Doesn't it hurt to play that hard?) Here's the set list:

    1.100 Flower Power Maximum 
    2.I Ride My Bike 
    3.Dr. Bernice (Kenny came out from behind his keyboard...YEA!) 
    4.Euro-Trash Girl 
    5.Lonesome Johnny Blues 
    6.Been Around The World (John, It does sound better in the middle of the set) 
    7.Seven Days 
    8.St. Cajetan 
    9.Mr. Wrong 
   10.This Is Cracker Soul 
   11.Teen Angst 
   12.Sweet Thistle Pie (Broken String) 
   13.The Good Life 
   14.I See The Light (Broken String) 
   15.Get Off This (Broken String) 
   16.Another Song About The Rain (My personal favorite of the night) 
   17.Low 
       ENCORE: 
   18.You Could Be My Love (The 4th Broken String) 
   19.How Can I Live Without You 
   20.Trials And Tribulations (Another Personal Favorite.) 
 

All and all it was a parade of their hits and lasted about 2 hours. Tech. problems or not, every show is a great show.

Sara

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We had some coordination problems assembling the troops, but a ton of us from around the east coast made it to the 9:30 Club for the St Patty's day show. Jessica, Sara, Chris, Tony, and a bunch of Tony's friends from work, Mango, Karen, Matthew, Bill, John Finch .. and I dont know who else. I did hear that Roy was there, but I didnt get to see him... Of course Phillippe was there too.

The opening band, Crenshaw, was good. Much better than I feared. : ) They sounded very much like the Dave Matthews Band, minus the sax (with another guitar added). All in all they were good, but not especially unique. They are a local DC area band though, and they might just make it big soon. The rest of the crowd really enjoyed their set.

Cracker's set was great, but there were many tech problems with it. They opened with Been Around the World - and I love the song, but I dont know what it is .. that particular song sounds so much better when it's in the middle of the set. Something to do with the energy of the moment I think. I would love to hear them open with Low to get it over with and out of the way. : ) Kenny spend much of the night replugging in his equipment and the sound mix was funny the whole night. I dont think it was Woody's fault at all though. Then again I was up at the front of the stage next to the monitors which could explain the whole thing.

I really don't mean to steal Phillippe's thunder, but I know that he's not going to have email access during this tour, so I'll mention some things about him ...

As soon as we got him into the show, I personally showed him how to steal the band posters off the walls at the club. I think he forgot his Gentlemans' Blues poster at Tony's house, so if someone further up the coast could help him get another one it'd be great. Jill? After the show most of our troupe was allowed to make it backstage at the club, and Phillippe brought a special present for David and the band - two big bottles of French Champagne! David, Johnny, Frank and the rest of the band toasted and thanked Phillippe for it.

Oh, the new bass player - Brandy (sp? someone needs to figure out if it's a "y" or an "i" at the end of her name...) played good at the 9:30 show. She was a little low key, but I heard from David they gave Brandy a crash course in Cracker songs - she had to learn 45 songs in just 4 days. For her first show - I say it was great! I know some people are upset that Bob is gone, but the band is still the same - Bob is great - Victor is great - and soon Brandy will add her own personal touch to the band. The songs that Johnny does with the background vocals will sound a whole lot better too.

Frank is also continuing to do a bunch of backup vocals - and that is still sounding great too. Imagine that - a drummer. (sorry, I've got to tease Frank about this...)

After this show we all headed back to Reston and fell asleep...

John

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The DC Show rocked!!!!!!

Thank you so much to David, Johnny and the entire Cracker band for playing four of my requested songs:

 1) St. Cajetan 
 2) Lonesome Johnny Blues 
 3) How Can I Live Without You 
 4) SWEET THISTLE PIE!!!! 
 

I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed the show. I only wish my job would take me to PA so I could see you tomorrow.

Come back to CA soon (Sacramento please)!!!!

Also, you're pianist/accordion player with the specs is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

- Julie

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Strange vibe from crowd, even with the band opening w/ 100FPM. David even commented before thrashing in to the "greatest hits" segment about the attitude. Still, a solid approx 20-song, maybe 1hr50min set ensued, with acoustic Trials&Tribs at end. David noted how much they like playing Nightclub 930 in DC.

Set included: 100FPM, Bike, Dr. Bernice, Eurotrash G, LJBlues, Been Around World, Seven Days, St. Cajetan, Mr. Wrong, Cracker Soul, I See the Light, Teen Angst, Sweet Thistle, Get Off This, Low, Another Song About the Rain (!!), The Good Life, How Can I Live W/out You, Trials& Tribs.

Rich

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The 9:30 Club show had a great turnout and David introduced a bunch of songs as "the parade of hits". Opened with 100 Flower and Johnny did Another Song About The Rain. Actually, he did it both nights and the Philly version really stood out as classic! Wicked guitar work..... I've only had four hours sleep since Friday morning so we'll have to talk about this later. ZZzzzz

Tony

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Well I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to make it to the shows at first, since I was told at the last minute that I had to work, but things got rearranged, and then my car broke down, but it was ready just in time... Anyway we made it... =)

The DC show was a good show. It was very fun, but it was pretty clear that there were some kinks to be worked out. A lot seemed to do with technical problems (the vocals were hard to hear, Kenny's keys were drowned out, as was the sound of the bass). Still a very fun show though.

The highlight for me was Another Song About the Rain. Johnny threw in a great solo at the end that really packed an emotional punch. It was really great. It was fun to see all the listers there, I am sorry I didn't get to see Roy... After show stuff was great... That *was* good champagne. =) I think it is great to know that at least some of the Cracker members are a geeky as we fans... Oh, and the 9:30 Club sandwich is really good.

Jess

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Great time...D.C. had it's tech challenges appearantly but the crowd was into it and very appreciative. I think the "we'll go with the parade of hits" statement from David seemed to me to be more of a game plan for dealing with the glitches than the crowd. Great turnout for the debut of the new bassist, Ms. Woods. I think, besides the fact that she seems a very competent & secure performer, there is now a new dynamic in the works that I think will work well. I like it and think it is a good choice that the band has made. She is very smooth in presence (Bill Wyman-esque I agree!). St. Cajetan was played, which pleased me much (thank-you).

~chris~

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