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Pink Bob
Underwater Trumpet
Joined: 20 Mar 2004
Posts: 1167
Location: Near Normal, Illinois
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Tue Apr 20, 2004 2:48 am Neil Innes & Friends Midwest US Tour Diary |
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Now that the first gig of the Midwest US Tour (M.U.S.T.) is history, we have three more to go and it's the perfect time to start documenting the event. Here's what I have in mind:
1) as I have time, I'll post the set-lists, document the band, etc. And Ickybaby and I (and maybe other band members?) can provide some of our thoughts on the experience. Be advised that we'll be in the meat zone and completely away from computers from tomorrow through Thrusday morning, so this may take a few days...
2) The folks who get to see these gigs can provide their impressions and thoughts (for good or bad). If you have pictures, videos, etc., please consider sharing them with us.
3) Those who weren't able to make the trip to fly-over country, heck--you can chime in as well with whatever you have to add.
For this first post, here finally is the official line-up of the Neil Innes & Friends "M.U.S.T." band:
NEIL INNES: Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitars & Stringed Things, Keyboard, Harmonica, Jokes
"RUTLING" KEN THORNTON: Lead Guitar, Guitar Synth, Backing Vocals
"VET" KEN SIMPSON: Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
CLAY THOMPSON: Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
JOHN GANSER: Drums, Youthful Grins
TOM SPARROW: Bongos, Percussion, Ickyness
PINK BOB: Keyboards, Ukulele, Claves, Fishbowl+Trumpet
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Pink Bob
Underwater Trumpet
Joined: 20 Mar 2004
Posts: 1167
Location: Near Normal, Illinois
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Tue Apr 20, 2004 2:57 am Thoughts on 4/18/04, Bloomington IL (JuJu's) |
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This is the first full-featured Neil show I've ever seen, even though he's been a pretty major influence on me since the late '70s when I was in high school. I caught a BeatleFest show with Neil and R. Ken a few years ago (was it '01?), but it was brief and "unplugged". I was not prepared for what happened last night.
If it's possible to have too much fun, I came damned close to the red line last night. My brain was on overload when I got home and I couldn't get to sleep for hours in spite of attempting to knock myself out with a few (more) HeineKens. It didn't work. French-accented donkeys, goldfish bowls, and countless Rutles and Bonzos tunes bounced around my head in an endless loop. I thought I was in another world after three nights' rehearsal with Neil, but last night he kicked my ass--and the rest of me--right into outer space.
The crowd was enthusiastic and attentive. Since this was the "home town" gig for 5/7-ths of the band, there were many local friends present, jaws dropping. And a lot of Neil's fans made the trip from various distances for the occasion. A friend of mine was here from CA. The Stricklands of course trekked from MI, and Moochie came from Indy. Others were there from cities in Illinois like Champaign and Joliet. Who else was there and from where? I have no idea--it's all a blur except the music, which is still echoing. Hope it stops in time for some sleep tonight!
As for actually being on the stage a majority of the show, it was dream-like. I still can't believe it's real. At points time stood still, which is a good thing when you're trying to navigate over to an odd inversion of a B7. I had a really weird feeling that started about two bars into the first tune: it became clear to me that everything I'd done since childhood was all just prep work. For this.
It's a sensation that's both unsettling and wonderful at the same time. "Joe Public" actually frightened me, it was so psychedelic. And then "Isn't It a Pity" lofted us back down to earth and humanity. Those two songs back to back shook me to the core. This band certainly is magical, a word that Neil is invoking a lot lately.
Special kudos for this particular gig go out to our dear friends Chuck and Fish for doing WONDERFUL sound for us. You know how vocals can never be heard in a bar--er--nightclub? Well, our Live Sound Engineers made sure every word came through, as well as all the instruments of a 7 piece band. Wish we could bring them with us to Indy and Chicago, but at least Chuck will be doing sound in Champaign for the closing gig. Not sure if Fish will be able to join in or not. I'm not making it up when I say you would have thought they were doing sound for Neil for years. They're that flippin' good.
