The Loud Family Tour 1998:

From: Mike Applestein
Subject: [loud-fans] an amazing evening in NYC

Just wanted to mention that the Brownies show was aMAZing. By reading/lurking within the Loudfans digests, I had a general idea of what the band was going to play (while worrying the whole time they'd skip all the Game Theory songs I've heard about), but it still didn't prepare me for the total fucking ecstacy of the entire set. I saw the Loud Family twice on the PABARAT tour and once in support of TTOOL, and I found all these performances problematic. They were OK, but they didn't leave me bouncing off the walls like the one and only Game Theory I saw. Last night's show found Scott and the band completely rejuvenated. Alison is a big part of this, as has been suggested before -- clearly a big fan as well as an important component of the current sound, she seemed too excited for words. Old and new songs alike were well-played and welcome, with several chill-inducing moments (mine were "Sodium Laureth Sulfate," "Here It Is Tomorrow" and the newly-rearranged "Sword Swallower").

Just amazing, I'm feeling a nice glow as I sit at my desk at work. Sorry I didn't get to meet any of you NYC loudpeople. In case you're wondering, I was wearing a brown short-sleeve shirt and standing on the left side of the stage, next to the photographer and in front of Alison.

--mike appelstein

From: Dan Sallitt
Subject: [loud-fans] Loud Family Brownies Love-In

Here's a report on last night's show from Paula C. - Dan

=======

Hi Loud-Fans! I thought I'd guest-post today after seeing my first Loud Family Live Rock Concert last night at Brownies.

I'm beside myself with glee.

The festivities started at Stingy Lulu's, where a table full of the coolest people in New York (plus John Sharples) were treated to a fab meal and a hideous floor show by the tranny wait-staff. Our waitress in particular looked less like a full-fledged transvestite and more like an out-of-work actor who just really needed the job.

It was a privelage to finally meet Larry and Mary Beth Kooper, Chris and Terry Burns, Andrea Weiss, and Carolyn Dorsey. Also in attendance was my fave NY Loud-Fan, Dan Sallitt, as well as Regular Einstein's drummer Bill Gerstel and his lovely wife Robin Burchill. Oh, yeah: Kenny, Gil and Scott were there, too. Didn't talk to Kenny, but Gil was a love-bunny and Scott was as nice as all reports have indicated. They seemed a little road-weary, but friendly nonetheless.

We sauntered over to Brownies (where we caught up with some more L-Fans, including Bonnie Shelden and Steve Matrick, who looks much better w/o the facial hair) in time to catch one opening act, Nielson Hubbard, who played Big Star-ish pop with all the standard 2-gtr-bass-drums elements. Although they violated Paula's Rock Dictum #568 (it's gauche to play Gibsons through Fender amps--and for goshsakes, every Les Paul needs to be counter-balanced by a Tele!), and the songs weren't more than serviceable upon first listen, they had a really polished overall sound (no small feat at Brownies which IMO has a crummy sound system), and were a fitting opener for Our Lads. Nielson himself looked charmingly like a driver's ed instructor, and it was sure a neat surprise to see Wayne Gretzky sitting in on drums. Go, Rangers.

The Loud Family portion of the show was nothing less than transcendent, at least for me, but seemingly for the rest of the packed club who went wild after every number. The band projects such a satisfying combination of intelligence and heat--and in their 80s-style shiny rock star clothes and upbeat enthusiasm, they come across as endearingly...unhip.

The Louds leaned heavily on DAYS FOR DAYS for material, and it was gratifying to witness the audience totally getting into the newer stuff. Does this mean the record is selling and getting airplay in New York? The odd-numbered-tracks from DFD came across shockingly well, and were well-received to boot. Representing IBC were an incredibly hot "I'm Not Really a Spring" (which was the highlight of the set for me last night) and "Sodium Laureth...", and the regional spin on "Spot the Set-Up" was "I used to go out with...John Zorn!" which cracked everybody up. The encore consisted of a sprawling Alison original (very good!) and a spirited "Here it is Tomorrow" that really detonated the crowd.

