F*** w/ the Julia Sets @ The Rocket Bar 4/5/01

Midway into F***’s 50 minute set, bassist Ted Ellison picked up a trumpet and accompanied drummer Geoff Soule on an instrumental circus-music number. Leader Timmy Prudhomme then scampered back and forth on-stage holding up band merchandise and price tags for the audience to ponder. A F*** t-shirt, with a pickle and a doughnut on the front, was five dollars. Hmmm.

F*** are fine businessmen, then. They can also make beautiful music, although you wouldn’t know it from their show at the Rocket Bar. Sometimes F*** sound like a gentle version of the Velvet Underground and sometimes they stray into Howie Gelb territory. As nice as this sounds on record, their live set didn’t translate very well.

Maybe it was because songs like “Italy” from their fourth effort, Conduct, or “Bestest Friend” from Pardon My French, sound like works on progress. Maybe it was because the Rocket Bar attracted a chatty crowd on a Thursday night.

In reality, it probably doesn’t matter that much, because F*** is a good band. And there is potential in their live show. It just wasn’t spectacular performance.

Chuck Berry w/ Leon Russell and the Morells @ The Pageant

4/13/01

You really have to give ol’ Chuck Berry the benefit of the doubt. The rock `n’ roll legend is in his `70s, but he still plays in his hometown of St. Louis every couple of weeks. It is a pleasure to watch the old man duck walk on stage during “Johnny B. Goode” and “Rock and Roll Music” because we know time doesn’t stop.

Thankfully, Chuck knows it too. He realizes that he is no longer capable of playing the tightest live show around. But it really doesn’t matter to him.

A Chuck Berry rock `n’ roll show comes off like that great Paul Westerberg tune, “Good Day.” Chuck Berry is content to play his red Gibson guitar the best he can, while he can.

Chuck Berry’s son is his guitar player for tonight, and his daughter is his back-up singer. “You have no idea how good it feels to have two of your children on stage with you,” beams Chuck. It was a special evening capped off with great versions of “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Carol” and “Sweet Little Sixteen.” As Chuck invites the audience on stage for a last-minute dance party, he stands on the side of the stage with his grandchildren.

Leon Russell served as support for Chuck Berry along with a Springfield, Mo. roots-rock band named the Morells. After the Morells filled the place with disgraceful tunes and hillbilly stage banter, Mr. Russell cleaned up the mess with a soulful, bluesy set of rock and roll, including his legendary “Hummingbird,” which has been covered by the great B.B. King. Looking like Santa Claus on vacation in Hawaii, Russell and the band blasted through “Jumping Jack Flash” by the Stones, his former tour mates, and a wicked version of “Let the Good Times Roll.”

David Gray w/ Nina Gordon @ The Pageant 4/14/01

David Gray’s rise to stardom is puzzling. Gray once commented that the lowest point in his professional career was playing at a Rock Island, Ill. club, RIBCO, in support of his second effort, Flesh. The billboard outside the venue read, “BBQ Ribs-Sold Out. Tonight-David Gray.” Ouch.

Now, Gray is having the last laugh. The sign outside the Pageant reads “David Gray-Sold Out,” and chances are he’s pleased, if not a little confused about it. The majority of the crowd looked as if they were hand-picked from Friends, probably due to the top-40 White Ladder business, as Gray stated early on in his set. Clearly, the audience is there to hear “Babylon,” but they do go mental the entire time.

Gray’s latest was picked up, Dave Matthews and distributed on his label, ATO. It’s easy to see how that alone boosted sales of White Ladder through the roof. The other factor in Gray’s success is that he can write some pretty good tunes.

The focus was understandably on his new record, as Gray opened with a great version of “Sail Away” and turned in pretty versions of “We’re Not Right” and “This Year’s Love.” He played a few old songs from the likes of A Century Ends and Sell, Sell, Sell and debuted a few new tunes like “Be Mine.” The set was enjoyable, but a bit monotonous.

Gray has a tendency to bob his head uncontrollably and groan incessantly while performing; habits that take a little bit away from his songwriting craft.

But songs like “Please Forgive Me” with its joyous techno finale, and Bruce Springsteen’s “Mansion On the Hill” make us forgive his annoying habits.