Hi everybody, and Reg, I really wasn't taking the kettle off the stove, I actually poured myself a nice glass of Hoegaarden (fabulous Belgian white ale).
Now to DB and the show. First, the setting. Fletcher's is located in Baltimore's Fells Point, off the harbor. Normally a place hustling with activity in it's bars and restaurants. However, this was Sunday night (the dreary, depressing time before Monday work, for a lot of us), and..there may have been an Orioles game on. Whatever the reason, attendance was "modest", and therefore, intimate. We all got to know each other by the evenings' end.
The first person I saw, was Dan out on the sidewalk in front, with his beautiful lady friend.
Very soon, after we went upstairs to the club, I saw an EXTREMELY thin man engaging in conversation at the bar (so thin, in fact, I think a light breeze could carry him away), who looked like, and was, in fact, the wonderful David Baerwald. We talked, at length, about the tour, music, guitars, recording systems etc...and he was very friendly, funny, and happy to meet some of the "message board" folks, as well as anyone else in the audience (I am embarassed to say, even though I predicted a full house in "hip" Baltimore, there may have been 20 or so of us there).
Now to the music.
Abra Moore opened. I liked her, though to my ears, nothing original. Great acoustic guitar, open and altered tunings, gnarly, tortured voice,and very wonderful backup band. She falls into the Alternative chick sound...okay that's all I'm gonna say.
Now, to DB and NFU. First, let me preface everything that follows, by the FACT that..Fletcher's sound system was marginal, despite the concerted efforts of David's road manager, minding the knobs...AND, as David told me later...UNSAFE...like if you kiss the mikes accidentally, the juice can go right through you,and give you a Hendrix-style "do" before you drop...Not only that, there was a VERY annoying hum (probably from the lights) that was picked up by the mikes and acoustic guitars, which, as it turned out, changed EVERYTHING for David's choice of guitars.
Just before the music kicked off, as the band was tuning, I saw David's fingers scurrying all over the fret board of an old Gibson (I think it's a 1940's F-5 or J-5...David correct me,please), laying this fabulous country and western or bluegrass riff, just to "limber" up...probably he'd been listening to too much Tony Rice (is there EVER enough???).
The set kicked of with : WILD WILD WEST. At this point the acoustic "problem" was not evident,and the version was fabulous. I love the way David punctuates all the vocal accents,often with great use of silence or gesture. Will Sexton sang harmony and played a ??Hofner Paul McCartney style bass guitar. Also, a VERY nice, friendly,unassuming guy. Talked with us pre-show.
Next, a silence, followed by the "Sha La La" of COMPASSION. I always love this tune, and the live version is very spirited.
David next said something about the way he likes to collect "corrupt Politicians" rather than baseball cards etc..and then went into SILVER or LEAD. Excellent as well. Took me by surprise at first, cause I'm not familiar with the tune.
WHY was next...(the acoustic guitar, buzz thing was beginning to raise it's ugly head at this point). I also had some trouble hearing Will's harmony vocal line.
NOthing's Gonna Bring me Down. The live version is soooo nice, you really don't miss the horns all that much. Maybe next tour...
CRASH...this tune gives me chills, and it still did. BUT , at this point David tossed in the towel, and, obviously fed up with the hum etc...did it on the Telecaster; yep...I know, can't imagine this NOT on an acoustic, but it sounded great! He has a very interesting Tele...with a whammy bar of sorts..mighta been a Bigsby...I'm not sure; guitar aficionados..ask David!
BOOMTOWN...Darwin Smith played the eerie lead line
perfectly...signature sound. VERY different from the original; wonderful. I was surprised they did this one.
BITTER TREE. Now how did this happen? David switched to an acoustic guitar; Collings, in fact (they are handmade,in Texas? Austin) and are absolutely "honkin'" in sound. I think it's an altered tuning (hello guitar fans, again), double drop D to my ears. More chills...Isn't that one of eeriest, disturbing pieces he has written?
AIDS and Armageddon; This was still very funky and rockin' like on the CD. David played the bluesy lead thing on the Telecaster.
WAITER...at first, I couldn't tell, 'till they were several bars into it. Bukka did the thing on the keys, and somehow it worked; of course none of the effects as on Triage, but..."still Crazy after all these years".
HELLBOUND TRAIN: Now, this sounded totally different, and the feel was definitely "jam"...The whole band just kicked ass, Bukka's accordion gave it a Cajun feel, and then David finished it off with some very impressive blues licks on the Telecaster.