As we abandoned the sweaty, humid club for the sweatier, more-humid outside world, two Intel Fest employees walked by carrying boxes of Krispy Kremes. "Mmm, Krispy Kreme!" I thought, and then I realized that I knew one of the guys, and he generously shared his doughnuts with the rest of us. And I realized that was the perfect metaphor for what had just happened at Brownies: a few really cool people have decided to share their doughnuts with a hungry and appreciative bunch.

Signing off now, and worried that you'll think "unhip" is an insult,

I am,

Paula Carino

From: Carolyn
Subject: [loud-fans] Brownies..and future

The NYC show was the first time I ever saw the Loud Family, and I have to add to everyone's comments. It was truly powerful and wonderful. The room was packed, and there was such energy from the audience.

They are a *great* band, so exciting, such good performers. I liked Scott's metallic shirt!

I ended up running into an old friend from my U of Michigan days so that was very fun, a friend who I always thought had wonderful taste in music.

It was a pleasure to meet everyone!

Maybe once Maxwells reopens the LF will return to the N.Y. area. Also maybe it could be arranged for them to play on a local radio station? WFMUs spacious new building in Jersey City will be up and running soon and will have a great studio. Just a thought....

Carolyn

From: Steve Matrick
Subject: [loud-fans] More on the NYC show...

Wow!!!

What a night that was. I have seen the Loud Family at Maxwells 1993, Space at Chase 1993, maxwell's 1994, Brownies 1996 and last night's show at Brownies blew the lid off of the rest of them... and that says alot, especially since that 1993 show was incredibly long with encores and featured Last Day That We're Young, one of the all time great songs. My friend Hilary grabbed the setlist and gave it to me so I have a permanent memento of an awesome experience AND I have Scott's guitar pedal positions.

It was really great to see Paula, Dan, Larry, and Chris and Terry Burns again and to briefly meet Andrea (sorry for going way nuts next to you all through the show), Carolyn, and anyone else I may have forgotten. R. Dunbar Poor was also in attendence!!! (which I yelled right before the encores prompting Scott to have the whole audience cheer for him which he greatly deserves for his former efforts in the Loud Family and Alison to say "Wasn't that you roller blading by earlier".)

Let me just say that this show was ballistic, it was packed (maybe 200 people????), and it was purely excellent. The crowd went more nuts than it did at any of the other Loud Family shows I have been too. I think there were alot of Non Loud fans in the house screaming their heads off. Alison mentioned that the New York and Chicago shows were the best on the tour so far. She had a large group of very cool friends standing behind me going nuts throughout the show. This is definitely my favorite Loud Family lineup and we should all appreciate (as Gil said within earshot of me) how hard Gil worked to get back in shape on the drums... He really really drives the band in a such a unique way. The opening band Nelson Hubbard and the band after the Loud Family, Sunset something (sorry can't remember) were both totally worth seeing. Nelson Hubbard reminded me of Grant Lee Buffalo a bit, with a huge Big Star influence thrown in for good measure.

I finally got to read Todd's awesome post, I won't even try to do as good of a job as he did reporting about the show, but suffice it to say, it was awesome. Sorry that you didn't get to hear the encores, Execution Day and Here It Is Tomorrow (omigod that was unbelievable).....

Why isn't Scott Miller famous yet?????????????????????????

Til next tour (sadly)....

steven charles matrick

From: Dan Sallitt
Subject: [loud-fans] NYC Show

Checking in late with a supplementary report on last night's very cool show.

>Scott, Gil and I headed over to Stingy Lulu's. We arrived about forty minutes before any loudfans we due to show
>up. We orderded beverages from Eternal Beauty, our waiter/waitress for the evening.

I believe her name was Infinite Beauty....

>Oh, yeah: Kenny, Gil and Scott were there, too. Didn't talk to Kenny, but Gil was a love-bunny and Scott was as
>nice as all reports have indicated. They seemed a little road-weary, but friendly nonetheless.

