San Antonio

Sneakers

February 22, 1996

From: KREGW@ALCON.ACU.EDU

THE SONGS:

Same set list as other recent postings. Didn't write down the order, but they included:

  • Heaven and Hell
  • Had Enough
  • You
  • Trick of the Light
  • Boris the Spider
  • My Wife
  • Long Live Rock
  • Shakin all Over
  • Summertime Blues
  • Life After Love
  • The Real Me

    A couple of others that escape me now.

    THE MUSIC/SOUND:

    Loud. Very loud. Too loud. The music was an assault of acoustic energy. I bought ear plugs before the show and I'm glad I did. I don't see why it had to be so loud, unless, as the guy selling the T-Shirts and stuff told me, that John is so deaf that he has to "feel" the songs in order to play them. I was standing right in front of the stage so maybe that spot wasn't the best to judge the music, but the vocals were almost inaudible, as were the keyboard and electric guitar. What was audible was a din of energy from the drums and bass. To improve the music would require:

  • 1. Turn the volume down!
  • 2. Kill the mics on the drum kit
  • 3. Up the volume of the vocals relative to the instruments
  • 4. Up the volume of the guitar and keyboard relative to the
  • rest.
  • 5. Most of all turn the volume down and balance the mix.

    QUALIFIER:

    It was the best live rock and roll I've ever experienced despite my above objections. John's playing was awsome.

    OTHER ASPECTS:

    John was dressed immaculately. He wore a red shirt with the obligatory spider pin under a gleaming white waist length jacket, black or dark colored jeans which looked starched or pressed, and pointed red suede boots. He played two bass guitars, a brown wooden eight string and a unique red four string. I've never seen bass guitars quite like them so I assume they were custom made for him. John didn't use a pick that often, but after each song where he did, he would flick the pick out into the audience, whereupon some drunken types would scramble on the floor for it. When one guy shouted out "My Wife, My Wife" between songs, John addressed him saying, "We'll play Your wife later." He also mentioned something about divorce stating that their is life after love.

    THE AUDIENCE:

    About 200 people. Many of which were older couples or balding guys by themselves.

    REGRETS:

    I wish I had bought the CD The Rock. I thought $20.00 was just too much. The more I thought about it though, that probably wasn't a bad price after all. I also wish I had bought the tour booklet, but again I thought it was just too expensive at the time.

    It was great to see the Ox and to see him play live! It was my first time to see on of the members of the greatest rock and roll band in the world. Come on Pete!

    Kreg Walvoord KregW@Alcon.acu.edu



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