I had the pleasure of checking Jay and the boys out last night at The Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin, Illinois. It's about a 1,200 seat venue that advertises "farthest seat 87' from the stage" which didn't matter cause I had front row center. I have had these tickets since late July so I was really looking forward to it and it was only about 15 min. from home.

If I had to describe the show in 3 words it would be IMPROV, IMPROV, IMPROV resulting in what I don't think were any songs less than 7 minutes. Anyway, the band played for an hour and forty minutes and they played LOUD! Check this set list out;

Westwood Moon
Capetown Love
The River Between
Shaker Song (regular, no trio)
Catching The Sun
Monsoon
Bittersweet
Florida Straits
Heliopolis (about a 12 minute version)
South Beach
??(some 8 min. tune where Scott went nuts)
Last Exit

I may have missed one more tune getting caught up in the excitement.

They are all incredible musicians but Jay is the most incredible to me. He is the master! Among all his solos, oddly enough, my favorite had to be him going absolutely frickin' berserk on the soprano during an extended version of South Beach...face like red licorice and all. And then after tearing it up on Monsoon he says, "you won't hear that one on WNUA." Schuu' didn't sit once the whole show. Scott has the coolest looking basses among anyone including this miniturized upright that sounded really sweet.

It's fun watching these guys play because as we all know, they really love what they do and they are so gracious and humble while doing it. What else can I say, they were awesome!!

Uh, oh. Everyone hear this? Sounds like it could be an intersting year...

My favorite part of what I just read was 'Scott went nuts.' Hope he still has it in him (or is allowed) throughout the year.

BTW Steve, Tom usually has no seat available.

Speaking of Y2003 performances...

What's up with the schedule so far?? By this point the last couple of years, they had a pretty full slate of performances. I personally saw them twice last January! I keep expecting to see an updated schedule with lots of dates/venues...

Come on, guys... I've got planning to do... tickets to buy!

Anyone know what's up? Phil Brennan, Tom...??

Rick

Obviouslyu, they need a fulltime Web site updater. Any volunteers?

I could do it, and could even provide a programming interface to it so that they could update content online (i.e. Jay could add a new show essentially by typing it in from anywhere on their tour). I have that technology working on other sites I've designed. Hmmm...marketing potential? Then again, magicisland does have a contract for doing the site. Well, whatever. Phil Brennan reads posts on this site often enough, so I'm sure that there's potential. Phil or others, if you want to see what I can do, go to Mike Chase Web Design .

Rick, Rick, Rick...

...one taste of front row center and look at ya. JUST LOOK AT YA! Frothing like that... It's just shameful...

It's a d*mn shame!

Nice one Steve!!!! Last Exit is a great song which i've never heard live!!!

I hope they come down to SJU this year!!!!

"Scott went nuts"....are you familiar with "Percolator"???

When I had the good fortune to catch the band last Spetember, the set list was almost identical to the one described above...and the song that Scott went nuts on was "Percolator".

Just seeing the ammount of early album material in a Spyro setlist these days makes me "go nuts" in a good way.

BTW, was "Morning Dance" part of the "Shaker Song/Catching The Sun" medely?

Asking because it was at last September's concert.

Peace!
Paul

OK, you got me, Gary!

Those guy's live performances have a tendency to do that to you! I guess I just got spoiled last year... saw them 4 times.

Already planning on their Norman, OK date in October... that's my home state and it will give me an excuse to see my parents, too. I'm trying to bid my schedule for next month to have a layover in Austin, TX for Spyro's concert there. There's a trip that gets into Austin around 10AM the morning of the concert and lays over until the next morning... perfect! Now if I can just get it...

OK, enough "frothing"...

Rick