MPLS Residency shows

[Rev. Mike]

OK, this will not be super extensive.  Night 1 was my wife, my mother in law, my brother in law, and me.  We all love Lysol (yes, I have a great MiL), my wife needed to see Houdini, my BiL needed to see Eggnog, I needed to see it all.  I think this was the loudest, heaviest sound at Grumpy's yet.  Jared sounded amazing, Buzz' new lucite guitar did as well.   It was just so goddamn heavy.  Charmicarmicat and Hung Bunny seemed a little foreshortened, but they fully delivered.  I live for the pause in RDB, I could let those waves of feedback roll over me endlessly.  The second half of Hog Leg was at a hardcore pace.  One of the things that is really evident is how practiced and tight these sets are at this point.  They're playing faster, tighter, but they still swing.  I think Jared provides the swing more than he has in the past.  First set was incredible.  Second set was also incredible.  I am a fan of Houdini but I usually skip a few tracks, after seeing this line-up play it I would love for them to re-record the album.  They fucking nail it into the ground.  Hag me just laid waste, and Honey Bucket was also at a hardcore pace.  Brian thought it was sloppy, but I didn't think so.  My wife likened the whole show to an extended orgasm, my MiL said it was a religious experience, my BiL said it was so fucking heavy.  I agree with them all.  At some point someone was telling my MiL how awesome she was, my BiL pointed to his "MOM" tattoo, the chick rolled her eyes and was like, "yea, your mom is probably cool, but this lady is awesome!"  He said, "No, that is my mom!"

Night 2 was me solo.  Didn't seem quite as loud, but that was OK.  I saw the Bullhead set in LA back in Jan and I thought this was better.  They are tighter, more ferocious, and they swing more.  The only thing the LA show had that this one didn't was Euthanasia.  Zodiac was at a hardcore pace, I was just floored.  Boris was deconstructed quite well.  About a 45 minute set, they pumped it out and got off stage.  Stoner Witch started at 11:00, the meatheads used a lot of this set to mosh.  It was good to see this album but was probably the one I was looking forward to the least.  That being said, At the Stake and Shevil were the highlights of the whole night.  Goddamn they were so good.  Buzz left the stage after Shevil which led into a bass drums jam for about 8 minutes, then Dale left, Coady continued to pound while Jared quoted Hot for Teacher and other stuff (I brought my pencil, gimmes something to write on, what do you think the teacher is gonna look like this year), he varied and mixed and matched the phrases, started in with something about "This is for dads...and grads".  Honestly, the whole post Shevil section reminded me of Karp madness.  It was awesome.  Night1 edged out night 2 barely, but I am still super stoked on having seen these shows, they were amazing.

[jules]

Shit, man, I hope they repeat this set-up in Europe later in the year....

[Rev. Mike]

These shows definitely need to be seen.

[rimb]

Nice recap.

Can we look forward to any recordings of these shows from you Mike?

[Jette]

i saw alot of people both nights taking pictures and video. dont know how good the sound could possibly be on any recordings because of how small grumpys is. the volume was blistering. dont know how well it would sound unless someone got a sound board feed.

[GOBERT]

i recorded the first show , sound is amazing i was upfront by crover the whole time , did get a little more drunk than wanted to - so it isnt  steady the whole time- but i just couldnt help myself.... i missed the lysol intro and last 5 min before camera died.  I made some DVDs ill try youtube but its just gonna fuck the magic up

[cheeseburger]

Both shows were AMAZING! The thing I love about the Melvins at Grumpy's is the fact that it feels like the band is playing in your living room.
It seemed like Buzz was having a lot of fun, and Jared actually was rocking out more than usual. The last few times I've seen this line up Jared always looks bored, but not this time around.
I saw the second show in Chicago so I knew what to expect, non the less it was better this time than it was in Chicago. Stoner Witch was the album I was least excited about (not that I wasn't interested at all) but the way that album translated live was amazing, it gives me a whole new appreciation of that album.
The second night was a bit crazier than the first. People were trying to mosh during Stoner Witch, normally I wouldn't care but Grumpy's is not a place for that. Luckily is was standing next to a very large man in front and we were able to keep people at bay, but at one point someone got shoved into Coady's  drum set, almost knocking over a cymbal...it was stupid.
I think the best part of it all was seeing how much fun they were having.
As far as merch there were only two shirts, one of them being the Walsby "Queen" shirt which I gladly purchased. I couldn't afford the Cds but that's okay. The second night they had CD sets for LA...which I heard will be available online at some point.
Last of all thank god for HAZE, without him I have a feeling the Melvins wouldn't ever play here, let alone do a residency show.  

[roadbull]

       Drove 6 hours to Minneapolis with dwr budr and an unmentionable stick in the mud.  Got to Grumpy's around 6. Beer and food. Saw everyone walking around, including Tony from Totimoshi, who was the tech. He happened to mention a certain split record with certain band. Any guesses? It was a little strange that the merch was available to purchase at around 7:30. Right away, like 7 dudes came out of nowhere and started buying merch like crazy. A little disheartening when people are buying 3 residency boxsets , 2 TBSM vinyl and Black Betty singles. I asked for a tricolored 7" single, but was told " it's all random. Sorry bUTTHOLEMAn, Haze wasn't at the merch table, but got you one anyway.

We got our spots, right in front of Dale.  Charmicarmicat was an unbelievable opener. Hung Bunny/RDB was a little shortened but not by much. Wispy and Hog Leg were quite fast. Ended with Sacrifice. Perfect. Quick break before Houdini set. Hag Me dominated as usual. Jared's take on Hag Me and Nightgoat was a highlight. Going Blind. Almost Cried. Joan Of Arc. Dale's broken drumstick in the chest. The crowd was the best I have been apart of. Jared felt the same way. Tony gave me Dale's setlists:

Charmicarmicat                                    Hag Me                                          Lizzy                     
Lysol-HB/RDB                                         Pearl Bomb                                  Going Blind
Hog Leg                                                     Hooch                                            Joan Of Arc
Antioxidote                                              Honey Bucket                             Set Me Straight/DCH
Wispy                                                        Nightgoat                                    Teet
With Teeth                                                                                                      Copache                                           
Ballad of Dwight Fry
Sacrifice

Bullhead kicked fuckin ass! A little different version of Zodiac. Ligature and Your Blessend owned that set. Lividity was the perfect choice to start the Stoner Witch set. Revolve was fast paced. The crowd the second night was about 30% morons. cheesebuger mentioned Coady's cymbal incident. That completely fucked the whole flow into At The Stake! Shevil was  perfect send off. Plus the hot for teacher monstrosity. Waited to ask tony for the final setlist to complete the set, however some douche just takes it right off of Dale's kit. Fuckin vultures! No respect.

Ligature
It's Shoved
If I Had An Exorcism
Zodiac
AnacondaCow
Your Blessend
Boris

Overall, The BEST FOUR PIECE MELVINS I HAVE EVER WITNESSED!!!!!!!!

[roadbull]

Minneapolis Residency Setlists minus Stoner Witch

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[Jette]

short clip of hag me from the monday show. unique angle of dale and codey, but cant see jared and buzz behind them.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28092943/Picture.avi

[Jette]

maybe this will work
http://youtu.be/e7JV_1_W-YE