Encore was HEROES (requested by a "new" friend Jason, who lives in York,PA, and visits this site on occasion).
My overall impression: Wonderful. I think it would have been better of course, with the sound system problems resolved, and a full house, but I was thrilled to be there, and honored to meet and talk with fellow fans and David.
Brings to mind a song I remember from the late 60's (and if anyone out there can remember the artists, please let me know; boy and girl duo, like Delaney and Bonnie): It was titled "Dance Hall Girls", and the refrain was.."is that the way it always is here in Baltimore?" Afraid so, guys, but next time, after the CD is OUT, I promise...full house...and, no electrical problems!
P.S. Of all the musicians I listen to, I have always dreamt of meeting two, especially, and I met them, finally both in Baltimore..so it must mean something. One was Cecil Taylor (an evening I will always cherish), and the other, David Baerwald...so there!
You will have to ask Dan about the Iota gig.
Love and Peace to all,
Gene
P.S.S. I know I didn't mention the drummer, JJ Johnson, but he was very tasteful, and creative. The whole band worked very well together.
Summarized Set List:
1. Wild Wild West.
2. Compassion.
3. Silver or Lead.
4. Why.
5. Nothings Gonna Bring me Down.
6. The Crash.
7. Boomtown.
8. Bitter Tree.
9. AIDS and Armageddon.
10. The Waiter.
11. Hellbound Train.
Encore:
12. Heroes. (Total set time, I think around 75 minutes).
DB and NFU at Fletcher's , 6/9/02, in beautiful Baltimore,MD,USA
Eugene
location: Maryland
listening to: Alexander Scriabin-The Solo Piano Works, Maria Lettberg
registered: 1999.08.12
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Hi everybody, and Reg, I really wasn't taking the kettle off the stove, I actually poured myself a nice glass of Hoegaarden (fabulous Belgian white ale).
Now to DB and the show. First, the setting. Fletcher's is located in Baltimore's Fells Point, off the harbor. Normally a place hustling with activity in it's bars and restaurants. However, this was Sunday night (the dreary, depressing time before Monday work, for a lot of us), and..there may have been an Orioles game on. Whatever the reason, attendance was "modest", and therefore, intimate. We all got to know each other by the evenings' end.
The first person I saw, was Dan out on the sidewalk in front, with his beautiful lady friend.
Very soon, after we went upstairs to the club, I saw an EXTREMELY thin man engaging in conversation at the bar (so thin, in fact, I think a light breeze could carry him away), who looked like, and was, in fact, the wonderful David Baerwald. We talked, at length, about the tour, music, guitars, recording systems etc...and he was very friendly, funny, and happy to meet some of the "message board" folks, as well as anyone else in the audience (I am embarassed to say, even though I predicted a full house in "hip" Baltimore, there may have been 20 or so of us there).
Now to the music.
Abra Moore opened. I liked her, though to my ears, nothing original. Great acoustic guitar, open and altered tunings, gnarly, tortured voice,and very wonderful backup band. She falls into the Alternative chick sound...okay that's all I'm gonna say.
Now, to DB and NFU. First, let me preface everything that follows, by the FACT that..Fletcher's sound system was marginal, despite the concerted efforts of David's road manager, minding the knobs...AND, as David told me later...UNSAFE...like if you kiss the mikes accidentally, the juice can go right through you,and give you a Hendrix-style "do" before you drop...Not only that, there was a VERY annoying hum (probably from the lights) that was picked up by the mikes and acoustic guitars, which, as it turned out, changed EVERYTHING for David's choice of guitars.
Just before the music kicked off, as the band was tuning, I saw David's fingers scurrying all over the fret board of an old Gibson (I think it's a 1940's F-5 or J-5...David correct me,please), laying this fabulous country and western or bluegrass riff, just to "limber" up...probably he'd been listening to too much Tony Rice (is there EVER enough???).
The set kicked of with : WILD WILD WEST. At this point the acoustic "problem" was not evident,and the version was fabulous. I love the way David punctuates all the vocal accents,often with great use of silence or gesture. Will Sexton sang harmony and played a ??Hofner Paul McCartney style bass guitar. Also, a VERY nice, friendly,unassuming guy. Talked with us pre-show.
Next, a silence, followed by the "Sha La La" of COMPASSION. I always love this tune, and the live version is very spirited.
David next said something about the way he likes to collect "corrupt Politicians" rather than baseball cards etc..and then went into SILVER or LEAD. Excellent as well. Took me by surprise at first, cause I'm not familiar with the tune.
