Got to Metro about 8:15, or 45 minutes after doors - and the opener was only partway through his rather monotone set. Very light crowd early, so they seemed to start late which meant RH, et al didn't go on until 9:15. I'd guess maybe 500 tops by then - much less than I had been expecting. Crowd the usual mix of hardcore fans, loner fanboys, scattered local musicians, a few scenesters, the odd drunk. IOW, a regular night at Metro.

A little surprised that even on the 'small venue' tour they were doing some of their own work - on this night Scott checking and tuning the guitars, Bill tearing down his own drums, etc. Somehow thought there would be a roadie involved, but then again I didn't see Peter or Robyn doing much ;)

I wonder if the fact that XRT was taping the whole show had an effect, as they all came on clear-eyed, peppy and spot-on from the get-go. Purple shirt with large red and white flowers, hair swept more over to one side than usual, looking in good health and happy. Maybe it's because Michele is in the house. Show passes without a lot of talking - aside from an even longer 'Briggs' intro than usual - but as expected there were plenty of quick political asides to introduce the songs ('dedicated to Donald Rumsfeld...and whatever it was that killed him').

It was one of those 80/20 shows - 80% of material they had clearly practiced and f**king NAILED or came close. With Peter playing *very* complimentary guitar parts, Scott staying on straight-eight bass and Bill doing foot-and-tom work all night, there was a fullness to the sound spectrum and rock punch that I don't think I've ever heard Robyn sing in front of. The Softs are incredible in their own right, but it's different - with them the sound is a little thinner and edgier, more time changes, much more inventive bass. This was a punchy, straight-ahead, loud rock show, and the change was welcome by almost everyone (Carissa was a little taken aback, I think)

The first four - 'Rocket' through 'Queen of Eyes' were spectacular. Nice, rich sound from Peter - boy is he good at filling in the spaces - and drum work from Bill. Clearly going to be a different type of show. 'NY Doll' is decent but then a run of songs where a little something is off in each one. Little hiccups that show this is still kind of a loose collective winging it through some of the material ('...Priest' has to be stopped and re-started, for example). The exception is 'Somewhere Apart' which is fantastic: "I'm going to burn your bongos tonight." Robyn is clearly enjoying himself, dancing (? hopping around) and sweating under the lights. It doesn't really look like any Robyn I've seen recently.

After that a nearly transcendent 'Television with the /best/ vocals, then 'a funky, hard 'Jewels' that kicks in a run of three darker songs; 'Creeped Out' and 'Authority Box' become absolutely massive live. A spot-on 'Madonna,' Briggs was OK, then a hammers-down 'Driving Aloud.' A nice encore with the Byrds cover, Peter and Robyn intertwining lines
into a psychedelic jam that finally runs out of steam around 11.

Finally bought a hard copy of OT (only had the iTunes version before), and managed to get all four to sign it. Peter spent a surprising amount of time at the merch table - not really chatting, but agreeably signing CD's and stubs. Scott and Robyn came up later and spent a few minutes signing before disappearing back downstairs. On the whole rather more than I expected on the night, given a midweek show.

-- Michael W



Quick add to the other Michael...

Excellent show -- like the hardest-rocking Egyptians gig you could imagine...

Also did "I Wanna Destroy You" after "8 Miles High" for final song of encore ("I guess this one's for Cheney...")

Hadn't seen Peter with such short hair (my RS subscription having only run from 1980 - 92) -- woulda never recognized him (like, except for the guitars in his hands, up on stage, standing next to Robyn - duh...)

Best semi-random comment: (pre-"Vibrating"): "This goes out to Aldous Huxley -- the first person to land a plane on a pair of trousers..."

Nice return...and so nice to be able to look forward to the eventual 'XRT broadcast...

--Michael S