1997 Gig Index

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1997 show reviews:
(If you have information, pictures, flyers, or anything from any shows in 1997, please contact us.)

A man and his bass having a private moment.

February 19, 1997 - New York, NY

Venue: The Knitting Factory

Title: Audio And Video(?), Time: 80 minutes

Sound: B, Source: Audience

Set List:

Big Train / Big Bang Theory / Walking The Cow / Intense Song For Madonna To Sing / Making The Freeway / Against The '70s / The 15th / Chinese Firedrill / Formal Introduction / Tuff Gnarl / One Reporter's Opinon / E-Ticket Ride / Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing / Coincidence Is Either Hit Or Miss / The Red And The Black / My Secret Garden

An OK sounding audience tape, with the vocals low in the mix for one or two songs. The beginning of E-Ticket Ride is cut on my tape due to a side change. Nels Cline sings Madonna's My Secret Garden. For some reason, my copy has part of I Can't Explain by The Who dubbed over part of Drove Up From Pedro. I've also heard that there was a video of this show, that was destroyed. If you have a copy, get in touch! I'll make it a sweet trade for a copy.

October 6, 1997 - Silverlake, CA

Venue: The Garage

Title: Tape Only, Time: 60 minutes

Sound: A, Source: Soundboard

Set List:

In The Engine Room / Red Bluff / Blue Jacket's Manual / Pedro Bound / Boilerman / Black Gang Coffee / Topsiders / No One Ever Says Old Man (To The Old Man) / Fireman Hurley / Liberty Calls / In The Bunkroom/Navy Wife / Crossing The Equator / Breaking The Choke Hold / Wrapped Around The Screw / Shore Duty / The Red And The Black

This is the first live recording of the opera that I know of. Features Joe Baiza and Stephen Hodges.

October 9, 1997 - Portland, OR

Venue:

Title: Tape Only, Time: 75 minutes

Sound:, Source:

Set List:

October 15, 1997 - Boulder, CO

Venue: Fox Theatre

Title: Tape Only, Time: 75 minutes

Sound: B 1st half, B+ 2nd half, Source: Audience

Set List:

An average sounding audience tape, with a little flatness for the first half, and some boominess. However, it does get sharper around halfway through, bringing the rating up to a B+. There aren't any surprises on this tape, but it's a good performance.

October 19, 1997 - Madison, WI

Venue: O'Cay's Corral

Title: Tape Only, Time: 60 minutes

Sound: B+, Source: Audience

Set List:

The Boilerman / Black Gang Coffee / Topsiders / No One Says Old Man (To The Old Man) / Fireman Hurley / Liberty Calls! / In The Bunkroom/Navy Wife / Crossing The Equator / Breaking The Choke Hold / Wrapped Around The Screw / Shore Duty / One Reporter's Opinion / The Red And The Black / Big Train

This one misses the first four songs from the opera, and cuts into The Boilerman near the end. The sound on this one is a little muddy, even though my copy is only third generation from the master. This could be due to bad copying, but I'm not sure. The bass sounds rather heavy and muffled. There are much better shows sound quality-wise, and in terms of completeness.

October 22, 1997 - Cincinnati, OH

Venue: Sudsy Malone's

Title: Tape Only, Time:

Sound: , Source: Audience

Set List:

October 23, 1997 - Columbus, OH

Venue: Little Brother's

Title: Tape Only, Time: 70 minutes

Sound: A, Source: Soundboard

Set List:

In The Engine Room / Red Bluff / Blue Jackets' Manual / Pedro Bound! / The Boilerman / Black Gang Coffee / Topsiders / No One Says Old Man (To The Old Man) / Fireman Hurley / Liberty Calls! / In The Bunkroom/Navy Wife / Crossing The Equator / Breaking The Choke Hold / Wrapped Around The Screw / Shore Duty / Big Train / One Reporter's Opinion / The Red And The Black

Good sound, for those who are looking for one or two specimens of the opera.

October 31, 1997 - New York, NY

Venue: Tramps

Title: Audio And Video, Time: 80 minutes

Sound: B+, Source: Audience

Set List:

In The Engine Room / Red Bluff / Blue Jackets' Manual / Pedro Bound! / The Boilerman / Black Gang Coffee / Topsiders / No One Says Old Man (To The Old Man) / Fireman Hurley / Liberty Calls! / In The Bunkroom/Navy Wife / Crossing The Equator / Breaking The Choke Hold / Wrapped Around The Screw / Shore Duty / The Red And The Black / One Reporter's Opinion / Big Train

Watt and Baiza are dressed up as sailors for Halloween, which is sort of funny to see. This is a top notch recording, especially for an audience video. The camera work is steady, and the sound is very good. This is an A- if a little bit of echo on the vocals doesn't bother you much.

