The reason I went to see the Old 97's On June 12th was not to hear the music. I've seen them seven times before. I know their music inside and out and I know their performances nearly as well. So the reason I went was to see them. I hadn't seen Ken and Rhett and Murry since January. Call me crazy for paying 12 dollars to talk for 10 minutes (at the most) to a few guys I don't know that well (as well as I'd like to). But my priorites are my own and I know most of you will understand. So I think the most suprising thing about it all is that I seem to be the only one I know who actually enjoyed the show musically. But I think that's becasue after seven times I was ready for a change and would appreciate anything related.
So the June 12 show was a big suprise. Before their set, Rhett mentioned that they'd be doing mostly old stuff, but that didn't nescissarily mean that old songs come with old sound. The music and vocals had been reworked to a freshness. Not the kind of fresh that makes you want to slap them. The kind that makes you just want to kiss them. Nearly every one of Ken's riffs was new, still working with the song, but an altogether different arrangement. Still bouncy and energetic, the guitar sufficiently managed to work the crowd into a frenzy. Murry's bass was much more prominent than usual, which made the sound all the more awesome (I never cease to be entertained by the sight of Murry hammering away at his instrument). The entire sound can be desribed best by way of the vocals: some could call it more mature sounding, more polished and refined towards the beginning, but by the end of the nearly 2 hour set, just as full of raw energy as ever. Rhett's voice has changed a lot over the last few months (can this be attributed to living amongst the rich and famous in the fabulously chic LA?). It sounds much more trained and maybe proffesional, and very poppy, just like the rest of the music.
It was a night of firsts for many people there: the first time to see Rhett Miller decked out in contacts (kiss those geek glasses good bye, Rhett-wannabes), three to four new songs that might be on the next record, all acoustic numbers, which were all new songs performed by the acousic duo of Murry and Rhett. Speaking ofnew songs, why is it that the 97s don't ever play new covers or new songs in Austin? The only time I've ever heard covers that aren't on one of the albums are in other cities or live recordings. I've never heard Wave of Mutilation ever (which seems to be the most famous and popular un-recorded cover they do). I've never heard Iron Rail, and the only time I've ever heard Alone So Far is on a recording. I'm not complaining (too much); it's just I've heard all this stuff about how great these songs are, and I've never heard any of them. They did a Beatles cover that rockes my socks off at a show in Dallas; I think they should do it again. Who's with me? If you are, let's get together and see if we can't do something about it...
