KVHW (KVHE?) 4.30.99 Phoenix Theater Petaluma CA This is an extraction of Leigh Orf's CD-R copy (http://orf.cx) uploaded to orp.etree.org on 6/26/2000 From Setlist.com: also confirmed at http://www.geocities.com/~levity/kvhw99.html Set 1: (1:15ish) Bad Hair Five B4 Funk Footprints You're the One Tangled Hangers Set 2: (0:42ish) High and Lonesome Cissy Strut> Poonk Cissy Strut What I Say Comment: Jimmy Herring Sits in because Ray White doesn't show. Source: Charlie Dirkson ===================================================== REVIEWS (4 of 'em!) -------------------- KVHH at the Phoenix Theater No typo. KVHH at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, CA (Jazz is Dead opened.. played a strong set; different setlist than last weekend, but the same songs.. except for a little Manic Depression between Rod and Alphonse). Kimock, Vega, Hertz, and Herring (Herring for the whole show; Ray White was not present.. don't know why.. yet) Set One (1:15ish) BAD HAIR (tan and white strat) Five B4 Funk (Charvel) Footprints (Florida Guitar) You're the One (Explorer) Tangled Hangers (Pearl inlaid) Set Two (00:42) High and Lonesome Cissy Strut -> Poonk Cissy Strut New Instrumental -- same one that Opened Friday's Maritime Show last Week, and which Alan claims is the 6th track on the first disc of Miles Davis's "Live Evil". I just checked out http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=18803771/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/albu m.html/ArtistID=FRN-DAVIS*MILES/ddcn=SD-7464+65135+2 and well, there's no sixth track on the first disc. So one of you with RealAudio might want to check out the tracks and find it (I don't even have a soundcard! really!). Bittersweet show, in that people were wondering where the hell Ray White was. But Jimmy Herring was AMAZING. Just wonderful. Steve and Jimmy challenged each other, and both played very well, imo. Great call/response work. Tonight's Bad Hair was so great that it is my personal favorite version. Easily. And all the other tunes played had some truly exceptional guitar artistry, too. Bobby took a solo during Cissy Strut (which led into Poonk, naturally). Anyway, I know this is not much of a review, but this is one of those "get the tapes" shows. You just got to hear it. There was some beautiful improv in the Tangled, the Footprints, etc. You're the One was great, too, and had an unusual jam in it (but the ending was kinda blown.. well, blown at first, then saved/rescued.. :-). Very interesting and SIIIIIICK guitar work in this show. Also, **best** crowd I've ever seen at a KVHW show (not including Studio E). VERY quiet and respectful. Eerily quiet, almost, actually.. between songs, you could hear people talking low, whispering even. That's the way I wish it was at all KVHW shows, myself. Respectful, attentive audiences. Steve actually called the crowd "beautiful" at the end of the show, if memory serves. There was some weirdness with Chris Lull. Security guards attacked him and dragged him out. I don't have any idea why. There were some really sketchy looking types there, though. Some people who weren't there for the show. But they didn't seem to talk during the music. :) That's all from me. Time to sleep.. Off to Palookaville tomorrow. two cents, charlie ----------------------------------------------- Folks, A few disparate comments on the Petaluma show. About the hall. First time for me at the Phoenix, and I *like* it! It's waaaay funky. OK, so it's a dump. I, personally, had no run-ins with security to mar the experience, so grain o' salt, I guess. I think it's a fun place to hear music. It really is a dump. Like a mini-Warfield theater that's been taken over by roving bands of teenagers (well, that's pretty much right, isn't it?). I bet it was once a grand old movie house. Lots of grafitti, great sloping floor downstairs (where they pulled the theater seats out, I'm guessing), with a skate-board ramp stuck to one side in case the spirit moves ya (for rolling drunks, maybe?). Seats here and there, lots up in the balcony, plenty of places to perch (for this show, anyway--see "crowd" below). There were a few funky old couches stuck in a space off to the side of the mid-lobby, where I grabbed a few z's during JID and then again during the break. I wandered a lot, spent time right in front of the stage, back of the main floor, upstairs, and the sound and sight were *great* everywhere. Security concerns aside, I won't hesitate to go to another show there. The crowd. Interesting to read the comments about how quiet and respectful the crowd was. I agree. What's interesting is that this is the crowd that mainstream America would spit on. It was the *youngest* crowd, on average, that I've seen at a KVH show (last night was my tenth, btw--double-digits, yay!). It was hippies and heads. I don't think I saw a single person who I'd suppose was there to "make the scene." It's a pretty strong indictment of the well-heeled scum you'll find at SF shows. (If they can find a place to park their 4X4's.) Please note, though, that the crowd was also very sparce. The place was easily half-empty, especially during KVHH's second set. KVHH didn't start until 11:30, about 30 mins late, and Steve began by thanking us for our "patience," which makes me wonder if Ray's absence was some kind of