Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Also, thanks to Mike for starting this thread way back when. Otherwise, you would not be reading my report as the New Topic button seems to have boogied. Finally, Lu has 2 new fans as I took my nephew and his wife to the show and they both had a super fab time. Now I can’t find the emoticons. Oh dear.
Last night was unexpectedly a huge fabulous success. I expected a handful of hipsters and the usual suspects huddled in a dark room listening to the CD and then Lu comes out, plays 3 songs, and takes off into the night. Instead, there was a long line to get in and at least 150 people in a rehearsal hall with a stage set up at one end. A bar in the next room (!). Swinghouse Studios is a recording studio (ya think?) and rehearsal hall in a weird place called Atwater Village, betwixt and between Glendale and Los Feliz. It is right next to a train track and a couple trains sped by while we were in line, at great speed and tremendous noise. I can only imagine how many recordings that train has accidentally appeared on.I digress.
Lu had planned to do a solo set, I gather, but Butch and David offered to accompany her. No Stuart as he was back home in Nashville. After the usual tense moments after the first song due to “sound problems”, we were off and running. Lu was in great spirits and I think was surprised by the large exuberant crowd in this small space. She waxed eloquent about playing at home in LA in front of her friends and family. Stories were told about the songs as usual. Lu’s voice was in fine form and she was enjoying herself. It appeared she was going to play all night. The show was shown on Facebook live and I’m afraid my bald spot was broadcast across the galaxy as the camera was right behind me. I shall not watch.
A cavalcade of locals attended, including David Bianco, who engineered the new CD and at whose studio it was recorded. The FF was suitably represented by Paul From Los Angeles and Stellabluee. Paul, please give us your remarks. Other regulars such as Erica, Peggy French and her husband Robert, and Shilah represented.
Whoever thought of this listening party idea is a genius and we are going to have to do this again and again. Lu has really been kicking butt of late. If you have a chance to see her in the near future I advise you to get out and do so.
915
6 blocks
Little angel little brother
Memphis Pearl
Pineola
Factory blues
Sweet old world
Something about what happens
Sidewalks
Lines around your eyesStop breaking down Robert Johnson
Disgusted son Jackson
Which Will1045
I was severely disappointed Mike did not do Take Out the Trash. I cornered him at the merch table and saw that he was only selling his last 2 CDs! I said where is your second CD and Mike said he doesn’t sell that one anymore he is embarrassed by it or something. I said I guess that’s why we didn’t hear Take Out the Trash and he laughed. I talked him into going back to his van to see if he had any copies of it, Last Fool at the Bar. I also sold 2 CDs for him while he was chatting with fans. So there you go.
The locals were Peggy French and husband Robert.
Don’t forget to envy our new LU cd listening party this Friday, the show in Ojai next weekend, Hardly Strictly the day after, and the show at The Wiltern a couple days later.
Pepperdine University hosted the Wixen Songwriter Series something or other, 4 artists on Saturday and Sunday each. I’m sorry I missed Jonathan Richman on Saturday. I was please to attend Sundays show which featured Mike Stinson, The White Buffalo, Elizabeth Cook, and Lucinda Williams as the closer.
It was a beautiful afternoon in Malibu, sunny and warm, the ocean and beautiful people everywhere. And us. The Smothers Theater is a small venue, maybe 600 seats, and the sound and lighting were perfect. My sixth row seats turned into first row seats when the pit section was removed. The first 3 acts were all killer; Mike’s Texas shit-kicker music was delivered with his usual good humor. The White Buffalo was high-energy as always with his deep and dark songs. Elizabeth Cook was sweet and hilarious in a solo performance where every song was a gem.
Lu came out solo for I Look at the World. She sounded great. Then the band joined and we were off to the races with an unusual set list but the songs gave the night a certain vibe that fit. The band was smoking and Lu was singing her ass off, hitting all the high notes and keeping them there as long as she pleased. It was during Foolishness that I realized this show was as perfect as one could expect; flawless performances of terrific songs. Lu was in particularly good spirits.
This was one of the best Lu shows I had seen in a while and I was sorry to see the night end. It was great to see West Words (it was easy to do since she was sitting next to me) and the usual locals. I look forward to the listening party on Friday and the Topa Topa Festival in Ojai on October 7.
You are correct sir, I watched at home on Facebook Live, which is a thing now. Matt Blake is the head honcho.
It was a fine time in the old towne tonight. I fought rush hour traffic to journey from my suburban enclave to meet Ms. West Words at her hotel a short skip and a hop from the famed Hollywood Bowl. Every square inch of asphalt on Highland Ave from the freeway to Hollywood Blvd. was covered with automobiles. But enough about me.
Ms. Words and I took our seats around 7 pm and enjoyed the worst pizza ever cooked. It was a pleasant night with a few clouds and a gentle breeze. Lu came out at exactly 7:30 looking fabulous. If she was nervous playing in front of the big crowd she didn’t show it. She said she was proud to play at the bowl and proud to open for Tom Petty. The band was in fine form and the massive venue matched their volume (tee hee). Lu really expressed herself on Foolishness as always, and it was a highlight. Joy was also played with fervor and the crowd was digging it. There was some type of event at the conclusion of Foolishness where Lu had to take a moment at the side of the stage. If I did not know any better (I don’t) I would suggest that she swallowed a bug or something while she was belting out the last words. Perhaps we shall never know.
The Friendly Forum was in fine form (almost alliteration Mr. S.?) with myself and Ms. Words representing, plus friends of the forum Leanne and Peggy French in tow. All in all a great first night.
