Online review by Amused to Life
Now, let’s see... Oh yeah, Robyn Hitchcock. Alright, he gets bonus points for his show the night before, as related to us by the owner of Decatur CD. A dim stage, lighted pumpkins, and songs with a theme: “Chinese Bones,” “Creeped Out,” “A Skull, a Suitcase, and a Long Red Bottle of Wine,” “When I Was Dead,” “You and Oblivion,” “My Wife and My Dead Wife,” “Ghost Ship,” “Sounds Great When You’re Dead,” “The Ghost in You” – clever!

Now it’s the day after Halloween. And it’s time to see the show!

Err, yeah. The darkness was a novelty during the first song, despite a knowing feeling that this is going to be all that you’re going to get. It’s a “really?” after the second, somewhat heightened by the observation that you’re a pessimist. And, it’s a “close your eyes and imagine you’re listening to a live CD on really good headphones” acquiescence for the remainder of the show music.

Jerk.

With some sort of quantum programming sophistication or a token charitable act by Helios, my camera found light where there was none and rendered a picture.

Which is nice, but the former picture is the concert memory.

As for the music, I’ve been familiar with Hitchcock for decades but never really listened to his music carefully. I did listen to his new album, The Man Upstairs, and it’s a well acclaimed if stark or minimalist recording, half of which are cover songs. To thwart my supposed familiarity, he announced something similar to “My latest album is for sale (points through a door), but I’m not playing anything from it.” Actually, he did end up playing “San Francisco Patrol.”

Hitchcock plays a fine acoustic guitar and has a voice that seems as clear and high today as it did in the 80’s. His banter was often humorous, such as bashing the Scottish, Irish, Welsh and British plus the song’s unlikely candidacy for the London Olympics theme by way of introducing “Dismal City.” Otherwise, his comments were at times random, speaking at times to either his cleverness or arriving at an uncomfortable dead end. I give him points for trying, though. None of it sounded rehearsed.

For the encore, he played “other people’s songs.” This included Dylan’s “Not Dark Yet,” Nick Drake’s “River Man,” Neil Young’s “For the Turnstiles” and “Motion Pictures,” Velvet Underground’s “All Tomorrow’s Parties,” and perhaps the best of the night, Syd Barrett’s “Aunt Gigolo.” I would suppose that if he listens to a satellite radio station, it would be a “deep cuts” channel.

I would normally offer ratings on a scale of 1 to 5, but I’ll refrain here. I enjoyed the music, but I don’t know enough of them to figure out whether he played the really good stuff or held something back. I do know the encores were excellent, and the crowd (always quiet and respectful at Eddie’s), was very appreciative. So, imagine you were there, you’re a fan, you liked what you heard, and then subtract 1.5 stars for his fear of the light.

Sheesh.