Review: Golden Smog & Jayhawks - Rock For Democracy - 7/18/04 - First Ave. - Mpls, MN

THE JAYHAWKS
(Louris - Perlman - O'Reagan - Grotberg)
Rock For Democracy
First AVe. - Mpls - 7/18/04

1. One Man's Problem (w/ Jim Boquist = ac gtr/bg vox)
2. Pray For Me (w/Jim Boquist = ac gtr/bg vox) For some strange reason i don't feel like doing any “research” right now, but I think the last time they played this, Bill Clinton was in his first term.
3. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (Hollies cover; Tim = lead vox; w/ Jim Boquist = ac gtr/bg vox) One of many songs last night that were perfectly in sync with the vibe of the event. Beautifully sung by Tim, just breathtaking. Man, what an underrated singer. Hell, what a singer, period!
4. Tailspin (w/ David Poe = elec gtr/bg vox) Dedicated by Gary to "GW." Biting political commentary? Wishful thinking? One of the best damn pop songs in recent memory? Answer: D) all of the above.



GOLDEN SMOG
(Louris - Johnson - Murphy - Perlman - Peter Anderson)
Rock For Democracy
First Ave. - Mpls - 7/18/04

1. Starman (Bowie cover; Gary = lead vox, Jim Boquist = bg vox) Live debut - yet another excellent choice from the cool cover stockpile. Pssst: the boys recorded a killer version of this song this summer - don't tell anybody.
2. That's When I Reach For My Revolver (Mission of Burma cover; Dan = lead vox, Ed Ackerson = elec gtr, bg vox = all) Another debut. Dan dedicated this to MN guv "Tiny Tim Palewnty" in the wake of a lot of recent hoo-haw in these parts concerning gun control legislation.
3. Powderfinger (Neil cover; KJJ = lead vox, David Poe = gtr/ bg vox, Dave Pirner = bg vox). Smokin'. Don't think they've pulled this one out since the '96 glory days.
4. Do Anything You Wanna Do (Eddie and the Hot Rods cover; Dan = lead vox) Another '96 blast from the past. An early punk anthem (1976) that fit in well with the spirit of the event.
5. The Dream is Never Over [tentative title] (brand spankin' new; Gary & Dan = lead vox, Blake Hurlbert = percussion). Very catchy little bugger, also recently hammered out in the studio. A new Smog song is obviously welcome news, especially if there's more where this came from. Should be in a car commercial or something.
6. 18 (Alice Cooper cover; Dave Pirner = lead vox; Ed Ackerson = elec gtr; Jim Boquist = elec gtr) Took a while to get this "train wreck" going - two false starts. Very Smog-ish moment indeed. This and the next song definitely evoked the drunken, murky joy of the earliest GS live shows back in the '80s at places like the Cabooze, Uptown Bar, 400 Bar (original version) etc.
7. Shooting Star (Bad Co. cover; Dave Pirner = lead vox) The set ended like it started - with a "star" song. Pirner at his finest. Think i actually saw a few lighters up in the air.

Bunch of other guys played, too.

Review: Kraig Johnson & The Program - 7/8/04 - Red Carpet - St. Cloud, MN

Here's a mini-review of The Program show last Saturday.

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The Program played their first show after their Spanish tour in St. Cloud, MN last Saturday. The absence of David Poe (who will be at the upcoming Mpls and Chicago shows) and the requirement of two 1 hour sets provided the necessary ingredients / inspiration for an experiment that prodded the boys dangerously close to “jam band” territory. Not that there’s anything wrong with that...

The Program's first show as a "power quartet" turned out to be truly enjoyable and memorable, with some positively sterling instrumental work from Mssrs. Anderson and Ackerson. About half of the songs got stretched out and, for the most part, sounded great.

Their recent trip thru Spain with the Jayhawks has evidently done wonders for their set. They’re obviously itching to play, as anyone who saw the energy they were radiating by the end of the second set can attest to.

Along with the regular Program songs, several cool covers were played: a couple of Neil Young songs, the Velvet’s “What Goes On,” and a scorching version of The Stooge’s “TV Eye” which, strangely enough, Wilco saw fit to cover a few years ago in Amsterdam.

There were also two certifiable moments of “Smog-ish” behavior, as in Golden Smog. Kraig, of course, is a founding member, Peter Anderson filled in on drums at the semi-secret, Tweedy-less GS show two summers ago at the 400, and Jim Boquist and Ed Ackerson are “honorary members” who’ve appeared both in the studio and on stage with GS. So everyone on stage had suitable GS credentials. The first set saw The Program debut of “Spooky” - long a GS live staple - and it clocked in at damn near 15 minutes! And, in what easily was peak of the night for me, T. Rex’s “Buick MacKane” - one of the highlights of every ‘96 GS show it appeared in - also made its Program debut, rocking like nobody’s business.

And so it went - another great Program show in St. Cloud in front of just about the strangest damn crowd you can imagine.

Review: Gary Louris - solo acoustic - 7/9/04 - Orchestra Hall - Mpls, MN

(photo courtesy of Karla L)



What an amazing experience. Gary Louris solo acoustic in the Minnesota friggin' Orchestra Hall. Beautiful acoustics. World Class ambience. Front row seats for the taking. And free. What a world...

This was all part of the "Day of Music" festival that takes place on this weekend every year at the MN Orchestra Hall. They feature live music for 24 hours straight, featuring everything from rock bands to solo jazz acts. Some of the music takes place out on their plaza, some in the lobby and a lucky few in the main auditorium.


Gary Louris
solo acoustic
"Day of Music" festival
Minnesota Orchestra Hall
Minneapolis, MN
9 July 2004

1. The Man Who Loved Life
2. Save It For a Rainy Day
3. Vagabond (?) [new song]
4. Boston Maid [new song]
5. See Him on the Street *
6. Tailspin
7. Mr. Wilson
8. Jesus Christ Superstar (?) [new song, written with his friend "Paco" from Spain]
9. Waiting For the Sun
10. Stumbling Through the Dark

* - last known performance = 10/28/95 (Mark Olson's last show with The Jayhawks)