WHY was next...(the acoustic guitar, buzz thing was beginning to raise it's ugly head at this point). I also had some trouble hearing Will's harmony vocal line.
NOthing's Gonna Bring me Down. The live version is soooo nice, you really don't miss the horns all that much. Maybe next tour...
CRASH...this tune gives me chills, and it still did. BUT , at this point David tossed in the towel, and, obviously fed up with the hum etc...did it on the Telecaster; yep...I know, can't imagine this NOT on an acoustic, but it sounded great! He has a very interesting Tele...with a whammy bar of sorts..mighta been a Bigsby...I'm not sure; guitar aficionados..ask David!
BOOMTOWN...Darwin Smith played the eerie lead line
perfectly...signature sound. VERY different from the original; wonderful. I was surprised they did this one.
BITTER TREE. Now how did this happen? David switched to an acoustic guitar; Collings, in fact (they are handmade,in Texas? Austin) and are absolutely "honkin'" in sound. I think it's an altered tuning (hello guitar fans, again), double drop D to my ears. More chills...Isn't that one of eeriest, disturbing pieces he has written?
AIDS and Armageddon; This was still very funky and rockin' like on the CD. David played the bluesy lead thing on the Telecaster.
WAITER...at first, I couldn't tell, 'till they were several bars into it. Bukka did the thing on the keys, and somehow it worked; of course none of the effects as on Triage, but..."still Crazy after all these years".
HELLBOUND TRAIN: Now, this sounded totally different, and the feel was definitely "jam"...The whole band just kicked ass, Bukka's accordion gave it a Cajun feel, and then David finished it off with some very impressive blues licks on the Telecaster.
Encore was HEROES (requested by a "new" friend Jason, who lives in York,PA, and visits this site on occasion).
My overall impression: Wonderful. I think it would have been better of course, with the sound system problems resolved, and a full house, but I was thrilled to be there, and honored to meet and talk with fellow fans and David.
Brings to mind a song I remember from the late 60's (and if anyone out there can remember the artists, please let me know; boy and girl duo, like Delaney and Bonnie): It was titled "Dance Hall Girls", and the refrain was.."is that the way it always is here in Baltimore?" Afraid so, guys, but next time, after the CD is OUT, I promise...full house...and, no electrical problems!
P.S. Of all the musicians I listen to, I have always dreamt of meeting two, especially, and I met them, finally both in Baltimore..so it must mean something. One was Cecil Taylor (an evening I will always cherish), and the other, David Baerwald...so there!
You will have to ask Dan about the Iota gig.
Love and Peace to all,
Gene
P.S.S. I know I didn't mention the drummer, JJ Johnson, but he was very tasteful, and creative. The whole band worked very well together.
Summarized Set List:
1. Wild Wild West.
2. Compassion.
3. Silver or Lead.
4. Why.
5. Nothings Gonna Bring me Down.
6. The Crash.
7. Boomtown.
8. Bitter Tree.
9. AIDS and Armageddon.
10. The Waiter.
11. Hellbound Train.
Encore:
12. Heroes. (Total set time, I think around 75 minutes).
Now to DB and the show. First, the setting. Fletcher's is located in Baltimore's Fells Point, off the harbor. Normally a place hustling with activity in it's bars and restaurants. However, this was Sunday night (the dreary, depressing time before Monday work, for a lot of us), and..there may have been an Orioles game on. Whatever the reason, attendance was "modest", and therefore, intimate. We all got to know each other by the evenings' end.
The first person I saw, was Dan out on the sidewalk in front, with his beautiful lady friend.
Very soon, after we went upstairs to the club, I saw an EXTREMELY thin man engaging in conversation at the bar (so thin, in fact, I think a light breeze could carry him away), who looked like, and was, in fact, the wonderful David Baerwald. We talked, at length, about the tour, music, guitars, recording systems etc...and he was very friendly, funny, and happy to meet some of the "message board" folks, as well as anyone else in the audience (I am embarassed to say, even though I predicted a full house in "hip" Baltimore, there may have been 20 or so of us there).
Now to the music.
Abra Moore opened. I liked her, though to my ears, nothing original. Great acoustic guitar, open and altered tunings, gnarly, tortured voice,and very wonderful backup band. She falls into the Alternative chick sound...okay that's all I'm gonna say.
