Lovin’ the Lou

I know I might be adventure deprived these days, but st. Louis was the most beautiful place in the world this weekend. You shoulda seen it …

The crowes were three hours and we were second row, front and center, flirting with Chris all night. It was as advertised: an exposed acoustic set – fairly obscure in places – that challenged the crowd a bit too much for their comfort. So much so that Chris dressed down the “people running your fucking mouths” the whole show (“the trip has already started people. Maybe you were just late getting on board …”). An electric set that opened with traffic’s feeling alright and went onward and upward from there. Oh! Sweet nuthin … She aint got nothing at all.

Here’s what we saw:

- Acoustic Set -
Soul Singing
Downtown Money Waster -> Jam
Fork In The River
Ballad In Urgency ->
Wiser Time
Oh Sister
Good Friday
What Is Home
Thunderstorm 6:54 PM
My Morning Song
Sister Luck

- Electric Set -
Feelin’ Alright
Jealous Again
A Conspiracy
Exit
Thorn’s Progress ->
Thorn In My Pride
A Train Still Makes A Lonely Sound
High Head Blues -> Jam
Oh, Sweet Nuthin’
Remedy
- encore -
Movin’ On Down The Line
Boomer’s Story

Little sad in the midst of all that joy. Such a soulful group of songs and people. Lotta memories wrapped up in all that rock and roll. Chris leaning back for a note and lifting the mic stand up just a touch while puffing his little frame out. Rich’s deadpan, disinterested demeanor that flashes a little kid’s grin if you make eye contact with him. The great Steve gorman: part ringo Starr part John bonham. Good kids. If that was it, I’m glad I was there with my family. It felt like home.

After that murph took us to a hip little bar and we made it back to the Cheshire inn – a freak out if there ever was one. Murph and I snuck into the pool at about 4 am. I said, “murph, let’s keep it mellow so we don’t get thrown out of here.” she says, “right,” and then procceds to sprint across deck and do a cannonball into the pool. Murph …

Lou fest was amazingly perfect, too. Missed the bottle rockets at noon – noon is my new 9 am – but saw shafleys instead with murph and made it to the fest for an inspired and earnest built to spill set and a conceptually odd, douchilly executed, yet sonically compelling broken social scene set. picked up tim and then back to the fox and hound piano bar at the hotel for some piano man and tiny dancer singalongs.

Good kids. Brothers. Angels. There for you when you need ‘em. I miss you already.