GGD in the Capital

9:30 Club

Review by: Mark

Andrew already did a nice job reviewing the show. I saw him back stage without knowing it was him. (i was the doofus in the black leather jacket and shaved head). anyway, i thought i'd add some of my own bits:

Things That Got Me Going:

• 1. The 9:30 has a really amazing PA. The band sounded huge.
• 2. Nathan and Dave add a pretty substantial backbone. I've always thought that things got thin when john stepped out of the chords to play leads. all better now.
• 3. Robby and John seemed at peace w/each other and there was a relaxed vibe on-stage.
• 4. Robby tunes were well received (see caveat #4).
• 5. They played "There You Are."
• 6. Johnny was talkative between songs
• 7. Nathan December's amazing guitar playing
• 8. Mike being a badass
• 9. Anything robby did
• 10. Dave playing "come sail away" while robby held his ears
• 11. john stopping "another second time around" when nathan turned it into a ska tune

  Things That Got My Goat:

• 1. Serious lack of crowd enthusiasm. Very little dancing except for sorority chicks slinging their long hair in people's faces.
• 2. Dumbfounded looks when band played stuff from SSCW and HMU
• 3. Goofy church theme
• 4. Stupid screaming and oggling at John during Robby's songs
• 5. John's leather pants and picasso tattoo. holy rock star, batman
• 6. johnny telling the same story about "name" every night
• 7. john talking about getting fucked in the ass by Saddam Hussein
• 8. faceless and tepid pop-rockers Antheum and their nails-on-chalkboard cover of "We Can Work It Out."
• 9. no covers from the Goos
• 10. the fact that my "goat" list is longer than the "going" list.

  Summary: Still the best band (and my favorite) on a major label but ballad-based stardom threatens guy-next-store integrity as the tattoos and string sections mount. I fear the steady tide of meathead concert goers raising their fists, screaming "iris" and spending the rest of the evening trying to get laid. that said, i begrudge this band nothing 'cuz they've earned it and i'm just a chump wishing it was still 1991. how sad, indeed.

  mark