11/20/08 Chicago @ Reggie's

[black stallion]

so the set list was the same of the last us/european tour,except for Revolve?

[MeddlingCrybaby]

Alija posted this over at the Amrep forums.

http://bored.amphetaminereptile.com/index.php?topic=1637.0

First off, Reggies is a relatively new club on Chicagos near southside (State @ 21st) that originated as an independent recordstore (Record Breakers) in the NW suburb of Hoffman Estates. They closed that store about three years back and reopened it with the addition of a small concert venue next door. Small bar, cheap eats and awesome performances by up and coming bands, with the addition of some cool acts every now and then. The club is very indie looking, maybe the size of 1/2 a basketball court. Stage is about 30 feet wide. There is a minor angle to the area where the crowd will hang out, so You have a pretty good view from anywhere in the club. Little balcony in the back (above bar and some VIP spots on top left of stage - I would not recommend these, as You basically end up watching the show from behind, 12 feet above stage.
A perfect venue for smaller shows . And then came the Melvins! Place was fucking packed before even Big Business hit the stage. Big Business is getting better with each performance and I really enjoyed their set. Melvins hit the stage at 11PM, Buzz sporting his metallic silver guitar. Started out loud and stayed loud throughout the set. Mostly new material, though, from their last two albums. They looked well rested and fucking rocked the house. Reggies flew them all out from SF for what seems to be a promotional event for the club. You could kinda sense they paid the bands well for the show, lotsa "thank you"s and it paid off. Both bands just kept it going strong but You kinda feel that they came to do a job (Or I've just seen them too many damn times). Now this is not a bad thing at all, because with a less then perfect soundsetting (I guess the clubs equipment leaves for a lot to be desired) and the bands determination to pull off a kickass show it resulted in a very raw sounding set which I had NO PROBLEM at all. I don't think I heard the Melvins sound like that since the Mark D era. Droning and buzzing, at times even squeeling, I fucking loved it. When I say they seemed to have come to do a job, what I meant was a) in a way it is a job, and I aprecciate any band that comes and handles their performance professional enough to please an audience, especcially after 25 fucking years of doing it, and b) Buzz really didn't talk that much and I like it when he talks crap, disses certain personalities (last time at the Double door he fucked around on Billy Corgans and Courtney Loves behalf) and otherwise mingles with the crowd. This time he really focused on his set, again not a bad thing at all!!!
This venue also allowed me to watch Dale up close, as the stage is not that high and relatively small, so he was set up further up front. He is a fucking animal!!! You just gotta feel bad for that drum set, cause it ain't gonna last long!
Then came "Revolve", which I haven't heard them play in ages. Mosh Pit, guy in wheelchair in the middle of it and then a fight broke out. Get the picture??
Overcrowded intimate setting in a small club with a low stage - Very satisfied!!!!!
Oh, and all I spend was the $20 at the door, no T shirts, vinyl or posters - just a bunch of cd-s and, yeah, the HAT 7" set for $125.

[gesundheit]

Both bands just kept it going strong but You kinda feel that they came to do a job (Or I've just seen them too many damn times). Now this is not a bad thing at all, because with a less then perfect soundsetting (I guess the clubs equipment leaves for a lot to be desired) and the bands determination to pull off a kickass show it resulted in a very raw sounding set which I had NO PROBLEM at all. I don't think I heard the Melvins sound like that since the Mark D era. Droning and buzzing, at times even squeeling, I fucking loved it.

Kevin Rutmanis not raw sounding...

[Ramo Nash]

It was sponsored by Camel??  Really??  That's weird.  I don't really like Reggie's not just because of the location but because it's just way too artificial.  It's basically modelled after, I guess, CBGB or any other old rock club that's been through decades of graffiti and stickers and it's barely 2 years old.  Boo hoo.  One good thing is the floor slants down toward the stage so short kids in back can see the band.  The stage isn't really high so you're right up with the band (which I was ). 

I prefer the sound at the Double Door and I definitely preferred the show they played last August.  That night was fucking legendary with the butal storm that raged through Chicago and the roof leaking honey buckets of water.  Honestly out of the 6 times I've seen them (I know that's not much to measure against) last night was probably the worst BUT, that said, it was still way fucking awesome. 

I was doing a spastic interpretive dance way up front and sprained my ankle.    These old farts don't wanna mosh anymore which I think is kinda lame.  It's a rock show dangit.

Well, I think it was sponsored by Camel, because of the lit-up camel ads and graphics all over the club and the fact that Jared said "Thanks to Camel cigarettes" during BB's set.

[anaconda]

did he really? hahaha thats good. take the money and smile.

[Andy]

Jared said "Thanks to Camel cigarettes" during BB's set.

"They're great for my voice and so smooth on the draw!"

Apparently film stars were paid to go around saying stuff like that in the 50s.

[didlisquat]

Did anyone else see that small guy towards the back doing the spastic interpretive dance? It wasn't me, I swear.

that was definetly me (cross between Elaine Benis dance(Seinfield) and having convulsions), been freaking people out for years
had a macho man trying to rule a mosh  pit (Melvins @ Metro late '90's) stop in his tracks and tell me to calm down (still the funniest thing i ever experienced at a show)
loved the Reggies show and i liked the sound way better than the double door (only the Metro has had better sound for the Melvins)
Jared stopped right at me and didn't go any further when doing his Boris rounds
i was shouting lots of the lyrics too
good times