Now, to DB and NFU. First, let me preface everything that follows, by the FACT that..Fletcher's sound system was marginal, despite the concerted efforts of David's road manager, minding the knobs...AND, as David told me later...UNSAFE...like if you kiss the mikes accidentally, the juice can go right through you,and give you a Hendrix-style "do" before you drop...Not only that, there was a VERY annoying hum (probably from the lights) that was picked up by the mikes and acoustic guitars, which, as it turned out, changed EVERYTHING for David's choice of guitars.
Just before the music kicked off, as the band was tuning, I saw David's fingers scurrying all over the fret board of an old Gibson (I think it's a 1940's F-5 or J-5...David correct me,please), laying this fabulous country and western or bluegrass riff, just to "limber" up...probably he'd been listening to too much Tony Rice (is there EVER enough???).
The set kicked of with : WILD WILD WEST. At this point the acoustic "problem" was not evident,and the version was fabulous. I love the way David punctuates all the vocal accents,often with great use of silence or gesture. Will Sexton sang harmony and played a ??Hofner Paul McCartney style bass guitar. Also, a VERY nice, friendly,unassuming guy. Talked with us pre-show.
Next, a silence, followed by the "Sha La La" of COMPASSION. I always love this tune, and the live version is very spirited.
David next said something about the way he likes to collect "corrupt Politicians" rather than baseball cards etc..and then went into SILVER or LEAD. Excellent as well. Took me by surprise at first, cause I'm not familiar with the tune.
WHY was next...(the acoustic guitar, buzz thing was beginning to raise it's ugly head at this point). I also had some trouble hearing Will's harmony vocal line.
NOthing's Gonna Bring me Down. The live version is soooo nice, you really don't miss the horns all that much. Maybe next tour...
CRASH...this tune gives me chills, and it still did. BUT , at this point David tossed in the towel, and, obviously fed up with the hum etc...did it on the Telecaster; yep...I know, can't imagine this NOT on an acoustic, but it sounded great! He has a very interesting Tele...with a whammy bar of sorts..mighta been a Bigsby...I'm not sure; guitar aficionados..ask David!
BOOMTOWN...Darwin Smith played the eerie lead line
perfectly...signature sound. VERY different from the original; wonderful. I was surprised they did this one.
BITTER TREE. Now how did this happen? David switched to an acoustic guitar; Collings, in fact (they are handmade,in Texas? Austin) and are absolutely "honkin'" in sound. I think it's an altered tuning (hello guitar fans, again), double drop D to my ears. More chills...Isn't that one of eeriest, disturbing pieces he has written?
AIDS and Armageddon; This was still very funky and rockin' like on the CD. David played the bluesy lead thing on the Telecaster.
WAITER...at first, I couldn't tell, 'till they were several bars into it. Bukka did the thing on the keys, and somehow it worked; of course none of the effects as on Triage, but..."still Crazy after all these years".
HELLBOUND TRAIN: Now, this sounded totally different, and the feel was definitely "jam"...The whole band just kicked ass, Bukka's accordion gave it a Cajun feel, and then David finished it off with some very impressive blues licks on the Telecaster.
Encore was HEROES (requested by a "new" friend Jason, who lives in York,PA, and visits this site on occasion).
My overall impression: Wonderful. I think it would have been better of course, with the sound system problems resolved, and a full house, but I was thrilled to be there, and honored to meet and talk with fellow fans and David.
Brings to mind a song I remember from the late 60's (and if anyone out there can remember the artists, please let me know; boy and girl duo, like Delaney and Bonnie): It was titled "Dance Hall Girls", and the refrain was.."is that the way it always is here in Baltimore?" Afraid so, guys, but next time, after the CD is OUT, I promise...full house...and, no electrical problems!
P.S. Of all the musicians I listen to, I have always dreamt of meeting two, especially, and I met them, finally both in Baltimore..so it must mean something. One was Cecil Taylor (an evening I will always cherish), and the other, David Baerwald...so there!
You will have to ask Dan about the Iota gig.
Love and Peace to all,
Gene
P.S.S. I know I didn't mention the drummer, JJ Johnson, but he was very tasteful, and creative. The whole band worked very well together.
Summarized Set List:
1. Wild Wild West.
2. Compassion.
3. Silver or Lead.
4. Why.
5. Nothings Gonna Bring me Down.
6. The Crash.
7. Boomtown.
8. Bitter Tree.
9. AIDS and Armageddon.
10. The Waiter.
11. Hellbound Train.
Encore:
12. Heroes. (Total set time, I think around 75 minutes).