Scott was pretty quiet, but very nice, and he went out of his way to say hello to the loud-fans at the far end of the table before he left. Everyone in the band was very pleasant and open.

>To our utter surprise, there was a drag queen show at 8:30. Eternal Beauty, it turned out, was a featured
>performer, which made getting our check unusually complicated.

Conversation was difficult, but we were all reminded what a great song Abba's "S.O.S." is.

>Just amazing, I'm feeling a nice glow as I sit at my desk at work. Sorry I didn't get to meet any of you NYC
>loudpeople. In case you're wondering, I was wearing a brown short-sleeve shirt and standing on the left side of
>the stage, next to the photographer and in front of Alison.
>--mike appelstein

I think I know who you are - glasses, sort of a round face? Right up front during Neilson-Hubbard to get a good spot for the L.F.?

>Neilson himself looked charmingly like a driver's ed instructor

He looks a lot like the actor James Hampton, from "F Troop" and assorted Robert Aldrich films.

>Nelson Hubbard reminded me of Grant Lee Buffalo a bit, with a huge Big Star influence thrown in for good measure.

Yeah, the Grant Lee Buffalo comparison isn't bad - both do heartfelt, almost rootsy songs with upper-register vocals that like to soar. I like GLB better, though. Neilson-Hubbard's melodies have a tendency to sound similar.

>Old and new songs alike were well-played and welcome, with several chill-inducing moments (mine were
>"Sodium Laureth Sulfate," "Here It Is Tomorrow" and the newly-rearranged "Sword
>Swallower").

My particular high was "Way Too Helpful" - it's amazing how big and symphonic that song can sound live when everyone is rocking out near the end.

>The band projects such a satisfying combination of intelligence and heat--and in their 80s-style shiny rock star
>clothes and upbeat enthusiasm, they come across as endearingly...unhip.

It was my first time seeing Scott perform, and I was amused to note that the big hair isn't the only sign of his love of old-fashioned rock showmanship. He likes glam clothes and swinging his guitar around in little sudden seventies moves - the whole rock-as-theater trip. If you saw a film of the show without the soundtrack, you probably wouldn't guess what kind of music was being played.

>Let me just say that this show was ballistic, it was packed (maybe 200 > people????)

According to CitySearch, the club capacity is 178.

>I think there were alot of Non Loud fans in the house screaming their heads off.

Yeah, it was interesting to see that our little electronic group does not comprise anywhere near all the L.F. fanatics in the world. Lots of people started screaming each time a song became recognizable.

>Sorry that you didn't get to hear the encores, Execution Day and Here It Is Tomorrow (omigod that was
>unbelievable).....

I really wanted some of those extra encores that other cities got, but the club was too far behind schedule by that point. Oh, well. I had a great time.

- Dan

From: dana
Subject: [loud-fans] Louder than Brownies

This was my first time to see the Loud Family, and the day did not begin on a good note. Both my girlfriend and I were kept awake all night the 15th by an evil mosquito. Sad, itchy and sleepy, I took a sick day at work and jumped on the A train to Rockaway beach, where I managed an important nap. I decided to skip the free Luna show and so, after Shari came over (which took forever due to an annoying cabbie), headed into Manhattan.

I was worried that Brownies would sell out, especially after seeing a full-size article in this week's "Time Out NY" recommending the show (and reviewing D4D). We waited forever for the F train, began to panic and finally settled for the B which doesn't let off very close to the club...

From here on in the night just got better and better. We arrived at Brownies at 10:00. They do have a strict ID policy, and Shari had forgotten hers, but after we reassured them that we weren't cops (and we are 29, so we don't look that young) they let us in. Drinks were cheaper than I remembered ($4.00 for a Marguerita) and the opening band, Nelson Hubbard, were pleasant enough. The lead singer really looked like a frat-boy, which made the sensitivity of his singing seem all the more charming.

Before the show I spoke with a couple of new Loud Family fans who were under the impression that the band had once been the subject of a PBS documentary. The club was "pleasantly full" i.e. full but room to move around.

