Champaign Finale!

[BH]

Last show of the first run!  Let's hear some reports!

[Carter41]

I wasn't there, but I had a friend who was. He said the show melted his face off. He also taped the show and sent me a clip from his tape. It sounds killer. I believe he mentioned that there were multiple tapers there.

[thebear0284]

it was awesome. they played nashville to kentucky, tonight i want to celebrate with you, and a lot of it still moves. jim sounded absolutely amazing, like his voice was in top form.

overall the band sounded really good, one of my friends just kept saying how great everything sounded, i've been in that auditorium before and bands often sound horrible there. and this being my fifth show i can genuinely say the band has grown so much, they sound so clean and professional but still haven't lost that badass swagger!

[Kory]

[glb] melted his face off.[/glb]

I fucking love that expression!

[havibulin]

Show was great. Sound was great. The venue was empty though...I couldn't believe the lack of turnout. Made the show better because you could hear everything...no crowd noise.

If this was taped I'd hope it would turn up here.

Here's the set....surely out of order but all the songs are there...

It Beats 4 U
What a Wonderful Man
Gideon
Lowdown
Off The Record
Just One Thing
Worless Chorus
Phone Went West
Lay Low
Xmas Curtain
One Big Holiday
Dondante
Run Thru
They Ran
-
Tonight I want to Celebrate
Nashville To Kentucky
Golden
Steam Engine
Magheetah
Anytime

[Jim]

Show was great. Sound was great. The venue was empty though...I couldn't believe the lack of turnout. Made the show better because you could hear everything...no crowd noise.

If this was taped I'd hope it would turn up here.

Here's the set....surely out of order but all the songs are there...

It Beats 4 U
What a Wonderful Man
Gideon
Lowdown
Off The Record
Just One Thing
Worless Chorus
Phone Went West
Lay Low
Xmas Curtain
One Big Holiday
Dondante
Run Thru
They Ran
-
Tonight I want to Celebrate
Nashville To Kentucky
Golden
Steam Engine
Magheetah
Anytime

Lowdown wasn't played. It was The Way That He Sings.

besides that the order looks correct to me.

[flugster]

IT was a great show...turnout was low...but that made it nice and easy to get up and close....I took about 150 pictures and about 5 or so video clips..

They sounded great, my face was also melted off.  :D

[Carter41]

If this was taped I'd hope it would turn up here.

It will  ;D

[Carter41]

jim sounded absolutely amazing, like his voice was in top form.

From the tape I heard, his voice sounds shot. He couldn't hit the high notes during the chorus of Wonderful Man. Carl hit the highs, and Jim sang the alternate chorus (the one he does solo where he sings lower). Still sounds good though. Hopefully the break in shows will give his voice a rest! Not sure how it lasts that long to being with.

[megisnotreal]

Woah. I took a shit-ton of pics, y'all.

[megisnotreal]

Damn. What an experience. We drove six hours to get to the Foellinger, and we waited two hours to buy tickets. Then, on the way home, one of the tires blew out and then the spare blew out and I thought I woas going to never come home, but...

It was amazing. The Foellinger is a really big an old auditorium with this huge dome for a roof. The seats are wooden, and it was a really intimate venue.

The Slip took the stage, and my friend Jen and I stood up and commenced to rocking the fuck out. It was wierd, because there were a lot of empty seats and we were like the ONLY ones standing up. This girl told me to "sit the fuck down," but I was like, "Hey, I'm just enjoying the show." They brought the fucking rock, man; I really dug those guys. At the end, the lead singer said, "Hey, thanks for getting into it guys. You're an inspiration." He was laughing about it, because seriously, NO one (but me and Jen) was standing up. I met him after the show and he told me I was a badass for "knowing how to act at a rock and roll show."

Anyway, MMJ took the stage and I was transported to what my pal Jen refers to as the "happy place." We had seats, but eventually said fuck it and stood up in front of the stage--in front of Carl and Tommy. The show was fucking amazing. I was so happy, I thought I was on x, even though I was totally sober... but that's a Jacket show for you. I'll have to scan my copy of the setlist for y'all later. Scanner's on the fritz.

Highlights of the show... before leaving the stage before the encore, Jim snuck up behind Patrick and starting banging on the drums while Patrick was still drumming. I tried to get a picture, but it didn't turn out.

He saluted us for making "the brave choice" and not staying at home and "watching Grey's Anatomy on the Idiot Box." He kept referring to Illinois as a "frozen tundra," and that the Foellinger was our "warm lil' fuckin' igloo."

