Details

Date
January 09, 1998
Venue
Largo Los Angeles, California (West Hollywood)
Billed As
Robyn Hitchcock
Gig Type
Concert
Guests
Tim Keegan, Jon Brion and Ethan Johns (?)

Set List

  1. Silver Dagger Joan Baez
  2. All That Money Wants The Psychedelic Furs
  3. Oh Yeah Roxy Music
  4. The Yellow Snake The Incredible String Band
  5. Madonna of the Wasps
  6. Jewels for Sophia
  7. Viva Sea-Tac
  8. I Feel Beautiful
  9. Dark Princess
  10. I Dream of Antwoman
  11. Jon Brion set
  12. The Colonel and Lady Guevalt Improvised
  13. Sister Ray Velvet Underground
  14. Sweet Jane Velvet Underground
  15. I Says to the Cheese Improvised
  16. Let's Get Severed Improvised

Media

Audio recording of show

Reviews

Tim went on at about 9:30, decked out in a red sweatshirt and black jeans, perched on a stool with his acoustic guitar. A short set, of less than 40 minutes, where he didn't even do "Superkeen"; very good though. Flyers were distributed advertising Homer's new "There There" single and the acoustic CD, the details of which I'll post momentarily. A couple of us Fegs managed to buy some of the very few CDs he brought along, much to our collective delight.

After a somewhat too long break, Robyn emerged in purple trousers and a green long sleeve shirt.

Silver Dagger
All That Money Wants
Oh Yeah
an Incredible String Band tune I don't know the title of... "Yellow Snake" maybe?

Madonna Of The Wasps
Jewels For Sophia
Viva Sea Tac (to Tim: "Should we do EJ or VST?")

I Feel Beautiful
Dark Princess (with a Father Joseph pick)
Antwoman

Lovely. Robyn was in a good mood and had several good long stories in there. I'm guessing rather wildly on the title of the first tune, as it didn't really have a "hook," per se; 'twas a folky tune played without a pick. He set the scene for that with a long spoken introduction, which fused quite well with the song, which I suppose is new.

The Furs, Ferry, and String Band covers were a pleasant surprise also. The set was shorter than I'd have liked, but we were satisfied. They were a bit more cohesive as a band this time; no more leaning over to Jon at the piano saying "OK, this one's in F sharp, and every so often goes up to A. And the middle bit drops down to E flat." (an actual quote from November.) I have to confess I'm somewhat of a fan of the more thoroughly produced sound, and am really hopeful about the stuff recorded with Jon.

Jon then had a set, during which he played many of the sa-a-ame things he played last time. But he had some new toys, including a stuffed gorilla which played (and danced) the Macarena. He turned it on and incorporated it into something he played on the piano. Jon can get a bit self-indulgent, but the man has talent and I can see why Robyn likes
having him in the studio. Anybody know where I can find that album by the Grays?

Anyway, Jon, Robyn, and Tim reappeared for an all-too-brief wrap-up. (For those of you keeping score at home, Robyn had switched to a green T-shirt.) Again Robyn started with a long improvised story, this time set to a minimalist score (or was it ambient?) by Jon and Tim. Then: Sister Ray, Sweet Jane, an improv about Cheese, and an improv about being garrotted. Ethan the drummer sprang onto the stage for part of that. He's grown a beard since November.

This whole crew has been in the studio recording with Grant Lee Phillips (except, I think, Ethan). They indicated that Grant has the flu, as does Ethan.

They'll all be back tonight. We'll also get a set by, of all people, Colin Hay. Ain't southern California great!

- Chris