Saturday - The stage was decked out with a ludicrous amount of silver trim, with a bright-colored "Happy Birthday, Grant" on the ceiling. Comedian Paul F. Tompkins started the night, before Grant took the stage for a great show.

What got really funny was when he decided to go for some interaction with the audience. He plucked none other than feg Julie Burton out of the audience, and used his psychic powers to predict things about her. Meanwhile, Julie is doing everything possible to shy away from the spotlight lest her lapel mic be noticed. The tiny handful of us who knew what was happening were just dying with laughter.

Anyway, there was a five-foot-high cardboard birthday cake on the stage, and when it came time to bring out guests, they burst out of the top of the cake. The first special guest was, of course, Jon Brion. Jon made a comment about how silly it was to call himself a special guest at Largo. They continued for a while, before unveiling the second special guest: Neil Finn! Neil and Grant went back and forth for a few songs, with Jon accompanying on keyboards.

Next guest: David Lovering, the drummer of the Pixies. He did a bunch of magic tricks, then left. It was rather surreal.

Now, about this time, I was standing in the back of the bar. Nearby was Robyn, watching the show and drinking white wine. Grant looked at the big cake and said, "I think it's about time to bring out the fourth special guest. I hear an "Oh shit" come from Robyn's direction, and he scampered off to the back entrance to the stage.

There was a bit more talk, allowing Robyn to get into position, before he was summoned out of the cake.

There's not much more to say, as Grant was still the frontman for most of the rest of the night. Neil was mercifully not forced behind the drum set agin -- David Lovering was recalled. The quintet kept things hopping for the rest of the night. Paul F. Tompkins was even brought back up to sing a song.

All in all, a fun couple of nights, though not as Robyn-intensive as some Largo experiences have been.

A little epilogue - while winding down after the long drive back home, I flipped on the TV to Dr. Katz on Comedy Central. The person on the couch? Yup, Paul F. Tompkins.

Looking forward to Bumbershoot reports,
- Chris


Unfortunately, my knowledge of Grant's music is about zero, even though I've seen and met him several times at various Largo shows and in the audience at Hitchcock shows. It leaves many gaps on this set list. Marc

Grant's Birthday
(Grant Lee Phillips, Paul F. Tompkins )
Mystery Guest #1--Jon Brion
Grant reads an audience member's mind.
Mystery Guest #2--Neil Finn
Mystery Guest #3--David Lovering (Pixies drummer)
Mystery Guest #4--Robyn Hitchcock (about 75 minutes into the show,
complete with a John Brion song
"Here Comes Robyn Hitchcock")
("mutable" rant)
1) I Feel Beautiful
2) ? (Grant Lee Phillips) ("...for Robyn & Michele")
3) ? (another Grant song?)
break
Cortez the Killer (Neil Young) (no Robyn)
("Here Comes Robyn Hitchcock"(song))
4) I Dig a Pony (Beatles)
5) I've Got a Feeling (Beatles)
(Chatter, "happy birthday Valerie...")
6) Ashes to Ashes (Bowie)
7) ?(Shine the Light) (another Grant song?)
8) ? (another Grant song?)
9) Jealous Guy (Lennon)
10) Madonna's a Loss (Robyn, short improv)
( Inspector Virgo story--Robyn, then litany of Virgos)
11) Pale Blue Eyes (Velvet Underground)
....good-byes