Liz Fucked Us All!!
I'll let Steve or one of the many Support System members in attendence explain that one.
From State College...
liz last night was awesome!!!!!! she played at this tiny place called the crowbar up here at penn state...i was just 10 feet away from her! the first sight of liz was when she came out with her back up singer and they were messing around with the guys from dave mead...my heart litterally skipped a beat. i got one of the drum sticks from the drummer...the show was so fucking great!!!!!!! she started with chopsticks and then jumped right into fuck and run. when she sang flower all hte guys from the opening band came out with only their boxers on and each had a word on their chests...they spelled out "liz fucked us all..." it was fucking hilarious!!!!! right after that liz finished her water bottle and set it down...the vibrations from the floor carried it right to my friend steph and she picked it up and gave it to me! i got liz phair's fucking water bottle!!!! yeah baby!!! the show was just amazing! during the encore she pulled out one of the sound guys and he did a cover of break on through by the doors...she was going nuts...this concert was the best fucking experiance of my life!!!! i was in a daze for hours after the show...still am...Liz is fuckingawesome!!!
laters,
antony
Wonder if I'll ever bury the hatchet inside...
OK...State College show...
Back in DC...recovering after being up late and screaming at/with Liz. Jeez it's almost 5 PM. OK, I'm ready. The venue, Crowbar, is small - you wade through five rows of people and you're practically at the front of the stage. Myself and other 'listers were at the far right, about 4 rows back. The throng of young PSU coeds at the front of the stage was quite impenetrable. But I was near the front and pleased.
Liz looked SAVORY in a low-cut, tight-fitting green dress that exposed her calves and shoulders but did wonders for her ass at the same time...The setlist was not unlike her recent shows - with one VERY notable exception (more on that in a minute).
The breakdown was: EIG: 9, WS: 4, WCSE: 6, no Blood Keeper or anything like that (although I screamed twice for Carnivore, quite loudly - but Liz mockingly retorted, "Wha? Wha? into the mic).
Although I would have preferred a few more songs off of Whip-Smart, that notion was quickly dismissed when Liz announced that she was going to play JEALOUSY. This was the climax of my evening. It was LOUD, and Liz had this great sneer on her face as she was singing, "Imagining me behind your eyes, And then what did I see, I saw hips, I saw thighs..." She missed one of the verses and looked over at Buddy, who kind of laughed it off, and then Liz chuckled and caught back up, in perfect sync. Although the PSU kids were more of a WCSE-crowd, the fans who know and love Jealousy let it all go when she started that unique guitar riff to start it off.
Liz was exremely expressive (singing with her eyes closed, passionate) on a few other songs too - Johnny Feelgood, 6'1", Fuck and Run, and Mesmerizing, which was sang, as usual, sans guitar. Before Cinco De Mayo, Liz asked, "Do you know what day it is?" and everyone cheered. During Flower, the LIZ FUCKED US ALL boys came out and stood there with sheepish grins on their faces as Liz sang (Janet doing nice backup vocals). Liz kind of knelt down in front of one of them (facing away from him) and rubbed against his leg as she sang, "I just want your fresh young jimmy, CRAMming SLAMming RAMming in me." I laughed at that. I also was quite envious of that young man.
Don't Apologize absolutely rocked. Liz was practically screaming the lyrics with her eyes shut tightly, and a lot of people started dancing when before, they had just been standing still.
Liz was very talkative throughout the show, saying that her favorite guitar had just "died" - the guitar on which "...I wrote almost every song you know," and she announced a few of the songs off of WCSE before playing them ("Do you guys like Polyester Bride? This one is called Uncle Alverez").