I had never had the chance to witness Scott's hair, and was greatly impressed. Alllisson radiated bubbles and Gil seemed the essence of restrained virtuosity. The sound was pretty good -- Shari and I are both big fans of ear plugs which really cut a lot of the high frequency noise and let you hear (especially) the vocals. Our favorites were "Way Too Helpful", a crushing version of "Sodium Laureth Sulfate" and "Spot the Setup" (we thought that Scott should have gone out with Rudy Giuliani instead). Shari felt strongly that Scott should shave his head. I worried about the inevitable Billy Corgan comparisons...

I was really impressed by how faithfully the band was able to reproduce the sound of its records. I've seen very, very few "pop" bands able to pull that off.

And, to top it all off, the Loud Family timed their show so perfectly that Shari and I managed to get to Pommes Frites (the wonderful french-fry store on 2nd avenue) at exactly 11:59, one minute before closing. Which meant that we got a LOT of extra fries for our $3.00, plus several free sauces. Then the subway arraived just as we entered the station and got us back to Brooklyn in 15 minutes. And finally, while walking home we bought ice cream and a Lottery ticket which won!! (5 dollars which paid for the ice cream.) A lovely night.

--dana (longish hair and a superman t-shirt)

(sad only that this marks about the 1000th time that I''ve been in the same room as Loud-fan Mike Applestein without actually meeting him)

From: Chris Burns
Subject: [loud-fans] one more from Brownies

Loved everyone's Brownies posts - not to mention seeing everyone and - oh yeah! - the show. Some favorite moments/observations from a great evening...minor spoilers at close.

Always to great to meet and greet loud-fans, and especially cool when its a repeat hookup. We met - and Chris ID'd based on J shirt, loud-radar and memories of a sighting at the last Brownies show - Matthew Budman and the delightful Christina (whom we look forward to seeing again tonight in Philly). Really enjoyed seeing Paula and Adam - and their friends/bandmates Bill and Robin; also Steve Matrick and his posse; Larry and Mary Beth (who have married since we saw 'em last for the IBC Brownies show); knowledgeable nifty newbie Carolyn; J-shirted Andrea; the inimitable Dan Sallitt (it was his first LF show); the cosmopolitan and charming John Sharples and (wow) R. Dunbar Poor. We discussed absent loud-fans and just had a darn good time. But we didn't get to meet old RSU-er Mike Appelstein, either. Darn.

** and for locals, in case John S doesn't post, his new band Circus Guy is playing at 11 pm at the Mercury Lounge, 217 E Houston in the East Village next Saturday, July 25. (Circle Sky/Circus Guy/Circle Sky/Circus Guy - sounds like one of Scott's aural tricks) ***

We *must* hear Regular Einstein. A nicer bunch of people you cannot imagine and - as I'm sure all who read Paula's post will agree - this woman has style. And as Chris observed - wow, she has presence. Would love to see 'em on stage.

And the band! Does it even bear repeating (can't help it) - they are just such damn nice people to be around. And so tolerant of (I know I speak for some of us) our stammering silly talk about weather and driving and how's your burger...when we really want/don't want to bare souls, say something relevant, attempt to convey our depth of feeling about the music, make 'em feel at home in/around our town, make ourselves feel hip/worthy of the conversation, contribute to the vibe, etc. They are way too gracious (thank goodness).

And on stage - as all have said...this is a great lineup. Gil is the quintessential drummer. Alison is spirit, joy and more - and that light, virtuosic touch on the keyboards which distinguishes DfD translates really well. Scott's vocals were well mixed, but Alison's seemed a bit too loud at times (might have been my location).

This was first time meeting Gil - which exceeded already high expectations. Swell guy.

Fashion highlights not yet mentioned: the pre-show Scott in short (!) tennis shorts and a Kiss Me Kate t-shirt, sporting the backpack not left on the train. Kenny on stage in his own glam-y rock star getup - faturing luscious copper brown shiny pants.

Scott told the crowd that the show was part of IntelFest webcast, which meant, "that this show will be heard by...at least as many people as are in this room." Terry couldn't reist a Dolby-like cry of "SCIENCE!"

