[Live MP3s] Silver Jews in Cambridge, MA
Posted on April 10, 2006 at 10:33 am | No Comments
As David Berman said from the stage when he and his Silver Jews came to town a few weeks back: “It’s not a once in a lifetime thing…“. Before this first ever Joos tour, most of us figured it’d be a “not in our lifetime” thing, but Berman, his wife Cassie, and some musical friends made it happen. Only took him 15 years or so, and he even promised they’d return to these parts again.
Until then, or until another Silver Jews album arrives, here’s a little something to hold onto – the entire set from their show at The Middle East in Cambridge, MA. It was the 8th night of the tour, and according to someone there who’d also seen the two previous NY shows, it was a night that they really came together as a ‘band’. I’ve got nothing to compare it to, but it all worked for me.
The usual difficulty of mixing in the confines of the low-ceilinged Middle East downstairs was overcome by their touring soundperson, who just happened to be Pavement drummer Steve West. I thought I recognized him when checking to see if it was cool to record the show (and yeah, it was), and sure enough, he was along for the trip. Definitely explains why the drum sounds, which can be the first things to get lost in a sometimes-muddy MidEast mix, come through pretty clear. This SJs & Pavement fan got a kick out of seeing him behind the board when ex-bandmate (and now tour manager) Bob Nostanovich came on stage to drum on a couple songs. I’ve loved “Trains Across The Sea” for what seems like forever, and having him play his part was a real treat.
Here’s the show, more links below…
Live at The Middle East Downstairs
Cambridge, MA
Sunday, March 19th, 2006
01. intro
02. Black & Brown Blues
03. Animal Shapes
04. banter 1
05. Smith & Jones Forever
06. Pet Politics
07. Buckingham Rabbit
08. Trains Across The Sea
09. How Can I Love You If You Won’t Lie Down
10. How To Rent A Room
11. I’m Getting Back Into Getting Back Into You
12. Random Rules
13. Horseleg Swastikas
14. banter 2
15. The Poor, The Fair, & The Good
16. Slow Education
17. There Is A Place
18. Punks In The Beerlight
19. I’ve Loved Them Every One (TG Sheppard cover)
Although the setlist indicated they’d close with “Inside the Golden Days of Missing You“, they decided against it.
- For an excellent recollection of the night, head over to False 45th.
- The Phoenix has a nice SJ article and review of the show as well.
- For an entirely wrong-headed write-up, read this Boston Globe one.
- Some pictures from the evening can be found over at donut muse, and well as planetswest.
- Not only do the Joos have a very detailed fansite, The Corduroy Suit, but they’ve also got a myspace page that’s maintained by a friend o’ the band. Good stuff.
- Want some more live Silver Jews? Into the whole torrent thing? You can grab the entire March 21st set from the Starlight Ballroom in Philadelphia over at dimeadozen.
Again with the fine print: If anyone has an issue with this live set being made available, just say the word (email link on left). Songs recorded with a Sony Sony ECM-719 mic and a Sony MZ-RH10 minidisc, converted to .wav and then to 192kbps mp3s. And keep in mind, sets are made available for a few weeks, and cannot be reposted once removed.
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