Journeys With GBV: The Electrifying Conclusion
After a pre-party at our house, we lurch downhill to the Fillmore. It seemed unusually crowded, and unlike some of the other Saturday night crowds we’ve seen there, everybody seems primed for the show, more pushing to the front than hanging back. When GBV hit the stage, more than one of us remarked on Bob’s grey hair. Eh, at least he gets to keep his.
Somebody passed up a bottle to the stage. How did they get that in here? Bob drinks. Then he drinks tequila. He is a brave man.
Somehow after 11 years of listening and trying to keep up with all his various projects, Bob still has records and songs I’ve never heard of! They plow through a great set of new & old favorites. A couple of times I catch myself thinking, “I’ll never hear that song played that well again.” Can’t they drop by my house and play I Am A Tree a couple times a year?
In general, the band seems like they are playing to our need to say goodbye. I don’t think it’s really hit them yet, except probably for Bob. The really emotional gigs seem yet to come on this tour. That’s OK, I’d really rather they just concentrate on rockin’ out anyway.
After two-and-half hours and 50-odd songs, the usual detritus of a GBV gig covers the floor and we stray to the exits. The club is done.
[Soundtrack]
Transcender – Motorpranks.mp3 A tribute to GBV by a coming California band. It’s good, I swear, and neatly expresses why it’s great to be their fan. It mattered, it mattered, it mattered a lot to me!
Robert Pollard – Conspiracy of Owls.mp3 From Bob’s new solo album, released pretty much simultaneously with the latest GBV. Is this the future of the GBV sound?
Just wanted say- I’ve really enjoyed your GBV tribute. The combination of great songs and personal anecdotes has made this one of my favorite things I’ve ever come across on any music blog (and I’ve been following quite a few for quite some time). Anyway- thank you, thank you, thank you.