And the biggest thanks of all go to my dear friend Rutling Ken Thornton, who got all manner of sh*t on his face during the course of single-handedly putting this all together and seeing everything through. Without Ken and his wonderful wife Deb, this would have never been thought of, much less pulled off. Rutling Ken, I will say this now with the world as my witness: in my humble opinion, you are the best thing that's happened to Neil's career in at least the last 24 hours.
Well, probably no more posts from me until possibly Thursday morning, after the Indy (4/20) and Chicago (4/21) gigs are over. I'll have the set lists hopefully then or shortly after. Hope to see you all there!!!
--pink bob
SET LIST FOR BLOOMINGTON, IL GIG:
SET ONE
Urban Spaceman
Comedy/Pathos
Hee Haw
One of Those People
Face Mail in the Meat Zone
Humanoid Boogie
Equestrian Statue
Randy Raquel
Eine Kleine Middle Klasse Musik
With a Girl Like You
Hey Mister!
Doubleback Alley
Good Times Roll
Another Day
Cheese and Onions
I Want to Be With You
Philosophers' Song
SET TWO
Protest Song
Evening Sun
Godfrey Daniel
Feel No Shame
Brave Sir Robin
Major Happy
Hold My Hand
Goose-Step Mama
Between Us
Must Be In Love
Ouch!
Questionnaire
Friends
Piggy In the Middle
Joe Public
Isn't It a Pity
Get Up and Go
ENCORES
Urban Spaceman (full band arrangement)
Back in '64
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familyjules
member
Joined: 12 May 2003
Posts: 66
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Tue Apr 20, 2004 10:11 am |
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Damn, but that's an impressive set list! How's Neil doing vocally? Still hitting the high notes?
Jules
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ickybaby
member
Joined: 09 Apr 2004
Posts: 59
Location: normal, il
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Tue Apr 20, 2004 1:51 pm |
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Neil is in great voice. No concerns there.
Aside from Pink's assessment of my playing, let me second all his thoughts on the show. I myself have never felt so utterly FANTASTIC while playing music. Literally I'd have stayed on stage until the sun came up and then called in to work to tell them "Bugger off I'm doing something that matters!". 
Good news for me (and Pink since I'm driving him) is that getting to sleep last night was not an issue at all. We should have a well rested "And Friends" supporting Neil tonight. 
I feel like the luckiest guy on stage. First, the material we're doing is phenomonal, I don't have to sing (you all should be happy about that), I don't have all those pesky chord changes to worry about, John (Ganser, the drummer) has to worry about the tempo.... I just get to shake and jangle things. All things considered I couldn't ask for a better vacation. 
_________________
It's a spradoinkle day!
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Sir Kobble
Champion of Winning Super
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 170
Location: Wigan, Lancashire
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Tue Apr 20, 2004 4:07 pm |
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Equestrian Statue?! Randy Raquel?! Cor.
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Cuthbert J Twillie
Innesthetist
Joined: 20 May 2003
Posts: 999
Location: A Glaswegian living in England
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Tue Apr 20, 2004 8:03 pm |
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There once was a very famous man!
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A Bloody Nice Chap, shall there be buns for tea!
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mumbling beatnik
Champion of Winning Super
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 188
Location: 40°8'26" North, 87°23'35" West
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Wed Apr 21, 2004 6:24 am |
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Indy was sweet, words can't describe```````
CHicago Be Warned
chicago bound
missing the crew
Lindsay 
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Good people drink good beer. -Hunter S. Thompson
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Gonzoid
member
Joined: 07 Aug 2003
Posts: 58
Location: Earth
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Wed Apr 21, 2004 3:36 pm |
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Indianapolis was awesome. It's worth the 2+ hour drive each way to see NI&F. That was the best time I've had in quite a while.
Fantastic job on the water trumpet, Pink Bob.
_________________
I Have No Life And I Must Scream!
