From: Steven Gray (Steven.Gray@m.cc.utah.edu)
Hello, I just returned from the Salt Lake show. I took about 30 pix and if some of them turn out, I'll get them up on my homepage ASAP. My head is spinning from sensory overload, so I'll just write down each rememberance as it pops into my head in whatever random fashion may occur.
This time GLJ were the headliners. It cought me off guard when our heroes took the stage after MP. Fortunately I hadn't wandered off. Club Axis is a huge place, I probably should have left a trail of bread crumbs from the entrance. Between the Mission and GLJ sets was the Vincent Lord Freakshow or whatever its called. I got a picture of someone who had 100's of firecrackers exploding on his chest. There were plenty of odd costumes to see as well. Someone had this demonic outfit including 2 ft. stilts. He said "I'd better watch out for the ceiling fans". Sorry guys, didn't get his pic.
MP has a nice voice and some good songs, but I don't think it really fit the mood of the evening. I had a hard time getting into it. Another time and place, I would have enjoyed it more.
Our heroes took the stage sans costumes (the closest thing being Mark wearing a shirt with the Batman symbol). I have to say that they are the most energetic band I've seen onstage for a long time. It's good to see that they still throw it down passionately whereas most other bands of our time are a bunch of stiffs. The crowd wasn't terribly crazy. Wayne encouraged us to sing in TOS, but I didn't hear too much from the crowd. Good cheering between songs, but minimal dancing. I wish I'd gone to Denver like I planned. Spyder's review made it sound awesome.
For the first 3.5 songs the soundman was oblivious to the fact that Wayne's guitar was inaudible. Suddenly in the middle of Butterfly... a guitar melody appeared.
Let's see if I can remember the setlist:
Beyond the Pale
Hands Across the Ocean
Into the Blue
Butterfly on a Wheel
Raising Cain
Severina
Tower of Strength
Wasteland
Swoon
Deliverance
Can't Help Falling in Love
Crazy Horses
1969
I may have a couple of songs out of order, but I think I got them all. After Deliverance, the band went off stage. The club DJ came on the PA and suggested that everyone move to the other dancefloor to see the Freak show. Then Wayne came back out and said "Hey we ain't done yet, Mr. DJ!" Then he asked if we liked Elvis. I could hear everyone singing along to that song. Then he played the Osmonds song and everyone had this "what the fuck?" look. Not too many were familiar with it ("neither are we" says Wayne), but I'm sure that the Mission's version rocks compared to the original.
Earlier in the set Wayne greeted all of us "Latter Day Saints", then mentioned that he was also a "Latter Day Saint" (that is to say, Mormon). Later he said that he'd been trying to get excommunicated for years.
If you're reading this, Wayne, it's real easy. Just get a position on the faculty at Brigham Young University, then start teaching evolution. You've been going about it all wrong. Sex, drugs and rock 'n roll are forgivable, it's the heresy by thought that gets you ex'ed.
OK, I'm off topic now, so shoot me.
One more note: The "Ressurection" CD is available at the merchandise stand ($20).
