Costa Mesa 10-24-07

[chopklop]

In the words of Jeff Spicoli,"Awesome! Totally awesome!"

Coady Willis is a maniac.

[CH]

ChopKlop speaks the truth.

Awoke to an ash filled morning.  Truck was covered with a light layer of ash.  Sun was glowing with an ominous glow due to the fires, and the day was unseasonably warm- an omen? a portent of things to come?  Would the melvins show tonight be different than other melvins shows?
  Before the show I took my nap; sleep deprivation was not going to hinder my show tonight.  Got worked up driving down to club mesa listening to country music.  it smells like burning, so I roll up the windows.  Arrived early, and waited outside while soundcheck proceeded.  Heard civilized worm twice, and then a big business song.  Tim Moss tried to go in the side door, was told doors should open at 9; he promplty said I'm with the melvins - tour manager.  He got through.  I see one person I thought Ive seen at a few / bunch / of melvins show before.. Doors open and I enter.  This club is my number two favorite bar, and I was glad to be there.  Merchandise table to the right; smash the state was sold out.  Plenty of cds for all.  A roadie was begging for the skull, he did not receive it.  I had to head outside for a second, and in the narrow entryway I did the 'no, you go first' dance with a large man when we both saw that there was only enough room for one of us to pass.  After waiting for him to pass, he kindly backed up, gave me the go-ahead nod, and I obliged and walked passed him.  As I passed him I got a look at his face, and muttered '*inaudible* hey you're *audible* JARED!'.  Yes, it was a brilliant statement.
Got back in, got my whisky, and they were playing a kinks album, I was in heaven.  Walked around, headed to the stage area, got a few pictures of people milling.  The whisky was strong and I was greatful.  Eventually a purge of dissidents began after Moss gave the high sign; it was basically the dvd played on a sheet-like screen reminiscent of elementary school movies.
The POD screening got a better reception than at the henry fonda; it seemed like there was more cheering and clapping among this crowd.   
Big business came out.  Toshi was on guitar.  I loved one of their new songs; seventies rock inspired with feedback?  Dale eventually joined them, and said (it was nice to be at the end of the tour because) he wants to take a shit in his own toilet.  Theres no place like home.  Jared said 'please no fire jokes' where someone immediately replied 'you guys are on fire!' *rimshot*  Kept playing a 'Frankenstein' song; tried to get some crowd participation going.
Melvins came out, and it was glorious.  The setlist is basically the same as the previous shows..an excellent mix of old and new songs.  Your Blessened was beautiful and made my chest move.  Or technically, the speakers did?  Heard Billy Fish, I really liked that movie (the one with james bond and the other guy?).  Got some more pictures, perhaps I'll post them later.  Maybe not.  Someone with the band (the band crew had PINK wristbands) was filming, perhaps for a dvd?  I'm not sure.  Expect something ala video in the future.  Show came to a close, Buzz stealthily snuck out stage door left.  Coady and Dale flicked roughly two hundred thousand drum sticks into the crowd.  Coady has perfected the art of the cymbal-bank shot into crowd- move; Dale, sir you need more practice.  Most of Dale's drumsticks flicked into the floor after hitting the cymbal.  Jared left the stage with his bass feed-backing (?), while the two drummers got into a stick fight.  Silliness.  They left; and a pack of jackals jumped the stage for the setlists, I presume.
A combination of giddiness (due to the end of the tour?), atmosphere, circumstance, and constant practice led to a great night.  A few more shows are scheduled for the rest of the year I believe, see them if you can.

the end

[M i C H e L L e]

Fabulous Review! 

[supernaut]

i had no idea there'd be board denizens in our little backwater burg... anyhow that makes at least 3 of us.

i thought the show in december at the same venue was better, but then again, it was my birthday, so was drunk(er) that night, and it was a weekend so the crowd was more fun (and drunker) too. this show felt a little bit "all business", ripping thru the songs as fast as possible so they could get the fuck out of there... maybe Dale was really wanting to get back to his toilet, or maybe it was just last night of tour get-it-over-with-ness. the crowd seemed lethargic, maybe due to being a bit tired from breathing shitty air all week down here due to the fires. anyhow, mighta been nice to spread the (a)sa songs out thru the set instead of backloading 5 or 6 of them to the end...

...but even a lukewarm Melvins show is better than most other bands' good ones. i gotta say, hearing Your Blessened and Let God Be Your Gardener was way way cool. and glad they stopped here so i didn't have to drive to goddam L fuckin A.

[norecess]

Nice review!

[highjinx]

I just moved here from the east coast, used to see alot of shows from Richmond VA to NYC. This was my first time seeing a heavy show on the west coast, and first time seeing the Melvins this year. The show itself was cool, easy acess to the bar, very small room and I was close with no moshing allowed there. Missed the Dalek movie that opened, the Melvins were fucking great. Yeah they were kinda business class but isnt that how they always are? Playing a consisent set of 20 or songs from their hundreds, playing them spot on and adding little twists here and there. I ate up the middle of the set including Hogleg, With Teeth and Let God Be Your Gardner. The bar itself was cool on the inside but whats with the strip mall? Only been to one like that on the east and its where bands go to die, like hair metal. Big Business was great as well,  saw them last summer and they've gotten tighter and it was a treat to see them play alot of the new record, easily my fav of this year. I dug the newer Melvins songs at the end, nice trip down memory lane then a bunch of the newer jams which really stand out from the past stuff, not better but still excellent in a different way. Really made me appreciate the new record, the song writing and structure are just tops. All in all, awesme first west coast show!

[glen]

charmicat?  now theres a face you don't see everyday. 

[perusha]

For whatever it's worth, I can't agree with the "all business" attitude of the show at all.  The Melvins just killed it, I thought all four were completely into the show and it was definately up to par with any other So Cal show in the past few years.  I could care less how the audience were reacting being that I'm not there to play with the audience anyway and there was nothing going on that affected the band at all.  The sound quality was quite good and seeing them in such a small club is pretty f'n amazing after seeing shows at the Troubadour and Henry Fonda.

Amazing set list, amazing show...this lineup is so special, there just is not a better live band out there anywhere.

[Smellis]

 

[supernaut]

For whatever it's worth, I can't agree with the "all business" attitude of the show at all.  The Melvins just killed it, I thought all four were completely into the show and it was definately up to par with any other So Cal show in the past few years.  I could care less how the audience were reacting being that I'm not there to play with the audience anyway and there was nothing going on that affected the band at all.  The sound quality was quite good and seeing them in such a small club is pretty f'n amazing after seeing shows at the Troubadour and Henry Fonda.

Amazing set list, amazing show...this lineup is so special, there just is not a better live band out there anywhere.

it just seemed more fun last time, is all, and it felt a little more spontaneous. its always more fun with at least some crowd interaction -- i'm not saying pits or slamdancing or whatever the kids call it these days are required, but nothing wrong with a little hootin and hollerin and general enthusiasm over and above some nice well-behaved clapping. don't get me wrong, i ain't a hater -- been seeing Melvins live for nigh on 15 years, and relish any and all future opportunities to do so. this was cool, just wasn't one of my all time faves. i'm sure the next time will be great, like the last time i saw 'em, at the Lysol/Eggnog show at the Troubadour. i'll probably go check out the San Diego show/s in December, and they'll probably kill. anyway, just one reporter's opinion. carry on.