LOCATION: Taylor University, Upland, IL
LINEUP: Brian, Linford, Karin, Jack, Mike, Terri
REVIEW BY: Eric Schumacher
Well, i must say, the Taylor show last night was certainly a lovely little breath of fresh air. i don't know if this will make any sense, but it seems to me that OtR are a "band" again. the last time i saw them they seemed confused... Jack just sort of wandered around like a lost child. last night he really impressed me. it's true that he's no Ric, but i think he fits the new OtR sound better than Ric could have (or, at least, better than he would have wanted to...) anyway, last night they were very tight. and as a personal aside, after having watched Mike G. for a while last night i must say that i have never seen *anyone* who looked more like they were doing exactly what they were put on this earth to do... that boy grooves! i don't know how many of you know this already, but i didn't know it, so i'll share. linford said they were going to be back in indiana (bloomington) beginning next monday to begin working on some new recordings. after hearing 5 great new songs last night, (Linford said they were going to play a bunch of new ones, since they still needed practice with them!) i can't wait to hear recordeded versions of them. anyway... well, here we go... my first attempt at a concert review, so be gentle... 1. Faithfully Dangerous - nothing special here... pretty much dead on with the gdbd version. still nice, tho... 2. Tumbleweeds - first time hearing this one for me. it was nice, but i think it'll have to grow on me. 3. Seahorse - again, nothing special about this one... pretty much just the album version once more. 4. All I Need is Everything - they started picking up a little momentum here... still nothing different, but you could feel the band getting a bit more energized. 5. Etcetera, Whatever - WOW! this song is * G R E A T * live! i was super impressed with Jack on this one. i have always enjoyed this song on gdbd, but last night they were able to take the feelings i already had about that song and raise them a few more levels. again, i say *WOW* 6. Everyman's Daughter - there wasn't much all that special about this one, and it's never been one of my faveorites from gdbd, but i was so into it after hearing etcetera, whatever that i think i enjoyed it quite a bit more that i otherwise would have. 7. New Song #1 - they never actually announced what this one was called... i really enjoyed it though. i caught the word "whisper" a few times as well as the phrase "i will remember." musically, it was much "darker," almost ominous sounding. great bass line, tho... 8. New Song #2 - again, no title was announced, but man... this song rocked! Karin broke out this GORGEOUS rickenbacker electric.. had the distortion cranked up on her fender tube amp. Linford really broke loose on the keys too... he had that leslie speaker spinning at about 1000 miles an hour. man, i really liked this song.. i just wish i knew what it was called. 9. Whatever you say - the only new one they actually gave us the title for. "Whatever you say... It's all about you...". i really enjoyed just sitting back and listening to the lyrics on this one. the music was of course wonderful, but i thought the lyrics were even better. 10. Poughkeepsie - for me, this was the low point of the evening. they've reworked this one with the whole band and it just does NOT work. the beauty of this song is in the simplicity of Karin and her guitar. it's such an emotional tune on gdbd, but they almost make a mockery of it by adding the rest of the musicians... i mean, DRUMS??? drums on Poughkeepsie? what are you... nuts? 11. Anyway - don't know how new this one is, but it was new for me. apparently Karin wrote this song the day after she met her half-sister for the first time (ironically at her fathers funeral...). it was definately a heart-felt song for Karin and you could tell that she was singing from her soul on this one. 12. Goodbye - this is another that i'd not heard before. i know it's not really *new,* but it was new for me. i don't remember much about it other than just feeling that it was a pretty cool little tune. ENCORE 13. Jack's Valentine - WOW! they cut *loose* on this one! and i must say, any fears i had about Jack H's potential inadequacies on the guitar were thoroughly erased after seeing him abuse his Gretsch during this one. he really went to town... and i was almost afraid that Mike's face was going to implode with as tight as he has his eyes shut. i think Mike was on another planet... man, does he groove... 14. Lucy - i really like this song. i know it's just a brainless pop ditty, but i fall for that sometimes. nothing special, just a great little tune. 15. Latter Days - i would have been suprised if they hadn't played it, but i was sort of suprised they saved it until the very last. after the rush and frenzy they stirred up from Jacks Valentine and Lucy, this was kind of a downer. it was great to hear it live again, but i'm not sure they should have played it last. all in all, i'd have to give last night's show 1 3/4 thumbs up. i was certainly not dissapointed, and they really seemed to have it together. i got to hear 15 songs, 7 of which i've never heard live, the sound was mixed really well (would've been *perfect* for the making of a bootleg... and i forgot my recorder... D'oh!)