More hijinks ensued during the encores (Perfect World, Stratford, Divorce Song). Between Stratford and Divorce Song (I think), the band started playing "Break On Through" by the Doors. Liz was pointing and gesturing at one of the guys backstage - he was either a member of D. Mead's band or a roadie - I have no idea, but I think was one of the LIZ FUCKED US ALL boys as well - and Liz literally dragged him up to the front of the stage and handed him the mic. Liz and the whole band were laughing, and THEN this guy sang a very impressive cover of Break On Through - while Liz was dancing her ASS off right next to him during the whole thing! It was hilarious - I couldn't believe it was happening, but the guy was mimicing Jim Morrison's style - AND singing like him too! He was great. Liz was practically bouncing off the walls and then the mystery singer and Liz hugged at the end. Liz said to him as he was leaving the stage, "See? All these girls are screaming for YOU!" Everyone was laughing and cheering.
Since there was no beer allowed downstairs where most of the crowd was (grr), I went directly upstairs to the bar after Liz finished. I learned later that fans were able to see Liz and get stuff signed while I was quenching my thirst (more grr). So instead I drank with the other 'listers and the bass player for a minute, and then a lot of us where hanging out at the front of the club where Janet, the keyboardist and other people including Mr. Morrison) were hanging out, talking. Then we proceeded to get shit-faced a local bar.
It was a crazy, fun show.
This is the consummate review. i had my last final exam on tuesday and will be graduated next week. Thanks to the baltimore crew who bought me lots of Yuengling Lager. This was the last stop on the tour (the iowa show was cancelled). can you believe that the venue is 4 blocks from my house? It's May 5,1999, cinco de mayo and i'm here to give you the wrap-up. You'll have to forgive me.....i'm an old morrissey fan and i'm bent on details so here is the story.....and please note, i believe that this was the atypical liz phair concert.
it's 6:00pm and about 10 of us are waiting in line at Crowbar......which is a small bar/club type venue in state college, on college ave.....college avenue is like "main street" for penn state university. for those who have never been, it only holds about 300 people. the place is really jammmed in on the avenue, right in there among the small shops.....so the guys from david mead were there, hanging out on the front porch for a while. around 7 pm, a whole bunch of people flooded out, and there was liz. she walked right past me, wearng a blue button down shirt and black pants. she stepped onto the bus, but a little while later started walking down college ave. against traffic. i was like, "hun, look out!" but i think she got into a car not to far away. we could barely hear the soundcheck and were glad to see the doors would be opening soon.
so 8 pm rolls around and we walk in. i'm right up front, about 1 1/2 people stage left. (shout out to jason and david who came up from dc to see the show) . a little while later, david mead comes out. so, on their second to last song.......the whole liz phair entorage walks outon stage.
WHOA!!! believe it. janet went straight for the bass player and gave him a make-up job. Liz went straight for dave mead with a tube of lipstick. she gave him a little on the lips, two spots on the cheeks, and a line down the nose. unbelieveable!!!!! (big time foreshadowing!!!!) the band finished up with one more song, covered in make-up. for those who haven't seen, david mead is a progressive rock band with some rockabilly tendencies.......(love me tender was suggested, almost played, but not)
so about an hour later, the house lights dimmed, and out came liz phair. i was about 5 feet away from her, leaning on the stage, just barely to her left. she wore a baby blue, almost torquiose dress which came down to just above her knees. she wore platform sandals, a big crystal butterfly ring on her right hand, and of course her wedding band on her left. she also wore gold hoop earrings. (liz had my heart right thenand there)
for the story, i'll just follow the set list. a printed list was layed out, but liz's assistant/guitar tech assured me it was "just a suggestion." so, let me go song by song, as it actually happend.
CHOPSTICKS
FUCK AND RUN
liz seemed amazed that so many people at penn state knew her songs. she realized that she wasn't playing to an ignorant crowd, but to people who loved her. she was astonished by the tremendous applause and acted shy at first.
JOHNNYFEELGOOD
MESMERIZE
liz put down the guitar for this one....she danced in a very slinky manner.....the flowers came pouring in....tulips.....and a dozen white roses from david and jason (standing right next to me) she kind of layed them on top of herself.......unreal.
liz said, "know what day it is? cinco de mayo"
CINCO DE MAYO
FLOWER
liz puts down her guitar for this one. she got about half way through when, oh no.....here comes the four guys from the dave mead crew in boxers and tshirts. they line up behind liz, as she sings, and take off their shirts. on their chests, written in lipstick...."liz.....sucked......us......all" liz was totally embarressed......shocked....and blushing......but this would not be the last of david mead.
