Recovering

Play it: Robert Pollard / February 28th, 2006 / The Crocodile (approximated setlist)

"Recovering" is the name of the song from From a Compound Eye that Robert Pollard's been using to close out his 'proper' sets, before launching into some GBV classics for the encore. "Recovering" is also the status of nearly all that attended last night's performance at the Crocodile here in Seattle, which was Pollard's last on this leg of the tour.

From looking at previous setlists, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a couple GBV numbers thrown in early on ("Mute Superstar," "Choking Tara") as it appeared from earlier setlists that the GBV contigent would be saved for the encore. Uncle Bob appeared a bit tired (we got no leg kicks until "Gold Star for Robot Boy" in the encore,) possibly because he was favoring tequila over his normal spin beer in air-open beer-chug beer-repeat ritual. He even sat down in the middle of the stage for nearly 3 minutes of the ending to "The Numbered Head."

The highlights of the night, musically, were the amazingly tireless Tommy Keene (who played lead guitar, keyboards, background vocals and even a little harmonica,) and the steady-yet-wild rhythms that drummer Jon Wurster was supplying. I did miss some of the endearing sloppiness of previous lineups, but the power that Keene and Wurster lent the songs was undeniable, and having a keyboard live (very un-GBV) added a nice touch to some of the older tunes ("Don't Stop Now") and felt necessary with much of FaCE's songs. "Conqueror of the Moon" was the track that impressed me the most - the song's textures and interesting changes were a welcome change of pace from much of Pollard's 'hit it and quit it' songwriting approach. Other songs that impressed were some of the songs from the forthcoming album, Normal Happiness. "Get A Faceful" and "Supernatural Car Lover" were both sugary sweet and punchy pop. Speaking of punchy pop, Pollard and Tommy Keane have a project due out this year as well, and they call themselves The Keene Brothers , and Keene himself has a new album coming out this April.



More of my photos from the show
Concert review from Cat's Cradle (Chapel Hill, NC) 1/27/2006 (Harp)
Set list from that show (gvvdb.com)

Previously:
2nd Impressions of 2006
Early surprise from Uncle Bob (FaCE review, 11/11/05)
The Electrifying Conclusion Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

tags: playlist, music, robert pollard, guided by voices, tommy keene