Philzone.org Discussion Board: Archive 2004: Non-PF/Dead Show Reviews Archive 2004: Rail Road Earth West Coast Run Nov. 4th -8th

Nov. 4th

Newcastle was pretty good last night. The venue was very intiment with a capacity limit of 98. It felt good getting out of the city and into the hills where the cool fall winds had taken over.

Pete Grant on pedal steel was phenomenal. He was just have an amazing time laughing it up and had no problems keepin up on songs that were not his own. Really amazing stuff.

I talked to Todd a bit during set break and of course dove directly into politics. He got quite a kick out of the whole Bill O'Reilly sexual harassment case. I asked him to play a Warhead Boogie in the presidents honor and he did not dissapoint. This was without a doubt the highlight of the show. Get this show if only for the warhead boogie. Extremely spacey and improvisational at the end.

I expect tonight at the independent will be hot as song selection was only 'good' last night.

As always it was great to hang out with fellow zoners...Ken, Voodoo child, Wizard and Zangmeister!!

Support the small clubs!!!

right on ZANG!

Yay! Can't wait for tonight!

Sometime you gotta ask me about Todd's Bill oReilly farting comments...really off the wall. He must've been drunk.

Ditto- Had a great time and it was nice meeting Zang & Wizard----fellow zoners! Man that dance floor moved on its own....trippy

Nice, Zan and Wazzup! I'm looking forward to meeting the new faces tonight and seeing MANY familiar ones! Zan, any word if tonight is 1 or 2 sets? I gotta make sure the rocket blasts at the correct moments...

(Yuck - that sounds gross).

Zan, I got that bass last night.

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO looking forward to this weekend!

Don't know about sets...I thought last night would be one for sure and then next thing ya know they announced they were taking a set break.

"I gotta make sure the rocket blasts at the correct moments... "

on this coast we refer to that as a scud launch....old gulf war reference.

launch the scud!...lol

Well Nancy busted my attempt to keep these show reviews in one place but I'll try to keep it going.

San Francisco- The independent.

in one word:

absurd.


In more words...

Wow what a night. A totally different feel from the night before. The place was packed as far as I was concerned.

The rowans started off the night with a good set. Nothing mind blowing. Lots of sit ins from members of RRE. It's always nice to see some local boys on stage enjoying themselves. The highlight of their set had to be the Mind Left Body Jam. I had never heard it before live and it was definitely a treat.

The previous two RRE shows at the independent were hardly as full as this one and the boys fed off of the energy level from the crowd. Whereas the Newcastle show was intiment and just an overall good vibe, the independent show was your typical san francisco night. A lot of new faces had filled the joint as the word had definitely spread.

The first set was solid. I knew as soon as seven mountain story was placed into the second position that we were in for a doozy of a night. The light show fed our minds with an array of trippy images. I imagined this is what it was like to see an upcoming band in san francisco in the the late 60's...well not quite but the crazy vids and the good music sure did help. The first set was a smoker.

Set 1:
Long Way To Go
7 Story Mountain
Came Up Smilin'
Chains
Elko
Mourning Flies
Bird In The House
Drag Him Down


The second set was more of same. And just like the first set the #2 spot proved to be monstrous with a damaging 'head'. Songs like that help me convince people this band is for real. Mindblowing! My friend turned to me and said did they peak too soon? and I replied...we'll have to wait and see. But there was plenty more to come and thankfully as the night continued the fools left leaving more space for dancing.

A nervous moment happened when Todd calls the Rowans up to the stage. I like the Rowans but they have a certain amount of cheese (see bobby) that can really turn a show. Sometimes its good and sometimes its bad. At this moment, I had to question bringing them onto the stage as the energy was off the hook. As the saying goes, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. But to my surprise they busted into a lovely extended Stir it up. Can you say: "Jumanji!!!!" And as if that wasn't enough they followed it with a ripping I am a Mess.


Set 2:

Storms
Head
Old Man In The Land
Magic Foot
Hunting Song
Walk On By
Dandelion Wine
Stir It Up (w/ the Rowan Bro's)
I Am A Mess

e:
Little Rabbit


I have to say everyone left happy. I extended invites to numerous people...some who came and some who didn't. The people who did show up couldn't thank me enough. It was a tremendous night and I can't wait for tonight. Should be another smoker as the hippies we'll be out in full force in Santa Cruz.

Thanks to everyone...

Canyon for the Disks!!!!
Nancy for the tape! (and the green balls)
Doogs, Emily and MikeyV for the good times..


The band has spoken!

Thanks for the RRE stuff people..

Tonight in Santa Cruz should be a another good one...

>>Well Nancy busted my attempt to keep these show reviews in one place but I'll try to keep it going.

didn't notice this thread this morning when I started the other one, sorry Zang. Great review of the SF show, I concur . you lucky dog you, going back for more tonight, maybe they'll even play desolation row for you. :>

-posted in Nancy's thread-

Good times had by all! *What* a show. Great, great times...

Emily, I'm two down. Thanks for keeping my glass full.

Canyon, you snuck out, huh?

