June 25, 2001 - Mercury Lounge, New York, NY Posted By Buk Read Disclaimer: This one gives new meaning to the phrase long one. Seeing Big Wreck live has been a passion of mine for 4 years now as I can see that it is with most of you. I write occasionally because I need to share the experience with those that can appreciate it. And for the benefit of those who haven't seen the boys, I try to be as detailed as I can remember. Most of my friends are way past the target demographic of the BW fanbase and could care less about what stirs me musically. I know some of it is old news, but here goes. My wife and I skipped into NYC to see them at their showcase gig at the Mercury, the "best sounding room in NYC". I used to have a pair of headphone larger than this room. She has been on my case about being an obsessed fan, checking the message board every day with my little internet friends etc. (She loves BW, but had never seen them live) We parked the car and I poked my head in to scope the room out and saw Forrest at the end of the bar. He stood up, all six foot plus said "hey" and me all nervous and jerky blurted some drivel about how great they were gonna be. He was gracious and tolerant. I scooted outside, so as not to make an ass out of myself, to my wife telling me how cute FW is and how short I was in comparison. Thanx babe! Outside was the inimitable Dave. I hadn't seen him since a "Tradewinds" show in NJ in '99 when I gave him some tee shirts that I had made as a gift and the sweet soul that he was, wanted to pay me for them. At the time he seemed like a little kid. Now his hair is longer and quite grey. So much for the RocknRoll lifestyle. (Sorry Dave, no harm meant) As we walked up the street to find a restaurant, sort of feeling stupid for feeling stupid at encountering famous people my wife looks up and there's Ian and Brian coming out of a deli. As we approach we call them by name and it seems to take them by surprise. I swear Ian looked at me like I was some record exec (probably cause I'm almost old enough to be his father) We tell them that we are looking forward to a great show, he explained that it was just a showcase, short and sweet. They are all very nice and unassuming. We walk away, my wife gushing over how much like Brad Pitt Ian looks, my head filled with all the unsaid questions I had for the boys. I want reiterate all the moving tributes to their songwriting, and emotional playing that has touched all of us. I want to encourage Ian on the spiritual side of his writing, this idea that his talent is a gift, etc. In the end, I guess I'm just another star-struck douche. I envy all you who get the courage to interact. Aaaannnnyyyywwwwaaayy! Along with the 75 or so other luckies we jammed into the tiny room to get up close and personal with the new material. We stood dead center, about 10 ft from the stage, next to two Canadians, one student, one businessman, who were thrilled to be able to see an "arena" band at this range. At these shows I just want to blurt out, "Who here is from the message board!" the mystery is killing me. As you've read from other reports they opened with Inhale. Ian had the doublenecked (so that was that glistening sound on the intro - 12 string!) and blasted into the song with no pretext. A great opener! "That song" followed, with all the power that it first had. I am singing along (thank God they are so loud) as I can see others do the same. In my mind I flash forward to Edgefest, and 35,000 fans at the top of their lungs (more on that later). They pause and Ian intros Kneedeep (his fave). He sings soulfully, heartfelt and tender. Until the chorus when he opens his mouth like Cookie Monster (I forgot how big Ian's mouth is). The little subtle piano parts which give the song atmosphere are obviously missing so it becomes all about the passionate delivery. The end builds to a monstrous crescendo where FW snaps the stem on his cymbal. They laugh it off and setup for Ladylike. I so long for these guys to do a sold out headline gig, where stuff like the banjo section can be extended, I know, it's only a showcase. They stick pretty close to the CD and Dave struts in with that odd baseline, his head and neck bobbing along with the beat, and the song kicks in to that very clipped crossroads-like riff. I noticed that BW like Zep on some of their material have a tendency to jam too many notes into a section, or have odd metered beats that collide at odd intersections, yet that is what "makes" the composition. They nail the harmonies live. I kinda wish that Brian would play the banjitar (whatever!) throughout, but the boys know better than I. The tumble-down riff at the end is supreme and precise! Breathless. Another guitar change, this time to the lime green and silver one that looks like some kind of Italian mint candy. They meander into Blown Wide Open, possibly doing a song that you all have mentioned, though I could not recognize it. Ian sounded off key in the beginning, but maybe it was me, as the song came together nicely by the third bar. (it's just hard to compare it to hearing it live with virgin ears back in '98) My wife was by this time a total convert. "These guys are awesome!" Anxious to get on with the new material, BWO was to the point, no stretch (as most of you know the song can get pretty dramatic as it builds when the band has more than an hour to entertain) They bring out the acoustic and Brian does the intro to Undersold. A real thrasher. I am at the top of my lungs, trying to listen and remember while I am swept away in the tune."Rooooaad . . .Uunderssoold!!" Ian turns his back to the audience, bellies up to his stage amp, nods to Forrest and they kick in to the funk-stomp-feedback-fed outro. Man! I wish it was longer! They intro and plow through TP&TG. Ian with the devil in his eye on the "hhmmm. . hmmm". Cute, very cute. I see it as a mataphor for his relationship with the record biz, but that's another story for a later date. Pretty funny that he can bite that hand that feeds, so to speak. He'll deny it of course. Now, one of the best moments of the night. Breakthrough. No pedal steel-sounding-slide accent but a powerful drop-kick start. This song is radio must. Perfect stops and starts, the band is totally warmed up and diggin' this song. . . "Pleeese!" Ian is all jangle-kneed dancing in whatever space is available. The dude was just born at the wrong time. He's too innocent for todays' cynical culture. I love the "I look at things in a positive way. . . as of the other day" I am jumping up and down at this point, grinning from ear to ear. (as close as I get to moshing) Big swell to the next Please and stunner of stunners, Ian hits some pedal which launches what had to be some digital playback of the calliope-part! It took me totally by surprise! The boys tenderly built the harmonies, chiming guitar to feedback explosion. I got Goosebumps. It's all about patience and confidence. I love it when they deliver on that level. The end, even though it did not have the dual vocal interplay was just over the top powerful. That big 70's rock ending is done just so picture perfect, with such earnestness (earniosity?) that it transcends tribute. I am stupid into this band. The familiar echo/delay of the Oaf begins and it seems more disjointed, harder edged, less countrified. Ian noodles for a little extra, creating some tension, winks and all guns fire at once. The band literally explodes into a much harder Oaf than I had ever heard. My wife turns and looks to me with a wide eyed expression, she of course knows the ILMO version, this on the other hand is another animal. Knowing time is tight, I find it hard to enjoy what I know to be the last song. In a moment, it's all over, NYC record types, I'm sure unimpressed, yet us fans itchin for more, and the gang bolts the stage to hang with friends and family outside after the show. I did hear snippets of conversation about how good they were, from a woman at the bar, but for the most part the audience seemed to be guitar geeks, 70's fossils like myself and way-too-cool east villagers. Just my cynical impression. I did meet some young guys, from Long Island who have a band and gave me their website to check out (which I have misplaced). They were true fans and appreciated the complexity of the Wreck. They told me that Dave had bought a guitar from them and they jammed together. They were tremendously enthusiastic. I hope they check out this board. Nice guys. It was too short, they were too rushed, I am too deaf. One good thing about the night, we were home by 10. I am properly psyched to see them at Edgefest. That was a whole 'nother can of worms. I'll check back later with a dinosaur's eye perspective of that tundra-nundum. If you've read this far thanx. buk