Kenny, when asked if he enjoyed the show from his side: "Yeah, it was great. Hot and sweaty and rocking...that's what it's supposed to be, right? "

Gil, when told that MLL would be playing Pontiac Lounge same night as Louds: "Cool. I wonder if Scott knows. He's been using her name on the tour in...uh...oh, yeah, you guys know all this, huh?" Then he smiles, does some air 'net, simulating fingers on a keyboard, and says "you loud-fans are tap tap tapping the news across the country." Cracked me up.

Audience dug the show big time - it was interesting to see the combination of standard head bobbing, in-place dancing, Grateful Dead-like twirling, and fist shaking delight among the crowd. Loud-fans with big grins. Steve Matrick bouncing in unrestrained joy.

Here come the spoilers. But first, thanks to everyone for the spoiler warnings through the tour. We didn't peek - so had several delightful surprises...and *still* don't know about the mystery cover (but hope to find out at Philly show).

Great set, as everyone noted - and just tons of energy. Faves: "Not Really a Spring," the BoDiddley take on "Sword Swallower" and Scott's delivery of Terry's current favorite DfD cut [#15...yeah, I know it's an odd choice] before a rousing "Crypto Sicko." "Dee-Pression" also rocked. And "Here it is Tomorrow" and "Not Because You Can." Yikes - it was great!

Cheers,
Terry & Chris Burns

From: ant
Subject: [loud-fans] brownies

hi kids,

just thought i would check in on the brownies show. two people backed out on me and after hours of debating should i go by myself, i trudged into the city and walked across town to the east village(i forgot to wear the blue hat, i'm sorry).

i got there at about 9:00pm, in time to see jolynn daniel. i thought her and the band were really good. after the set, i introduced myself to scott and offered to by him a beer, he accepted. we smoozed for a minute or so, he thanked me for the beer (nice guy), i thanked him for all the great music and then neilson hubbard came on. i really liked neilson. i have to look for the cd. can any one tell me how it is.

i don't what i can say about the loud family except that i am really glad i made the decision to go to the show. i was fanatastic. scott is a awesome live performer. i never realized the importance of kenny's vocals on the last two cd's. Alison was fun to watch. gil was also very good too.

i bought a shirt (john - i think i bought it off of you, i was one of the first people to come up after the show. i was the who gave you a 20, you gave me 15 back and i told you that you only owed me five back. so then you took the ten back and i walk away with the correct change and a t-shirt.)

i did not stay for sunset valley. were the good too?

as far as the rest of the intelfest. friday i went to coney island high. i saw chick graning and pee-shy. saturday i saw possum dixon at the mercury and then buffalo tom at the bowery ballroom.

ric ocasek was at the mercury. he produced the upcoming possum dixon cd (aug. 11th). we got to talk to him (yes, nobody backed oot the next two nights). we told him that we had an advance copy of the new cd (possum dixon) an it was really good. It is actually really good. he was very friendly. he still looks the same.

send love-mail, hate-mail, your hopes and your dreams,

it was a great weekend,
hope everything is well,
ant

From: Andrea Weiss
Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Loud Family Brownies Love-In

Hello,

Thank you Paula for that nice complment. It was wonderful to meet other Loud Fans and putting names to faces finally and so on. Stingy Lulu's: Not a bad place but oh that music, couldn't hear yourself think. Liked the drag show a lot. Nelson Hubbard: He was pretty good, but the songs sounded a samey to me. He was a good, solid opening act.
The Louds. First, it was wonderful meeting Gil and Scott at SL. Certainly made my day. As for the show, it was one of the best concerts I ever saw. They were great! Alison is so cool. yes the band did most of D4D, with other LF songs sprinkled in as well as some GT songs. To hear the GT songs, espeically (oh dear spoilage avert your eyes :) ) Here it is Tomorrow and Room for One More Honey was just a highlight of my life. These two songs are all time favorites of mine and hearing them done live was just incredable. Got the lovely new t-shirt. I love blue. And oh yes, Spot the Setup. "I used to go out with John Zorn, but it didn't make my life okay," (more spoilage sorry). How cool is that that a straight man had the wherewithall to make a hetro line into a gay line. But that's Scott.

