Set List: Bennett and Burch at Fitzgerald's
Berwyne, Illinois, Friday January 24, 2003.
12:00AM to 2:30AM

They opened with a Bee Gees tribute set for Mo. Erika and I had already been alerted to this plan. Yet, we were not prepared for the opening number to be:

After they finished IO, Burch whispered something to Steve (the guy from the opening band Frisbee, who was helping on the high vocals), and then he ran backstage. Bennett and Steve joked about his needing a piss or some such nonsense. Upon his return, Edward's face was beaming with a smile about equal to what Erika and I painfully had glued on our faces the entire weekend. He was excited because he wanted to show off his Bee Gees shirt. It's an iron on! We don't quite recall the name of the second song, but they did it beautifully and better than the original, I think.

The third song was played just for Erika. I can say that with confidence because Burch pointed at Rika and mouthed, "just for you!" It was an excellent sing-a-long between the front table and the band. Erika was in Heaven.

Burch acted like he could play Bee Gee's all night, and asked if that'd be alright. Their final Bee Gee's number was the most beautiful of all. Melissa Bach (no relation to LeRoy Bach, Mr. Bennett informed the audience) accompanied them on cello.

Finally Bennett requested to play some of their own music. They hit it off with a staple song.

7. Venus Stopped the Train

Then they went into the four new ones that they're considering adding to The Palace at 4 AM (Part II). I don't claim to know all of the titles.

8. The Palace at 4 AM

9. Times Gone By?

10. Take Your Glasses Off

11. All the Time

They played a Woody Guthrie song and followed with something that I didn't recognize.

12. Woody's Chain of Broken Hearts

13. Becky wasn't paying attention! --> another new one of sorts

Then they hit some necessities off of The Palace.

14. California

15. Talk to Me

Next it was time for some more sentiment and remembering of recently deceased greats in the song writing world. Bennett had a friend bring up a giant board with lyrics for the audience to sing in two parts. The audience was pretty much gone by this point. They sang along with all their might.

16. Judgment Day by Joe Strummer of The Clash (sing-a-long)

17. Judy and the Drug Squad by Strummer

Number 18 we had heard in St. Louis, where Mr. Bennett forgot the words to the third verse. It happened the same way again. Burch helped him to remember eventually.

18. Gorilla Desperado

Time for another staple song. Bennett and Burch whispered back and forth, reminding Erika and I of a certain performance by the Professor and Pupil.

19. Shakin' Sugar performed by Superintendent A and Superintendent B

And they were just as sinister as the Superintendents because they followed with:

20. Stevie Goes Her Own Way and Erika goes to Hell

Puzzle Heart was beautiful, but I can't remember where they wandered in the middle of it. It was cute, wherever it was.

21.     Puzzle Heart + instrumental jam + whistle
     a.     Sidetrack 1
     b.     Sidetrack 2, Erika's confused
     c.     Finish Puzzle Heart

22. Now and Always by ?

23. Country Televised Music aka CTM

I love CTM! Then Bennett said they'd play just one more song and he stepped off stage. Burch played Pinball Wizard in his own special style. It was fun, to be sure! What a coincidence that I wore my Live at Leeds t-shirt that night! Also, Frisbee had played The Kids Are Alright in their set. Cute cute cute.

24. (the "last song") Porno Pete: Pinball Wizard, but Edward Burch style!

25.     A Song for Ana ("Ana, we miss you like HELL!" ~Rika)
        Like A Photograph
     a.     Repeat triple time + loud + Jay hilarity

Another staple:

26. Woody's Little White Cottage

They asked for requests and got some dumb ones. Bennett outwardly denied most of them, exchanging banter with the audience. However, he thoroughly ignored any mention of Drinking on Your Dime. It was obvious that he was in no mood for Tweedy sap. As I always say, "I don't care for that drooly, slimey, germy Tweedy." That pretty much summed up Bennett's mood for the night too. While waiting for inspiration Burch started strumming loud and screaming out lyrics to some song about Jesus.

27. JESUS - snippet w/ Burch screaming

The inspiration that came was a cute. I guess that they'd almost forgotten it?

28.    Watchin' Junior Drive
     a.     Tweedy bashing interlude (some low blows)
     b.     Junior guitar solo by Bennett (a bit sloppy)
     c.     Burch's guitar solo (just because Bennett begged him)
          i.     visit from Bob Marley's ghost
          ii.    technical difficulties
          iii.   Redemption Song sidetrack
     d.     Finish Watchin' Junior Drive

Half an hour later (a slight exaggeration) Bennett took a smoke break and lectured that the path to stopping global terrorism begins at home.

29.     Smoke Break / It Hurts on piano
     a.     Global Terrorism starts at home
          i.    Lecture w/ resources
               1.     Z magazine
               2.     Chopsky
     b.     Lecture on Love
     c.     It Hurts was written for some drummer girl
     d.     Bennett announces that he wants to go back stage,
               lie on the floor, and cry

Bennett sang It Hurts, but slept through the piano solos. Then he ended on a frightful screech into the microphone. It sounded like he mustav' had a really bad headache from the African Merlot that Billy Idol's older brother kept handing up to him.

           i.    Sleeping Bennett in chair on stage
           ii.   Squealing/screeching Bennett

Bennett asked Burch to play his favorite song. He had to beg a little. I've recorded some classic quotes below to sum up the event.

30.     Jay's favorite song (Empty Surprise?  Or some other title?)
     a.     "Edward, please play my favorite song."
     b.     "You're playing it on the piano?" *slight pout*
     c.     "This is my favorite song in the world.  It's called..."
				Pause
                   "I'm going back stage to cry."

Edward continues to play after Jay goes back stage.

Sap Interlude: Jay re-emerges and gets a big hug!

Technical difficulties --> Steve from Frisbee helped out.

31. The Last Song: (I've never heard it) "Play it One More Time"?

In case you are wondering, after the concert we did find a place to stay. We did not have to resort to Plan D. We did not freeze to death. We did not kill eachother.

We did get Mr. Burch's autograph. He and Erika had a long boring conversation about the Bee Gees, while I pet a cute doggy-wog.

And Erika no longer owns a Bee Gees thermos to match her lunchbox.