9:30 Club, Washington, DC  October 3rd, 1998 review by Jeremy Ruch via Henhouse mailing list

The DC show was very good even though they started about 45 minutes before 10 like the webpage said.  I was a little less clear headed for this one so here's what I remember:

in no particular order
grace
something on
membership
fireworks
nautical
bobC
poets
lionized (who would've thunk it?)
Meridian
gift shop
ABAC
New O
*Encore
Planet
On the Verge (completely unexpected)

my roomate, only a casual fan through me, got one of JF's drumsticks which he promptly gave to me.  what a good guy



I was waiting for a couple of days before I made this post, mainly to see if anyone else that attended the show would write something about  it and have the same opinion,,and then to allow myself to calm down some first!  NOW I guess I better get this off my chest and see if the others who were there felt the same way.  My first regret is that I showed up late.  Part my friend or should I say doghouse friend and could be (ex ) for this friend!  Told him after the show he would never be in charge of driving me to a show again!  Vented feel better and now on with the business at hand.
    When we arrived @ about 9:30 I heard the guys playing and I was astonished to say the least.  I asked the attendant at the door,, how long they had been on, she said they had been on for 1/2 hour.  I do remember the TTH page saying Watchmen at 9:00 us at 10:00.  The show was great and the guys were playing well.  However around 10:15 they said thank you and goodnight,,I heard maybe 5 songs I was like this is not happening!  They came back and did one encore,,and then left,, the house lights came on and the equipment was rushed from the stage! Many folks were in shock,,others were furious,,my friend said people in the washroom were complaining that this was such a short show,,they were not that gentile about it though!  I had not had a beer yet and before I
met my friend and his brother I felt I better get one cause I was maybe going to hit him!  I asked if could order one at bar,,he said yes but drink fast another show is going to start at 11:00,,I was like great they are going to do another set?  He said oh no we have a dance club sort of thing going on at 11:00  I asked him why?  He did not comment! I could not believe this,  WHY when you have the best touring band in the world,,I am bias!  On your stage the best and most loyal fans along with them would you cut the show off so soon for something as stupid as dance night?  I am sure this was just as disappointing to the guys " not
speaking for them" as us attending the show!
    So I am looking for comments from those of you that were there,,and others if you want to get into it.  Many times in this group I have read the statement the US does not get it,,and I am sad to say and have also felt that in most cases we dont!  Not all of us,,but a good number of us!  If I have to read one more review,,or show bill that compares them to REM,,I am going to go POSTAL!  Where the fuck are they coming from. Yes, I get the simple parallels,,but get real people,,
1:  REM has lost it and before they did they,, let all of it go to there head
2:  Gord D kicks Stipes ass!
3:  REM is now touring with a drum machine?
4:  Lyrics are not half as full of imagery and reflection! Feel free to add to this at your convience!
     Set list as I remember and as I got to see!
NOIS
ABAC
On the Verge  what a great add,,they smoked on this tune
Poets
someone told me they opened with Grace
Planet
Bob
Meridian
and now that I am angry again and it has been 3 days since the show everything else is running together!  I am not upset with the GUYS,,they were playing KICK ASS the sound was great,,I think Gord D voice was bugging him,,but he did not let us down anyway!  Got to love and respect that!   I am done now and have said enuf!  Sorry for my bitch and SORRY to the guys for such a big fuck up by the people in DC!

    "You've got a boat-load o' nerve
    But I would say that you have been told
    You work me against my friends and you'll
    Will be left out in the cold"
                "The Tragically Hip"

HIP EH in VA!  Til the paper says" Tragically" Dead,,"Hip" forever!
John