Doggedly searching for the crux of the biscuit.
This makes keeping up with the setlists a lot easier, I suppose.
In the last few weeks alone, Los Angeles has seen a rash of acts performing complete albums: Sonic Youth doing its 1988 noise-rock breakthrough "Daydream Nation" start to finish at the Greek Theatre (and opening act Redd Kross presenting its 1981 teen release "Born Innocent"), D.C. rockers Girls Against Boys doing 1994's "Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby" at El Rey Theatre and Louisville, Ky.'s Slint offering its influential 1991 indie opus "Spiderland" at the Henry Fonda Theatre.
In early September, Lucinda Williams goes for the concept crown by performing five shows at the El Rey, a different one of her albums performed each night -- topping a three-night version of the same idea Sept. 5, 6 and 7 at the Echo by singer-songwriter Ben Kweller -- and on Sept. 15, a Fonda show will feature Seattle grunge pioneers the Melvins and Mudhoney doing their '80s groundbreakers "Houdini" and the "Superfuzz BigMuff" EP, respectively. In Las Vegas, Iggy Pop & the Stooges will reprise the 1969 proto-punk big bang "Funhouse" at the Vegoose Festival in late October.
And this Friday and Saturday, the work that 40 years ago arguably galvanized the notion of an album as an artistic statement, the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," will get a Hollywood Bowl performance by Cheap Trick, accompanied by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and an Indian-music ensemble.
I saw Hüsker Dü do this with the Warehouse album back in college.
Christmas - In Excelsior Dayglow. Wow. They rocked.
Posted by: froz gobo at August 4, 2007 02:04 AMDoes everyone know about Robyn Hitchcock's "Games For May" concert of May 26 '07, which featured the setlist of Pink Floyd's "Games For May" concert of May 12 '67? It is fucking awesome. It is downloadable and streamable from archive.org. (Actually the first set is the Pink Floyd concert, the second set is mostly covers of Syd Barrett's solo work and a couple of early Pink Floyd tunes that were not included in the '67 concert. The final three songs, "Astronomy Dominé'", "Lucifer Sam", and "See Emily Play (reprise)", will just knock you over (if that's the kind of music you like).)
Posted by: Clownæsthesiologist at August 4, 2007 06:58 AMWebb Wilder, his band and friends do an album cover show every year. One such show covered the Kinks' Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, if memory serves me.
Posted by: just john at August 4, 2007 03:54 PMI haven't seen much shit live...
Here is my brief list of larger than obscurity bands seen live.
Pink Floyd '88 and '94.
Negativland. '90
Miracle Legion 91 and 93.
The Chills - a few times in the early 90s.
Robyn Hitchcock 92.
Butthole Surfers 89
They Might Be Giants - a few times.
P-Funk All Stars -95.
Throwing Muses - 96.
Bob Mould - probably 1999.
Ween 1998.
Primus and the Melvins -93.
David Byrne -92.
Alan Jackson and Martina McBride - 03.
Duran Duran 2005
....maybe a few others.
But whoa there Clown. I have to check that one out, being a fan of both Robyn and Syd.
Posted by: Jon at August 4, 2007 10:15 PMClown A-
Thank you kindly!!! That Robyn Show is THE BOMB!!!
Posted by: Jon at August 4, 2007 10:19 PMDidn't Phish used to do a Halloween show every year by playing full albums from other bands?
Posted by: Mr. Sticky at August 6, 2007 11:12 AM