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ickybaby
member
Joined: 09 Apr 2004
Posts: 59
Location: normal, il
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Thu Apr 22, 2004 6:36 pm |
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Whatever the sound of jumping out of your skin is, I'm makign that now.
More posts after tonight's show.
This tour is ending far too soon.
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It's a spradoinkle day!
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Pink Bob
Underwater Trumpet
Joined: 20 Mar 2004
Posts: 1167
Location: Near Normal, Illinois
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Thu Apr 22, 2004 6:38 pm A real quick post! |
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I'm shocked.
And stunned.
Human beings were probably not designed to have this much fun, but we've all gone ahead and done it anyway. We're all fairly exhausted but will pull through tonight's gig just fine. The crowds at all three gigs so far have been SO wonderful. More about that in future posts, though.
A serious question: does anyone going to the Champaign show tonight have a portable MiniDisc recorder with mic inputs? I'm afraid I launched mine across the stage last night before the show and killed it. Or a portable DAT recorder (with tapes I can use)? I'd love to get an audience recording of the final show.
Ickybaby will be here shortly to pick me up for the trip to Champaign, so that's about it for today. Mostly I just wanted to thank everyone who has come to the shows for making this such a memorable experience. Neil sure has some wonderful fans!!!
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DougC
Newbie
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 2
Location: St. Louis, MO USA
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Fri Apr 23, 2004 7:28 pm Urbana Show |
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I made the trip from St. Louis to see the Urbana show and it was definately worth the 3 hour drive. Neil (as well as the other band members) played and sounded great. I've been a huge Rutles fan since the first movie came out in '77 and was glad I could finally hear the music live.
I particularly liked the versions of Joe Public, Goose Step Mama and Major Happy. The "custume change" for Piggy in the Middle was cool too
Neil came out after the show to sign autographs and was very friendly. I'll be hanging my autographed CD cover in my living room. 
A big thanks to Neil, the backing band and everybody who helped bring this tour to the Midwest.
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ickybaby
member
Joined: 09 Apr 2004
Posts: 59
Location: normal, il
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Sat Apr 24, 2004 1:00 pm random blathering |
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Wow, what a great week. It was one of sleep depravation, altoids, magic guitars, disappearing tobacco, self-inflating whoopie cushions, laughter, and a little bit of music tossed in to round it all out.
First, indulge me in the sappy stuff...... Neil, bless you! It is beyond words how great you are. It's incredible to meet such a great talent with an even greater person behind the talent. And Rutling Ken, thanks for all the hard work and BS you endured to make this happen. Also thanks to VetKen, The Ganz, Clay, and Mr. Pink Bob. You guys were so tight from your hard work (and great talent) that I got to stand around listening to a phenom band and just add to it a bit. It was a terriffic vacation.
Now let me say thanks to all the people that came out to see Neil. It is amazing how the love and adoration they pour out to Neil spills on to everyone else. I would come off those stages just positively charged up. I had NEVER got that feeling on a stage before. I hope to experience more of it, it's nice.
More later, my daughter beckons me............
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It's a spradoinkle day!
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Pink Bob
Underwater Trumpet
Joined: 20 Mar 2004
Posts: 1167
Location: Near Normal, Illinois
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Sat Apr 24, 2004 4:13 pm Re: Urbana Show |
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| DougC wrote: | I made the trip from St. Louis to see the Urbana show and it was definately worth the 3 hour drive. Neil (as well as the other band members) played and sounded great.
I particularly liked the versions of Joe Public, Goose Step Mama and Major Happy. The "custume change" for Piggy in the Middle was cool too |
Hi DougC, welcome to NeilInnes.org!!! I'm glad you could make the show and that you had a good time. We checked a little of the video from Urbana after the show, and all of the tunes you mentioned were fanatastic versions. Good ear!
As for my last post requesting a MiniDisc recorder, a friend of a friend of a friend came through big-time and loaned me one for the evening. It turned out quite nicely. I'm trying to find the owner's full name, but for now we'll just say big thanks to Tom, to his friend Larry, and to our friend Charlie Weeks for making that work.