Zan -- I get it.

Nancy, keep smilin'.

Pierce, peace.

I'll see RRE on the flip side, fo shizzle.

Santa Cruz.

Third night of my mini tour and the third night with a completely different feel. If SF was rock and roll, then santa cruz was much more jammy and spacey. They really can differentiate their shows which I feel is an added bonus.

A very small crowd showed up but I would almost argue it was the worst of the three shows thus far. Very pushy and shovey which makes no sense when there is plenty of room.

The setlist on earthboard is as follows:

Give That Boy A Hand
Colorado
(I'm not sure, maybe Jerusalem ridge?)
Mighty River
White Freightliner
Lordy Lordy
Birds Of Ameica
Wayfaring Stranger
Where Songs Begin
Any Road
Buddah
Cold H2o

E: Peace


I thought there were way more songs played but it was all a daze.

Wizard had a better time at this show than the San Francisco show and I had the opposite vibe so its really a toss up. Everyone has there own preferences. All of it was played well...especially the second song, birds of America, and Buddha.

At this point I am warn out...one more show tonight and then recovery!!!

...Santa Cruz

is

Santa Cruz

is

Santa Cruz...

Reporting for the Philzone network..Eyewittness News..on the road in California w/ RRE...Pzone Zang ..

Thanks man..

This could be a Zonnie nominated 4 show 4 dif venue review performance..Ha..

damn zang.

well i want to say first it sure is nice seeing folks keeping with the format of this website and putting show reviews were they belong. There are allot of railroad reviews in the non-phil and friends section of this website. I wrote some of them...and its nice to throw on a CD from a past show, mini tour and dig the review out of the archive. Its even nicer to read along as this band i love grows. So thanks to you and everyone else for the read!

GOOD STUFF.

November...ahhh hell what day is it???

Slouch Hat Combo private party, Conn. Yankee.

Boy do I have some stories about this one. The boys could hardly fit onto the stage it was so small. We got there nice and early and set up camp and perhaps got the only recording of the night. Cross your fingers it all turns out fine.

I'm only going to comment on one song for now and maybe come back later. Here is the story:

At the Newcastle show I chatted up Todd and, knowing full well he knew the song desolation row from his solo shows, asked him if he would play it. He commented that I would have to write out the lyrics and anyone who knows desolation row knows that's a task for a good memory minded person (not me). But I persisted and Friday morning before the San Francisco show I typed up the lyrics and talked to Joel, their merch guy, and asked him to deliver the lyrics. (I figured I had harrassed Todd enough).

Well the Friday show goes by and let me just say there was no place for that song in the setlist as that night was a rocker...but I still was a little dismayed. Saturday goes by and I thought for sure my lyrics had been tossed in the garbage but Joel confirmed Todd had recieved them.

And then comes last night. Middle of a long second set and black bear finishes up. I turn to some of the local RRE Posse (Doogs, mikey V, wizard) and tell them that if they played desolation row at this point I would pass out. It was late, I was sick, and desolation row doesn't seem to fit behind a slow song like black bear. Right?

Next thing ya know the Red sox win the world series...Todd steps up to the mic and announces they will play a song they have never done before. And the tuning was soooo familiar my heart just raced. And sure enough, the first desolation row was played.

And you think, so what?

Can I tell you they tore up this song! Middle of the song Andy whips out the two saxaphones and just rips it apart. Turns out desolation row can be quite a rocker and its a must for everyone. Brilliant.

Other highlights for me:

my first bowling green (hey I'm from KY!!!)

the wheel-they busted it out at the same time they asked people to move their cars for street cleaning. All of a sudden the place was half full. The band took their time playing a smooth wheel. No rushing here...melodic jams.

Butterfly and the tree...always a fav.

Ballad of the Happy Brigade was sung by the papa of the happy brigade. A little cheesy but it added to the festive mood. I believe it was a couple of peoples Birthdays. Noise makers, and confetti were strewn everywhere.

I'd say there were 80 people there, including Michael Everett who made some killer posters. (I believe he only made 150 of them) He took time to sign for everyone.

The whole show smoked. I'll compare shows later...I'm still flipping out.

Connectict Yankee 11/7/04
>
> New Lee Highway Blues
> Fiddlee
> Old Man & The Land
> Real Love
> Bread & H2o
> Elko
> Mountain Time
> Bowling Green
>
> Set:2
>
> Balad Of The Happy Brigade
> El Ron (you were missed)
> Sing For Me
> 7 Story Mountain
> The Wheel
> Black Bear
> Desolation Row
> Lois Ann
> Long Way To Go
>
> E:
> Fisherman's Blues(?)
> Butterfly & The Tree

Awsome Zan

whoohooo on the reviews Zan. I'd agree with the comments from Newcastle... only show I've seen on this run [so far, Tahoe tonight] and my 3rd time seeing them @ Constable Jack's, a bit of a tradition for me now. the Warhead Boogie in the 2nd set was absolutely raging, Todd took it to some crazy places when he started doing some feedback off his amp, sounding like an airraid siren at first and then just really dissolving into a dissonant feedback jam. I was standing right in front of Andy filming, and started putting the camera closer to Todd's amp which started creating additional feedback, crazy! [similar to that sequence in the GD movie with Phil and the camera guy during soundcheck] Todd's got some real tricks in his gearbag to get his acoustic guitar to sound so electric at times. Tim was dancin a lot on stage, really gettin into it w/ Pete on the pedal steel.

lovin how good last night was @ The Yankee, glad you guys made it down. we'll keep the vibe going for one more night up here in Tahoe.... the tribes are ready to go off up here for this one!

on the wind, KK

Wow!! So I'm guessing you didn't pass out?

