Best Shows 2006 Part 2

The Long Winters
10/5/06 -The Magic Stick, Detroit

I was very excited to see The Long Winters-Joe discovered them opening up for The Decemberists several years ago but this was my first time. We got there extremely early, nerdishly early, so early we got to see the band pull out their Macs and search the lounge area (The Majestic complex actually has 2 venues, a bowling alley and a pizza place) for a signal. They are led by John Roderick, one of those very tall, furry, wear-their-heart-on-their-sleeve types that I find so appealing. There are several band members who have been along for more than one record but Roderick is The Long Winters in the way Conor Oberst is Bright Eyes. After waiting through 2 opening acts (we played some hangman to pass the time) our headliners were great. Often the opening act and so confined to only 45 minutes they seemed very happy to stretch out, pretty much playing every song, many in audience requested order. Their song "Scared Straight" is one of my pysch up songs and I was overjoyed to hear it live. They also played almost all of the new record which was great as it had only been out a short time. There was an opportunity to speak to Roderick after the show which I did not take, though I'm still not sure what I would have said, I wish I had now. The 5th is one of Joe & I's anniversaries and this was a fine way to celebrate.

The Drive By Truckers
10/20/06 - The Majestic, Detroit

This was the one we had been waiting for-like a lot of folks we jumped on the DBT bandwagon with "Southern Rock Opera" but had missed all their local appearances for one reason or another. There was an opportunity to see them earlier in the summer on the Robert Randolph tour but after weighing the options (driving an hour and a half for 45 minutes) we decided to wait for a full blown DBT tour. Boy, am I glad we did. This show was an amazing assault that left us buzzed for days. First, it was extremely loud (in the best rock way where things are clear but you really feel it in your chest) and definately the smokiest (we joked their idea of a smoke machine was a roadie throwing lit cigarettes in a fan). All three songwriters/singers (Patterson Hood, Jason Isbell and Mike Cooley) had their time in the spotlight yet somehow it was all part of a seamless rock whole. The energy level in the crowd was amazing, later on the DBT blog Hood proclaimed Detroit the best show on the tour. (Hood also gets bonus points for doing his research enough to know that the Majestic was the site of Houdini's last show-as he rightly said in his note to self don't ask anyone to punch you in the stomach in Detroit.) Highlights of the show for me were "Daddy's Cup", "Outfit", the repeated "five tornadoes" bit from "Sink Hole", hopping up and down (the only appropriate dance) to "Feb 14th" and, of course, seeing Elmore Leonard in the crowd (surely the ultimate Detroit cool). One of the absolute highlights of 2006.