surprise. I was not nearly as impressed with the music as were the other writers who've weighed in here. I, too, was more impressed with Herring's playing in this band than I am with the lame JID. That's the weird thing about JID: the players have chops, but the material is, well, dead. And, Steve may have played well. He looked, to my eye, determined to make this arrangement fly. But, the balance was way off, imvho. It sounded hollow. I *MISSED* RAY. Desperately. Go re-read the "Ray is the Glue" thread of around a month ago. I'm really concerned about the intimations back then that there's some kind of problem with Ray, that they've considered axing him from the lineup. There's a magic to the tapestry of KVHW that I think is greater than the sum of it's parts. Ray's rhythm playing is inspired, a cool blanket on which to place the picnic (I think I'm ripping off my own comment from that other thread). I missed his voice, a LOT. The band already has a reasonably awesome lead guitar player, doesn't it? I thought Herring and Steve played nicely together, but this was no Steve/Trey hellfire matchup. And, that shot of Zappa that Ray brings was, of course, nowhere. It was an interesting evening, but not the sort of thing I'd follow to the ends of the earth, or even to the next county. Be careful what you wish for, friends. I hope we'll get an explanation, and I'll be *really* concerned if Ray's missing again tonight. (On a lighter note, why not bring back Tim Hockenberry on keyboard and voice? Then they can be KVHHH.) Best, ~mark --------------------------------- one of those odd, weird and strangely beautiful nights for me....i almost didn't go because of a bad sinus headache, but left finally around 8pm, since i heard jid would open....got to the pheonix around 8.45....long line up the street for both will-call and buying tickets, with only one person at the box office window....lame....lots of folks cutting in right in front of pheonix staff members....lame...i asked a pheonix staffer (not to be confused with boots' 2b1 folks) if stix were still available, he said he thought so, but that he was "house staff, and tickets are maririme people"...words to that effect...."we (the house) don't get in their business much, it ends in fistfights"....that's pretty much a direct quote...later, when steve made his announcement, i believe he said "house security just hit someone", i thought about the house stafers remark outside....though it now seems that it was maritime "security" that was involved....anyways, the music....the music!!!! i sat in the balcony (still with headache) for jazz is dead....volume was fine, music was *mostly* mediocre, imho,....i was still wondering why the players were doing this gig...alfonse/bass player still looked bored, though he also seemed like he wanted to break out of the box they were playing in, and he started to a few times...jimmy herring seemed to me to be less loud, yet less interesting than last friday's show, but i think i liked him better with martin, he played differently...."eyes of the world" was pale compared to last friday's....BUT...then... kimock, vega and hertz came on stage after the break, along with jimmy herring, and it suddenly struck me that THIS was the jam to do, not steve with jid, but jimmy (and i had hoped for alphse, too) in the mix!!! the minute steve began playing, softly building arpeggios, jimmy was right behind, low in the mix at first, it was like a rocket, lifting slowly, but you sense the tremendous energy and power burning but not yet released...then BAD HAIR just burst out like a dam breaking....steve was ON from the get go....it seemed like it took jimmy a minute or two to get find the groove, but then he was *there* the whole rest of the set!!!....(from where i was, about 15-20 feet from the right side (the ray/jimmy side) herring never got too loud)...this was like a some tremendous force--a huge locomotive--that wasn't gonna be stopped til they said stop...there were a few stumbles, but the overall power of the jams just rolled right over them...the interplay between steve and jimmy and bobby was awesome, jaw dropping...this was a true perma-grin moment/hour!!! sometimes they were subtly watching, checking each other, then they would kind of flagrantly seem to say: yea, well check this out!...and just go off!!!....then they would laugh and giggle at each other....during tangled hangers (i think), where steve goes into the eastern scaley riffs, he was playing intently with his eyes shut, then he kind of opened one eye and glanced over at jimmy as if to say: you getting this one???.....then he smile and closed his eyes again...and herring was right there with a tight, tasty rythym, waitng his turn to turn it on....this set was so fun to watch, i couldn't take my eyes off the stage.... i imagine the two bands have done some/a lot of off stage jamming on this brief tour, because jimmy herring *belonged* on that stage last night....that show should be released as a cd, or better yet a video.... anyway, i didn't make the second set, headached and tired, i listened to the wrong little voice in my head and left after the first set (someone slap me if i try that again!)