Humphreys, San Diego (CA), September 20, 2013

[narrowdaylight]

http://humphreysconcerts.com/schedule_long.cfm

[mapache61]

Nice show in San Diego last night. I didn't keep track of the setlist, but it was pretty similar to the one Bud posted back in spring, only a little shorter. I'll try to jot down tonight's set at the Greek.

At yesterday's soundcheck, Diana did Bob Dylan's "Wallflower." It was not played during the show, so hopefully we'll get that tonight instead of Dylan's Simple Twist of Fate.

More details tomorrow or Monday.

[Bud]

Great, glad you enjoyed the show. Was she playing along with videos? Have fun tonight too.

[mapache61]

Yep, the videos were playing in San Diego. That Humphrey's stage is fairly small, so I was a bit surprised.

[mapache61]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this was the first DK concert in at least a month. And I know for sure it was the first show of the 2013 North American fall tour.

Friday afternoon found me and Mrs Mapache sitting next to the Humphrey's hotel pool, waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting even longer to hear DK's soundcheck. We finally saw the band come marching through the pool area, carrying guitar cases and a ton of luggage to their rooms. Soon after, I heard a commotion in the backstage area (partially visible from the pool) and looked over to see Diana had arrived (hair in a pony tail; huge dark sunglasses) and was giving hugs to all the band and crew members.

Soon after, the soundcheck kicked off. The band worked through segments of a few GRD songs. Then I hear DK alone, tickling the keys, playing a tune I definitely recognize but can't quite figure out. Finally it clicks and I begin singing "Wallflower, wallflower, won't you dance with me?" A few seconds later, Diana sings the same line. Yep, it's Bob Dylan's "Wallflower," a pretty obscure tune from the early 70s. Being a huge Dylan fan, I'm thrilled.

On to the show....

The Humphrey's venue has a fairly small stage set-up, so I was surprised to see the big video screen behind the stage. As for the videos/old movie clips themselves, my feelings are mixed. From our seats (about 10 rows back, House Stage Right), I could see the entire screen, and at first found the videos distracting. I usually have a laser-like focus on DK and the band, and these videos do have a tendency to draw your eye away from the musical action. I actually like the idea of old movie clips (they go well with the GRD concept), however what you mostly get for each song are 20 to 30 second clips that play on a loop. And after a while the novelty wears a bit thin.

As suspected, I enjoyed the GRD songs performed live more than the album versions. The swampy, sometimes-gimmicky T-Bone production factor is still there (I complained about this, and especially the terrible mixing, when the album was released), but it's a bit less in-your-face.

The band is great. On certain songs they were really wailing. And it was nice to see our old friend Riggins behind the drum kit. The lead guitarist certainly impressed, but I can't help but think Anthony Wilson could've handled these songs just as well. I know he's more of a jazz player, but so what? GRD isn't exactly Metallica, where you'd definitely need a new axe man. Give Anthony some guitar effects pedals, and he's good to go.

Comments on a few songs...

"Ain't No Sweet Man...": GRD's signature tune is also the best live. Diana was clearly having a ball on this one, and her voice sounded great.

I love the "rain songs" (as DK called them): "Butterfly Caught In The Rain" and "Let It Rain." Beautiful vocals on these. But I think having two slow ballads so close together, so early in the set, doesn't work.

"Temptation": This one cooked and rollicked like it never has before. Wow. DK alternating between piano and an electric keyboard, singing some of the lyrics into a small megaphone...crazy, man, crazy. Probably the highlight of the night.

"Peel Me a Grape": I don't know what it was, but Diana was clearly not interested in doing this tune. Maybe it was just this evening, but it was definitely rushed, and she was even scatting some of the lyrics. "Crush me some ice....sha-doobity-doo...da-dee-da-da-doo..." When it was over, she laughed and said something like "Yeah, I know I missed some of the lyrics. You'll have to deal with it." Then someone in the audience yelled out "Popsicle Toes!!!" She laughed again and said, "What IS it with you guys and that song? Oh well, if you love it that's all that matters. But I'm not playing it."

Throughout the evening she was really loose and joking with the crowd (much more than the next night in L.A.). She was so laidback, this show almost had the feeling of a rehearsal concert for the fall tour. Ya know, I kind-of get-back-in-the-groove vibe. Overall, I thought it was excellent.

However, not everyone in the house saw it the same way. Somewhere around mid-show (just before "Glad Rag Doll"), nature called and I sprinted to the bathroom. Humphery's is a very small venue, and I was back out in a flash. Only problem was the usher was not allowing people to walk back to their seats during this slow, quiet ballad. So I'm standing there, waiting, listening to DK. Some guy standing next to me loudly asks, "You ever seen her live before?" I say "Yeah, lots." (my first mistake was even answering him). Then he says, "Does she always play with this band?!" I say, "No, it's usually a jazz combo." This, apparently, is his greenlight to go on a rant. "This band f-ing sucks! This concert is terrible! We came all the way from San Francisco to see this, and it SUCKS!" The usher runs over and tells him to shut his trap. He retreats back toward the snack bar, and as I'm finally allowed to run back to my seat, I can hear him yelling at some other unlucky soul. What an a-hole! And it figures he's from Frisco. Probably a Giants fan...

At concert's end (Prairie Lullaby was the closing tune; total running time was 1 hour -- 40 minutes), the woman sitting next to us stands up and declares, "That was awful! She didn't play ANY of her hits!"
Um, au contraire, dummy. She played Peel Me a Grape, her ONLY "hit."

I wonder. In general is this tour not being received well by the very casual DK fan who only owns Live In Paris...and has never even heard of GRD? Or did I just get unlucky and encounter two rubes?

Finally, first time in a long time I've bought something at the DK merchandise stand. For $10 I picked up one of the tour posters with a listing of all the fall 2013 dates. Nice little poster.

ATTENTION: Bud or Narrowdaylight. It's not a big deal, but this thread title says October 20. It should be September.

-mapache61

[narrowdaylight]

ATTENTION: Bud or Narrowdaylight. It's not a big deal, but this thread title says October 20. It should be September.

-mapache61

Thanks.
Is corrected now.