FIREWALKER
introduced as a new song
NEVER SAID
6'1
my anthem, as i am 5'4 (and male)
DANCE OF THE SEVEN VAILS
(the girls went crazy for this one)
BIG TALL MAN
a deviation from the printed set list.
liz then said something like, "know a song called jealousy?"
JEALOUSY
GLORY
oh no!!!!!! liz, speaking about her yellow and white guitar says, "i've had that guitar since my senior year of college, when i lived in new york. i wrote just about every song you've heard on it. it's dying. can we rebuild it?" the guitarist assured her, "yes!" tim, the guitar tech hands her a completely new and strange silver guitar....can't remember the brand name. we didn't see the yellow guitar again. (by the way, both her red and yellow guitars a quite beat up, full of character. i could see all the nicks on the backs of the bodies) anyway, the audience gave an "awww" and she rolledinto.....
UNCLE ALVAREZ
for new rock, liz brings the band in and says something like 'i'll play the chorus once and then the fantasy part. see? we changed the structure just for you."
NEW ROCK
"you wanna hear polyester bride?"
POLYESTER BRIDE
the guitar player suggests they play "egg" first, then the othersong........
WHITE CHOCOLATE SPACE EGG
this was my favortive song of the night. the band was completely
together. it sounded as lush as it does on the album....simply amazing.... this was the song where i just stared and said, "uhhhh." I felt at peace with myself, yet a feeling of turmoil, mystified by liz's music. mysterious and deep.......unbelievable.
"this is the last song. really, it is", liz said
SUPERNOVA
encore.....
so the whole band leaves the stage. wait a minute.....who's sneaking around in the darkness.....it's the dave mead crew....keep in mind the stage is tiny......the drum kit got a healthy sprinkling of baby powder, and the rest of the crew went stage left to the platform where tim the monitor guy was stationed. so, for now, the dave mead group is just out of site. so, here comes liz for the encore. the drums were dusted off......liz said something like, "it's traditional for bands to carry on with all kinds on antics on the last night of the tour...."
PERFECT WORLD
this song had me near tears.......
STRATFORD-ON-GUY
oh geez, here come the dave mead guys from stage left...about halfway through the song, they come out and start harrassing janet, the backup singer. the drummer is sprawled out on the monitor, microphone stand between his legs, and making obscene gestures.....holygoodness!!!!!
so liz, as soon as her vocal is done, grabs the drummer by his shirt and drags him over the monitor to center stage!!!! (she is strong!!!) then, she steps on his chest with one foot!!!! you've never seen liz phair like this, trust me. it was as unreal as it sounds........
......song ends
uh oh......what is this. the bassist is playing something strange....and there goes the drummer.....the whole band steps in, listens to liz's direction, and says 'ok'........ but what is it?
break on through.........WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES, BREAK ON THROUGH BY THE DOORS!!!!!!!
it started with the bass, then the drums, then the guitar. liz said, "tim, get out here! (tim is the monitor mixer, also the guy responsible for sending the right mix to liz's earpieces). so tim reluctanty steps down from the platform at stage left, picks up the mic, and in a shy way sings break on through. "you know the day destroys the night......" so holy shit......liz is dancing like crazy!!!!!! she was digging that doors thing...i'm sure the keyboard player thought it was 1968. the band is awsome. the audience is dumbfounded.
so, finally, the hooplah is over. it's time for one more song, liz picks up her guitar and finishes up with
DIVORCE SONG
aftwards, i went upstairs to the bar. the bass player (forgive me for not knowing names) was up there and i congradulated him.
no doubt, this was one of the greatest experiences of my life. not to gloat, but i snagged liz's last water bottle....i also got a pick that fell off liz's guitar (thanks david)
this was a life affirming experince for me. i've seen morrissey, i've seen the sundays.....liz phair is right there. she grabed my heart, squeezed it, saw the pain in my eyes, played an encore, and wenthome.....
liz, i love you.