The M.U.S.T. is now officially over. Neil spent some quality time with Rutling Ken and Deb yesterday, and today he's on to L.A. for a bit before returning home. I'm sure Bonnie will let us all know what goes on during that leg of Neil's surreal adventure.
We are all exhausted and giddy, and I probably lost about five pounds. Yes, folks, the Neil Innes Diet Plan WORKS, unlike all those expensive pills and shakes. I'm living proof. The exhausted part will be taken care of in short order with a little sleep and some decent food. The giddy part, well, that may never wear off.
Coming shortly will be my thumbnail sketch of the Indy gig on 4/20, followed by Chicago 4/21 and Champaign-Urbana 4/22. Undoubtedly, some of the recordings, photos, videos, etc. that were taken are worth sharing, and I've gotten Neil's permission to do just that. I have a little experience as an audio engineer and producer, so please give me a little time to figure out what we've got and what needs to be done (I'm also a bit of a perfectionist). Since I won't be able to make copies of everything for everyone, please be patient with me as I figure out the best way of going about this. At a minimum, I'll figure out a way to get at least a few mp3 files up on the web so everyone can download them and enjoy this amazing band. And of course we'll have photos to share in the coming days...
More soon,
--pink bob
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radiojen
Buttinski
Joined: 01 Apr 2004
Posts: 19
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Sat Apr 24, 2004 9:12 pm Re: Urbana Show |
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| Pink Bob wrote: | | DougC wrote: | I made the trip from St. Louis to see the Urbana show and it was definately worth the 3 hour drive. Neil (as well as the other band members) played and sounded great.
I particularly liked the versions of Joe Public, Goose Step Mama and Major Happy. The "custume change" for Piggy in the Middle was cool too |
Hi DougC, welcome to NeilInnes.org!!! I'm glad you could make the show and that you had a good time. We checked a little of the video from Urbana after the show, and all of the tunes you mentioned were fanatastic versions. Good ear!
As for my last post requesting a MiniDisc recorder, a friend of a friend of a friend came through big-time and loaned me one for the evening. It turned out quite nicely. I'm trying to find the owner's full name, but for now we'll just say big thanks to Tom, to his friend Larry, and to our friend Charlie Weeks for making that work.
The M.U.S.T. is now officially over. Neil spent some quality time with Rutling Ken and Deb yesterday, and today he's on to L.A. for a bit before returning home. I'm sure Bonnie will let us all know what goes on during that leg of Neil's surreal adventure.
We are all exhausted and giddy, and I probably lost about five pounds. Yes, folks, the Neil Innes Diet Plan WORKS, unlike all those expensive pills and shakes. I'm living proof. The exhausted part will be taken care of in short order with a little sleep and some decent food. The giddy part, well, that may never wear off.
Coming shortly will be my thumbnail sketch of the Indy gig on 4/20, followed by Chicago 4/21 and Champaign-Urbana 4/22. Undoubtedly, some of the recordings, photos, videos, etc. that were taken are worth sharing, and I've gotten Neil's permission to do just that. I have a little experience as an audio engineer and producer, so please give me a little time to figure out what we've got and what needs to be done (I'm also a bit of a perfectionist). Since I won't be able to make copies of everything for everyone, please be patient with me as I figure out the best way of going about this. At a minimum, I'll figure out a way to get at least a few mp3 files up on the web so everyone can download them and enjoy this amazing band. And of course we'll have photos to share in the coming days...
More soon,
--pink bob |
But when is Neil coming t the Northeast----like NJ ot NY??? 
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not a pretty sight, but, hey, we can do our own ironing!
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Pink Bob
Underwater Trumpet
Joined: 20 Mar 2004
Posts: 1167
Location: Near Normal, Illinois
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Sat Apr 24, 2004 11:40 pm Thoughts on 04/20/04, Indianapolis IN (Birdy's) |
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Ok, we had proven we could play to a room full of our friends on home turf for 5/7ths of the band a couple nights before. It was time to take this puppy out for a stroll.
