For all the “hits” GSW rocked at the beginning of set one, there were plenty of deep cuts from the late ’80s and early ’90s on this night as the group continued to make use of their extensive catalog. Ladyfingers, Change Your Mind, Dirty Little Secret and Brand New Pussycat are all 20 years old at this point and weren’t exactly staples of God Street’s repertoire during the mid ’90s hey day, yet sounded fresh at the Gramercy after years of collecting dust in a proverbial closet. It’s fairly ridiculous that this group turned in two fantastic shows without performing Wendy, Bring Back The News, Get On The Train, Upside Down & Inside Out, Hammer & Spike or Epilog – all of which are ripe for next weekend.I’m sure the Jam Cruise audience will be treated to a couple of “greatest hits” sets out at sea, but the Gramercy shows gave the band a chance to tackle the earlier material in front of a crowd ready to lap it up.
Despite all the rarities and deep cuts there were plenty of fan-favorites including the opening trifecta, a glorious Epiphany, the still-catchy single R U 4 Real? and the dark, brooding Into The Sea. No matter what the band threw at the audience, it seemed most knew every word and were hanging on each note. For these four reunion gigs GSW is performing in front a loving crowd filled with their biggest fans. Jam Cruise will provide a completely different challenge as they attempt to win over an audience for the first time since 1999.
The longest tune of the weekend came smack dab in the middle of the second set courtesy of a 17+ minute version of Mantoloking Town. A song once described by Faber as “a long and weird song,” Mantoloking is one of the group’s more challenging and improv-filled compositions that has a special place in the hearts of longtime Winos. This ode to a town on the Jersey Shore 70 miles south of the Gramercy didn’t disappoint thanks to impressive work from Faber and the dynamic rhythm section of Dan Pifer (bass) and Tom “Tomo” Osander (drums).
Towards the end of God Street Wine’s first encore, a cover of The Beatles’ Dear Prudence, you could look around the intimate Gramercy Theatre to see Winos shooting each other knowing looks about what was coming next. There was no way this run would end without the anthemic Nightingale coming into play and that’s exactly what happened. As Faber strummed the familiar chords the crowd erupted once more with squeals of delight. Nightingale is signature God Street Wine, a song so intertwined in the band’s history and one of the first songs many in attendance first heard from the group. I was brought to my happy place one last time – a fitting ending to a two-night stand Winos will never forget.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s review, I don’t remember God Street turning in such tight and impressive performances back in the day, especially in the later years. Each band member couldn’t stop smiling and without any pressure or unhappiness, the quintet thrived. They all have wives, children and lives outside this band, but took great pleasure in recapturing their old magic for a few special nights in July. GSW’s reunion continues next weekend with two shows at Irving Plaza and if you ever liked this band, you owe it to yourself to check out one of these shows.
- Audio: 07/10/2010 SBD – MP3, FLACs, STREAM
- Videos: RU4 Real?, Goodnight Gretchen, Mantoloking Town,
- Night One: GSW Brought Back
Set One: When She Go, Molly, Goodnight Gretchen, She Comes Up Softly, Driving West, Who’s Driving, Dirty Little Secret, Ladyfingers, Epiphany
Set Two: Change Your Mind, Call It Love, She Said Dark, Fourth of July, R U 4 Real?, Mantoloking Town, Brand New Pussycat, Crashing Down, Into the Sea
Encore: Dear Prudence, Nightingale
3 Responses
Amazing weekend!!! Let’s do it again this weekend.
Amazing job on both reviews Scotty!!
Was there Sat. night ! Great show …..