....but, if i wasn't clear about it above, that first set was the BEST kv-whatever i have ever seen!! and on the drive home i realized why...see, the times i've seen steve (and whatever band) have an "off-night", or weak set, he's always wearing that plain blue watch-cap type knit hat...always....it's funky/goofy, not funky-cool....last night, he was wearing a pretty cool multi-colored cap, and he was explosive from the first note of the set....so, if ya see him come on stage tonight with that funky-cool cap, fasten your brains' seatbelt, loosen your shoes and hold-on.... wish i was there tonight... =) larry ------------------------------- Friends - Getting to Petaluma was more trouble than anticipated. Originally, there were four but, due to a squabble, one of the parties, the driver, was unable to make the trip. So, much to my surprise, Senor Dirksen, an original non-driving passenger, rings the bell with car in wait. Damn, I didn't even know Charlie could drive! His dexterity while driving was a sight to behold. Eagle scout, eyes alert to any possible dangers. Minus a friend (brought down the mood) we headed to Petaluma. Petaluma is a nice small town with a small town feel when downtown in this small town. Older buildings, nice atmosphere. But no small town would be complete without a plethora of fast food chains situated just outside the small-town-feeling downtown area. Carcass, carcass, everywhere! Must eat carcass! Must consume carcass! Setup for KVHW went arduously slow. So slow that I believed the pace was controlled by the conspicuous absence of Ray. This is another discussion for another time. After the stage was set, KVH & Herring (not the small fish but rather of the Jimmy variety) emerged to a surprised and interested crowd. It was nice to see Jimmy onstage and I preferred this to *merely* having KVH grace the Phoenix. Basically my dream KVHW show. Not song-wise, not musician-wise, but all-instrumental-all-the-time-wise. YES!!!! Countless conversations have occurred where I drooled over this possibility and having this dream realized nearly blinded me into anticipated sublimation. Two sets no less, yikes, I was in severe trouble! :) Although a relatively short set comprised of only 5 songs/compositions/ditties, this set featured some excellent playing, both by the collective KVH but also by Jimmy Herring as well. Jimmy's rhythm guitar was a bit rusty at first, but in light of rarely taking a rhythm role and never playing any KVHW songs, he performed extraordinarily well throughout the show. But Herring was not relegated to rhythm status for the evening. Watching the interplay between Steve and Jimmy was incredible. Just as what transpired between Steve and Trey only weeks before, I stood in amazement at the level of professionalism, lack of ego, and sheer musicianship of the guitarists on the stage. There was no practice for this show (at least I think this was the case) and Jimmy Herring's appearance seemed less than planned. To step in under such circumstances and perform well beyond any preconceived expectations, at least on my part given the situation, shows that Herring is talented. JiD was less than stellar, but please do not doubt Herring's abilities. Get this show and hear for yourself! My memory of this show has become more peripheral as the days have passed, so, if you do not care for overviews then read no further. Bad Hair, along with Tangled Hangers, highlighted the first set. Bad Hair featured incredible Kimock work as is usual, but this version was really extended. By the time Tangled came around, the rust was had completely peeled away for Herring and he seemed much more comfortable, although often times dumbfounded by Kimock's brilliance, intensity, and style onstage. Footprints continued its exploratory progression and becomes more intersting with each version. I wanted to hear High & Lonesome. Hell, I always want to hear High & Lonesome. High & Lonesome. High & Lonesome. After the Maritime version where Darth Maul revealed himself, showed his nifty, badass, don't-mess-with-my-mean-ass light saber and proclaimed that no mortal will be left standing, my body needed a rest, albeit a brief one I hope, from the next EVIL H&L ass whoopin'. This version (Phoenix) compares to the 1.17 KVH rendition in feel, tone, and expression. Cool, calm and collected Billy rode into town, but get a drink in him and the saloon doors begin creaking. Next thing you know, the sky turns dark, but slow, with clasps of thunder rumbling in the distance. The calm before the storm. The storm hits. Calm begins a return. The new instrumental to end the show (a very brief second set, I would classify as a work in progress. The supoosed 6th song on Miles' Live Evil was much like the Maritime version: Bobby's repetitive bass lines and a general lack of direction. When the kinks get worked out of this instrumental, wherever it may be from or have originated, it should allow excellent opportunities for exploration, especially for Bobby. After a brief sleep we herded into a plush Volvo en route to Santa Cruz. Volvo's, how I love thee amazing turning radius. After a quick pit stop and change of cars to a less glamorous but equally sleek Accord, I found myself in a Redwood forest drinking beverages of golden fluid, contemplating my navel, sucking in the beautiful surroundings and thinking of the night to come. - Jeremy ===============================================