NYC 10-05-09 set list

If Wishes Could Be Granted…a special wink to TNT on Atonement?

Looking over the setlist for West has me especially green. I had purchased a ticket for the Chicago version of this show, but sadly, cannot stay the 2 days I had planned.

First off, thanks for posting the set list for those of us who couldn’t be there! Some definite highlights, IMHO, in People Talkin’, Overtime, Everything Has Changed, West, and Minneapolis, assuming they were performed well.

I’m a little surprised at how many of the second set songs came from the albums that were the focus of the main set – five out of the ten, it looks like. And had I been there, I’d probably have been a bit disappointed that so many of the songs played were regular staples of the last couple years – I’m thinking in particular of Come On, Honey Bee, Unsuffer Me, Righteously, and Real Live Bleeding Fingers. Nothing against the songs, but I’d have been hoping for some (relatively) more obscure stuff from the last three albums. Words Fell, World Without Tears, Words, Where Is My Love, If Wishes Were Horses would all be welcome additions to the setlist.

That said, I obviously didn’t get to see the show and a good performance can redeem a much worse setlist than last night’s, so I doubt too many fans were disappointed. BTW, she didn’t really play Unsuffer Me in both the first and second sets, did she?

I should also add that while I don’t think I’m really going to regret missing the 3rd night in Chicago, the only reason I’ll miss it is because I can only make two and I’m more invested in seeing the songs from the first six albums. If time (and the two-and-a-half-hour commute to and from the shows, in the middle of a workweek) was not a factor, I’d gladly go see the 3rd night regardless of the setlist. So take my criticism with a grain of salt. 🙂

Lafayette, are you going to be able to make the trip to Chicago at all?

Oh man, what a night. It is nearly 1:00 PM & we just woke up. After being out even later last night than the previous two (we got back to our hotel room after 4:00 AM), we decided to blow off all our “touristy” plans for the day & sleep in to (finally) catch up on some sleep.

The setlist in the first post above is accurate, except for “Unsuffer Me” being listed in the second set. It indeed was not played a second time, Disco Stu – good catch.

Some notes I took during the show while tracking the set list (I don’t have the memory of stoger! 😉 ):

“Fruits of My Labor” – Oh my God, she NAILED this one! I was blown away by Lu’s vocals on this awesome song – the best performance I have heard of “Fruits…” ever. Period. After the audience response, Lu remarked that we were a “cool audience” & that she could feel a vibe, saying, “all the cool people come out on a Monday night”.

For “Rescue”, Lu introduced a special guest, violinist David Mansfield. He played with Lu & the band on “Rescue” and the next 6 songs, leaving the stage after “Well Well Well”. I loved the addition of the violin. There was a little “hiccup” in the middle of “Rescue” but, rather than restarting, the band just went with the flow, completing the song pretty much seamlessly.

On “Unsuffer Me”, Eric played some blistering lead guitar. Very impressive.

David brought out the upright bass several times this evening, utilizing it on at least 4 songs – “Rescue”, “Everything Has Changed”, “West”, and “Well Well Well”.

Prior to “Everything Has Changed”, Butch & Eric briefly left the stage, returning for the following song.

After “West”, Lu commented that “we don’t get to do these slow songs that much. Thank you for being a great listening audience.” If I could editorialize a bit here, Lu was right. I especially appreciated the respectfulness of the audience during the more quiet selections. There wasn’t any “chit chat” (at least that I could here from my position front & center), something that bugs the crap out of me at too many other shows.

After “Well Well Well”, Lu commented, “that’s what I am talking about”, perhaps about David Mansfield’s contribution on violin during this song. I thought he added a lot to the performance on this song in particular.

Lu introduced the band between “Tears of Joy” & “Honey Bee”.

Just prior to the last song of the first set, “Plan To Marry”, Buick 6 left the stage, leaving only Lu on acoustic. When introducing the song, Lu said, “I’m going to sing one more song from the last record,” immediately after which a fan towards the back yelled out an anguished “NO!” Lu smiled and said, “Oh, we’re going to some back and play some more songs.”

For the second set, Lu took the stage with just David Mansfield to play a “song by special request” – “Minneapolis” (congratulations, Ben!). After the song, Buick 6 took the stage. David stayed on, playing violin on the next 5 songs, leaving after “Changed The Locks”.

After “Changed The Locks”, Lu announces that “Willie Nile” is in the audience, having “just flown in from Holland”. She asked him “to come up and play” if he was still there, but he did not appear.

For the encore, Lu performed “Angel”, dedicating it once again to the late Jim Carroll, even though it was not listed on the setlist. As in the show the night before, Lu performed this song alone w/ just an acoustic guitar.

“Happy” was once again listed on the setlist as a possible alternative to “It’s A Long Way…”, but the latter was performed to close out the show.

That’s all my notes. I enjoyed the show immensely, despite some of the setlist exclusions pointed out previously. I have never been to a Lu show where there were not several songs I wish she had played – these three nights were no exception. I would have particularly liked to have heard “Like A Rose” & “Which Will”, but it was not to be. Nonetheless, I was so happy to be a part of these three epic performances, and would like to thank Lu, Tom & Buick 6 for their memorable performances.

Tom

Last night was suprisingly my fave show of the 3 and one of the one of the most enjoyable Lucinda shows in all the years I’ve been watching.
She was very relaxed and really fed off the fun the crowd was having.
What made the show for me was the absolute silence the audience gave Lucinda especially during the first set. You couldve heard a pin drop. Such a rarity in these times but all the more appreciated when it happens. She obviously noticed and was aware this was a true fanbase coming out on a Monday night. She can be proud she has such respectful fans. You guys made my night. Awesome show!
Anyone else see the trip at the end, coulda been nasty.

I always thought she said “That’s what I’m talking about” at the end of Well Well Well because she says that on the record version. 😕

Rhon, it was a true pleasure meeting you! Thanks for sharing “Those Three Nights” (to borrow stoger’s word play) with Sarah & me. And remember, we have a guest bedroom & bath that has your name on it any time Lu is in Atlanta. We can even pick you up at the Amtrak station!

Tom