"It wasn't fun this time
Letting you go..."
As I slowly come down off my Liz-induced high (Liz DID get me high!) created by seeing three Liz shows in a 9 day period, I must take a moment to share feelings while my ears are still ringing (literally).
I was at the 9:30 Club show in DC last week and then Baltimore and the Crowbar this week. 9:30 was the most enjoyable (Liz's drummer agreed with me on this - he liked the way the band sounded and I liked the crowd), but that wild Crowbar show was definitely the most eventful. So let's talk about that.
First and foremost, there were too damn many people at the Crowbar. We got there after David Meade had finished and before Liz had started with designs on getting near the front. We got nowhere close. There was pushing, shoving, and general jockeying for position throughout the show. At one point during Liz's set, three people walked (shoved?) their way out behind us, and one girl in the group was crying and holding a pool of blood in the palm of her hand (does that make her a bloodkeeper?). Then like 30 seconds later two guys about 20 feet to our right started going at it. Apparently one of them had accidentally hit this girl in the face with a bottle and the other was upset about it. So those two guys got ejected. Things weren't exactly calm after that, but there weren't any more fights.
Now for the highlights, and there were many: When we were standing in line to enter the Crowbar, Liz and Buddy walked out the doors right past us on their way to the tour bus. I said hi to Liz and she greeted us as she hurried past. During the show she veered from the set list to play Big Tall Man and Jealousy, which were both cool. David Meade and his crew came out during Flower and, one by one, lifted their shirts to reveal "LIZ...FUCKED...US...ALL" written in lipstick across their guts. This was apparently in revenge for something Liz and her bandmates did to them during their opening set, which I didn't see. Near the end Liz made one of the soundboard guys (what was his name - we were talking to him after the show) get on stage and take the mike. They broke into a fantastic rendition of the Doors' Break On Through, with Liz not singing but dancing wildly and generally going crazy throughout. That was amazing.
After the show I was talking to Liz's drummer Mario (also the Wallflowers' drummer) in the bar and he said that Liz has a lot of great new material and she is tentatively planning to go into the studio this summer. He made a point of mentioning a couple of times how amazing he thinks the new stuff is. After hearing Firewalker and Don't Apologize three times each now, I believe it. Firewalker is already one of my favorite Liz songs. Outside after the show we were talking to that cool Jersey girl Janet and I asked her if she had ever met Liz's husband. Her exact words follow, "Once...actually he kind of looks like you." Hello!!! Apparently all hope is not lost in my sad little life.
Other random highlights from all three shows: Liz spontaneously playing May Queen at 9:30 - absolutely incredible; Liz not wearing a bra at both Bohager's and the Crowbar (thank you Liz), and actually getting to see her play Cinco de Mayo on Cinco de Mayo. And finally, far and away the biggest highlight of all: getting to meet and hang out with so many cool people from this mailing list at all three shows. I drove to Baltimore with Lynda, to State College with Tom, saw Brian and Dave (Dave used to be the governor of Vermont and now he's a garbage collector, BTW) at all three shows, and along the way also met and hung out with Becky, Katie (the one who goes to JMU), Eric, Steve, Charles, TAD, and probably several other wonderful people who I'm now forgetting in my sleep-deprived state. As cool as it is to read everybody's posts every day and feel in touch with fellow Liz fans, the really amazing thing about this list is actually getting together and meeting people on it. Of all the highlights from the last week and a half, the people I've met are what I'll remember most. Okay, Janet telling me that I look like Liz's husband is what I'll remember most, but all you great people are a close second.