He joked with the crowd by talking about how he hated playing in "corporate venues" like "The Folgers Auditorium."  He went on about consumerism and kept joking that the place was called "The Folger Auditiorium." All these people were yelling out "It's the FOELIINGER," and when he heard one of them say that, he said, "Whatever. It still smells like fuckin' coffee."

Nashville to Kentucky was great. I love the addition of Carl's sax solo. He shreds the guitar, too. Carl brings the rock, man.



Run Thru "melted my face off," and I thought my heart was going to exlpode during The Way That He Sings.  Golden was amazing, too; that first pic I posted was taken during that song. Kudos to the lighting designer! And kudos to Dave, the sound man, because the show sounded great.

After the show, I got to meet the band. They were all so nice. I gave them this air freshener I bought that has this picture of a bear about to attack someone with the phrase "Beary Fresh" printed beneath. I think Patrick thought it was funny. I made some Mr. Show jokes with Jim, and he took a picture with me. Note out silly poses.



I got one of Carl's picks and Jim's, too. That's what the random ass pic I posted earlier was of. It was one of the best nights of my life. It was cool meeting a lot of new people, most whom had never seen the Jacket before. This one guy next to me was like, "This is the fucking sickest show I have ever seen!" The crowd who had been seated earlier were brought to their collective knees by pure rock and roll. I wish I could do it all over again.



Here's me waiting to get my tickets:



The student workers put that sign there, and I found it funny.

Anyway... amazing experience. I hope someone taped this show.

[BH]

Awesome Meg!  Why does everyone get a picture with Jim except me!!!!!!!

[LaurieBlue]

http://champaignofblogs.blogspot.com/2006/12/thank-you-fighting-illini-we-love.html

[dragonboy]

Thanks for the great pics & stories Meg!  :)

[megisnotreal]

http://champaignofblogs.blogspot.com/2006/12/thank-you-fighting-illini-we-love.html

those pics are way better than mine. i'm a shitty photographer.

[red]

Jim wearing a toque, I love it!  

[megisnotreal]

Jim wearing a toque, I love it!  

he's got style. and it was so fucking cold up there in illinois!

[supernova9]

those pics are way better than mine. i'm a shitty photographer.

Heya Meg (I'm assuming that's your name ;-) )

Thanks for the comments on the pictures ;D That's my blog.  I was standing to the right of you at the show (right up by the stage).  I was wearing the Cubs hat and the black blazer.  You smelled terrific, by the way ;-)

Where did you guys drive six hours from?  Louisville?  I totally meant to talk to you after the show, but I had an hour drive after the gig and a presentation and a paper that I wrote at 4 o'clock this morning to present for my 8 o'clock class today.  It was totally worth it!

The show was definitely one of the best Champaign-Urbana has had this year.  That was as upbeat of a crowd as I've seen at Foellinger (aka "Folger's") since back in 2003 for a Wilco show there.  Jeff Tweedy just played a solo gig there back in October, which was awesome, as well, but definitely more low key.

I have a lot more pictures, so if any of you all are interested, I'll post a few later.

[megisnotreal]

Thanks for the comments on the pictures ;D That's my blog.  I was standing to the right of you at the show (right up by the stage).  I was wearing the Cubs hat and the black blazer.

Where did you guys drive six hours from?

Aha! I remember you! Hope my crazy and erratic rocking out didn't make you think I was having a seizure or anything.  ;)

We drove from Bowling Green, Kentucky, home of the Corvette and "Big Red."



I wish MMJ would play at my college. I think the boys of MMJ  would dig Big Red (the best college mascot EVER!).

[supernova9]

Aha! I remember you! Hope my crazy and erratic rocking out didn't make you think I was having a seizure or anything.  ;)

We drove from Bowling Green, Kentucky, home of the Corvette and "Big Red." wish MMJ would play at my college. I think the boys of MMJ  would dig Big Red (the best college mascot EVER!).

Hell no!  I was rocking right along with ya!  I recall one point where we were dancing back and forth shoulder to shoulder... it was just such a great vibe down by the stage.  That was the first time I'd seen them in concert, and they even blew away the Okonokos performance, which I've been listening to incessantly today.  

Did you get a chance to hang out in Champaign? What did you think?  I'm curious as to what Kentucky's like... I've only driven through Paducah on my way to Nashville.  Louisville?  Bowling Green?  Where should I check out?