Right after Black Francis took the stage at the Riot Room before a packed-in, wet, sweaty, capacity crowd last night at the Riot Room, I had a sweatlodge vision. Lo, I looked above the auxiliary bar and saw a floating bench, and upon that bench, clad in towels wrapped around their waists, were seated D. Boon, Elvis and Johnny Cash. A cosmic vortex spun behind them. As Francis began playing, one by one, the figures -- their golden glowing bodies shimmering in the steam -- presented their fists, thumbs pointing upwards. Then, they started to do that see-no-evil-hear-no-evil monkey routine, but there was a loud transdimensional whoosh, and they went spiraling back into the vortex. I was the only one who saw this vision. But had the merry, touchy wino who was all-but hugging people lined up outside before the show (seriously, dude, bad touch!) -- had this wino been allowed in, he would've seen it, too.
Sweltering doesn't begin to describe the climate inside that club last night. I began sweating as soon as I got in and got near the stage around 9:20 p.m. Black Francis began playing, shortly after 10 -- by which time the people around me were really packed in and the fans above were actually shedding little appliance-tears of hopelessness -- and I didn't last five songs. I had to get out of there. So, I moved down the few steps to the bar and never really saw Black Francis again. Somehow, though, it was still a good show.
Francis, for his part, lapped up the heat. After his sixth number, the (appropriate) solo-Frank-Black song "I Burn Today," he happily announced that he loved the humidity, saying that it felt good to sing in it. Then he said he totally understood if the crowd thinned out -- he was prepared to go on for hours. And he nearly did.
Unless I failed to jot anything down in my pathetic, sodden notebook, he played 27 28 songs over nearly two hours. He set the mood of conviviality from the get-go, opening with Pixies classics "Cactus" and "Wave of Mutilation," which required no introduction, followed by the early Frank Black song "I Heard Ramona Sing," which did. Somewhere in those first few songs, he was handed a present wrapped in Sesame Street giftwrap. He gingerly opened it, explaining that he had just been pouring vodka in Sesame Street cups out on his (gargantuan) tour bus. It was a mix CD of some kind. He read the personal inscription to himself, set the CD down, and went on with the show.
The set was a grab bag of well-known Pixies songs, less well-known Frank Black songs, and little-known recent Frank/Francis stuff from albums like Bluefinger and Svn Fngrs. If there was a Grand Duchy song (his new band with his wife, Violet Clark, whose tour this show was an offshoot of), I missed it. I also missed his plentiful stage banter after retreating to the back, though I did catch a gem of a fact: he played the Hurricane with the Pixies back in the day opening for the Meat Puppets.
The crowd noise would've driven any other solo performer to madness, but not Francis. This was no singer-songwriter chin-stroker of a show; this was a get-drunk, barroom-ballad feast. Francis was there to play and have a good time and sweat out the previous night's booze and sing. And that's exactly what he did, and plenty of people stayed down front the whole time. Those people all have IVs stuck in their arms right now, but, eh, whaddayagonnado?
Seriously, though that show ended up being fun, I'm going to think twice before chancing a sold-out Riot Room show until they get the A/C fixed or it's December outside, whichever comes first. That was ridiculous.
Still: thumbs up!
Set List
Cactus
Wave of Mutilation
I Heard Ramona Sing
The Holiday Song
The Water
I Burn Today
Los Angeles
Mr. Grieves
Horrible Day
Bullet
I'll Be Blue
Two Reelers
Velouria
That Burnt Out Rock and Roll(?)
Angels Come to Comfort You
Tight Black Rubber
Crackity Jones
Monkey Gone to Heaven
Six Sixty Six (Larry Norman cover)
She Took All the Money
Where Is My Mind?
Nimrod's Son
Lolita
Sing for Joy
Robert Onion
All My Ghosts
Showing 1-14 of 14
I was up front and in front of one of the speakers the whole show. I sweated my ass off and my ears are still ringing but man, it was one of the best shows I've ever seen!
Great show indeed.