My only sadnesses are that I still haven't gotten to meet Liz (unless that brief exchange outside the Crowbar counts) and that I probably won't be seeing her live for a long time now. But don't worry Floridians, I'm not complaining. Six shows in 10 months is pretty damn good. And after talking to Mario at the Crowbar, I'm really convinced that we're going to see a new Liz album (and a great one at that) next year.
Over and out,
Mark
Liz @ Crowbar, State College, PA 5/5
I have much to add to the excellent reviews posted by TMK, ginz@psu.edu,et al.
I was in the front row, just to Liz's right. I was so close I could've touched her. Reminded me of what Meredith said Just Passin' Thru was like in July - we were right at Liz's feet. You have to see Crowbar's stage to believe it. *So* tiny. She came so close to me that at one point I thought she was going to hit me in the face w/ the head of her guitar! I shouted for "May Queen" the whole night (and totally blew my voice in the process), but she didn't play it. When she said "Wha??" the one time, it was after I'd screamed *really* loud for it, so I thought she was reacting to me, kind of making fun of me for screaming so loud. Once I screamed for "Blood Keeper" and Liz answered me with a fake scream of her own.
The silver sparkly guitar that was used as a substitute for the Duo Sonic was a "Music Vox" if I remember correctly -- don't know what co. makes it. I was so close, I could clearly make out the chords to many songs -- I now know exactly how to play "Polyester Bride" & others. I think this was the longest set Liz has played on this leg --22 songs, if I'm not mistaken.
"Firewalker" was great. The mix was really nice all night long & you could actually hear Liz's playing. "Don't Apologize" is really hard-rocking. In fact, the whole show was like *heavy* rock & roll. It was definitely the loudest show I've been to. My ears are still ringing. I think I've got permanent hearing loss!
The sound guy who came out to sing "Break On Through" is Ed Tinley, not Tim. Check your _whitechocolate..._ liner notes; he engineered & played guitar on many tracks. I asked him after the show if he was still working with Brad, and he said he hasn't done anything w/ him since the album. He's been on tour with Liz since Oct. This surprised me. (and yes, he did kick ass on stage -- and Liz was dancing like a *maniac* during "Break on Through" - very wild!)
When Liz came out at the end of Dave Mead's set to lipstick the guys, I took one look & thought she looked like the girl next door. Very Patty Duke, I swear. Took my breath away. I think that's the best I've seen her look in concert, and the first time I ever noticed how nice she looks from behind. Janet told us Liz works out every day, she's very enthusiastic about it. She said Liz is so tiny (and she is), it's impossible to shop for her because she's a size 1 -- on a "fat" day! Also, when Liz said "You'll have to excuse us, it's the last tour -- er, the last show of the tour, so we're all a little tweaked," I don't know what she meant by that, but her eyes were kind of bloodshot -- no joke. Of course, that's probably just the stoner in me, wanting to believe...
Both Janet & Jebin told us Liz is very adamant about heading directly to the studio now that the tour is over. She's "all about" recording -- it's her "big thing," said Janet.
Afterward, I was waiting around w/ Josh Keir & his friend Laura. Laura suggested that we go around the back to see what was up. If it hadn't been for her cajoling, we never would've caught Liz in time. She was standing with a crowd of perhaps 20 fans, very casually signing things. She blended right in, looked just like another student. She said as we were approaching her "Did everybody get their stuff signed?" I handed her my copy of Juvenilia & I could sort of tell by her reaction that it may have been the first she'd seen of the EP all night. Then I said "Would you pose for a picture with me?" and she said "Sure!" She seemed very happy to do this for us, I imagine since she won't be doing it for a long time now. So I handed my camera to Laura, and got a little closer to Liz. To my great surprise, Liz put her arm around me (!) and then put her head on me (!) and I could feel her hair all over my face! I was in heaven! I think she likes me. What an excellent early birthday present and a total mindfuck - I'm in love!!
