Pre-show stuff, Texans return

They were pitching the CDs hard. 20 pounds. Workers were out front handing out cards. I might get one Saturday.

I didn't go to the T-shirt stand but they look pretty nice, 4-5 varieties all black. So I don't know the price. There are posters too.

Only rock figure I saw was Leee Black Childers (and if Matt Baker is still out there, it really is Leee).

Our friends the Texans were on hand, and I correct myself from yesterday, there are six. Never thought I'd see a bunch of tough Texans falling over themselves to be photographed with Leee Black Childers, but there you go.

Top photo: Texans (except this Texan) and Leee Black Childers. We are missing a Texan.

Second photo: Me, Texans all accounted for and a couple of CD pushers

Last photo: Me, Keith and Leee Black Childers. Oh yeah: I dressed in black so nobody sees you, smile from the wings and tell me I please you. Call me a king and wait for the woodworm to choke me.

Small bit of video

They were letting you do everything -- flash, video etc. I was in A7, great opportunity, but camera ran out of juice quickly.

Anyway I got a little bit of "Sucker," here you go:

That's what I get for taking photo after photo of Texans with Leee Black Childers.

Tonight I'm in G45, I'll juice up the camera but the best opportunity has passed.

Thursday's show

MOTT THE HOOPLE SETLIST

Jupiter
Hymn for the Dudes
Rock N Roll Queen
Sweet Jane
One of the Boys
Sucker
The Moon Upstairs





Acoustic portion
The Original Mixed Up Kid
I Wish I Was Your Mother

Ready for Love
Born Late '58
Ballad of Mott the Hoople
Sweet Angeline
Walkin with a Mountain/Jumpin Jack Flash
Like a Rolling Stone
The Journey
Golden Age of Rock N Roll
Honaloochie Boogie
All the Way from Memphis

Encore I (with Buffin)
Roll Away the Stone
All the Young Dudes
Keep a Knockin

Encore II
The Saturday Gigs

They played for a little over two hours. Buffin came out only for the three songs on the first encore. They had a second drum kit set up for him. He needed assistance. It was moving to see Martin Chambers help Buffin onto the drum chair and off, and lead applause for him. Buffin did bang away on his kit and kept a rhythm, but someone was crouched behind him in case of accident. It still was good to see him. Wonder if he'll come out tonight?

They had a chorus line of five backing vocalists on some songs. They were Ian's kids Jesse and Tracey, Mick Ralphs' son (is it Stan?), Stan Tippins with cowboy hat, and a woman I did not know. A sixth choruser joined them on ATYD -- Joe Elliott. He also came to the front and sang a verse (yeah, I know -- Joe Elliott got stage time and Morgan and Ariel didn't). Joe wore a T-shirt with the name of MMA fighter Randy Couture.

Mick had a goldish, spotted jacket, which he soon took off and went with a white shirt and black pants, Ian the same topped by a black jacket. Verden had a maroon T-shirt. He's rail-thin. Pete had on a multi-colored sweater that made him look like he was off to ski the Alps after these shows, and with all the money they're making, he could. The only concession to glam of anyone was Pete wearing white shoes.

The front line, Mick, Ian and Pete, looked really relaxed and into it. They clearly were enjoying it. Mick and Pete came to the edge of the stage several times. Pete came all the way across the stage once. I did not really see Verden interacting with the others, but I was on the other side of the stage. They lined up Mick left, Ian center, then Pete and Verden with Martin in back. Ian had keys all the way to the left and played them on maybe four songs.




The band smoked on the rockers, I mean smoked. The Moon Upstairs was off-the-hook good and a highlight for me as I'd never heard it live before. If you'd closed your eyes you'd never guess these were performers aged 65 and up. Angeline and Memphis were also highlights for me, though I hear them all the time with Ian's band. Mick's solo on Honaloochie Boogie was amazing -- made the song a lot different from the novelty song Ian has made it out to be in recent years. It was great.

They came forward on stools for a two-song acoustic set with Martin on bongos.

Finish of The Saturday Gigs saw Mick, Ian, Pete and Verden come to the front and lead the fans in singing "Goodbye, goodbye!" a capella, and they walked off with this as the backdrop. They teased another song but this was it.

Everyone I talked to was really satisfied, and overall so was I. You can go on about setlists, but I'd really rather hear "No Wheels to Ride" than "Sweet Jane," NWTR being a group composition that would bolster the representation of the earlier albums.



Oh I got a drumstick -- off the floor after it had struck my seatmate Platform Boots in the face. Yes, I offered it to him -- twice! But he was kind enough to let me bring it back to the U.S. Thanks Toni! Martin had broken it at the end of The Moon Upstairs and I guess heaved it. Martin should be an Olympic javelin-tosser.

Party for MTH fans

We had about 125 persons at the Inn on the Green on Wednesday night -- from all over the U.S. and the U.K. Four guys from Texas, unknown to the rest of us, walked in saying, "We heard there was a Mott the Hoople party here tonight." For those of you back at (my) home, they're from Kennedale. One guy looked like he was from not only another place, but also another time -- about 1880. He had a handlebar moustache, beard and long hair. He looked the way Brits think all of us in Texas look. I wondered if he had a horse parked outside. Anyway they all wound up on stage chorusing "All the Young Dudes." (I've got to do a better job of thinking video. I should have gotten you a picture of said Texan. I did tell them I was from Cedar Hill. I'm kicking myself for not jumping up on stage with them, everyone was having such a good time). Highlight was our beloved Scotsman Willie singing, or rather kazooing, "No Wheels to Ride" with Billy Oblivion and the Legendary DNA Cowboys -- a song Willie is apparently going to be denied tonight. Here's a pic of Willie's moment and a video of Billy O's band on "Irene Wilde."

Notes on tonight

Some random stuff ...

Word is Buffin's out only for the encore(s). No surprise there. Those who were at Monmouth are very impressed with Martin Chambers.

There is talk of bringing it to the U.S. I'll try to find out more.

Those at Monmouth say Ian looks invigorated by all this. That will be something to see.

Morgan Fisher talks MTH

Morgan Fisher, keyboard player for Mott the Hoople on the album The Hoople and the 1974 tour, is giving an exhibition of his photography at the Troubador in London simultaneously with the MTH reunion shows. I went to visit. He's very gracious, and his photos and videos are an interesting behind-the scenes look at the band, kind of the visual equivalent to Ian Hunter's Diary of a Rock Star. By the way, John Fiddler, singer for the post-MTH ensemble British Lions, was on hand also. He lives in Phoenix these days. Morgan said that he is disappointed he has not been invited to perform at the Hammersmith shows (and I'm disappointed as well), but he said the timing at least is giving him a chance to meet fans and show his work to fans. He lives in Japan. Hear what he had to say about his experience in Mott the Hoople.

Day 0: It's here!

"The show's gonna move, everybody groove
There ain't no trouble on the streets now
So if the going gets rough, don't you blame us
You ninety-six decibel freaks!"
-- The Golden Age of Rock N Roll (1974)

The picture I've waited 35 years for, 'nough said.