September 13, 2000
The Outpost-Thunder Bay, ON
Allison Brown
J Englishman was scheduled to do an acoustic performance for Rock 94 in Thunder Bay at 3:00pm on the day of his concert at the Outpost. My roommate and I, on our way downtown, made a stop at the radio station with high hopes of meeting and seeing J perform. After facing a very confused receptionist, we were told that Rock 94 was actually broadcasting live from a car dealership on the other side of the city, and that J was not in the studio. Disappointed, we left the station without even having seen J.
The doors were set to open at the Outpost for the J Englishman/Jet Set Satellite/Limblifter show at 8:00pm. After a lengthy wait, we were finally allowed into the bar shortly after 9:00. The show was to start at 9:30, so my roommate and I found a table to sit at and waited patiently, unsure which band was up first. Lonny, carrying a glass of wine, walked out of the "backstage" area just before 9:30, right beside where we were seated. J peeked his head out shortly after, and a few minutes later headed for the stage. Just before 10:00 the show started. The opening band? J Englishman! I ran all the
way to the stage where a small crowd of about 10 people had
gathered. The show was amazing! The crowd was mainly composed of underage girls, and was fairly subdued for most of the show. The set-list was something along these lines:
Breaking Down
The Hero
Abused/Controversy(Prince cover)
When the Fire Comes
Don't Mean a Thing
Staring at the Sun
Flowers for Ophelia
Tripwires
More
The new bassist seemed to overact a lot, but had great back-up vocals. Lonny was amazing, as was J of course! J's vocal range never ceases to amaze me. Staring at the Sun was a special treat because this one of my favourite songs. During Flowers For Ophelia J did a little waltz for the crowd which was very cute! He spent a lot of time trying to encourage the fairly unenergetic bar crowd to get onto the dance floor, but to no avail. J also spent a few minutes talking about the video for Abused, and how it is too "saucy" for television. When he closed with More, he asked the crowd what the name of the song was, and the only audible response was from a drunken guy at the back of the crowd screaming "I want something more!" J, having given up on the crowd, said "Uh... yeah, it is!" and started to play the song regardless. As he got to the chorus, J encouraged the crowd to sing along, and laughed at how pathetic the crowd was considering the event was a frosh week event: "You guys, that was alright for a bunch of Frosh Week GRANDMOTHERS! I can hear my mother singing at the back of the crowd, and she's still in fucking Toronto!"
After the show, J was scheduled to sign autographs at 11:45 with Trevor from Jet Set Satellite. During JSS's set, J went up to the closed-off upper level of the bar to smoke and watch the show. I spotted Lonny standing by the stage while JSS played, so I went to talk to him. He's a sweetie! He grabbed the poster that I had stolen off the wall out of my hand and laughed, and when I asked him if the band was coming back in October, he said "Yeah, we're playing at... what's the name of the place?" I told him, and he grabbed my shoulder and said "Yeah, that's it! Thanks!" I complimented him on the show, and he thanked me and said he'd talk to me later. About half an hour later I saw him signing autographs for some girls, so I got my poster signed. As he gave it back to me I said "Thanks man!" and he laughed, and mockingly replied "Thanks man!" J came out shortly after and was signing a few autographs, so I got my poster signed by him too. We didn't talk much because he couldn't hear anything I was saying.
At 11:45 I got in line by the Chart table to get J's autograph again. The people in front of me were rude and for the most part flirty girls looking to get a piece of J. When it was finally my turn to get an autograph, I handed him my Poor Lil Rockstar album cover, and said "Can I get a picture with you?" He said "Sure!" When I asked him if the guy next to him(his tour manager?) could take our picture he said "Of course! That's his job!" J moved the table out a bit so I could squeeze in beside him. As I started to kneel down, he grabbed me by the waist and said "Where do you think you're going?" He then plopped me on his lap, grabbed me in the biggest bear hug ever, and rested his head on my shoulder while our picture was taken. I thanked him, and then unfortunately had to leave.
I missed Limblifter because my roommate is not much of a concert person and wanted to leave. I did see Jet Set Satellite though, and they were amazing! As for J... I can not believe how amazing he is in person! I can't wait to see him again on October 2nd!