Concert review + setlist: Marah, Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3 and the Baseball Project close out Twangfest 15 at the Duck Room, Saturday, June 11

The Baseball Project at Twangfest 15

Tom Lampe

Marah guitarist and singer, David Bielanko summed up a great deal with his mid-set statement from the microphone: “Life sucks, let’s have a fucking good time tonight,” and a good time was had, despite the drainage issues at the Duck Room wreaking havoc with the Twangfest schedule.

The Great Flood of Twangfest 15 continued Saturday night as water again seeped into subterranean depths of the Duck Room located in the basement of St. Louis landmark Blueberry Hill. The cleanup effort, valiantly undertaken by the staff, set back the start time by 45 minutes. Last night, at least, the venue didn’t smell like shit as much as it smelled like the pool when you go work out at the YMCA.

Hitting the stage to a backing orchestration track, the Philadelphia-based quartet Marah came out fighting opening its hour-long set with the “Theme From Rocky.” Bielanko proclaimed his appreciation for local fans: “St. Louis doesn’t seem tiring to come back to.” With a “little bit more folky” set, Marah certainly didn’t let down the Twangfest fans who filled the floor to see the band’s performance mixing folk, rock and country elements. Each band last night received an encore, including opener Marah, who inspired with the song “Angels on a Passing Train.”

Scheduled for the middle slot, New York City-based Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3 brought the heat performing an hour plus blistering set of fuzzed out rock and pop tunes fully capturing the audience’s attention. Wynn and guitarist Jason Victor put on a guitar clinic with their Fender Jazzmasters that was described by my friend watching the show as “guitar porn.” Wynn and Victor played off each other effortlessly mixing solos that were reminiscent of Kevin Shields’ work with My Bloody Valentine or Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd of Television.

Consisting of both of solo material by Wynn as well as Dream Syndicate classics, the set never waned and constantly built energy. A stunning version of Dream Syndicate’s “John Coltrane Stereo Blues” highlighted any fret board freak’s night as Wynn and Victor’s playing became existential, taking the crowd for an extended ride to paisley pop paradise.

Performing what drummer Linda Pitmon later told me was its third set of the day, the Baseball Project took the stage at 20 minutes to midnight for the last show of its tour. A less crowded Duck Room was no less enthusiastic to hear the band’s baseball-themed songs. Pinch hitting for regular bassist Peter Buck, his long time R.E.M. bandmate Mike Mills filled in effortlessly for part of the tour, laying down bass lines on his Rickenbacker and adding backing vocal harmonies.

Leading off with a chorus of “Take Me Out To the Ball Game” the band performed a fun, slightly loose mix of songs from its two studio albums as Wynn and McCaughey traded vocals. While the vocals of guest star and Hold Steady front man Craig Finn were missed as Wynn led the band through “Don’t Call Them Twinkies,” McCaughey stepped up with a great version of “Fair Weather Fans.”

Before starting “Gratitude (For Curt Flood)” Wynn weaved a tale relating to St. Louis baseball lore. He advised that his stepmother grew up in East St. Louis and met Cardinals outfielder Curt Flood on the town. Unaware of the player’s occupation, she gave him her number after he requested it. Wynn continued, “Flood later called and spoke to her father who answered the call. When asked who was calling Flood replied and the father, a big baseball fan, asked Flood, “Aren’t you married?” Flood replied, “Yes.” The father advised the ballplayer to “never call my daughter again!”


A couple of songs later, stage banter revealed that the band had never played the Volume 2: High and Inside bonus track “El Hombre” about Cardinals all-star Albert Pujols. To the delight of the hometown crowd, McCaughey expressed his hope that Pujols would finish his career in St. Louis and proceeded to pull off the song without a hitch.

Mills finally took the microphone during the encore singing lead on the R.E.M. classic “(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville.” The crowd, well aware of the videos floating out on the Internet of the band performing the song live, was excited to hear Mills nail the vocal. However, the surprise of the song during the encore loses something when you’re expecting it to be played.

During the encore, Mills thanked the band for having him and expressed that the tour had been a one of the best experiences he had ever had as a musician. The BPP finished with the Dream Syndicate classic “Days Of Wine and Roses,” sending the crowd home just after 1 a.m. While I think Blueberry Hill proprietor Joe Edwards might consider a sump pump for the Duck Room, as I filtered out of the room after the show I felt like a certain Hall of Fame announcer had just exclaimed, “That’s A Winner!”

Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3 set list

Halloween
? Wake up tiger
Bruises
Cindy, It Was Always You
Color Of Lights
Consider The Source
? (new one)
Resolution
Things That You Always Say
Death Valley Rain
John Coltrane Stereo Blues (Dream Syndicate cover)
Amphetamine

Encore
When You Smile (Dream Syndicate cover)

The Baseball Project set list

Take Me Out To The Ball Game
1976
Ted Fucking Williams
The Straw That Stirs The Drink
Broken Man
Don’t Call Them Twinkies
Fair Weather Fans
The Death of Big Ed Delahanty
Ichiro Goes To The Moon
Gratitude (For Curt Flood)
The Closer
El Hombre
Harvey Haddix
The Panda and the Freak
Past Time
Aw Shit Man (The Minus 5)

Encore
Lies of the Living Dead (The Minus 5)
(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville (R.E.M.)
Days of Wine and Roses (Dream Syndicate)

Posted by | June 12, 2011 | Concerts | Comment 

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