Respect The Rock Tour 2000

NEW YORK CITY, NY - BOWERY BALLROOM - august 11, 2000

review:
Comments EELS' frontman E on his latest album, Daisies Of The Galaxy: "It became important that I make simple, pure, sweet music. [...] I wanted to make a fun, pretty record that was full of life." And that description translates just as well to the EELS' live show. Simple, pure, sweet--it was well worth the longer-than-expected wait to watch Mark Oliver Everett (the Man Known as E) breathe life into his latest album in a live setting. Accompanied by a first-rate backing band (all of whom were costumed in their own unique way) that included Orest Balaban on bass, David Lhebo on reeds, Probyn Gregory on horns, the lovely Lisa Germano on strings and EELS' longtime drummer Butch standing guard at back, the live show became more theatre than pop gig as first the soundman was brought out and introduced as E, then another man was brought onstage, and finally E was led out dressed in pajamas and looking as if he'd just been woken from a restful slumber to play for the audience.

Announcing every other song as their "hit single!" the band romped through numbers both old and new, with E switching from upright piano to guitar and back again. Cuts like It's A Motherfucker, I Like Birds and Grace Kelly Blues off Daisies Of The Galaxy were fleshed out beautifully by the band (Butch's chirping was par excellence). Old familiars like Novocaine For The Soul were dusted off, but the best moments came when E repeatedly thanked the crowd for coming to the Bowery instead of going to see Mötley Crüe, who were playing elsewhere in the area that night. "We're aware that some of you had a difficult decision tonight", he confessed. At one point drummer Butch gave a beatnik reading (accompanied by drums) of a song off the new Crüe album that was so dead-on and so hilarious it completely made me rethink my aversion to Mötley Crüe and has since cast their music in a whole new light.

Entertainment at its best, the EELS satisfied every hunger. Even E's handling of an inebriated couple who would not stop whooping at the top of their lungs was sublime in its subtle marksmanship. Closing out the night with several encores, E was once again led offstage. The lights came up, the music clicked on over the PA, the techs started tearing down the stage, and everyone started shuffling out. Then, whether planned or on a mere whim, about five minutes later E came running back onstage, dragging the band behind him. Picking up his electric guitar as the techs scrambled to re-mic Butch's drum kit, he launched into the unlisted secret track at the end of Daisies Of The Galaxy, Mr. E's Beautiful Blues, and stomped his way through the number wearing a Cheshire grin, all to the surprise of the few fans who had stuck around. "Goddam right, it's a beautiful day." Goddam right! Beautiful indeed! Ending the song in a fit of distortion, E grabbed the mic one last time, shouting: "I'm the real Slim Shady!" and left the stage for good.

Consummate musicians intent on creating an intimate performance, the EELS show at the Bowery has safely landed itself on my all-time list of best shows. Happy, melancholy, whimsical, grandiose... always sincere. The night was summed up in a small note that was passed up to E from a young couple on the front rows. It simply read: "Thanks for the music." Goddam right!

[review and picture by Craig Young, taken from Earpollution.com]