From Victoria:
Well boys and girls, after an extended dry-spell, I have once again had the opportunity to see the guys. *huge sigh of relief* I won't be posting the setlist, since Christine and Steve (Hi!) went out of their way to actually write it down. I'd hate to steal their spotlight. Plus they would actually be accurate. ;) BUT, besides just getting the setlist, Christine will have for you the elusive title of the book being read during Sahara. Stay tuned for her next exciting episode!
Highlights of the show were many and varied, but as far as we're (as in those reading this group and Fruheads everywhere, not just those of us who went to the show) concerned, the list was most certainly topped by a certain item...
Bittersweet. Solo. Murray. Need I say more?
We were treated to the Eunuch Song (which I don't think will be getting much stage time *grin*), to solos from each of the bandmembers in lieu of an opening act (who had inadvisedly bailed on the guys), and to not one but TWO encores, much to the surprise of the band.
The crowd was rather sizable, and was (according to an impromptu poll from Jian) about half newbies. Unfortunately they didn't seem all that spirited until the end when cheering for more, and when they got it the energy seemed to drain away again. For instance, Megan and I were the only two at the front who stood up and swayed for 'The Drinking Song' during the first encore. The mere fact that we had to stand up ought to tell you something about the crowd.
Regardless of the seeming passivity of the audience however, they did give the guys a warm reception, which I think will bode well for Ann Arbor the next time a tour schedule is being planned.
One minor annoyance, though. They mentioned that they'd be doing a show in Lansing...as a jest. Teases! Sure, it's OK if _WE_ drive down to Ann Arbor two days in a row, but you can't possibly have _them_ drive up here for a change, can ya? Ppbbbbbtt! :P Of course, I don't think we have a venue worthy of Moxy, except perhaps the MSU Auditorium, and they'd have no chance in hell of filling that beast...yet. Give them another week.
So them's the facts. Hopefully Christine or Steve or someone will be along in the next day or so to fill in the details.
--V, who's already starting to count the days until Detroit and Toledo
From Kristina:
: posting the setlist, since Christine and Steve (Hi!) went out of their way
: to actually write it down. I'd hate to steal their spotlight. Plus they
: would actually be accurate. ;) BUT, besides just getting the setlist,
: Christine will have for you the elusive title of the book being read
: during Sahara. Stay tuned for her next exciting episode!
Well, here it is!
As Victoria mentioned, the opening act for the boys didn't show. At about 8:20, Dave comes out with his banjo and announces that he's opening for the opening act (well, he also announced that he was Tiger Woods, but that's another story) This kicked off something I've never seen at a Fruvous show - a solo song swap. Each of the boys came out, one at a time, and treated us to a song, mainly standards:
Dave - Younger than Spring (dedicated to Marcus)
Mike - Nice Work if you can Get it
Jian - Something stupid like I love you (playing guitar!)
Murray - Bittersweet (shortened version)
At this point, I'm beside myself that we weren't taping... please tell me that someone else was. Well, actually, the *band* was taping by all appearances - the audience was miked and they enunciated even more than usual. :)
After about 10 minutes and a clothing change, they came back out for the real show (Jian, at this point, tipped us off that it had in fact been them as the opening acts, in case the change of clothing had thrown us off).
: spirited until the end when cheering for more, and when they got it the
: energy seemed to drain away again. For instance, Megan and I were the
: only two at the front who stood up and swayed for 'The Drinking Song'
: during the first encore. The mere fact that we had to stand up ought to
: tell you something about the crowd.
Well, The Ark really isn't that kind of a place. It's a folk club. The area in front of the stage is set up with chairs surrounding tables - not at all easy to stand there. Give credit - there were a bunch of people dancing off to the side, including some teenage-looking girls who were propositioning Murray. He once again handled it gracefully. :) I have to admit that I'm more of a sit and drink in the performance kind of person - though I wouldn't say that I'm at all passive during shows.
A couple of other random notes - I have to mention that during the King of Spain intro, Jian threw in a couple of lines from an Ani Difranco song "In or Out" referring to Dave/King "He's got spots, he's got stripes too." I think that Stephen and I were the only ones to get it, and he seemed to appreciate that." :)
Oh, Mike mentioned that he had family in the audience.
Well, with Columbus tonight it will make 4 shows for me in less than a week. Colour me happy!
Oh, one more random note. Dave broke a banjo string during Michigan Militia!
Led to some fun banter (paraphrased)
Dave - "you know, when someone breaks a guitar string, he's cool...
but when someone breaks a banjo string..."
Jian - "...people think 'what an asshole'..."
Murray - "...'he doesn't know how to play that thing.'"
The broken string made for dropping Johnny Saucep'n from the set list - went right to Raja.
Okay, that's all. Did I mention that it was a *great* show?
K
Some other tidbits from the performance include:
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