Man, can't believe I slept through this one!

RRE in Tahoe..cool..

Well it's show comparison time:

I'd like to say that as negative as I am about music (ask doogs, wizard, or Nancy), all four of these shows were solid in their own right. Take that biatches!

The one show that I did not fully enjoy (Santa Cruz) was loved by people that attended the show with me. Just goes to show, you don't ever know. I think it really had to do with my mood that night. I really can't wait to get the tapes cause it was such an exploratory night.

The show at the independent really had the x factor going for me. I felt like the band was driving on all six cylanders. The energy of the crowd was not comparable to any of the other shows. Perhaps because it was the most packed of all the nights....perhaps it was because phil was there. Lets just say they made quite an impression on everyone.

The newcastle show was tremendous if not for the single fact that Pete Grant can tear up the pedal steel. And also perhaps because the warhead boogie was earth shattering. I hope tapes of these pop up but I am somewhat doubtful. It's nice to be in a cozy bar with your favorite peeps. And drinks were dirt cheap as well!!!

And last night was just a special night. So many random songs and only the close-knit family around. Ya can't ask for anything more.

Before this tour I had many doubts. The main one being how many songs would I see repeated since they have such a small repertoire. But that was not the case. For most part they mixed it up quite well with only a few repeats.

My second concern was wether or not they could entertain me for a series of shows. The two shows I saw this summer we're good but not great. The four shows I just saw were superb. Each were so different from one another that you can't really compare shows. Who knew that the band could produce so many different sounds for long stretches and different feelings and moods for entire shows.

I still look forward to their next album as it will add a whole other dimension. Get in while the gettin's good.

Personal preference:
1. Independent
2. Ct Yankee
3. Newcastle
4. Santa Cruz

Wizard said he liked them this way:

1. Ct Yankee
2. Santa Cruz
3. Independent
4. Newcastle

Everyone is different!!!

>>A very small crowd showed up -

Zang, you thought that was a small crowd in Santa Cruz?? I thought that was about 350 to 400 people? At least that's how it looked to me from the balcony.

I didn't get to Newcastle or the Yankee, (unfortunately!) but I personally like The Independent much better than Santa Cruz. I'm sure part of it was boogying next to Phil up there, but I think the energy was higher. Santa Cruz was more moody through most of the show.

I'm still recovering though.

>>I thought that was about 350 to 400 people?

I was thinking 300. But maybe you are right...it still wasn't very many. It was alot smaller than the independent. Everyone was pushed up front and I had to move back about half way where there was nobody.

Yeah Zang, I was pretty beat from too much partying and lack of sleep from the SF show.

Sorry we didn't get to meet. Hopefully next time.

Nice reviews zan...

Thanks...I try

http://molecularmusic.org/gallery/SlouchHatCombo%2CCtYankee%2C11704

Pics of the slouch hat combo from Sue Weiland. There are also pics from the last two shows at the independent

the Tahoe show was a sweet ending to it all. about 150 folks there, a GREAT monday night Tahoe crowd, about 1/2 girls too and my oh my was the Tahoe Girl Posse going off in style, wow! excellent show, solid first set, highlights being Elko, Bird in a House, 7 Story Mtn and Dandelion Wine. a big long "rage in the casino" setbreak. 2nd set was real nice too... Warhead Boogie being the peak of the set. [but what Zan says about Warhead Boogie from Newcastle is correct...it's SICK what happens during it..) excellent encore with the Any Road really summing up the entire experience "if you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there"

this run really blew things wide open for RRE. talk on the Earthboard this week is that the band is going to get a lot more popular and larger venues will be in store for their future. go out and see them now on this tour if you have a chance 'cause it's all being recorded for a future live release and the band is ON IT right now...

interesting side note too..... there was a really nice RRE & SCI jam that took place backstage at the Sunshine Daydream/ Jerry's B-Day Bash Festival in August. Todd flew out to CO on tuesday to hang out for a few days before the CO shows [tonight>sat] for some reason....

groove on folks, KK

was he wearing a dress in a redneck bar when you picked him up?

>>Todd flew out to CO on tuesday to hang out for a few days before the CO shows [tonight>sat] for some reason.... :-)

Todd flew out to Colorado?? To hang with the SCI boys?? Does this mean you CO folks are in for some RRE/SCI the next 3 days????
Damn, I wish I was planning to be there!!!

Slouch hat combo is up on the archive!!