The Hideout is a great place to see a show. I arrived about 7:30, just as a major storm was moving into the Chicago. Luckily, the Hideout is in an industrial part of the city and there were some good spaces right outside, which I found to be a good sign of things to come.
Nicholas Tremulis was playing an acoustic show at the front part of the building. He’s great (and funny), and after finishing came out into the audience and gave a lot of us hugs and thanked us for coming. Very enjoyable!
Califone‘s Jim Becker played a 30-40 minute set: confident, rocking, and introspective all at the same time. His band was excellent and I spoke with Sam Wagster, a young guitarist who played with the band. He’s a great young guy and was very excited to be playing. For this show, Ben Massarella and Califone’s Joe Adamik sat in on percussion.
After Becker’s set, I made my way to stage left and met Thax Douglas, a well-known Chicago poet who was there to read a poem inspired by the Red Red Meat. He’s a very interesting fellow.
Finally, it was time for the guys to begin–they had come out earlier and basically done their own set-up. It was interesting because there was a real mix of oldsters like me and a younger crowd–some who seemed to know about RRM and some who didn’t.
They begain with “Chinese Balls” and plowed through 14 songs by my count, the majority from Bunny Gets Paid and There’s A Star Above the Manger Tonight, including the title song from Star, “Quarter Horses”, and “Stained & Lit” among others. They seemed tentative at times, but not in an “I don’t know what I’m doing” way, more of a “This is a real head trip” way. They really did seem to be enjoying themselves, though. At one point they all looked at each other and laughed/smiled as if to say “Yeah, this is still fun!”
About halfway through the show, they stomped into “Idiot Son,” with Brian Deck and Ben Massarella launching a blistering beat to begin. At one point in “Idiot” I believe, Ben reached over and playd Brian’s hi-hat and they both had a laugh over that.
Around this time, Tim Rutili asked if anyone had any requests and one woman shouted “Sister Flossy” and Tim replied, “Mr. Furley?”, acting confused and laughing. Somebody else yelled “Bite Me” and Tim good-naturedly yelled the same thing back as the band launched into a really rousing version of “Rosewood, etc.” During this tune, Ben at times played a large, industrial sized metal cylinder (I know what I want to call it but can’t remember), plus a huge kerosene/gas can. At one point in one of the later songs, Ben played so hard that a mallet tip from one of his sticks flew onto the stage.
Tim thanked the crowd and they played “Comes,” one of the few off Jimmywine Majestic, walked off the stage, came right back on, had a false start having something to do with Tim Hurley which they all laughed about, then rocked through “Chain, Chain, Chain,” “Quarter Horses,” and ended with “Oxtail.” Again, thanks to the crowd, Rutili put his glasses on, and we realized they really were finished.
It was a great show, and I will say that things got a little fuzzy due to some nice cold beer, a sea of sound, and a sweltering crowd. I also want to say that both Tims stopped at the front bar and spoke with friends, etc. I tapped Tim R. on the shoulder and said “Great Show!” and he thanked me.
I also have to say a special shoutout to the people who work at the Hideout. What a great bunch of folks, especially Marci, who, after approximately an hour and a half from my last drink order–and the first time we’d ever met–remembered my exact order right down to the lime and served it up after the show. When I expressed my utter amazement, she said “I’m a professional!” She is and they are.
Final thought about the night. Great vibe throughtout, great people all around, Nicholas Tremulis is Tremendulis, Jim Becker and band are definitely worth a special trip, and Red Red Meat should never go away. They still have it.
Special thanks to Dave.