November 7, 1997 - Orlando, FL

Venue: Sapphire Supper Club

Title: Tape Only, Time: 80 minutes

Sound: A-, Source: Audience

Set List:

In The Engine Room / Red Bluff / Blue Jackets' Manual / Pedro Bound! / The Boilerman / Black Gang Coffee / Topsiders / No One Says Old Man (To The Old Man) / Fireman Hurley / Liberty Calls! / In The Bunkroom/Navy Wife / Crossing The Equator / Breaking The Choke Hold / Wrapped Around The Screw / Shore Duty / The Red And The Black / Piss Bottle Man / One Reporter's Opinion / Big Train

This is one to get. Liberty Calls rocks on this version, featuring a nice little extended jam, with a great guitar solo. Watt, as is usual has got a fire in his belly, and he's letting it come out on stage. My version loses part of Breaking The Choke Hold to a side change, but otherwise, this is a really nice audience recording.

November 11, 1997 - Louisville, KY

Venue: Phoenix Tavern

Title: Tape Only, Time: 75 minutes

Sound: B-, Source: Audience

Set List:

In The Engine Room / Red Bluff / Blue Jackets' Manual / Pedro Bound! / The Boilerman / Black Gang Coffee / Topsiders / No One Says Old Man (To The Old Man) / Fireman Hurley / Liberty Calls! / In The Bunkroom/Navy Wife / Crossing The Equator / Breaking The Choke Hold / Wrapped Around The Screw / Shore Duty / The Red And The Black / Piss Bottle Man / Big Train

This is a not so great audience recording, which is made less enjoyable by the fact there are two second gaps between the tracks. It's a shame, because this is a pretty good show.

December 5, 1997 - Santa Monica, CA

Venue: McCabe's Guitar Shop

Title: Tape Only, Time: 85 minutes

Sound: A-, Source: Soundboard

Set List:

One of a billion and a half soundboard recordings from this period. The nice thing about the opera shows around this time is that the encores are getting a little longer. This isn't meant to disparage the opera, of course, but one does come to miss the punchy two minute punk songs as well. Be that as it may, there are drawbacks to this particular performance, as well as good points. Petra Haden joins Watt for the encore. She plays violin on a couple of tracks, such as Big Train, which actually gives it a bluegrass sort of feeling. Unfortunately, she sings on some other tracks. Although I'm sure she's a talented singer, she's off tonight. Her vocals are out of tune on Piss Bottle Man and Drove Up From Pedro, which she can't remember most of the lyrics to. However, Angel Eyes, which is her singing acapella is a nice folk tune which adds a little twist to the encore.

December 8, 1997 - Westminster, CA

Venue: Noyze Pollution - KXLU FM

Title: Tape Only, Time: 60 minutes

Sound: A+, Source:Soundboard

Set List:

Wow! I have never had a bootleg with sound as good as this! My copy originates not from the FM broadcast of this show, but from the studio master of this show. This is verified by the band tuning up before their set, and the fact that you can only hear Watt's response to the host, and not the host himself. Apart from the broadcast on KCRW the next day,this is the only FM broadcast of the opera, and the only complete one. Oddly enough, I haven't seen any copies of this circulating from the FM broadcast. Thanks Rick!

December 9, 1997 - Santa Monica, CA

Venue: Morning Becomes Eclectic - KCRW FM

Title: Tape Only, Time: 40 minutes

Sound: A, Source: FM

Set List:

In The Engine Room / Pedro Bound! / Boilerman / No One Ever Says Old Man (To The Old Man) / Fireman Hurley / The Red And The Black

A condensed opera, and interview. Nice crisp FM broadcast. Watt talks a little about his pirate radio show, as well as the usual questions about the opera.

December 9, 1997 - Los Angeles, CA

Venue: El Rey Theatre
Title: Tape Only, Time: 60 minutes
Sound: , Source:

Set List:

December 15, 1997 - Los Angeles, CA

Venue: The Gig
Title: Tape Only, Time: 75 minutes
Sound: , Source: Soundboard

Set List:

In The Engine Room / Red Bluff / Blue Jacket's Manual / Pedro Bound! / Boilerman / Black Gang Coffee / Topsiders / No One Ever Says Old Man (To The Old Man) / Fireman Hurley / Liberty Calls / In The Bunkroom/Navy Wife / Crossing The Equator / Breaking The Choke Hold / Wrapped Around The Screw / Shore Duty / The Red And The Black

Possibly incomplete, as there's only one song for the encore. Benefit for Mean Magazine.