10/01/2005 The Village Dublin, Ireland

[Kimana Wanchoo]

I was pretty lucky not to miss half the show as my friend and I came in as the Melvins just finished playing the first song. This was due to us drinking in the pub nearby and the usual time bands come on in the Village was 9:30. The gig kicked off at nine o'clock, and I had no idea what they played first, it wasn't on the "Houdini" album anyway.

This gig is a warm up of sorts for their London gig where they are playing their "Houdini" album in its entirity, and they are doing so tonight. Sure they won't be playing anything else, but that didn't matter to me, i've always wanted to see the Melvins, I was even considering going to the London gig. They were supposed to play here with Jello Biafra in August, so I was surprised to see that they would make up for this by scheduling to play here. Now that I think about it, i'm now glad that gig was cancelled.

And so, the band kicked into Hooch, and then Nightgoat, which sounded excellent live, and had a similar pace to the Fantomas/Melvins Big Band version on "Millenium Monsterwork". Just when I thought they were going to play the songs in their order on the album, after Going Blind, they went into Copache and Set Me Straight, where they only played the first verse and chorus, then fusing it with another song which I didn't recognise.

One song that I didn't expect to sound good live was Sky Pup, which was more rock-sounding live than the album version. I think Dale Crover was doing the vocals for it, I couldn't see him from where I was standing. While trying to figure out how many songs are left, they go into a frantic Honey Bucket, which resulted in King Buzzo (who was wearing a combat jacket) breaking a string. Once it was replaced, he thanked the crowd for coming, and said they're going to play that song again. And then ANOTHER string broke, which Buzzo said was weird. Well, third times' the charm, and they finally get through Honey Bucket without a hitch.

Towards the end of the gig, the band proceeded with a drum instrumental, now I may be wrong but I don't think it was Spread Eagle Beagle, and just when I thought the gig was over, they began to play the opening bars of Sacrifice! They finished the gig with something I didn't recognise.

Overall, I thought the gig was excellent. I'm not sure if it was the first time the band played here (by that I mean the Melvins, Buzzo and Trevor Dunn, who was on bass tonight, played in this venue in June this year with the Fantomas). Hopefully this would not be the last, most bands tend to forget Ireland while touring the UK. Thankfully, The Melvins were not one of those bands.

Here is the setlist, I think it's in the right order:

???
Hooch
Nightgoat
Lizzy
Going Blind
Copache
Set Me Straight/???
Sky Pup
Teet
Joan Of Arc
Honey Bucket
Honey Bucket
Honey Bucket
Hag Me
(Drum Instrumental)
Sacrifice
???

[Tyronehell]

The last sang was Rocket Reducer #69(Rama Lama Fafafa) by MC5.

Great night.

[Reverend Ebeneezer]

Thanks for the review...I didn't think they'd be playing it entirely by the book. Still, my saliva glands are now in overdrive waiting for tomorrow...

[mumu]

Thanks for the great review!  I wish I could have been there.  I wonder if I could get to the London gig on a budget of 52 dollars?? 

[Kimana Wanchoo]

I wonder if I could get to the London gig on a budget of 52 dollars??

[bigasmountain]

I made this after the gig

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Simon]

I made this after the gig

Wow. I'd love to say "that's a nice [insert noun here]" but i don't know what it is. But it's nice.

Is it a painting, dude?

[bigasmountain]

ei, tis a paintin- ladee. arrr.

[pokehole]

This was a great show. I love melvins and never ever ever thought i'd get the chance to see them. HA! i did. Its was imense. I usually dont remember things when i get drunk but i remember this. And one of my fav songs is honey bucket which they basically played three times so i was in honey bucket heaven.
Any way it was great.