After she signed a few other things (including Laura's drumstick -- Liz said she's signed lots of weird things, including bald heads, but never a drumstick), she talked about how cold Binghamton was, said she couldn't feel her hands after the 3rd song. I wanted to say "I was the idiot screaming for 'May Queen'!" or "Put 'Blood Keeper' on your next record!" but didn't get a chance.
I took photos the entire show, so all the good stuff is on film, including the "Liz Fucked Us All" stunt. Look for those on Ken Lee's website within the coming weeks.
I have to say that for all my running around N. America & spending over $200 on bus tickets trying to meet Liz & have my photo taken w/ her, it's funny that in the end, all it took was this one "backyard" show for all my wishes to be fulfilled. I daresay, it was one of the best nights of my life!
a deep breath and a good night's sleep and a gentle landing so i can hop off the magic carpet and get back into step with the straight world. d.c., millersville, baltimore and state college were all close enough that i couldn't miss out, so i didn't. a friend who went to bohager's with me can't stop giggling about how my 20 min grad school presentation on adolescent idol worship of musicians is suspiciously congruent with my own behavior- i keep reminding her that many of the behaviors i described also exemplify "normal" music appreciation, but she's not buying it.
i won't presume too much, but after 4 shows in two weeks, and thanks to some long, interesting chats with buddy, mario, and especially with janet and david, i can almost imagine what it's like to be part of this band; i mean, i've practically been on tour with them. so when everyone involved involved with the show (but liz) let loose and hit the bar after the crowbar show, it was easy to blend in. i learned a lot, things like, how janet is jealous (in a joking way) of liz for being a size 1 on a "fat day" and that she is a fanatical exerciser. and about the "boss-employee" dynamic between liz and the band- like liz is definitely the queen bee, but as far as dictators go, she is kind and benevolent. and how none of them know for sure where and when the next show is- at least one of them mentioned that the lilith dates were by no means cast in stone. but mainly that these folks are really just smart, funny, friendly, people who you'd like to have a beer with if you ever got the chance. also, you can scoff at this if you want but i swear it's true, there was noticable chemistry between my friend dave and janet as we stood outside yapping in state college. in another time and place they would have wound up having dinner together, i'm sure. tommy, mark, you were there- am i right?
like many of you, i have my own stories about guitar picks and setlists, but one that will pain you is how we were heading home from bohager's on tuesday and the list blew out the sun roof of my car and out onto i-83. gone. but i rallied at the crowbar and got a friendly roadie to hand me one against the wishes of a bully-boy bouncer who was so excited to have a reason to throw his weight around that he nearly pounded me just for asking (GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM THE STAGE!). sheesh. don't do steroids. they're really bad for your personality.
david (bass player) is 38? man i hope the next few years (sigh) are that kind to me. i would never have known but we got into a conversation about the great laker teams of the mid-80's. he's a big laker fan, as is mario- both are from there. so we're watching them crush portland after the crowbar show and i start in how those were the days for the nba and all that, and he says "yeah i was there in person" which shocked me couse he looks so damn young, and he says oh no, i'm 38. he also broke the news to me that every time i get excited and strip off my t-shirt and throw it onstage during the "volcano" part of supernova it goes right into the trash. "sorry, man, it's like, we don't know where it's been" that was really funny because he seemed really sorry, but i'm pretty sure i didn't expect to see liz wearing them in the magazine article i see about her. i just think it's kind of funny- like old ladies throwing their panties at elvis. anyway, 3 of my best t-shirts are gone.
also, and most importantly, i've only been part of this list for a few weeks, but thanks to this tour and the list, i've made some really nice new friends that i hope to see lots of in the future. tommy, mark, katie, lynda, tad, mindy, becky, i have had so much fun these past two weeks, i can't even it describe... stay in touch, esp. with summer coming! tommy and mark, we're still on for sleater-kinney in d.c. right? keep me posted. and becky, i am truly bummed that dave and i couldn't join you and your friends after bohager's on tuesday. but i have melissa's email and we'll get together soon. besides, with janet out of the picture now, i think you might have a shot at dave!
See his review at his page at:
Liz at Crowbar