Yuku free message boards

Went to both shows Saturday night. What a treat! Here are a few observations:
* We scored a table for the early show right next to Roger's B-3. Man, he was gettin' busy on the keys! Great sound coming out of that Leslie 3300. I have to get me one of those......
* Here's the setlist for Set 1 (courtesy of Ray at the sound board):
Soul Vac Intro
Stroke Medley
Oil
Nightclub
Come Back Baby
Main Nerve
Just Enough
Below Us
Knowledge
Hip Street
Hip
Encore: Young Man

Usually, the first set has a little less energy since many in the crowd are eating dinner and the band is just getting warmed up. Not this night, though. The mix was incredible (thanks, Ray and Anthony!).
Some highlights from set 1:
* Only So Much Oil and Just Enough had as much kick as Everclear and didn't let off until the last note. Whew!! What energy!
* A Little Knowledge sounded even better than the Bowes version. Roger had the synthesizer growling throughout. Very cool. Horns were tighter than my wallet.
* What Is Hip caused seismic waves felt in Tacoma.
* YSAM as the encore is like visiting an old friend. You never get tired of it.
* An observation: I noticed several instances of folks trying to get up and dance, only to have people sitting behind them +#$*! at them about blocking thier views. That's really a shame, as it kind of pours cold water on the energy in the room. You've got Mimi exhorting the crowd to stand up and people complaining about blocked views when the crowd responds. However, Jazz Alley isn't really set up for dancing and is intended for listening to mellower acts like Chick Corea, Joey DeFrancesco, etc. where the audience sips wine, nibbles on Brie and nods their heads in time to the music. Don't know how this can be fixed. Maybe Jazz Alley can rent out Parker's in North Seattle for TOP shows (where they used to play often back in the day) where there is plenty of room to dance?

I didn't get a setlist for set 2, but here's what I recall:
* Can't You See was great. Impossible to sit still for that one. And I think everyone in the crowd was grinning throughout.
* SVHTG was epic. Again, perfect blend on the horns, extremely soulful solo by Adolfo. Vocals blended so the harmonies sounded like one voice. Perfect.
* I'm not a fan of Diggin', but the JB medley that starts and ends with Diggin' is just excellent. The band covers that JB music (horn riffs, back beat, soulful expression) as good or better than the JBs. LB even did a little bit of Please, Please during the medley, and that was a twist I hadn't heard before.
* I love the What Is Hip transition into Soul Power and back again to Hip. Very tasty.   Also, Tommy P. takes the high notes in his solo on this one up where only the dogs can hear them.
* Very cool when the young guy from Vancouver came up on stage and proposed. Mimi introduced him and said the first date for the couple was at a TOP show, and the guy told her whether there was a second date would depend on whether or not she liked TOP. The guy started crying about halfway through and I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. The band then kicked into I Like Your Style (which was the set ender).
* It's always amazing how hot and humid the room gets toward the end of the second set as the energy builds and more people are up dancing. Must be a great way for the band to lose weight! Also, LB was wearing a dark gray suit for both sets. Hope he knows a good dry cleaner........
* I visited with Roger, DG, Jerry, Tom and Ray. Ray's a pretty amazing guy: he was running sound last night, he's available as a substitute bass player if Rocco needs a sub, and he will be filling in for Jack as tour manager when Jack goes on vacation. Plus he plays bass in another band. How's that for versatility??
* There were quite a few young bumpsters (under 21) in the house, and they were up dancin' and grinnin' for most of the second set. Good to see at least some of the next generation have good taste in music!


Both shows were sellouts (and the second was SRO). Pretty amazing that this band can keep playing to packed houses after 44 years. A real testament to the quality of their musicanship and the power of the music.