Spacehog at the Troubadour

With help from Anonymous’s much better memory than mine and the photo of the playlist that Stephanie found taken by the brilliant Joshua J. Smelser, I’ve revised my report on Friday night’s show.  Thank you to our Cap’n Freeman for letting me add it to our blog.  For those that read my report yesterday that’s posted over at the forum, this is the same babbling giddiness, but with those song related corrections.

Having already brought my reluctant but now fully converted husband Monday night, I decided that I needed to bring my friend Kim Friday night.  I love friends that are in for any adventure.  I had called her Sunday night and said “Spacehog!!!!  Friday night..8:30, please come with me!!!”

“Space Who???”

“Spacehog!!!  They reunited!!!!  I’ll e-mail you videos and funfacts!!!  Just come!!!!”

She agreed and then five minutes later sent me a text.  “Who are we seeing again?”

Let me just say, that one song in last night and she will never say “Space who?” again!

Friday night 6:00 pm and we were at Kim’s house about 30 miles south of the Troubadour.  For folks not familiar with Friday night Los Angeles traffic, that seems like plenty of time.  It’s not.  I was pacing as she put on some makeup.  At 8:10 we were parking across the street from the Troubadour and I could see a line outside the club.  A quick scramble across the street (okay, we’re old so we crossed at the light, it’s Santa Monica Blvd. and it’s busy).  As we approached the box office to pick up the tickets on will call, I noticed two things at the same time.  I looked to my left by the street and there was Antony and Rich talking to some people (my heart skipped a beat) and at the same time I heard Kim say “oh!”  Looking in the direction of the box office where she was looking, I saw the “Sold Out” sign had just been put up!  Sooooooo glad we ordered those tickets ahead!!!  So that’s a big “Yay!” for preordering and a big “Yay!” for sold out!

Wanting to make sure that I was up close like last time, even at the risk of being splattered with Roy sweat again (something that I was hesitant to tell Kim about), I rushed us along to get in.  Stopping just to show tickets and (I love this part) ID’s, we hurried in and found that there were already people crowding around the stage.  Immediately I saw that the stage was bigger and that there was no curtain like at the Viper Room.  We worked like a team – Kim getting beer and me worming my way up front and center.  I secured us a spot just a couple people back and then we waited.  And waited.  It seemed like forever again but I’m sure it wasn’t.  I think I was even more giddy than Monday night because that show was fresh in my mind and it had been just the best!  Oh and I might have made a quick little wish that Ant’s amp didn’t give him any trouble!

The guys came out.  I couldn’t tell you which order because I was busy telling Kim “Ohhhh there they are!!!  There they are!!!!”  Roy had his sunglasses, brown leather jacket – you’ve seen the pictures – the totally cool rock guy gear on.  Once again he was kneeling.  Jonny was in place behind the drums, Ant on the left side of the stage again, Rich on the right again.  And Roy continued to kneel, looking deep in thought…keeping us all in suspense.  Drawing every eye in the place to him.  The music started, from on his knees Roy starts Nazi Girlfriend “I want to fuck her on the floor, Among my books of ancient lore” and I’m in a trance again!

Moving into “Right In The Back of Your Mind” Roy was up and making good use of the larger stage.  No longer restricted by the confining Viper Room stage, Roy was making a quick slide into stadium show mode and started swinging his microphone.  It whirled around and it did cross my mind that I’d really hate to get nailed by it, not just because it would really hurt but I’d be knocked out cold and miss the show.  He managed to keep it somewhat controlled although Ant looked like he was a little worried about being taken out, too.  Before any serious mishaps, the cord got caught on the microphone stand, knocking it to the ground.  Danger boy Roy didn’t skip a beat.  Dancing over to some bottled water and swigging some down while someone ran on stage and quickly set it back up.

Next song was Spacehog.  Ant singing lead vocals (as he does) and everyone cheering him on!  No amp issue at all!  Woooooohoooooooo!!!  “5, 4, 3, 2, 1….baby I’m a Spacehog!“  And have I said that I just love that guy’s voice???

The first new song “Glad to Know” was played next.  Roy’s sunglasses and leather jacket had been shed.  Around that time I glanced over at Rich and we exchanged smiles.  I love it when that sort of thing happens!

Next up, Ant announced that he was going to sing a song he wrote when he was fifteen and might have said something about only being sixteen now.  Hard to hear for sure over the excited crowd.  I knew what was coming and I wasn’t disappointed!!!  Boom…right into Space Is The Place “And when you kiss your other lover…”  Watching Ant sing is a pure joy.  He puts everything into it and looks to be having a blast.  When he got to the “And just because you kiss your brother, it doesn’t mean to say you’re gay” he looked towards Roy and quipped “but you probably are.”   Aren’t brothers the best?  LOL

We were treated to another new one.  “Love Is A Curious Thing.”  While it’s exciting to hear a brand new song, sometimes I resent that they are taking up a spot where a favorite could have been.  Not the case here (or with any of the new songs).  “Love Is A Curious Thing” is a catchy song that quickly feels like an old favorite.  I found myself mouthing the chorus midway in and looking forward to the new CD even more than I have been.  If that’s even possible.

Light on the banter with the audience, Roy or was it Ant, might have mentioned that a couple of us would remember the next song.  Of course it was “In the Meantime” and judging by the roar of the audience we all remembered it well!  With the bigger stage and the well behaved equipment, the guys were doing everything that they do so well.  During one of the songs, the dehydrating all over the stage Roy, worked his way back to some water near the drums.  I might have hallucinated this part (I swear I only had one beer) but I’m pretty sure Roy spit some of his water at Jonny.  I looked over at my friend Kim, and she was hallucinating the same thing.  Jonny, seemed not only unfazed by this but I’ve just called Kim to confirm this and she said that Jonny laughed.

Roy introduced his brother and said that he was going to play this next song.  The first notes of the unmistakable Candyman were played and the guys were off and running again.  There was an interlude into Get Down, Make Love with Roy leaning way over the stage…thisclose to where I was!  Everyone was singing along.  Then it was back to the extended version of The Candyman.

Then the sad part happened.  The song ended and suddenly they were gone!   And the lights went up.  Awwww…I hate that part!

There was a quick appearance by Rich as he rolled up some cord.  As the drummer from the next band, Blackmarket was getting set up, Jonny came out and retrieved a drum he had left behind.  I really wanted to throw myself on the ground and beg them to play some more, but I managed not to.  Proving once and for all to those that don’t believe me that I do actually have some self control!

COMPLETE SETLIST:
Nazi Girlfriend
Right In The Back Of Your Mind
Spacehog
Glad to Know
Space Is The Place
Curious Thing
In The Meantime
Candyman (w/ Get Down, Make Love interlude)