I know this is belated, but I wanted to post this anyway.
Andrea

From: John Sharples
Subject: [loud-fans] NYC show

Well, I walked into Brownies right at 6 last night, the time Kenny had told me they'd be finished checking. But instead of a happy Family concluding a satisfying sound check, I found a very concerned Scott and Alison performing what resembled open-heart surgery on her synthesizer.

Two top panels were opened up, exposing nasty circuit boards and trailing ominous, multicolored wires (my attempt at levity: "Definitely cut the blue wire--NO, RED!!"). Several white keys and springs had been removed and lay about. Several black keys on the keyboard looked all mashed down. Alison explained there had been a mishap and her keyboard had been crushed under some other equipment.

But I gotta hand it to Scott and Alison - instead of doing what I would have done (freak out and start calling an instrument rental places) they calmly and methodically went about learning on the spot how to fix a smashed synthesizer. Which they did, and pretty quickly, too!

Directly, they did their sound check, which sounded fabulous (only then did the full gravity of the synth situation hit me--it's the ONLY keyboard Alison is touring with!).

Alison went off with a bunch of her NYC pals (she attended NYU). Kenny stayed behind to meet Karen, who was flying in from S.F. Scott, Gil and I headed over to Stingy Lulu's. We arrived about forty minutes before any loudfans we due to show up. We orderded beverages from Infinite Beauty, our waiter/waitress for the evening.

Gil was the only bandmember I hadn't met before. He was wearing an awesome LA DOLCE VITA t-shirt, and we talked about the recent rerelease of NIGHTS OF CABIRIA. He struck me as your classic soft-spoken, thoughtful, southern gentleman. I gave him an email Sue had asked me to pass along, and he got really excited that a bunch of his cousins are coming to the Chapel Hill gig.

Scott and I caught up on some mutual friends. The Buffalo show the night before went really well, about 40 attended. Same set, but some interesting encores that haven't been done before. It had been extremely hot and muggy, and Scott performed the entire show shirtless.

Soon Our Uncle Dan Sallitt arrived, followed by the following listers I hadn't yet met: Andrea, Carolyn, Chris & Terry, Larry (hope I'm not forgetting anyone--I've had 3 hours sleep!). As always, it was a genuine pleasure. Kenny, Paula and Bill from Regular Einstein and Bill's wife Robyn joined the party a bit later. To our utter surprise, there was a drag queen show at 8:30. Infinite Beauty, it turned out, was a featured performer, which made getting our check unusually complicated.

Back to Brownies: I had a blast. Due to Gil's bad back, and since I'm a drummer with experience navigating the treacherous back stairs at Brownies, I was Mr. Ray's personal drum valet for the evening, a service I have the honor to repeat tonight in Cambridge, as I'm driving up to spend the weekend at my sister's (and to see the most fabulous Jules Verdone at TT the Bear's Saturday night!).

I'll post details about both sets on Monday. I'll turn the floor over to my fellow NY'ers now, but--wow, what a red hot show that was! Transcendent.

Uncle Dan and I sold merchandise after - lots of DfD's and t-shirts changed hands. How happy was I to leave the club and be able to say to Scott, Alison, Gil, Kenny and Karen: "See ya tomorrow!"

Entertain me twice,

JS

From: John Sharples
Subject: [loud-fans] NYC show

In my sleep-deprived stupor, I knew I would omit a loud-fan in the list of cool people I met at Lu-Lu's last night.

My apologies to the lovely Mary Beth, light of Larry's life, whom I had the pleasure of sitting across from, wouldn't you know.

The set was exactly the same as July 2 Portland, even the encores (wow, Alison's "Execution Day" is a total honey of a rocker!), with the exception that the cool mystery cover was omitted, probably due to time constraints.

Shouldn't be a problem tonight at TT's, as they're the headliners.

JS

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