Hey, guys...
Been awhile since I've posted. Been a long, cold winter -- only made it
to one show (Alejandro, in celebration of his signing to Milwaukee's
Back ****ch Records) since... ummm... way too long. But this week made
up for it.
A week ago Sunday, we were fortunate to get the Saw Doctors at Shank
Hall, a mere 2 days after St. Paddy's Day. It was the last date of
their American tour, and third night in a row. Fans who'd followed them
all weekend posted on their message board that the Docs looked a wee
bit tired and lacked their usual energy. Most of the overjoyed fans at
Shank didn't care -- from my spot at the back bar, I regularly saw guys
in soccer jerseys pogoing above the crowd. If they were tired, they
still sounded wonderful... and their brand-spankin-new album, The Cure,
is good for what ails ya. They're back in Ireland now.
I'd have wanted to go along, but then I'd have missed two superb
Chicago shows by Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers at Martyr's. Taylor
Hollingsworth out of Alabama opened both nights, and though that band
all looked all of about 14, those boys could play. Hope they become
big.
Talk about energy, RCPM probably could've powered all of Chicago, if
not Illinois, this weekend, playing nearly 3 hours both nights. Even
more amazing, only about 10 songs were played both nights! Friday would
have been the classic RCPM intro night; Saturday was for the diehards,
with more rarities -- soundtracks, deep cuts, unreleased stuff, more
old Refreshments tunes -- rounding out the setlist. They've got such
humor, such passion and such good songs; the evenings went much too
quickly, even for us oldsters groaning at the thought of 11 p.m. shows
on just 4 hours of sleep.
Catch either of these bands if you get the chance. Sure, and you'll be
thankin' me.
Lori
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