Son Volt at Gruene Hall

And we've all been told

My blog is of course named after the Uncle Tupelo song New Madrid. This is a song about Iben Browning's prediction along the New Madrid fault in Missouri.

On Friday, the wife, me and some friends were going to see Son Volt down at Gruene Hall. Ironically (maybe not so Ironic? Maybe I should ask Alanis. She seems to have a pretty good handle on it), early Friday, a 5.4 magnitude earthquake rocked the heartland.

Unfortunately, not a New Madrid quake. But, still the first thing I thought of that day. And, with a much anticipated show at Gruene Hall that night, it fit just perfectly.

I've only been to Gruene Hall once. And ashamed that I haven't been more. We saw Ray Wylie Hubbard. Probably around 1994 or so. Don't remember a whole lot of it. Didn't remember a whole lot of it at the time either. All I really knew of Ray Wylie Hubbard is that he had written the Redneck Mother song that Jerry Jeff Walker sang so well. So well.

As they say, that video is worth the price of admission. As I've grown older and started to appreciate music and songwriters, Ray Wylie has become a much bigger part of my music library.

Enough remembering. This night is about Son Volt and the fact that I would get to see them in a classic Texas Dance Hall.

I've seen Son Volt twice before. Once at ACL Fest 2006 and 2007 at Stubb's. The ACL Fest show completely turned me on to the greatness that is Son Volt. After the performance of Tear Stained Eye, I was completely hooked.

That led me back to Uncle Tupelo, and then to Wilco. More on that after May 11 at Stubb's.

We arrived at the Gristmill at just before 7. Our goal was to eat dinner and get to the show around 8. As we walked by Gruene Hall, we saw a line 10 deep. Uh oh. Then we realized gates didn't open until 7. 10 people. No problem.

This is the first time I've been to the Gristmill. Like I said before, my previous visit to Gruene was riddled with lost memories.

The night was perfect. Maybe 70 degrees. Blue sky. Full moon. Just like the Pat Green show. Live music on the patio. Outhouses. Gristmill serves double Jack Daniels in a mason jar. They also serve double Jack Daniels w/ Coke and a splash of Sprite in a mason jar. Not because it was requested, but only because our waiter was a little slow.

Queso burgers, fried jalapenos, quesadillos, artichoke dip. A good base as my friend Speaker would say.

We saw a guy in a ridiculous green jumpsuit and headband at dinner. Turn out he was the bassist for the Bobby Bare Jr. band.

Went to Gruene Hall right at 8. Bobby Bare Jr. was opening up. Pretty unknown to me, but one of songs was really good: Kill Your Valentine. Plus, he told a great story. "If you ever order pizza in Nashville and one of us shows up, remember when you saw us here."

Chris Masterson, the lead guitar from Son Volt, joined them onstage for a couple of songs.

Son Volt came on around 9:15. Becky and I immediately went up close, but were stuck in front of the speakers. We stuck it out and quickly moved up to a great position almost right in front of the stage.

They opened up with Bandages and Scars.

I've never been this close at a Son Volt show. And it was awesome.

Some highlights:

• The Picture had no horns. Just a harmonica playing that part. I hated the horns, so this was perfect.
• Slate. Uncle Tupelo Song.
• Jet Pilot. Love this song. "Only trouble is, word gets around."
• Are You Sure Hank Done it This Way was the encore. This is on the re released version of Anodyne from Uncle Tupelo.

Being up close was seriously cool.

Pretty much my favorite Son Volt song. (and in my top songs ever) Windfall.

Gruene Hall is cool because there really is no backstage area. Backstage is on the way to the bathroom.

They cut if off right at 11. Must have been a city ordinance. I read other reviews where they played a 4 song encore including Tear Stained Eye. That song was an obvious exclusion from this show.

The setlist represents what I could piece together. Songs I didn't know I tried to get some lyrics from. Those with a * I didn't know or they are a best guess. Good chance they're wrong.

• Bandages and Scars
• Live Free*
• Gramophone
• The Picture
• Hanging Blue Side
• Big Sur
• Underground Dream
• Exurbia
• Creosote
• Slate
• * (Jay broke his A string on this song)
• Highways and Cigarettes
• Methamphetamine
• Ipecac*
• Jet Pilot
• Automatic Society*
• * (Mighty wings ofsound?)
• Afterglow 61
• *
• Medication
• Windfall
• Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way

Wow. An awesome show. Jay Farrar isn't the best showman, but that doesn't matter because the music is so damn good. I bet they don't play a lot of places anymore like Gruene where people are playing pool during the show.

Tons more to say, but I'll just close out with the lyrics to New Madrid. (Yes, I know it's a Tweedy song. But it's still Tupelo. And Jay Farrar.)

All my daydreams are disasters
She's the one I think I love
Rivers burn and then run backwards
For her, that's enough

They all come from New York City
And they woke me up at dawn
She walked with me to the fountain
And she held onto my arm

Come on, do what you did
Roll me under New Madrid
Shake my baby and please bring her back
'Cause death won't even be still
Caroms over the landfill
Buries us all in its broken back

There's a man of conviction
And although he's getting old
Mr. Browning has a prediction
And we've all been told

So come on back from New York City
Roll your trucks in at dawn
Walk with me to the fountain
And hold onto my arm

Come on, do what you did
Roll me under New Madrid
Shake my baby and please bring her back
'Cause death won't even be still
Caroms over the landfill
Buries us all in its broken back

Full picture album is here.

Raw notes from the show:

Bobby bare
Valentine
Pizza deliv
Chris masteerson joinewd th
Woodie guthrie61stay in deltsa blues

3 generations
No horns! Harmonica instwadf
Say hello to
Big sur
Hollywood
Gapimg hole in the sky
Widesprerad changes
Violin farcvical force workin halls of shsame slate
Don't know broke string
Breakaway string
Take me back n caro

Leave behind
Hword gets around jet pilot
Nothing matters
Mighty wings ofsound
61
Not surew small eyeds
Medication
A jam
Bathroom
Pool
Down in this valley winter cold
Doug sahm? We used to walk thjru thr park
Windfall
Encore
Hank done it this way