The Speakeasy

 

February 26th/2001

The second live show that you can purchase.  If you check my live recordings page, you'll see that the cd is a condensed version of the songs that I review :::::::::::::::::::::::::>.

I ordered this cd within 24 hours of the show, which is why I am lucky enough to have the whole show (2 cds, it's condensed into one now)  No worries though... this show would be amazing even if it were only three songs.  They sound awesome and you can feel the vibe of just how comfortable the guys are in this club. 

For a great review of this show please visit Julie's site!

Guest drummer - Brannen Temple

 

"Plastic Love" - Little Genesis, little Stevie Wonder and a whole lot of Stewart Cochran.*

"Nashville" - Harmonies are awesome. And whoa, Brannen on the drums! Love all of the effects from Stewart. Cool ending.

"Wanted" - Very similar to the arrangement on EP. At the conclusion of the guitar solo, Stewart beautifully recreates the piano crescendo. Still my favoreite song. Brannen rules.

"It Got You Thinking" - Great opening, wow! The harmonies are killer, I can't say enough how much I'm loving that sound. Bet Glenn looks cool doing them as well. Love how Brannen comes in after Spencer sings "Raaaain..." Nice effect on guitar.

"Photograph" - Groovin'. It was nice to hear this live again.

"You Are Not Me" - Stew goes nuts on the keys. Beautuful!

"Jaded" - Always love hearing this song. Brannen sounds sooo good. I picture him sitting there in a big plush drummer's chair. All familiar and comfy. Love that primal scream.

"Poppyseed" - This one stood out as an excellent example of the good songwriting. Of course I love all of the songs and shouldn't be singling ANY out. Spencer sings and plays his heart on this one. I'm sure Julie will die a few times when she hears it ).

"Sell It To A Girl" - What a unique performance. I was taken by surprise with a few bits. That's some crazy scat singing there Spencer ). Love it.

"Foolish Me" - Huge sound that should be filling arenas!!! Harmonies, whoa!

"Skin" - Such an AMAZING song and one that I haven't heard since the Clubcastlive days. Excellent songwriting, could be a hit. Big Abbey Road influence.

"Happy Ending" - Suprisingly upbeat musically for you guys ) but the lyrics are another thing altogether. Seriously, this is a strong performance. Bass really stands out on this one.

"Blown Away" - Mellow... good performance.

"Strange Day" - More of a slow groove. Nice drum and keyboard interplay on the ending.

"Early Warning" - Is this an encore? It just kind of starts. Anyway, I said this the other day on our 54 list but it applies here. There is something about this tune that makes everything okay. Even if nothing is wrong ). It has what it takes to be the perfect song. Both sad and happy emotions are triggered but the hope wins out every time. Sometimes I'm feeling sad ya know? We all do SOMETIMES. I'll put this song on and when this this lyric ("On my way down, I begin.") comes (coupled with the organ), I'm better! It's almost instant. It's like a release... and then "Sweeteeeer", WELL that's it, I'm done for. Absolutely dying at this point. My eyes shut tight with the beauty of it. The harmonies are sooo good. They take off with this one and run. And I find myself soaring sooo high when it's done..I'm left wantng to go to a third world country to volunteer for life. Okay, so maybe I'm a bit melodramatic but you get the picture right?

Spencer as always your vocals are ethereal. Sighhhhh...

Heather

*But you, you took mine
Yeah you, you took mine

As Spencer sings this lyric, my eyes fill up.  So much emotion...