Incendiary Advice

We survived the Barenaked Ladies concert, despite the creeping crud illness. And...it was amazing, as always.

From the opening - our own Singing Angels and then BNL with them, performing "I Saw Three Ships" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," to the second encore of Duran Duran's "Rio" --- it was perfect. And Powder Blue, live!!! Big sighs for Powder Blue. I've never heard it live (and get the feeling Steve and Ed hate the song, but it was Kevin's turn to pick the lineup).

They did a great improvised rap on the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland, lots of witty, snarky high-speed banter using their song titles...and a fun story about Steve thinking he could walk from his hotel to University Circle and the Art Museum, yesterday. Whoops.

But writing about a Ladies' show never does it justice. You simply have to see them live. It's a few hours of absolute bliss - smiling and singing and dancing along with them.

They're such a joyful high - and a terrible act to follow.

Thinking of all the bands I've seen that just stand there and perform by rote. . . what a letdown it would be to see them after going to BNL where everything's always fresh, fun, amusing and filled with energy.

They work really hard putting together a great show. Tonight they were out signing autographs and posing for pictures in the lobby prior to the show. I've never seen a band do that once they've "made it." But BNL is not like that; they're really down-to-earth when you meet them and always availing themselves to their fans.

Unfortunately, they don't get the respect and airplay their music deserves. Now that they've got their own label, I worry they'll get even less radio time without the heft of a big label behind them.

Steve did a version of Silent Night that ostensibly seemed to be him playing 'Opera Man.' And yet his voice is so incredibly strong and beautiful it was impossible to not be awed and moved.

Well, off to bed. I sure hope Miss G. had a great first BNL experience. For awhile it took both our minds off her problems, I'd hoped - but then her ankle was bothering her and she didn't want to sit down and miss any of the show. Back to reality.

Oh, and here's the setlist - favorite's are bolded:


Three Ships
Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
For You (Acoustic)
Pinch Me
Get In Line
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings
Hanukkah Blessings
Brian Wilson
Upside Down
One Little Slip
Adrift (new song, Ed on Banjo)--hope this is on the next cd, it's great
Christmas Pics
Feliz Navidad (drums-Ed, keyboard-Jim, Bass-Kevin, Guitar-Steve)
One Week/Dreidel
Powder Blue
Green Christmas
Shopping
It's All Been Done
Old Apartment
Million Dollars
Silent Night

Encore One:
Jingle Bells
What a Good Boy

Encore Two:

Rio (Duran Duran)