John <jojones Subject: Eugene show comments and setlists
Did you ever have a friend that influences you to do things that you wouldn't do otherwise??
For me, that friend is Butch, a resident of Ogden, UT. He is here in Portland to visit me, and Portland, and to catch a couple of Robyn shows. Our first show was down in Eugene, OR at Wow Hall, about 2 hs south of Portland.
We got to Eugene at about 6pm, and immediately set out to find the venue so we would know how to get to it later. As we parked the car behind Wow Hall, we heard the familiar sound of Robyn's acoustic. Soundcheck! And the back door was open.
I normally would be too "chicken" to do something as brash as walk right into the hall and sit down. But Butch proceeded to do just that. So I went in, too. After a few minutes it was obvious that Robyn, his manager, and the employees of the venue knew we were there but didn't care. We just sat unobtrusively in the very back corner of the hall. I immediately ran out to the car, got my trusty recorder, ran back in, and began taping. I know we missed alot of the soundcheck, but here is what I got:
acoustic: The 3 songs with Tim are complete songs, the others are just Robyn singing a verse or two before moving on to the next.
We met Tim after the soundcheck, when he needed a blank tape to give to the soundman, and lo and behold I happened to have one.
The show:
There was only ONE cone. Robyn hadn't had time to draw more. Grant from the list got it. Maybe he will tell you what it looks like.
Tim went on at about 8:40pm:
Unfun Robyn came out about 9:30pm or so, dressed in that cool lizard-and-target shirt:
acoustic: I think the total time was under 90min.
The set was pretty normal, nothing unusually great, all stuff I'd seen and heard before, with the exception of the new songs (Sophia, Jade) which I thought were great, but not sure how I would like them solo. They worked great with Tim's harmonies and extra guitar parts.
Having Tim around during Robyn's set was the real treat of the show for me. His vocals and guitar work complement Robyn incredibly well, and gave new life to some of the songs.
The only interesting banter came from my friend Butch's request for "Arms of Love", to which Robyn replied that it was originally called "Arm of Love" which he thought was too dark, but now in retrospect he wishes he had left it like that. But anyway, the gist of it was that it was too twee for him, now.
Someone also requested "St. Petersburg", which evoked a facial contortion that looked like a grimace (the facial expression, not the mc donaldland character), and he replied that playing that song would be akin to ordering a nice sandwich with redicchio (??) cheese and endives, and getting a scoop of ice cream with meat gravy topping!!
After the show, Tim came out and talked to us for awhile. He was helpful in facilitating a not-your-usual-request-for-an-autograph favor from Robyn. A few months ago I had a CD of Mossy Liquor (and some other recent vinyl) pressed up for my own listening pleasure. With Tim interceding for me, Robyn labelled it!! Very nice. I had been wanting a Robyn-penned title on the CD itself for quite sometime. Robyn was very kind, saying "it's my pleasure" when I told him how grateful I was.
While signing, Robyn answered various questions from all of us who hung out after the gig. The new live album is not coming out till next year (Jan or Feb). My brash pal Butch and some others commented on the fact that the song "Dark Princess" actually sounds like "Duck Princess" and wondered if it had anything to do with the upside-down duck on the Moss Elixir album and T-shirt. Robyn replied that he and Tim have been making a conscious effort to enunciate their words, but at times its just not enough. He said he could never right a song called "Duck Princess": "Its a matter of taste, mate.", was the actual quote i think.
I snagged a setlist too (what a night!) only to realize after getting home that it was not penned by Robyn. I only grabbed it because I love Robyn's handwriting as much as some of his songs. I guess either Tim or Steve (Robyn's manager) wrote it.
By the way, it was Steve's birthday. Is he a new manager?? I had never seen him before. He seems like a very nice person as well.
Steve informed Paul (are you out there Paul) that the Viva Seatac gig (next Friday) is indeed at The Croc in Seattle. Robyn stated that they will begin work next week on the new studio album, but I think that info has been posted already.
Lost my donner of the wasps,
John Grant Burnell Subject: Re: Eugene show comments and setlists
I'm back online after several difficult days of moving. However, I did manage to make it to the Eugene, Oregon show. Luckily, John already did a great job reviewing the show since I was going on several days without sleep. I only have a few late additions:
John wrote:
> Our first show was down in Eugene, OR at Wow Hall, about 2 hs south of > There was only ONE cone. Robyn hadn't had time to draw more. Grant fromQuitefrankly, I'm not sure how to describe it. There's a bunch of "stuff" on it, and Robyn's blurred signature.
The show did seem quick, and left me wishing for Acid Bird and Clean Steve, which I've never heard live. I do agree that the new songs sounded great, especially Elizabeth Jade. IODOT was a treat; Robyn indulged in more lengthy and truly impressive guitar solos than I've ever seen before.
> Steve informed Paul (are you out there Paul) that the Viva Seatac gig (next I don't think Paul is currently on the list (I may be wrong). By the way, Paul is the singer of Airscape on the Glass Flesh CD and may be the only other Feg in good old Corvallis, Oregon.
Hope to see a bunch of you Friday at the Croc!!!
Grant
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