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Subject:
[hix] Dan Hicks at McCabe's
Date: Sun, 14 May 2000 09:53:19 EDT
From: Cynthia Andrews
To: hix@egroups.com
The
concert last night was fantastic!! Now ya'all have to remember this
is my first live Dan Hicks concert... I laughed so hard... my stomach
still hurts!!
The concert started late.. I guess that's normal huh? While waiting
for it to start I was talkin with the guitar players lady and she was
telling me the reason the crowd was so small down at Java Joes 2 nights
ago was Java Joes forgot to advertise.
Ok so it was big Dan center stage... a killer lead guitar player, young
guy didn't catch any names sorry... and a guy that I couldn't figure
out if he was young or old playin the fiddle, mandolin etc. It was strange,
he was rather short, wore big dark rimmed glasses and a hat (sorta like
a fisherman's hat) and my friend and I just couldn't decide if he was
young or old. Anyway, he was good!! Behind Dan was the bass player.
He was really good but on a couple licks seemed like he forgot the rhythm
of the song, other times he was awesome. Then on the other side of Dan
were 2 young ladies. One was a blonde real bouncy gal that played alot
of little percussion-y type instruments and sang back up, the other
was a tall slender young lady that sang back up, played the fiddle a
couple times (didn't seem real sure of what it was she was playing)
and also played a couple percussion-y type things..
Ok, now to the set... forgive my spelling ok?
1. Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy
2. Where is the Money (gawd the comedy antics in this were great!)
3. News from up the street
4. Hell I'll go (the Martian song)... too funny!
5. An Instrumental... Gypsy Jazz with Topsy Swing 42
6. Comes Love (Dan put on dark glasses and played the snare drum for
this... really funny
7. Strike it while it's hot (note this will be on his new album "Beatin
the Heat" which will be out in August)
8. I scare myself
9. I've got a capo on my brain (this one was my favorite... I think
I laughed through the whole thing!!)
10. I got Mine
11. Fo-Fi Time (Bob Will and the Texas Playboys did this one)
12. Buzzard was a friend
and then for Encore he did
13. Milk Shakin Momma
At one point someone from the crowd yelled out a song request and Dan
said He and the band were takin care of things and anyway he sold that
song to Willie Nelson and so he would never sing that song again <grin>
We ran into Dan on our way out and I'm sure I gushed something stupid
about loving his music and everyone on the internet was right etc
So that's all from Southern California
<//><
Cynthia
Subject:
[hix] McCabe's Second Show May 13, 2000 (169K File attached)
Date: Sun, 14 May 2000 18:23:07 EDT
From: Kevin Cloud Brechner
To: hix@egroups.com
DAN
HICKS at McCabes Guitar Shop, Santa Monica California May 13, 2000 9:30
Show.
Well, suddenly Mr. Dan Hicks is Mr. Hot. I got over to McCabes in Santa
Monica about 9 pm, to find a big line at the door waiting to get in.
The last two times I have gone you probably could have gone at 9:20
and still got a seat in the first four rows. Big crowd this time. And
the crowd was decidedly younger this time, not just a bunch of aging
baby boomers. Anyway, the show started late, at 9:50. Dan came out and
said the first show was for the "uptight crowd", but this show was for
"the people." (Sorry Cynthia, I'm sure he wasn't referring to you!)
And since it was for "the people" we wouldn't mind if they made some
mistakes. In fact we should just treat it as a rehearsal.He looked at
the clock next to the stage and said, "Check our watches. It is 5 to
10. We will play until 11:10.....and you can count on that." And off
they went into the concert:
Instrumental: "Cherokee"
"Where's The Money?"
"Payday Blues" (twin violins, with the dark haired groovette [Anabell?]
Played kinda slow. Almost too slow, but a nice change-up from the regular
rhythm of it.
"The Buzzard Was Their Friend"
Dan puts down the guitar for a Snare Drum solo: "Entrance of the Gladiators",
then plays drums and sings on a Jon Hendricks' [formerly of Lambert,
Hendricks, & Ross] tune, "Somebody Tell Me The Truth"
[Dan switches back to guitar]
"Strike it While It's Hot"
Announcement of band (All spellings and names are suspect as Dan said
them real fast, I don't know the regulars all that well)
Groovettes: Anabell Cruise and Susan Williams (? not sure of these names)
Bass: Richard Sanders
Mandolin/violin: Brian Godchaux
Guitar: Paul Robinson
"I Scared Myself" Dan said, "I Scared Myself: An Anthem for a generation.
A lonely guy was sitting at a table in a cafe in Haight Ashbury in the
1960's, and he wrote on a napkin, "I Scared Myself", and those words
became an Anthem for a Generation." Now my theory on this song is that
for it to be done right, the soloists MUST scare themselves during their
performance, by stretching their talent to slightly beyond their max.
Tonight that was definitely done, with an awesome guitar solo by Paul
Robinson where in the middle of the solo he detuned the low E string
several steps and continued playing, then tuned it back up to E
for the end of the solo. That inspired the fiddler Brian Godchaux to
likewise stretch the rubberband to edge. The bass solo was not as inspiring,
but okay, and he definitely redeemed himself in a later solo.
Instrumental medley- Duke Ellington's "Caravan" and "Four Brothers"
"How Come My Cello Don't Play For You?"
"Long Come a Viper" Dan challenged the audience to sing along.
