December 27, 2007

This was by far the most packed I'd seen Hooples in a LONG time. All the kids home from college, all the holiday visitors...it was wall to wall. I gave Glenn a little Christmas present while he was setting up that put him in a very good mood. This was apparent when the set began with a huge:

Chicago !!!

which was mindbogglingly heavy and raucous. During part of this jam, I turned to Laz and said: "This riff is so much like "Fear & Doom" that I'm surprised he never confuses the two!"  Lo and behold, Glenn SEGUED INTO "Fear and Doom." This was an unprecedented move for this song, and a good sign.

Next was a song called "Where Will You Be When the Trumpets Sound." An old hymnal perhaps?  Whatever it was, it was a solid tune, and had just enough life in it to keep the energy flowing to the crowd.

Then he played a groovy blues with lyrics based on counting:

"1,2,3... where will you be..?"

"5,6,7....heaven..."  

etc..etc..  It was a catchy little tune and everyone was smiling.

Following this little number lesson came a rollicking "Wagon Wheels" which Glenn simply tore apart. His playing was lightning fast and infused with strength and precision. At one point, a guy in the front next to me who Glenn was jamming in front of actually reached out and started putting his fingers on the fretboard. Glenn was not affected somehow and kept ripping.

Motor City.  -> this song has become a showstopper of late. Glenn took this one so far out, that jaws were dropping. The band was ON.

Mountain Top  brought everyone even higher. Good vibes....REAL good vibes. Tips were flowing in, Glenn was a HAPPY MAN.

Then he pulled out the slide. And Laz was treated to one of his favorite ASFB tunes "Old Man Daniel."  WOW. This was a treat of treats. Glenn NAILED it. So fine. More good feelings.

To close the set he played a wonderful jump-boogie type blues that smoked all present. It was a masterful 1st set. To recap:

Chicago->Fear and Doom

Where will u b when the trumpet sounds

Counting Song

Wagon Wheels

Motor City

Mountain Top

Old Man Daniel

Jump boogie tune

After a reasonably short & uneventful setbreak, the band took the stage for set 2. We were in position. And it came:

Ode to Glenn Schwartz (Promises Promises) which ended with a FEAR AND DOOM teaser outro that was VERY SLOW and heavy.

searing, soaring, LOUD.  Glenn actually turned his channel volume up to 10 to start this set.

The rest of the set was:

When the Spanish Come

Take What you've Got

Never Grow Old (which Glenn said was a song from the 1800s)

Mountain Top (for the 2nd time!! - > Gene said it was OK to repeat songs since it was so crowded..)

The slow blues tune where he usually says "when its time to die..and lay down in the mud"

Proud Man

This Little Light of Mine (with a HUGE crowd singalong section)

My Poor Generation

All Night Long

It was also a fantastic set. As you can see, this show has almost every song a head would want to see performed live. It was Glenn and band at top form. I AM looking forward to the smaller post-holiday crowds however...

Have a great 2008 everybody. May the Glennaissance continue.

TZ