Cobra details and M. Ward

[Garth69]

I briefly mentioned this before, but how are they working this tune? Is it the whole works or just certain movements? It's basically about 5-6 songs in one. Whatever it is, I'm sure it cooks, but any insight would be great.
Also...how was the M. Ward set? I hear MMJ is backing him up. I saw the acoustic tour with Bright Eyes and was very impressed by Mr. Ward, so that's a nice added bonus.

[kidsmoke]

The cobra that's being played on this tour is the middle, bass line driven section of the song. "I know somebody, yes i know someone who likes to wait for the policeman to come"

[40206]

The Setlists seems to say "Middle of Cobra"--so it probably is the part that begins about eleven minutes into the Chocolate and Ice version.  It would be awesome if they played the end--where JJ does his "rap".

[Marcus]

i saw them do the short version last night and Jim crept up to the mic with his palms pressed togather in front of his chest like he was praying and went into the lyrics/rap?  it was strange but cool.

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

it was strange but cool

And that my friends is the appeal of "Cobra".  I dunno if Jim knows this, but I feel like I'm 14 again when I hear that song...dancing to the strains of some lost '80s funk number... 8)

[Garth69]

Thanks folks. I need to listen to that again before Friday to get a better idea. I really like the part that starts with the drum roll and into the guitar solo, but I'm not sure if that's included. And the beginning with the drum machine and bass is also cool, but it doesn't sound like that's part of the program. I'm sure ol' Tom would have no problem shakin' his ass with that bass line.
But back to the M. Ward part of the show...any comments there? I need to hear some of his recorded stuff.

[PapaJoeBear]

In Seattle, they played the song from the beggining through to the drum machine part...did the whole "i know somebody, yeah, I know someone.." bit, then walked off the stage with the drum machine still going.  But they did the 2 parts before that too.  the "how do you live without a lovers touch" part...and the groovey switch to the bluesy rock guitar thing.

peace
JoeBear

[PapaJoeBear]

Really wish they would have gone into the ambient part of that song.... That part gives me chills and goosebumps....

Oh..Cobra

You are a haunting companion

JoeBEar

[The Boar]

In St. Louis last night, they played the whole of Cobra until the droom loop, at which point the boys exited the stage one by one. So if you are seeing them soon, expect to see a very awesome, surreal version of the song.

If you are interested, the entire show was supernatural. Jim had a parrot on his shoulder for the whole show which was cool, and there was a blow-up ghost that inflated before the encore.

Jim noted that this was the very first time MMJ had played St. Louis -- "never played a show here, never been here before, not even once". He mentioned that he and his mother and aunt had visited the Arch and related some of the info. that he learned from the Making of the Arch video. He then said that upon returning from the arch his mother, his aunt, and himself sat down and wrote a song about the Arch called the St. Louis Arch Song and that "I think you all will really, really like it."

While everyone esxpected an Arch ditty to follow, the band instead launched into a blistering version of Strangulation. The crowd's amused intrigue turned into hysterical delight. The highlight of the night was definitely the Strangulation-Masterplan-SteamEngine-RunThru-Cobra song string. The entire bar was on their feet by the end of the set, and again at the end of the encore.

Thanks, Tommy for selling me my T-shirt, even though I wasn't sure it was you when I got it. And thanks Jim for having nice-smelling hair -- especially when you were headbanging right into my upturned face. Thanks MMJ for visiting St. Louis and please hurry back. We'll see you at Bonnarroo.  ;D

[Garth69]

Okay, I'm listening to Cobra right now. I'm interested and very excited in how this thing is gonna sound live. I'm still kinda unclear due to some of the responses as far as how it's pieced together, but from what I gather the ambient 'Riders on the Storm' type intrumental keyboard part would be the likeliest candidate for omission. The beginning up until then is very solid and would sound great live. After the keyboard part, around the 20 minute mark, that's when the light banjo Disney style ballad-y part starts. This would also be cool. I guess the rap part is the finishing touch...just started with the different drum machine beat, around 23:40. Man, I can't wait!
I also lucked out and will get to leave work early today and go to the Cubs game today, so it's gonna be a great weekend...