Reviews by...
Dave C
Jess
Roy
sparker
The TPP show was fantastic. My wife, Amy, and I arrived early with a bag full of crackers to get an extra copy of Garage D'Or but couldn't find the dams table. No matter. We scooted over to Outback and had a nice dinner and a "Big Bloke" of a nice dark Black and Tan (translation: a big ass mug 'o beer). This was a very rare kidless night as the grandparents nicely provided a sleepover for the kids. Got back in time to find all the C2K gang in the usual - slightly-to-the-Johnny-side-of-stage-right-up-front position. It was great to see everyone twice in the same week.
This was truly an excellent set. Relaxed, a little free-wheeling, with a large number of folks, myself included, shouting out requests between songs. Not the "typical" Cracker set as some people like to call it. Many of the same songs, but it's nice when the crowd decides the order...and a few nice surprises as well. Brandi was excellent. I was a little critical of her playing on Wednesday night, but give credit where it is due - she was damn good at TPP. Once she gets totally settled, I think she will be a fine asset to the group. Nice backing vocals, too. David, who always seems gracious to the crowd in my opinion (even when he's baiting them...it's called fun), seemed especially appreciative of the crowd tonight. Did anyone else notice that?
Got to chat briefly with Kenny, Johnny and David after the show. Sorry we couldn't slip backstage with the other C2Kr's, but we had to meet some friends over at Waterside.
Someone mentioned yesterday that they like to look at the little nuances within a show now that they have seen Cracker so many times. I did that some last night and there are a few things I noticed. David really seems to enjoy a kick-ass Johnny solo as much as we do. I noticed him looking on at a few Johnny solos with the same smile that I plastered on my face. Johnny and Frank have a good visual connection with each other that helps keep things sounding tight. Kenny, of course, is a freakin' genius! These guys are simply really cool folks that happen to make some great music. One highlight of the night was a gut standing beside me. He had his son (about 12-13 years old) and his sons friend with him at the show. The kids were pretty unaware or uninterested in the show at first, but dad was gettin' it! He knew every song, was singing loudly in his boy's ear, and thoroughly enjoyed pointing out every time Johnny ripped a great solo..."Now THAT"S a real guitar player!!!" I loved it. Can't wait until my kids get a little older...of course, they already love Cracker, so they will be jumping right along with me!
All in all...a great show, great time, and a really fun way to spend our 11th Wedding Anniversary! I know, I know...we look WAY too young to have been married for 11 years, but it's true.
Wow...long post. That's about it for now.
Dave C
Setlist in order:
1.Be My Love
2.Been Around the World
3.7 Days
4.Sweet Thistle Pie
5.I Ride My Bike (my request!)
6.Wedding Day (like at LT but David played tamborine on it this time)
7.Lonesome Johnny Blues
8.Eurotrash Girl (David held it up at the first chorus before continuing)
9.Get Off This
10.St. Cajetan
11.Mr. Wrong
12.Another Song ABout the Rain (and it did rain a little here...)
13.I'm a Little Rocketship (David plays his own request... solo)
14.100 Flower Power Maximum
15.Teen Angst
16.Low
Willis took some cool pictures. Johnny and Brandy did an awesome "virtual sex" scene during Bike. Wow. Nice show!
Jess
:) yeah I saw this guy too. Thought it was pretty cool myself. He really got into "Loser." A damned spendid rendition. The request I've been waiting for since the 'Jam on The James' a few July 4th's ago!
Also great to see all the C2Ker's in full force, minus the vacationing Mango. (so they like to say- lucky bastard).
This morn on The Coast (the station that promo'ed the show), they commented on how good the show was, et al. THEN, at exactly 10am the dj said "Here's a little something to take you back to Fri night, " & played 'Pictures of Matchstickmen.' It was so great. Excuse my exuberance, but it's only the 3rd time in my life I've ever heard CVB on the radio. So it was big deal to me. MAY DAY 10 AM 93.7 The Coast.
Too bad the rest of the day at work sucked after that, :)
Roy
and to ramble on, low was played at the end of the set, right behind teen angst. and you know i too can get tired of that one, but this night it seemed just about right. i was a little bit in front of the sound tent, dead center, and seeing the crowd "get off" this combo of songs was great. the place was a rockin...the opening licks of low followed by the big bass line was killer...brandy was in fine form that evening(first time i've seen the band w/her), her added vocals were right on target, giving them a fuller sound. the way she constantly rubbed her hands together between songs(meaning it was rather chilly and damp, but no rain...postitive vibes worked), maybe she played especially strong just to stay warm. but she did drop the coat for "i ride my bike". but it was later put back on.
to sum up the evening, i think david said it best at the very end..."it didn't turn out to be such a bad night, did it?" or something like that. it was definatly worth battling the elements.
sparker