(TV) Monday night's show @ the Paradise

[Philip Obbard <pobbard@gmail.com>]

Hi all,

A little late here (I left for a business trip just a few hours after the
show) but wanted to chime in. This was the first Television show I've seen
since 2005. My feelings are pretty much in line with Ty's review, but only
more so: I loved it.

My first time seeing Television (at the Metro, May 10, 2001) will always be
a sentimental favorite, and it may be heresy to say this about the
post-Lloyd Television, but Monday night was the best Television show I've
ever seen. Maybe it's the 9 year hiatus that made my impression more
favorable, I suppose. But on Monday, the band was tight, in sync, and
focused. Unlike a lot of Television shows I saw between 2001-2005, I didn't
get the feeling that we were witnessing a rehearsal at any point in the
night - they seemed locked in together in a way they only sporadically did
in most of the 2001-2005 shows. Even the "new" song, "Persia", seemed more
structured, well-arranged, and benefited from a focus in playing that I
haven't seen before (perhaps not coincidentally, it also seemed like the
most concise rendition of "Persia" I've ever heard, but hopefully the
tapes(?) will tell a better tale).

And as Ty's review said, Verlaine seemed a lot happier than usual -- more
banter with the audience, lots more eye contact with Jimmy than I remember
with Lloyd (at least in more recent years), and the whole thing made me
wonder if getting Rip on-board, or tackling 7 out of 8 tracks from "Marquee
Moon" on this tour, had forced the band into serious rehearsals. It
definitely showed. I realize some may miss the looseness of other live
Television performances. But for me, the night worked really, really well,
and it was a pleasure to see Tom so engaged in playing (and even singing!).
(I agree with another poster that Ficca was miked-up way too loud, but you
can't have everything).

Here was the setlist, from my notes. Seven out of eight songs from MARQUEE
MOON, one new song, one song from the 1992 LP, one unreleased oldie, and
nothing from ADVENTURE:

1880 or so
Prove It
Elevation
Little Johnny Jewel
See No Evil
Guiding Light
Venus
Persia
I'm Gonna Find You
Marquee Moon
Encore: Friction

For me, the highlights were hearing "Elevation" and "Guiding Light" for the
first time in concert; both sounded great, and Verlaine did a creditable
job hitting the (vocal) high notes in both. I've already noted the more
concise "Persia" they played; perhaps my only disappointment in their
performance is that "Little Johnny Jewel" was a bit more restrained too
than it had been ten years ago.

This is going to sound crazy, but after a long weekend with family, and a 3
day business trip starting at 4:45 AM on Tuesday, I seriously considered
skipping the concert on Monday night. Boy, am I glad I didn't. It was one
of the best, if not the best, live show I've ever attended.

I took a few pictures -- I'll post and share the link when I get a chance
to upload them.

Phil

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