"Canned Music"
And the band retreated up the stairs on the edge of the black stage
to the upstairs dressing room. 11:05 pm. Hoots and hollers from the
crowd, then back for the finale.
Encore:
Dan in sunglasses now and back to the snare drum
A jazz number: "A Little Too Much"
"How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go?"
And they were done at 11:20. We got a ten minute bonus from Dan's predicted
exit.
Attached is a 169 K TIFF file of a drawing of Dan done in the darkness
of McCabes. If you have a slow computer you might not want to download
the attached file. Last time I sent a drawing there were complaints
about download time. I hope I did it in a way so those with slow computers
can avoid a long download. If not, my apologies in advance.
Kevin Cloud Brechner
Kevin's
sketch of Dan
Name:
Randy Stone
Date: 29 Jul 2000
Subject: Dan at McCabes, May 2000
Hi Folks: As long promised I want to pass along my experiences at McCabe's
in Santa Monica:
The night was cool; I was near the shore. I was at the head of the line
-- as usual -- but without my wife, which I would come to regret soon
enough. After several false starts and a look at the 'One and Only'
who was between shows I finally scooted in; it was a close shave with
another Hickster but I was the faster...I sat right down -- front row
center, as usual.
McCabe's is small and cozy, about 150 seats...not too warm and never
too cool...if you have a cute lady nearby it is most appreciated, thank
you. She will usually like it too -- that's the way Santa Monica can
be. It seemed longer but soon enough Dan and Company stepped down the
stairs and went into action: four men and two very attractive ladies.
Dan's usual banter greeted an enthusiastic audience; there was a great
deal of whistling, clapping and hooting. This continued throughout the
evening; everyone seemed very loose. As a very friendly crowd, some
folks knew who they were cheering; some vaguely mentioned songs they
had heard, such as 'Evening Breeze,' and others wondered who this MAN
really was.
The gig began with a very enthusiastic "Where's the Money?" A great
deal of whistling and carrying on followed and then the band segued
right into "Payday Blues." Of course, Dan introduced the band...and
I want you to know I first heard here the name of Susan Rabin. For those
of you yet to experience this Siren of Song, I warn you: prepare to
be floored! This woman brings so much animation to Dan's music it is
difficult to overstate her contributions. "The Buzzard was their Friend"
followed with a very languid "Someone Tell Me the Truth."
Dan had an easy, congenial crowd; there were many suggestions ("We have
our own ideas on what to play," HE responded). The sound was good --
at least up front; I heard no complaints, no scuffling and the band
had the full, complete and courteous attention of the crowd. A new song
(for me) came to the fore, "Strike It While It's Hot," and a glance
at the clock found us well into the set. It seemed as though we had
just begun.
With a wall draped in guitars for sale and the room full of beautiful
women, most of whom -- unfortunately -- were quite near just as many
men, Dan introduced us to an anthem: "I Scare Myself." I believe he
treated us to nearly eight minutes of hypnotic and alternating solos
and haunting vocals; the women on stage were earning their keep tonight,
indeed as on all the songs. As had been shown previously, Susan and
her female cohort tinged the offering with a stunning display of support.
I can not quite describe the effect her smile and her moves had on me
but one word which comes to mind is mesmerizing. Marachas and sanding
blocks were in abundance and I have to say the backup vocals were second
to none. I can not tell you where I went during "I Scare Myself" but
I have to say it must have been quite a distance... I missed that beautiful
woman I sometimes call my wife enormously during this song... there
is no way to adequately describe the bass, guitar, violin and Dan instrumentals...but
it was heavenly, to be sure. When it all ended the audience erupted
into enormous applause which easily drowned that which had greeted the
end of each solo. What an experience...you should have been there!
Following this masterpiece came "A Caravan and Four Brothers," a quiet
and welcome respite from what had preceeded. "How Come My Cello Don't
Play for You?" brought us a humorous interlude and was quickly trailed
by "Long Come a Viper." This very popular tune elicited a spirited response
from the audience.
A friendlier and happier group of folks could not be found for the MAN
this night. And who would know better than at this time but to bring
"Canned Music" to our ears. I do believe the folks began to sway to
the rhythm; by now everyone knew where the MAN was from and where he
was going to. And the 'Lickettes' continued to work their magic; there
is NO substitute for female harmonies. I swear it must have been a seance.
With this the band left the podium and exited upstairs to the hooting
and hollering of a full house. What a show! I can not do justice to
the atmosphere we enjoyed.
It seemed to be an hour, but minutes later Dan and Company returned
to perform their encore. Can you believe it? I can not say what the
first song was but there was no doubt as to the final song: "How Can
I Miss You When You Won't Go Away?" It all seemed to click; the harmonies,
the guitars, the support: the audience cheered this final song. We all
waited for another encore but it was not to be.
Soon the aura began to fade but not the memories; I heard not a single
complaint over anything. All hoped for more but were satisfied with
the 70 or so minutes we shared. Afterward, Susan Rabin put in an appearance
near the base of the stairs in the front of the McCabe's. She
was humble, most gracious and quite stunning; I thanked her for her
efforts. While Dan had mentioned an after show appearance it didn't
pan out. Susan more than made up for it; what a show!
My recommendation: do not miss a show by Dan regardless of circumstance.
As I mentioned to my wife we must make every show from now on. I paid
$23.00 for some 70 minutes; the two of us could have seen two shows
for $92.00. Boy, what a night that would have been!
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