SOUL ASYLUM State theater 12/21/98

new years eve ad SOUL ASYLUM

State Theater 12-31-98

Another review of the 12/31/98 show, from Brian from the AOL posting board.


Hi everyone,
I just returned from the Soul Asylum show on NYE at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, and I must say that the boys have never looked better.
I personally have never seen a band with more energy right from the start of the show, and that includes the other seven times I've seen Soul Asylum in the past.
The Jayhawks took the stage around 8:00, and they were all decked out in fancy clothes, including Kraig Johnson, whom I wasn't sure was going to be there with them. Jessy Greene was also there, lending her amazing skill on
the violin to the Jayhawks. The band was so well dressed that Gary even said at one point what a great suit Kraig had on, and commented that he himself
looked like Greg Brady, a valid comment, actually.
As for them musically, I like the way Gary writes songs, and he is a
great guitar player. But they just don't move around on stage ... I don't
feel any particular attachment to them. Kraig shook his hips a bit, but even he
was more subdued here than at the Golden Smog show. They played a pretty
tight set, though, and were greeted warmly, if not over-enthusiastically by the
crowd.
Before the boys came on, a few strings of Christmas lights were hung up
around the stage, and some glittery paper was put up. They even had a white
screen in the background, where some lights were flashed during the show; for
Soul Asylum, it was truly a visual spectacle.
Soul Asylum hit the stage around 9:30. They weren't dressed up like the
Jayhawks, but Dave had cut his hair from the last time I saw him. Jessy
introduced the band, and they were off. The set list was as follows:
"Just Like Anyone" - traditionally a closing song, so I didn't expect
it, but it made a great opener. Dave was so full of energy you could see it.
He spun around the stage like a madman; I've seen him fall over before, and I
honestly thought it would happen again, but fortunately he kept his footing.


"I Will Still Be Laughing" - sounded as good as it always does, and Dan
has that bitchin guitar solo at the end.
"No Time For Waiting" - this song never really appeals to me live; not
to say that I don't like it, but there are other things I'd rather hear
(ie -"Creatures of Habit").
"See You Later" - Dave's kazoo was noticeably absent here, but I still love hearing this one live.
"Black Gold" - until this point, the crowd was very sedate. We all wanted to stand up, but since no one else did, we didn't really want to start a trend.
But here everyone got up, and most didn't sit again until the show was over. I have more versions of this song than any other, but I always enjoy
seeing them do it live.
"Endless Farewell" - yes, you read that correctly. I can't personally
think of any show in which the boys did this song ever, even when "Hang Time"
was out. Jessy came on stage with her violin, and Dave played the trumpet
at the beginning. When the lyrics started, I couldn't believe it. Dave looked
so torn walking around the stage singing this one, it almost made me cry.
"Cartoon" - seeing as I wasn't a) a fan when "Hang Time" was released b)
at the First Avenue shows in July or c) at any of the post-MB20 shows, I
had never seen "Cartoon" done live. Sure, I've heard live versions on tape,
but I'm sure you all know it's just not the same. All I said before the
show (and I'm sure the people I was with can back me up here) was that I wanted to see them do "Cartoon." And it was probably the single best concert moment
of my life. Dave just picked up his guitar, and they broke into that
oh-so-familiar opening chord. I thought the concert couldn't get any better
at this point ...
"Cradle Chain" - my fave song from "Candy", I hadn't heard them do it in
a long time. It's always amazing live, and this was no exception. Dave
even got the lyrics right this time.
"Somebody to Shove" - but in a different way. Jessy came out again, and
played the intro on her violin, while Dave had his acoustic guitar.
They played it like the Unplugged version ... until about half way through
the song, Dave switched to the electric, and they pumped it up like the
regular version. Couldn't get any better than that ...
"New York Blackout" - being from NY myself, I feel a small connection to
this song. I think I've only heard them play it in NY, so it was good to see
it somewhere else.
"Blood Into Wine" - again, a song I don't particularly feel strongly
about, but it always sounds nice.
"Misery" - like "Black Gold", this is a song I can hear over and over
again, and not get tired of it. Sounded especially good at this show.
"Never Really Been" - a double treat for me. Another song I had never
heard live until now, it was arranged completely differently. Dave didn't
have his guitar at all, and I didn't even recognize it until he started singing.
A great twist, but it's tough to describe unless you had been there (maybe
one of the people I was with could help me out here).
"Close" - always a live favorite, I've seen it done better than this.
But "Close" on an off-day is still unreal.
"Bittersweetheart" - completely out of the blue, this is my favorite
song from "LYDLS" and it sounded great. It always makes me wanna dance. I guess
I was dancing. Anyway, it couldn't get any better than that ...
"School's Out" - this song just plain rocks. And it was loud in there.
Enough said.

"Candy From a Stranger" - watching Dave do his dance here is always
fun. A solid closer, like usual.

newyearseve98.jpg (155731 bytes)

Encore:
"We 3" - yet another of the never-seen-before songs, needless to say I was impressed. I did notice people kinda hugging and swaying during this
one.Did I miss the part where this was a happy love song?
"Keep it Up" - chaos reigned here. Dave gave Jessy his electric guitar, and Kraig came back on stage. While Dave was still setting Jessy up, Dan
said, "Chop, chop over there. We have to get moving" (or something like
that). Anyway, the song sounded great, Dan and Kraig were having fun, with
Kraig showing me once again why he is the funniest person I've ever seen on
stage. Dave tried to fix Jessy's guitar work, but I think he just succeeded in
screwing her up. In any case, it was a lot of fun. At the end, Dave
gave Jessy a hug and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the O'Jeez!"
"Runaway Train" - but again, like you've never seen it before. Dan
asked for people who could sing, which included himself, Jessy, Kraig and Woody.
They all gathered around one microphone stand, holding what looked like a
lyric sheet. Dave, still sans guitar, started singing, and I eventually
caught on that it was "Runaway Train." It had a bouncy feel to it; the lyric
sheet had the first couple of words to every line. For example, everyone would
sing, "Call you up", and Dave would finish the line himself. "Like a",
Dave finishes again, etc. It all added up to a humorous effect, and again
one that I'm having a hard time describing. At one point Dave and Kraig were
dancing together, grabbing each other's asses and stuff like that. Those two
make a great pair.
"Tell Me Something Good" - remember Chaka Khan? Dave obviously did.
Another real dance number, this time with Kraig and his brother dancing
together, and Dave kinda by himself. It was a real feelgood song, and a great way to end a great show.
Dave apologized a couple of times for the high ticket prices, which I
thought was nice, because it meant the band knew and cared what the fans did to
be there. At the end, Dave wished everyone a happy new year, hoping that
they would have a better one than 1998.
As for those people I keep mentioning I was with, I'd like to
personalize this a bit. Tammy and Katie - I hardly saw you guys, but I'm glad you were there. Courtney - great to see you again; it was as much fun as I've ever had
at a show. Sarah - nice to finally meet you after all this time. And a
special thanks to Jennifer and Kevin, who really went out of their way for me,
and were incredibly hospitable during my short time in Minnesota.
Wow, this is long. Even so, I'm sure I've forgotten things, so feel
free anyone to jump right in and add your own thoughts. As for me, I've
said more
than enough.
Brian: past new year shows