The Meat Puppets/Pixies show was at the Lonestar in Westport, not the Hurricane.
Although Frank Black did play the Hurricane on the 1996 "Cult Of Ray" tour. :)
Hey Harper,
Thanks for responding. You have diffused my ire with your well thought out counter-points. Since, of the two types of concert goers, I am the former. I didn't think to take your criticism as constructive.
Actally I did leave my email in that box that says email. I did noticed it didn't post. I'll post it here. thatguyKC@gmail.com(I can't wait to see what kind of interesting things show up in my inbox by doing so.)
Thanks for defending me, Sid Much Rock, but That Guy does have a point.
I didn't mean to be a bitch. I go to a lot of shows, and I expect varying levels of discomfort at just about all of them (Even at a big arena show, you might have to stand around for hours, plus the beer will be expensive waa waaa). The conditions of this show were so extreme that they became part of the overall experience, which, I made clear, I still ENJOYED.
But this raises a practical issue: I'm not saying the Riot Room is like this, but if a venue is not doing its part to give the community that supports it the best experience it can, then people are going to complain -- and they should. How will things get better, otherwise? Venue owners aren't going to spend money if they don't have to. Who would? Then again, many people will put up with just about anything to see their favorite bands. I don't know, man, I guess there are two types of regular concertgoers: Those who will take less than they deserve it and like it and those who will demand better.
Anyway, I don't mean to be hard on the Riot Room. I know those people are good people who work hard, and this was a great show for them and -- once again -- I ENJOYED IT. Just think: What if Black Francis had not been keen on hot climes? The show wouldn't have been nearly the same experience.
OK, I've rambled on enough. Now, if only That Guy would leave his name and contact information, perhaps I would send him to cover a show.
The Show was absolutly Awesome!!!! It was hot, but F*&^....I got to see Frank Black with 250 Other People at the Riot Room!!!! It's one of those shows that I will remember how awesome until the day I die!
Pshaw to "That Guy." The place was hot as hell and while I stood pressed against the stage from 9pm until after Midnight when Black Francis quit, the temps kept me from enjoying the show has much as I would have.
When a writer reviews a show, they're not just reviewing the band. Props to Jason Harper for telling it like it was.
Check out the website for video of Nimrod's Son and a show account that "That Guy" wont enjoy either.
Hey Harper,
You sound like big whiny cry-baby in this review. "I'm going to think twice before chancing a sold-out Riot Room show until they get the A/C fixed or it's December outside, whichever comes first. That was ridiculous."
Good, you should think twice. In fact maybe you should rethink your career path. Because that's what rock shows are about. They are hot, gritty, and smelly. There's cold beer in your hand and warm beer on the floor. It's loud and people will be touching you.
Yea was hell'a hot. So what! You wasted a review of one of the gods of rock n roll talking some shit about a sweat-lodge dream and how uncomfortable you were.
Listen next time you need to review a show but lack the constitution, let me know I'll cover for you.
That set list just gave me the vapors! Saw FB plenty of times solo, but it was during the beginning of the "& the Catholics" tenure, in which Mr. Thompson swore off ever being the yowling Black Francis I fell in love with at age 13.
Then he loosened up a little and added "Holiday Song" and "Nimrod's Son," and then there was that whole Pixies reunion which was a dream realized. But still, I would've been happy to sweat for a solo version of "Velouria" and "Mr. Grieves." Whoo boy!
Thanks, Micah. Let it be added!
Anon @ 10:37. Oh you did not. I was gonna upload my video of the same f----n' song! I may do it anyway.
Too bad the pixies won't be coming to KC to perform doolittle. http://pitchfork.com/news/3604...
Show was great. Touchy street wino guy was a bit scary. I was happy they let us in before the monsoons hit. I spend the first half of the show at the bar, where it was almost breathable, then sauntered into the sauna near the stage for the last 45 mins. Seems like every sold out event at the Hurricane/Riot Room becomes the same hotbox, but somehow the music always makes it worth it. I really like that club, and was proud that KC sold it out.
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