Ok, Rusted Root wasn’t really playing with Lou Reed, but it seemed like it with the 20 or so people that were on stage with him at any given time. They consisted of what seemed like young ridiculously talented polished studio musicians. There was a guy on electric upright bass. There was a guy on “live electronics” (a Mac) who um, did things I guess? There was another guitar player who looked like he worked at Guitar Center. Some guy on keyboards and accordion (ahem). Ok, it wasn’t all bad, Steve Hunter was there. But that didn’t make up for Guy Smiley the (amazingly proficient) drummer who added cringe inducing American Idol backing vocals to I Wanna Know. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
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How do you approach this show? You have a man who, 40 years ago, wrote some of the most important music ever recorded. And then put out album after album after album after album of mostly mediocre, but occasionally brilliant tunes. Are you really going to a Lou Reed show to hear Lou Reed, or just going so you can say you saw Lou Reed before he died? Cause the man is old, people. I was standing behind a number of people in the balcony and I could still see his wrinkles. You can’t though, because his management did not approve any of the photos Joel took (on loan to NPR for the night) and apparently they aren’t allowing NPR to stream the show as planned either. Oh well, it’s Lou Reed, he can do whatever he wants. |
Going in I was hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. I mean, what if he just read poetry for an hour and then encored with Original Wrapper? High expectations can be a dangerous thing for any show, especially with everything that can go wrong from both the performers, crowd, venue, but there is even more potential for disaster with nostalgia acts, and even more with LEGENDARY nostalgia acts, and even more with LEGENDARILY DIFFICULT nostalgia acts. Basically a Lou Reed show has the highest level of potential disappointment of any other show I can think of.
And well, as expected, he delivered this disappointment.
Arriving at the club, the shit was packed to the brim. Every demographic was in attendance. I wasn’t really paying attention to opener Mad as I tried to stake out a good spot. Once I was settled, the sweet Sweet Jane riffs started flowing, the crowd went nuts, Lou did not. Phoned it in. Can you blame him? He wrote that song when he was like 26 years old. He was getting it out of the way, and I mean, I get it, I know he’s too cool for school, I know he can do whatever the hell he wants, he’s Lou Reed for chrissakes, but it left nowhere to go. I don’t care how big a fan you are of his 20+ solo albums - you still want him to rip up a smoking version of Sweet Jane as a set closer. Even Lester Bangs wants this.
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After Sweet Jane, he broke into I’m Set Free, an often overlooked (justifiably?) track from the greatest VU album (c’mon, be honest, you know it’s their best). What an awesome choice. Seriously. Next was a long odd version of Ecstacy with an amazing guitar solo. Then the strange I’m Sticking With You “because it was in Juno” like he was apologizing for it. He’s so weird. Ok, then he played more Lou Reed songs. Halloween Parade, Video Violence, stuff from The Raven, Guardian Angel. I was bored. It was past most of the crowd’s bed time, then Magic and Loss brought everyone back to life with another ferocious guitar solo. Then abruptly came the obligatory nostalgia-act-stand-together-awkwardly-at-the-front-of-the-stage-and-take-a-bow. |
That’s it, 11 songs. For a $45 show with no opener.
But whatever, like I said, it’s Lou Reed he can do what he wants.
They came back for an encore, the crowd went crazy shouting “Loooooou” which sounded like “booooooo”. He then launched into Metal Machine Music in it’s entirety. No just kidding, he played Perfect Day. Which was a Perfect Encore to an Imperfect Show.
Did the show live up to my low expectations?
Uh huh.
Did the setlist leave quite a bit to be desired?
You know it.
Did I feel awkward at times, like watching a bad comedian?
You bet.
Do I still love Lou Reed just as much as before?
Sure do.
Am I glad I went?
Damn straight. I saw Lou Reed before he died.
you forgot to mention that the show was so ridiculously packed to the brim that the cafe and all the bars were closed except for the bar upstairs, manned by 2 bartenders. i saw people standing in the 2nd floor bathrooms with the doors open to watch the show without being suffocated. granted, old people are fat, but $45+; no drinks; no view; no rock.
930 you suck.
haaaa - I forgot his name, but remembered it being unpleasant, so just went with Guy Smiley, but his real one is EVEN WORSE.
April 25, 2008 at 1:26 pmto be fair, the bars were closed because of a request from Lou Reed’s mgmt. Still not sure why though…
but yeah, the show was oversold, and that was 9:30’s fault.
April 25, 2008 at 1:29 pmTo also be fair, something like seeing Lou Reed (before he dies) at 930 club was ALWAYS GOING TO OVERSELL.
too many cooks in the kitchen come with this kind of a show.
still sad we don’t have any photos though.