The drive to Indy was great--a little rain, but what the hell. I teamed up with percussionist Tom Sparrow (a.k.a. Ickybaby) and "navigated". I only got us lost once. MapQuest's fault entirely. Tom and I have been in bands going back to the mid-'90s, and we currently play together in The Sediments (along with Rutling Ken and Charlie Weeks--more on him in the Champaign installment). So it was only natural that we broke into teams; the other teams were R. Ken & Neil, and John & Clay. Vet Ken teamed up for the rest of the tour with the monster Roland keyboard that was graciously loaned to us by Guitar Center in Indy.
Ken and Neil were already there, since they had to wake up at 5 AM to do the Bob and Tom show with Vet Ken, for whom this was a local event. We all converged on the venue and set about trying to figure out how to get a seven piece band--including the huge Roland--on such a cozy little stage. Somehow we managed with just enough room to squeeze into playing positions. Other than that and the fact that it was very warm and sauna-like, though, the venue was great. Nice place to see a show.
And other than a few obnoxious beyond-drunk screamers (a personal pet peeve of mine), the crowd was wonderful. If one of those losers by chance happens to be reading this, let me say this: buy a vowel, get a clue, and understand that some people actually enjoy listening to music rather than your sorry, stupid asses flapping. I mean, really! (Gosh, that felt good!)
My brother Jim made it to the show with his wife Cindy and two of their closest friends, and they loved it. It was the first time Jim had ever seen me perform live, and he picked a hell of a show for it. Neil's amp lost a valve (tube) during set-up, so while a replacement was hunted down he spent some time at Jim's table talking to them and joking about. Nice.
The show was wonderful. It felt very good. The band kicked ass, and Rutling Ken had some especially inspired lead guitar work as well as some gorgeous guitar synth. Neil insisted that we double up the underwated trumpet solo, to which I feebly protested that "four bars are three too many..." All I can say about this is it's a fairly surreal experience sticking a trumpet into a fishbowl with a few hundred people cheering you on. I still don't quite know what to make of that aspect of the tour, but I guess I'll sort it out eventually. 
It was tempting to stay in the back room between sets with Neil, but I decided to go check on Jim and then mill around a bit. So many wonderful people in the crowd (some of whom have already chimed in with their thoughts on Indy), and so many nice compliments. Compared to the other band members, I'm pretty much a novice at this live performance thing--I'm a studio cat. So I tried to soak up as much of the charged atmosphere as I could and spend as much time as possible walking around and talking to people, many of whom had come from considerable distances. To everyone who was there, thank you so much for making it such a memorable evening. Moochie, Gonzoid, Beatnik--nice to see you there.
I'll leave the description of the rest of the evening--including the "afters" fun over at Vet Ken's place--to Ickybaby. I was pretty zoned by that point but I had a wonderful time in the fresh air in the wee hours of the morning. I've not heard the tapes of Bob and Tom yet (soon...soon!), but I hear Neil did a good job of describing some of the goings-on at the Simpson household prior to the radio show. It's a fun place, and I spent a fair amount of time bonding with a lovable 18 year-old cat (I love animals, so that was a treat!)
What else? Oh, the set list. The Bloomington show went so well that we did exactly the same two sets. So see the 4/18/04 set list further up in this thread for that. Like on 4/18, I got both an audience-perspective MiniDisc recording and a board mix on DAT. I was starting to think about how I could best bring up the subject of what to do with these recordings to Neil, but decided to wait until Chicago.
I finally got to sleep at 4 AM or something silly like that. It suddenly dawned on me that I hadn't eaten much or kept track of how many Bass Ales I had consumed. Maybe our accountant could tell us, but I'm sure it was a lot. I nabbed a couple of extras from the bar as we left, but decided they weren't needed. They ended up in my suitcase for two days until I got back home, two Basses up but one fishbowl down...
--pink bob
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