Shamrockium, Lepreconium and Lucky Shannanigans

January 31, 2009 we got up early to head to NYC for a double feature TMBG day. Family show in the afternoon, rock show at night, both at LPR. We had a ridiculous series of travel problems getting there, first getting separated on the train, then accidently getting on an express train and overshooting our stop. Then there was construction coming back the other way so we had to overshoot again and turn around before we finally got to the right place. By the time we got there the doors had been open for 45 minutes and I was sure we were going to be stuck in the back and not be able to see. But inside LPR all of the parents and kids had chosen to sit on the floor. So even though we stood at the back we had a perfect view to the stage (the place just isn't that big). As my boyfriend said, even if someone got up to dance it didn't matter because they were very short! We were standing right in front of the VIP area so got to see numerous family members of the band. It seemed like everyone had brought their kids. It was also funny watching how many people accidently walked back stage thinking it was the bathroom. And it was just funny in general seeing kids in a night club. But the staff were so into the whole family show concept. They had a stroller check and there were milk and cookies being served at the bar. It was adorable.


Setlist:





Alphabet of Nations had one of the best Guatemala's yet.


Pirate Girls Nine featured Dan Levine on Euphonium, "the small competitive friend of the tuba, enemy of the trombone."


All the horns came out for Seven. Curt Ramm was not with them at this show. Instead they had a trumpet player named Scott Harrell. He was good but was not Curt. Curt, it seems, was playing with Springsteen at the Superbowl. I guess he can be forgiven for missing a TMBG show for that. Flans amusingly forgot Scott's last name at one point. He was introducing the horns again and said "once again, Stan "The Optimist" Harrison on the sax, Scott.....on the trumpet, and Dan "The Machine" Levine of the trombone.


I Never Go to Work was introduced as the musician's anthem because they never go to work.


Marty came out to do Alphabet Lost and Found and did the obligatory crazy, escaped drummer dancing. I never, ever get tired of watching him dance or fall down on the floor. He even moved too fast for my camera.





Clap Your Hands had definitely dropped the screaming by this show and replaced it with more clapping.


Hannah Levine was there to sing One Dozen Monkeys. Flans' version is amusing but it was nice to hear the real thing and she was great. She had some trouble getting the mic to be short enough for her which was cute.


Flans had to introduce Four of Two because Linnell declared himself the band liar.


I love Where Do They Make Balloons? Actually, I love everything that Danny does.


Broom was amusing as always and was talking about his next gig that he had booked.


They decided to sing WDTSS? in pirate voices which lasted most of the way through until it got to the nuclear reactions and Flans told Linnell to do them. By then he had morphed into an Irish accent and declared that "the heat and light of the sun are caused by nuclear reactions between Shamrockium, Lepreconium and Lucky Shannanigans." Brilliant!!


813 Mile Car Trip was mislabeled as 814 on the setlist which was very easy to get after the show because the kids didn't care.


There was more discussion of their Grammy nomination and they said if they won they would be free to make inferior music. Looking back on it, it was sad because from the way he was talking about it, Flans seemed so excited about going to the ceremony and then he didn't end up being able to go. Life's timing is just crappy sometimes.





We went to get some pizza before the next show, then stood in line in very cold weather for about an hour and a half until the doors re-opened. The best part about already being there for the early show is that we got really close to the front of the line and actually got a spot stage-side for the one and only time in the eight shows we saw at LPR. We were standing right at Dan Miller's feet. I was actually leaning on the foot of his mic stand before the show started. And I accidently discovered that our camera, which we had had for several years has a zoom feature that we never knew about. So I was able to get some pretty decent photos.


Remember the story from the last show about the picture of the people playing guitar and the guy on the end with the kazoo? Well randomly, as we were waiting for the show to start, the person standing next to me handed me two copies of that picture signed by the Johns (the signatures had been reproduced too but still cool) and told me to take one and pass it down (I gave the other to my boyfriend). They didn't seem to know where they had come from any more than I did (though I later found out that another fan had bought it on eBay, had the Johns sign it and made copies for everyone). It was really cool.


Spray Paint Star opened again. Their act was identical except that this time there was a security guard trying to get the "drunk" guy off the stage (not sure if that was planned or if the guard hadn't been let in on the joke). At least at this show they announced that they were playing their last song so people weren't as confused when the guy dropped dead on the stage.








The theme for this show was once again Every Album and though that did not include any Mono Puff or State Songs this time around it was one of the most incredible sets I have seen. There were so many songs I hadn't heard live before. And from where we were standing we could see Dan's setlist so we knew if was going to be awesome before they even started playing.


Sleepwalkers - Ana Ng - We Live in a Dump - Wicked Little Critta - See the Constellation - Apartment Four - Take Out the Trash - Snail Shell - New York City - Asbury Park - Cowtown - Dig My Grave - Particle Man - Bee of the Bird - Meet James Ensor - Puppet Head - Older - E Eats Everything - Don't Let's Start - James K. Polk - Lucky Ball and Chain - The End of the Tour - Pet Name - Mesopotamians - Maybe I Know - Famous Polka - Twisting - Museum of Idiots - Clap Your Hands - Istanbul


The show was plagued by technical problems. Lala was running the board at the front and was really having trouble (oddly, I have never seen him again after this show - I hope those two things aren't related). They couldn't seem to get all the mics and instruments adjusted right. Linnell's mic was completely drowned out during Ana Ng and he kept gesturing for it to be turned up but Lala kept misunderstanding and playing with the keyboard instead until the song was over and Linnell stood there pointing emphatically at his mic. Danny seemed to be taking point on getting things fixed and he spend so much of the beginning of the show gesturing to the techs on the opposite side of the stage to fix various things, they should have just moved him over. It must have been very frustrating for the band but, I am sorry to say, it was kind of funny to watch. They did more or less get everything working by the end.


Pictures do not necessarily accompany the discussed songs (though some do). I just picked the best ones.





I don't remember a single word of banter from this one, only the music. I was stoked to see Cowtown, having missed it the last time they played it at LPR.





I had never heard Puppet Head live before. Now if they will just play Purple Toupee at a show I will have seen all of what I consider to be the BIG hits live.





I had heard that they had played End of the Tour and Museum of Idiots at the show previous to this one which I wasn't able to go to and I was really hoping they would play them again since they are two of my favorites. I was all but jumping out of my shoes when I saw them on Dan's list. Museum of Idiots in particular I really identify with. It was one of the first TMBG songs I really loved.





Pet Name, as I have learned is traditional, was played in total darkness.


While Dan was tuning his acoustic guitar before Istanbul, Flans sang a little song about it which he had to change halfway through when Dan had to switch to electric because there was something wrong with the acoustic. I could not believe how fast Dan's hand was moving during the solo. You can really get an idea of it from the picture.





Really excellent show despite the technical problems. Tomorrow, more Flood. Only four days!!


More pictures from both these shows are can be seen on my Flickr site. The link is in the Essential Sites box on the right. All photos there are sorted by show.