April 25, 2008 at 1:32 pmI went to see Lou Reed with expectations. Whether or not they were high or low was yet to be decided. Watching him walk across the stage as he appeared for the first song was riveting. I mean, it’s fucking Lou Reed. The anticipation to actually see him alive was greater than that for the show itself. I am with you on that one. The show started out rocky. His first few songs were less rockin, more mellow. It’s almost reminiscent of the new stuff Leonard Cohen is putting out these days. I have labeled it “old man rock”. It’s stuff my dad would jam to because he doesn’t know any better. In fact, I think my dad would’ve had a great time at this show.
That said, I know a few people who did not. I was upstairs surrounded by die-hard fans and curious onlookers. Eric (Thievery Corp) and his wife Tien sat behind me virtually all yawns. They struck up a conversation with me mid show which continued almost to the end of the set until they visibly gave up all hope of hearing anything from Transformer and left. The only reason I mention this is that the show was so mind-numbingly boring that mediocre small talk won out in the end.
I will say, to Lou’s credit, that he is still spry. Sure, he didn’t bust out the awkward, lanky dance moves he was known for in the 70’s, but he walked onstage, held his own guitar and the lyrics (while sometimes not belted in tune) were legible. This is very much unlike a legend of similar caliber, Bob Dylan, who is unable to do any of these things anymore, including facing the crowd when playing. I at least want to give Lou props for acknowledging his fan-base existed on some level…
His encore of Perfect Day, btw,= sub-par. I think everyone had the same sentiment as you did about the song he performed from Juno. Uncomfortable.
All in all, I got to see fuckin’ Lou Reed. While under-whelmed with the set he performed, I still have that experience. Awesome.
April 25, 2008 at 1:49 pmi bootleged the show and got a real good recording. i have been to alot of sold out 930 shows. i have seen shows much more crowded than this one. it was easy to more around where i was.
April 25, 2008 at 1:49 pmI always thought John Cale was sooooo much cooler.
Speaking of which, any of you ever caught that sample of “Ghost Story” at the end of the Avalanches “”Two Hearts in 3/4 Time”???? It’s pretty clever.
April 25, 2008 at 2:11 pmJohn Cale instantly became cooler after Lou worked with The Killers.
As for the show: He did just get married a couple weeks ago. Maybe he misses his mrs?
April 25, 2008 at 2:44 pmI’ve gotta admit: the show was pretty atrocious. However, I, too, am now jazzed that I can say I saw Lou Reed before he croaked. Man, that sounds bad, but whatever. Also, yeah, 9:30 Club had to close down the main bars “due to the nature of tonight’s event.” Apparently, Reed’s management thought noises from the bar/people talking at the bar would be distracting to his set.
April 25, 2008 at 3:29 pmhis solo on I’m Set Free made up for all else. I saw Lou when I lived in NYC a few years ago, on the EAP tour. I was high on dope at the time, and can barely recall any of it now (I know, it’s cliche to go to a Lou show strung-out). after seeing this show though, I will always remember that Lou is a stellar guitar player, even though that’s something he has strayed away from in his solo career. I mean what, he only played like 3 solos during the 11 song set? I don’t think he ever receives enough credit for the guitar work in VU, although Sterling was great as well.
Ira Kaplan, Thruston Moore, Lee Renaldo, Dean Wareham, Doug Martsch - they’ve all left me with lasting impressions of their live guitar playing. but that solo on I’m Set Free moved me deeper into that strange out-of-body realm than anything I’ve seen before (and this time completely sober, what with the bar closed), or will probably ever see.
and there was plenty of room where I was standing. I got there about 1 minute before Lou came on, walked right past the bathrooms and stood in the back left with room to spare (until some homely drunk girl started rubbing up on me the last few songs - actually, this girl looked like she belonged at a Rusted Root show - she had the hippy-dress with jeans on under it going).
lastly, that drummer was one of the funniest things I’ve even seen.
April 25, 2008 at 3:30 pmLou Reed has old man balls, and is about as awesome as the dump im taking right now thanks to the magic of wireless internet.
April 25, 2008 at 9:14 pmI thought the show started later so I only saw the last 30 minutes. I was eating falafel. Falafel is good.
April 27, 2008 at 7:03 pmYou should have seen the show in Norfolk. It didn’t come close to selling out, which must have made quite a difference, seeing his guitar work up close impressed the hell out of me. I thought it was a great show, but I always think his solo stuff is underrated…I’m glad it’s underrated though, it kept some of the cooks out of my local kitchen anyways.
April 27, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Don’t knock Tony “Thunder” Smith.
April 25, 2008 at 1:21 pm